Helen Gardner Upchurch
Helen Gardner Upchurch, 96 years old departed this life into her eternal heavenly home on October 28, 2023. Helen was an amazing Christian woman who brought love and joy into everyone’s life who knew her.
She was born on March 23, 1927, to Charles Marshall Gardner and Elizabeth Bryan Gardner in Buncombe County, N.C. Because of her early years growing up in the western part of the state, she always loved the mountains. She moved to Raleigh upon her marriage in 1947 and lived in the Triangle area for the remainder of her life.
She spent the majority of her career in Early Childhood Education where she taught and directed programs in private Christian kindergartens. On Sundays, she continued that love by teaching 5-year-olds in Sunday School. She later went to work for the Wake County Library System when she retired in 1999.
She married C.M. Upchurch Jr. on June 29, 1947, who was forever the love of her life. After his death in 1972, Helen spent the remainder of her life following the will of her Lord and Savior. She was a dedicated Christian woman who found her greatest joy involved in Christian service. She loved attending and leading Bible studies, teaching young children about Jesus and supporting the ministries of her church. Her favorite book to read was her Bible which she read every day.
Not only did she love to read, but she also loved writing. Sometime during the 1980s, she wrote her own book which is a Biblical guide for women entitled Break Open the Box: Biblical Principles for Women. Even though, it was never published, it has helped provide guidance to numerous women, especially her family.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, Charles and Elizabeth Gardner, her brothers Tommy and William Gardner, her husband, C.M. Upchurch, Jr. and her son, David Upchurch.
She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Upchurch Weis and husband William, her Grandchildren, Kristi Lesnik, Mark Stephenson and Kelly Currin. She is also survived by five Great Grandchildren, Elijah Lesnik, Gabriel Lesnik, Lydia Stephenson, Paisley Stephenson and Tyler Currin and two Great-Great Grandchildren. She also had three Step Great-Grandchildren. She loved being with her family and especially watching and loving the young children.
She touched the lives of everyone that she met by her loving spirit and care for others. She was a gift to all who knew her, and she blessed us all with her life.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM prior to the service on Friday November 3, 2023 at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St. Wake Forest, NC 27587. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 PM in the funeral home chapel. Burial will take place at Raleigh Memorial Gardens immediately following the service.
Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Bright Funeral Home is serving the Upchurch family.
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In Theng Lav
Wake Forest
In Theng Lav, 83, of Wake Forest, NC, passed away on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
Born in 1940 in Cambodia, he leaves behind numerous family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 3-4 PM on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St. Wake Forest, NC 27587.
A celebration of life service will follow visitation at 4 PM in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Cameron Byrd officiating.
Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Bright Funeral Home is serving the Lav family.
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Philip ‘Kirk’ David Jr.
Youngsville
Philip “Kirk” David Jr., 63, of Youngsville, NC, passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
Kirk was born in Philadelphia, PA to the late Catharine and Philip David Sr. He spent most of his adult life and career in Rochester, NY before moving to Youngsville, NC in 2020.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly David; children, Heather Lynn David (Steven Greason), Philip (Amber) David III; step children, Paul (Brittany) Maira, Shawn Maira (Paige Favor), Connor Maira (Samantha Mark); brothers, Donald (Carrie) David, Bruce (Teresa) David; grandsons, Silas and Jasper Ralston, Jaxson David; and niece, Elizabeth David.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in honor of Kirk to a charity or cause of one’s choice.
The family will receive friends prior to the service on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 11-12 PM at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St. Wake Forest, NC 27587. A memorial service will follow visitation at 12 PM in the funeral home chapel.
Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Bright Funeral Home is serving the David family.
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John Dwight Barker Sr.
Wake Forest
John Dwight Barker, Sr., a devoted family man, talented musician and entertainer, of Wake Forest, NC, passed away peacefully at Duke-Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh, NC on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at the age of 78.
John, affectionately called Johnny by family and friends, was born on September 8, 1945 in Statesville, NC to the late Dwight Thomas Barker and Ruby Grose Barker. He was a graduate of Cool Spring High School and attended Mitchell Community College. He began playing the piano at an early age and was a very gifted and talented musician.
Any fan of Carolina Beach Music knows John’s song that he penned and produced in 1975. The trend setting “Summertime’s Calling Me” on Sugarbush records, (yes, a 45) recorded by The Catalinas. According to BMI, it is still played thousands of times a year on radio/internet stations around the world and was once listed in Rolling Stone magazine as the number 6 most popular beach music song at the time. It is a song that was unlike any other and is credited for being partially responsible for a new style of “Carolina Beach Music” that followed.
