Fern Virginia Porter
Rolesville
Fern Virginia Porter, 83, of Rolesville passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. She was born in Roanoke, Virginia, the daughter of the late Fern Virginia Basham Porter and Wallace Johnson Porter. She was preceded in death by a brother; Wallace J. Porter Jr., and a sister, Blondell Williams.
She is survived by her daughter, Sheila Campbell and husband, Jeff, of Rolesville; a son, Eric Sessoms and wife, Pam, of Beech Mountain; and grandchildren, Callum Campbell and Tiergan Campbell.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Anthony Casper Rudl
Youngsville
Anthony Casper Rudl passed away to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 4, 2019 after a sudden pulmonary embolism. He was married to Patricia Anne Rudl on April 16, 1966, and they just celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. He was a precious, devoted, loving, wonderful husband and a wonderful father to three daughters, Tanya, Heidi, and Tina, who are all married and have given us ten precious grandchildren.
Anthony was known as Tony to everyone. He was born in Somerset County, New Jersey on August 28, 1943. His papa, John Rudl Sr., was born in Austria-Hungary and came to America to become a citizen here in his early 20’s. His mom, Anna Kapp Rudl, also born in Austria-Hungary, came over with Tony’s older sister, Nancy. Tony’s mother passed away when he was only 2 years old. John Rudl Sr. started his business, John Rudl & Sons, Inc., in Glen Gardner, New Jersey when Tony and his two brothers, John Nicholas Rudl and John Rudl Jr., were young boys.
Tony attended the elementary schools and North Hunterdon Regional High School in New Jersey. He also took two years of evening business courses at Rutgers University in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Valley Forge Military Academy for one year when he was 16 years old. Eventually, when Papa John Rudl Sr. retired, Tony took over John Rudl & Sons, Inc. which he then renamed Rudl Fencing & Decking.
When we moved down to North Carolina in 1989, all of our daughters were in college. We brought down the manufacturing part of the business to Roanoke Rapids after selling the retail end of the business. When we moved to Danville, Virginia, we got out of the wood business and Tony worked at several other jobs. He truly was “the Jack of all trades”. It was like he could fix anything!
In 2007, we moved to Youngsville, and he began working with one of our sons-in-law, Greg Miller, who owns a trucking company called Strider Transportation Inc.
Tony was a warm, loving man, who was well-loved and respected by family, friends, and even acquaintances. He always had time to talk to someone, encourage them, or just make them feel good. He was a very spiritual man who served as an elder and deacon in every church we attended. He taught the Bible and helped many people. He was born again 45 years ago and walked a faithful life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was always ready to share God’s loving Gospel message to others. God gave him a special, warm heart for people.
As his wife for over 53 years, he will always be the love of my life, best friend, a part of me, and the most wonderful husband, father, and grandfather that God ever created! He will be missed dearly, but we know that he is now with Jesus and our Heavenly Father, and we will be with him again one day. We have a close family and are thankful to God for each other. Although Tony’s passing was sudden, we will depend on our dear Lord’s help, guidance, and grace to continue our walk with Him.
Tony was survived by his wife, Patricia Anne Rudl; daughter and son-in-law, Tanya and Michael Ovack with grandson, Jacob Ovack; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Fred Zimmerman with grandsons, Karl, Kreg and Corey, and granddaughters, Bethany and Patricia; daughter and son-in-law, Tina and Greg Miller with grandson, Strider, and granddaughters, Grace and Emily; and two brothers, John N. Rudl, of British Columbia, Canada and John Rudl Jr. of Auburn, New York.
He was predeceased by a grandson, Benjamin Michael Ovack; his parents, John Rudl Sr. and Anna Kapp Rudl; and a sister, Nancy Rudl Errickson.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Jeremy Butler Gould
Wake Forest
Jeremy Gould – referred to affectionately as “J. Gould” – knew how to bring out the best in people.
He did it at home with the love of his life, his wife Nicole, and six children. He did it in the community as a coach of youth football and tee ball, and as a proactive member of such groups as the Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Pi Lambda Phi, and the East Carolina University Pirate Club.
He did it at his church – St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church – while spending time with his Teams of Our Lady prayer group and while guiding important fund-raising events such as the golf tournament and the church school’s annual gala.
He also did it professionally as a Senior Vice President/Partner at Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP), where he led a team that designed and furnished hotels around the country so those properties looked great for guests and performed well for owners.
Jeremy was all about relationships, especially his powerful spiritual relationship with God. He enthusiastically embraced his Catholic faith, fellowship, and values that are part of being “brother in Christ.”
