Harold Smith ‘Hal’ Atkinson Jr.
Raleigh
Mr. Harold Smith “Hal” Atkinson, Jr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, April 21, 2024 in Raleigh, NC at the age of 80.
Born on May 11, 1943 in Franklin, VA to Harold “Big Daddy” and Mary Ellen Atkinson, Hal began his lifelong dedication to the fire service as a volunteer fireman with the Franklin Fire Department at the age of 16. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and was proud to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Hal attended NC State (1961-65) and earned his BS in Zoology and Wildlife Management. Upon graduation, Hal was employed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission as a wildlife biologist. He was later named Chief of Wildlife Management and he served in that role until his retirement in 1998. The same year, Hal was honored to receive the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award which is the highest award for state service granted by the Office of the Governor.
Hal met and married his wife, Barbara, in 1966 and they were blessed with two daughters, Pam and Susan. The family moved to Wake County in 1976 and joined Bay Leaf Baptist Church in 1977 where Hal served faithfully in many roles. He was active in the Buchanan and Faith 5 Sunday School classes, worked on the Wednesday night supper committee for over 20 years, and served two terms on the Bay Leaf Deacon Board.
For 62 years, Hal served his community as a member of the local fire department. After settling in Wake County, Hal joined the Bay Leaf Fire Department where he made deep friendships that continued for decades. He served as Volunteer Chief of BLFD from 1981-1993 and was named Fire Chief Emeritus by the BLFD Board of Directors in 1994. Following his retirement from active duty, Hal served on the Bay Leaf/Northern Wake Fire Department Board of Directors for 27 years. He turned in his pager and retired in 2021.
In addition to chasing fire trucks, Hal enjoyed being in the woods calling turkeys, riding his tractor, and fishing on the Chowan River. His 4th of July celebrations at the river will certainly be missed.
Hal was preceded in death by his parents and his uncle, Laurie Vaughn Atkinson.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his two daughters, Pam Naglieri (Len) and Susan Tweed (Norman) and four grandchildren, Ben Naglieri (Victoria), Andrew Naglieri (Keely), Max Tweed (Vivian), and Kailey Tweed, and 3 great-grandchildren, Hannah, Lucas, and Micah Naglieri.
The family would like to express their appreciation for the care and support they received from Bayada Home Health and Transitions Life Care.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 o’clock Saturday morning, June 8, 2024 at Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC.
Friends may visit with the family from 9:30am – 10:45am at the church prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bay Leaf Baptist Church Benevolent Fund at 12200 Bayleaf Church Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
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Arturo A. Granados-Leon
Franklinton
Arturo A. Granados-Leon, 80, of Franklinton, NC, passed away on Friday, April 19, 2024.
A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St. Wake Forest, NC 27587. Burial will follow at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, 770 Stadium Dr. Wake Forest, NC 27587.
The family invites those unable to attend to view the service via livestream at: Arturo Granados-Leon Livestream Service
A complete obituary will be made available soon.
Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Bright Funeral Home is serving the Granados-Leon family.
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Laura Jean Mauney
Youngsville
Laura Jean Mauney, 96, of Youngsville, NC, formerly of Shelby, passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Jean was born in Bessemer City, NC on December 10, 1927 to the late Lawrence Gerald and Mary Ella Rhyne. She graduated from Bessemer City High School and Shelby Hospital School of Nursing. After passing the state board for her Registered Nurse’s License, she worked at Shelby Hospital and later retired from PPG Industries as their Occupational Nurse. In her free time, she enjoyed volunteering for many years as a nurse for Cleveland County Blood Mobile.
She was a member of Central United Methodist Church while living in Shelby, NC and joined Maple Springs United Methodist Church in Winston Salem, NC.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jeanne Mauney, Sandy (Kenneth) Fox; grandchildren, Michael (Melissa) Swanson, Jennifer (Chris) Baker; great-granddaughters, Katie, and Mikayla Swanson; and great-great-grandson, Oaklen Buckingham.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in memory of Jean Mauney to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alz.org or Transitions Lifecare of Raleigh at www.transitionslifecare.org.
A family graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, April 22, 2024 at Elizabeth Baptist Cemetery in Shelby, NC.
Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Bright Funeral Home isW serving the Mauney family.
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Billy Helson George
Wake Forest
Billy Helson George, age 89, entered into rest peacefully on Saturday, April 13, 2024 in Smithfield, North Carolina.
He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Antonia Lee (Jones) George.
Bill was born January 22,1935 in Hominy Falls West Virginia, the son of Herbert and Mamie (O’Dell) George. He married his high school sweetheart, Toni Jones, and they moved to Niagara Falls, New York. After retiring from the Niagara Falls police department as a detective, he then worked as a security guard at the Summit Park Mall for many years.