Complete music production credits are too many to mention, but a few include, The Catalinas, Gary Brown, Band of Oz, The Embers, J.D. Cash, including J.D. Cash’s 2001 award winning album of the year “Summerplace”,(#1 single for 19 weeks) and others. Johnny is also a member of the Beach Music Hall of Fame and recipient of the Beach Music Lifetime Achievement Award. This is in addition to being the only person to be inducted to the NC Music Hall of Fame “twice”, first with The Catalinas and secondly with The Embers. Shortly after a second stint with The Embers in 2006, Johnny got together with some old friends from the legendary “80s” Embers and for 5 years was keyboardist/vocalist with the Legends of Beach. Then in May of 2014 Johnny Barker rejoined The Catalinas, the band with which he began his musical career in 1964.
John married Bonnie Hunt Barker, who survives, on January 6, 1990, and they shared 33 wonderful years together. In addition to his wife, those left to cherish his memory are his children, John Barker, Jr. (Cindy) of Indian Trail, Sheryl Barker of Sunset Beach, Carson Barker of Wake Forest, and Cameron Barker of Greensboro, one granddaughter, Kayla Comer, two brothers, Gary Barker (Cyndy) and Lynn Barker (Renee), and two sisters, Shirley Tester and Marilyn Nicholson (Dale) all of Statesville. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by one daughter, Ann Marie Barker, and one sister, Sylvia Jean Barker.
A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 11:00 am at Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh with pastor Dr. Randy Mann officiating. Burial will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612, followed by a Celebration of Life for John at Loafers Beach Club in Raleigh, located on Creekside Drive, on Thursday evening from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Duke Cancer Research at https://www.dukecancerinstitute.org/give-duke-cancer-institute
A Service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center
(919) 556- 5811
www.brightfunerals.com
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Lisa Renee Walker
Fuquay-Varina
Lisa Renee Walker, 63, passed away on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Wake Med Cary.
She was born in Wake County the daughter of Linda Ruth Mangum Walker.
She was a graduate of Millbrook High School and graduated from Western Carolina University with her nursing degree. She worked as a nurse for many and loved her job. She was compassionate, empathetic, and was loved by everyone who had the privilege to meet her. She was an avid Duke Basketball fan, a habitual supporter of the ASPCA, and her heart belonged to the Blue Ridge Mountains. She had an intense infatuation with all children, especially her nieces and nephews and their children. She was so much to so many people, and will be missed by many.
Lisa is survived by her brother; Samuel “Sam” Walker, nephew and nieces; Cody Walker, Brittany Earl and Katie Walker, Daniel Cox and Aaron Earl. great nephew and nieces; Tyler Cox, Jordyn Earl, Tessa Earl, Axel Earl and Andrea Mangum, cousins; Jeanette Perry, Jay Pearce and Carolyn Smith, step-nieces and nephews; Amanda Romanik, Skyler Martin and Sebastyan Martin, sister-in-law; Kimberly Romanik and a friend of the family; Garrett Baird.
Lisa has requested no service to be held.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the SPCA of Wake County 200 Pet Finder Lane Raleigh, NC 27603. www.spcawake.org
Friends may visit with the family from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Sunday evening October 29, 2023 at the Bright Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Wake Forest, NC.
www.brightfunerals.com
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Betty Gray Fuller
Betty Gray Fuller passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023.
She is preceded in death by her parents William David Fuller and Pauline Henry Fuller; Brothers James Wilfred Fuller, Alfred Lee Fuller and one Sister Lois Fuller Bell.
Betty is Survived by her Brother Charles Curtis Fuller and wife Barbara.
Betty worked for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety until her retirement in 2020. She graduated from Youngsville High School in 1973 and attended Vance-Granville Community Collage. She was a member of Woodland Baptist Church.
Betty loved her family and always enjoyed time with them. She especially loved her Nieces and Nephews and considered them her children. She was happiest when she could hold and play with the babies. Betty loved the lord and is rejoicing in heaven with Jesus and loved ones.
A Celebration of life will be held at Woodland Baptist Church on November 4, 2023. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Followed by the Service at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow in the Youngsville Town Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimers Association, 5171 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, N.C.27612 are appreciated.
The Family would like to thank Hillside Nursing and Rehabilitation in Wake Forest for their kind and generous care.
A Service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center (919-556-5811)
please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.
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