Passionate commitment to excellence. That was the common quality in everything Jeremy did – and his passion was contagious. His “can do” spirit, his generous personality, and his comfortable laugh all usually entered a room before he did.
On Thursday, May 2, Jeremy took those qualities with him as he left this earth and started his journey with God. His big heart gave out as he was attending a hotel trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada while literally surrounded by the colleagues and the industry he loved. But he died much too young and much too far from home.
Jeremy was born on January 2, 1971 in Raleigh, the first of two sons of Lindsey Marshall Gould and Jewelle Jackson Boone. He earned his high school diploma at Raleigh’s Broughton High School in 1989 and his undergraduate degree at East Carolina University in 1994, a school he continued to love and passionately support long after graduation.
He was predeceased in death by both sets of his grandparents — Thomas and Martha Gould as well as J.B. and Blanche Jackson.
Surviving him are his wife, Nicole Rollins Gould; children, Brooke Lindsey, Ashlynn Grace, Anna, Jackson, Alexander, and Luke; his mother, Jewelle Jackson Boone, and stepfather, Bobby Boone, of Greenville; his father, Lindsey Marshall Gould, and stepmother, Phyllis Gould, of Raleigh; and his brother, Daniel Gould and his family, wife, Laurie, and their children, Daisy and Brodie, of Fuquay-Varina. Also surviving are his stepbrother, Hill Boone of Carlsbad, California, and stepsister, Kathryn Boone of Raleigh.
Our lives are typically measured in years, but this grieving family prefers to measure Jeremy’s life in moments. Endearing and enduring moments like joining Jeremy to cheer on his beloved ECU football team or the Duke basketball squad. Like enjoying fine food and fine friends at a backyard cookout. Like sitting around the fire pit at the family farm after catching his “big daddy bass” to share good jokes and great bourbon.
These moments and so many more fill our mental scrapbook of memories. They fill our hearts with grateful joy. And most recently, they fill our eyes with happy tears.
Jeremy was a common man who was uncommon. His intensity inspired us. His loyalty impressed us. His knowledge dazzled us. His wit charmed us.
He didn’t just think about doing things – he acted. And he packed more activities into every 24 hours than many of us hope to undertake in a week.
Just last month, he launched a new business partnership that offered new professional opportunity and new security for his family. His widow, Nicole, will now carry forward these big ideas and solid plans in a way that Jeremy would want – with passion and energy, and especially with courage and confidence.
Every day of life was an adventure for Jeremy – and he lived life fully, with a heart full of love. No, every day did not smile on him – but he smiled on every day of life.
Now Jeremy has embarked on the greatest adventure of all, leaving us on earth and starting his journey with God. Death ended his life, but death has not ended his relationship with those of us who knew him and who continue loving him.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, 520 West Holding Avenur, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, May 13, at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation away at the William M. Dunlap Center for Caring Hospice House peacefully on Saturday, May Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
Gary Lewis Pleasants
Wake Forest
Gary Lewis Pleasants, 67, of Wake Forest passed 11, 2019, following a hard-fought battle with ALS. Gary was born in Wake County to the late Bernard Lewis Pleasants and Lois Marie Mason Pleasants. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the North Carolina National Guard and was a tool and die maker for many years.
A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Gary will be missed by many, but his positive influence remains with us. With a curious and inquisitive mind, he loved to solve problems with his innovations in ways that helped others. Nurtured in the Baptist tradition, Gary’s life was defined by his love for God, his family and his friends.
A graveside service was held Tuesday morning, May 14, 2019, at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Pleasants is survived by his wife of 44 years, Gail Moss Pleasants; children, Lisa Pleasants (Sam Christie) of Raleigh and Bryan Pleasants (Jessica) of Raleigh; sister, Beth McCain (Paul) of Raleigh; grandchildren, Emma and Benjamin Christie, James, Ruth and Thomas Pleasants; mother-in-law, Rena Moss; brothers-in-law, Joel Moss (Shelby) and Cliff Moss (Shary); nephews, Chad Hall (Denise), Sheila Hall (David), Elizabeth McCain (John Wilson), Emily McCain (Josh), John McCain, Brett Moss (Sarah) and Kyle Moss (Danielle). Gary was preceded in death by his son, Jeremiah Pleasants, and a sister, Teressa Hall (Bobby).
The family would like to express sincere thanks to Duke ALS Center, Dr. Richard Bedlack, his team and to Transitions LifeCare for all the care and support they have given to Gary and his family.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in Gary’s honor to The ALS Association North Carolina Chapter, 4 North Blount Street, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27601 or to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
A service of Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, Wake Forest, NC. (919)556-7400