He is also survived by a son Danny (Bonny) George of Hurricane, W Va, and daughter, Frances (Daniel) Wickett of Wake Forest NC and many grandchildren including Andrew (Stacie) George, Wake Forest NC, Nathan (Kate) George, Port Washington Wi, Scott (Chrisanne) George, Naples Fl, Rebecca (Andrew) Malloy, Lockport NY and Daniel (Lorrin) Wickett, Wendell NC. He is also survived by 12 great- grandchildren: Parker and Kennedy George, Hudson, Harper and Hunter George, Zoe, Ethan and Wyatt George, Maxim and Naomi Malloy, and Scarlett and Luke Wickett.
He is survived by 3 brothers- Ronald (Kathryn) George, Craigsville WVA, Donald George, Nettie WVA, Troy (Marilyn) George, Leivasy WVA and he is preceded in death by 4 brothers—Henry, Melvin, Denzil, and Boyd George and 4 sisters—Ethel George, Marie Orndorff, Maraine Jones and Zela McClung.
As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Bill loved studying the Bible and sharing its good news with others. He looked forward to being resurrected to life in the future earthly paradise that Jehovah God has promised in the Scriptures.
Bill and Toni enjoyed many leisure activities such as fishing, camping and boating. Bill also enjoyed all kinds of sports. He was a star football player at Richwood High school, Richwood WVA and was a pitcher and home run champ in the NF Police Athletic League. Bill especially loved spending time with his family.
There will be no prior visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 6320 Fox Rd., Raleigh, NC 27616
Time: 1pm on Wednesday April 24th, 2024
In lieu of flowers donations may be made on the “donation ” tab on – JW.org.
Arrangements in the care of Bright Funeral Home.
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Chukwuemeka Simeon Ugo
Wake Forest
Chukwuemeka Simeon Ugo 65, of IMO state Nigeria passed away peacefully in His sleep on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Chukwuemeka was born in Imo state , Nigeria on March 15, 1958 to the late Nze Dennis Chukwuemeka Njoku and Lolo Rose Njoku .
He was a very kind, happy, generous, and hardworking man who loved his family and friends with all his heart. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and uncle.
He is survived by his wife, daughter, Sahanah, brothers, Ogbonna and Okeychukwu, and sister, Nnenne. With many nieces and nephews. In addition to His parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Uchechukwu Njoku and Nnamdi Njoku.
To Know him was to love him, Ugo as he’s popularly called will be remembered for his warm and cheerful smile, his Kind heart, his hard work ethic, respect for all those in which he crossed paths and his Funny sense of humor.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 9am-11am on Sunday, April 21st 2024 at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St. Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Funeral Mass and Burial Ceremony will be held at a later date in his home country.
Beloved UGO, you’ll be deeply missed, and We Love you.
Bright Funeral Home is serving the Ugo family.
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Brennan A. Nicholas
Youngsville
Brennen passed peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of April 11, 2024. In his brief time with us, he brought immense joy, love, and light into our lives.
Brennen was a little leader, making sure everyone was behaving and following the rules, always aware, enjoyed learning about Jehovah, reading, had a big imagination, and his perspective of the world was far beyond his years. He was his brother’s keeper, very protective and loving of his older brother Bryson.
Brennen will forever be remembered for his big smile.
“See you later alligator, after a while crocodile”
Following are the service dates
Date: Friday, April 19, 2024
10 AM Wake
Bright Funeral Home
405 S Main St, R
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Viewing 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
12 PM Service
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
1913 Trawick Rd
Raleigh Nc 27604
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Francis Kelly Uveges
Rolesville
Francis Kelly Uveges, 92, proud father and grandfather, steadfast Christian, and veteran of the Korean War, passed away on April 11, 2024.
Born a coal miner’s son in Cassandra, Pennsylvania on April 24, 1931, he pulled himself up from these humble beginnings to receive an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant form the US Army in the Korean War, and became a successful entrepreneur, owning dry-cleaning businesses and a floral shop in Binghamton, New York where he lived, worked, and raised a family of 6 for over 60 years.
A devoted husband and father, Francis was preceded in death by his beloved partner and wife, Mary Cecilia Uveges. They had been married for 43 years.
Francis is survived by his four children: Joyce Kelly, Frances Virun, Nancy McSally, Richard Uveges, their spouses and seven grandchildren.
Francis was an avid golfer who could always be found practicing his game or playing a round. He loved football, baseball and basketball, especially his Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates (legend has it he may have won a tidy amount of money on Bill Mazeroski’s home run to beat the hated Yankees and win the 1960 World Series!).
Francis was a member of Richland Creek Community Church in Wake Forest, NC and prior to that a member of First Baptist Church in Johnson City, NY.
Francis lived a full, long life. As a devout Christian, he would often cite that he was “ready to meet his Maker.” We find joy and comfort in the fact that he has done just that.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The COPD foundation:
Arrangements in the care of Bright Funeral Home.
