Mildred Vick ‘Foxy’ Wilkinson
Raleigh and North Topsail Beach
Mildred Vick “Foxy” Wilkinson, 66, of Raleigh and North Topsail Beach crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Topsail Island to answer The Lord’s call. In the end it was her sweet heart, a gift to so many, that lifted her to Heaven.
Born November 7, 1953 in Kinston to George Elliott and Betsy Patterson Vick. Mildred is survived by her husband William Andrew Wilkinson III “Andy;” her children, Audrey Wilkinson Loder (Brad), Courtney Wilkinson Kane (Jonathan), and William Andrew Wilkinson IV “Drew” (Sarah); her grandchildren, Emerson (8) and Miles (6) Loder, Bowen (4) and Collier (1) Kane. Mildred was the fifth of six siblings and is survived by her brother, Gilbert Vick (Laura) of Durham; sisters, Betsy Vick Leder (Charles) of Miami, Florida and Laura Vick Dillard of Raleigh; brothers, George “Bud” Vick (Anne) and Simon Vick (Gretchen) of Kinston;
her mother-in-law, Martha Wilkinson, and sister-in-law, Judy Brock of Raleigh; 16 nieces and nephews, many cousins and extended family. She was predeceased by her father-in-law, William Andrew Wilkinson Jr., and Kenan Brock of Raleigh.
Mildred was born in Kinston, a place that shaped who she was as a person. She graduated from Kinston High School in 1971 before moving to Raleigh for her college education. First, it was Peace College where she received an associate in arts degree in 1973 before she continued on to N.C. State University, where she met her life partner, Andy. She graduated in 1975 with a bachelor of science degree in parks and recreation. Go Pack!
Andy and Mildred lived in Raleigh until they built their family home in the woods of Wake Forest.
Upon moving to Wake Forest in 1980, Mildred found St. John’s Episcopal Church. During her 40-year tenure with the church, Mildred served as Sunday School teacher, coordinator, vestry member, Junior warden, chairman of long-range building and grounds committee, among many other roles.
Mildred was also very involved in the community and her children’s schools. She was a member of Wake Forest Junior Woman’s Club (1981-1986) and its president (1984). She was active in the PTA starting in 1985. She served as committee chair (1986,1987), parent volunteer, fundraiser, and teacher appreciation. She was president of the Wake Forest Elementary PTA (1988-1990) and president of the Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School PTA (1994-1996).
Mildred was a dedicated mother and spent the majority of her time raising her three children. When she got back into work she found her ideal role in human rsources for Wilkinson Supply. While Andy was the brains of the operations, Mildred was the heart and soul. She continued to be a mother figure to the employees and a confidant to all.
Mildred lived her life for adventure and love. Her favorite times were spent down at Topsail with her family. She would photograph wildlife and birds, she would fish, body surf, garden, paint, and drink a little wine. Most of all she would spoil her grandkids and provide unfiltered commentary and rolling laughter.
Mildred’s personality was unlike any other. She had such a long reach and impacted so many around her. She was an incredibly strong and positive person with a heart of gold. Mildred never met a stranger. She was a friend to all and so many people leaned on her for support and encouragement. She was authentic. She could connect on such a personal level instantly. While she was able to be a sound voice, she never took herself too seriously. She would laugh at herself and the crazy world around her.
Heaven just got a lot more fun!
Donations can be made to: The Episcopal Farm Worker Ministry
https://episcopalfarmworkerministry.org/ and/or to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center https://www.seaturtlehospital.org
A private service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Mario Anthony Solla
Wake Forest
Mario Anthony Solla, 78, passed away on August 1, 2020 in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Burial will be at Christ The King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Arrangements are being handled by Scanlans Funeral Home in Pompton Plains.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Edith Henrietta Venie Shamblin
Edith Henrietta Venie Shamblin passed away Monday, August 3, 2020, at her home.
There will be no public visitation or service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org or by mail to Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131, to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alzfdn.org or to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Myrl Christine Wiggin West
Myrl Christine Wiggins West went home to be with Jesus in the early morning of August 6, 2020. She was born July 17, 1925 at the family home in the Flat Rock community of Franklin County to loving parents, James “Jimmy” Wiggins and Norna Marshall Wiggins.
Christine had a wonderful childhood and she often talked of growing up on the farm with her parents and brother, Ellis, whom she loved dearly. Christine was an independent working woman. She worked factory jobs over the years where she met many friends, particularly at Burlington Mills in Franklinton and Aerotron in Raleigh.
Christine was a loving and patient caretaker of her family. She cared for her father for many years after his stoke and visited him every day to make sure he had what he needed. Many times, she would say, “I was a daddy’s girl.” She had great love and respect for her parents.
Christine had a strong Christian faith that carried her through the loss of loved ones and many hard times in her life. She would often say, “Leave it in the Lord’s hands.” She was a faithful member of Flat Rock Baptist Church and Sandy Creek Baptist Church.
Christine lost her first husband, Melvin Harris, and grieved greatly over his loss. She would speak of him fondly and had many stories of his good sense of humor.
She later married Hal West and they had a great life together. They enjoyed camping and traveling. Sadly, Hal died in 1986 after a long-fought illness.
Christine was preceded in death by her mother, Norna Marshall Wiggins; father, James Green Wiggins; brother, Ellis Green Wiggins; sister-in-law, Grace Wiggins; and niece, Gracie Mae Little. She is survived by her step-daughter, Sandra Gupton, who was at her bedside when she passed away; son-in-law, Richard Gupton; grandson, Johnathan Gupton; great-grandsons, Johnathan Gupton Jr., and Timothy Gupton; her nephew, Ellis “EG” Wiggins Jr. and wife,Vickie, of Ohio; great-nieces, Barbara “BJ” Wiggins and Kelly Phillips of Ohio; great-nephew, Chris Little and wife, Janis, of Georgia; great-nephew, Tim Little of Ohio; great-niece, Kim Hudgins and husband, Richard, of Tennessee; great-nephew, Jimmy “Charlie Brown” Little and wife, Sharon, who spent many hours assisting in her care; and cousins, Jean Preddy, Landis Preddy, and Craig, Melody, Colin, and Sarah Hedgepeth.
A graveside funeral service was held at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2020, at Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Gary McNair officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Flat Rock Baptist Church or Sandy Creek Baptist Church, both of Louisburg, NC.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Charles Allen ‘Charlie’ Martin Jr.
Wake Forest
Charles Allen “Charlie” Martin Jr., 95, of Wake Forest passed away Monday afternoon, August 3, 2020. He was born in York, Pennsylvania to the late Charles Allen Martin Sr. and Ruth Bechtel Martin on March 4, 1925.
Mr. Martin was a veteran of the United States Army where he served honorably from July 1943 to January 1946. After the war, he received a bachelor’s degree in education from Millersville University in Pennsylvania, and taught drama at York High School in York until leaving to attend UNC-Greensboro, where he obtained a master of fine arts degree.
His love for theater from age 5 led him to a long and rewarding career at Appalachian State College in the drama department, and later as director for the N.C. State Thompson Theater. He retired from Thompson Theatre after 27 years. He was also an actor, acting at NCSU Thompson Theater as well as Raleigh Little Theater, in local TV commercials and movies.
After retiring from NCSU, he served a short tenure as acting director of Carolina Theater in Lumberton. He was employed by Ravenscroft in the fine arts department for six years, again an important engagement with the young people. All the while during Thompson Theater days until 2012, he directed theater tour groups to London each summer. After Ravenscroft, he spent his time substituting at area public and private schools where he left a lasting impression on the students and faculty he met. He was involved as a judge in the local North Carolina Senior Games for many years. He and his wife have been active members of Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church for almost 40 years and not only will his family miss him but everyone he met.
A celebration of Charlie’s life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the University Theatre Enhancement Fund and Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church Foundation.
Mr. Martin is survived by his wife of 37 years, Marie Partin Baird Martin; step-children, Maria Baird Plentl and husband, Will Plentl III, of Raleigh and Derek Baird and wife, Stephanie Farrant-Baird of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Morgan and Cooper Plentl, both of Raleigh; stepdaughter, Kristina Martin Fowler of Wendell; and a host of extended family and friends.
A service of Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC. (919)556-7400
www.cswfuneralhome.com
Jean Ray Harrison
Wake Forest
Jean Ray Harrison, 82, of Wake Forest, passed away on Tuesday morning, August 11, 2020, at Rex Healthcare in Raleigh. She was born in Wake County, the daughter of the late Rebecca Carter Ray and Samuel Buckner Ray, and was a member of Stony Hill Baptist Church. She loved flowers and working in her garden, she loved her family and enjoyed traveling.
A graveside funeral service will be held at 11 o’clock Friday morning, August 14, 2020, at Stony Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Mayfield officiating. Due to Covid-19, face coverings and social distancing are requested.
Jean is survived by her husband of 64 years, Lester Harrison; son, Glenn Harrison and wife, Patty, of Wake Forest; sister, Brenda Barbee of Wake Forest; brothers, Charlie Ray of Wake Forest and Gerald Ray of Greensboro; grandchildren, Daniel Harrison, Shannon Harrison, Jessica Eason, and Josh Harrison; great-grandchildren, Makayla Eason, Kyle Eason, Makensie Eason, Brody Harrison, and Elizabeth Harrison. She was preceded in death by her sons, Gordon Harrison and Greg Harrison, and by her brothers, Sammy Ray and Steve Ray.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
www.brightfunerals.com