Commander Rebecca (Becky) Sparks, USN (Ret.)
Commander Rebecca (Becky) Sparks, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.), went peacefully into eternity Saturday morning, January 17, 2015, following a short but hard-fought battle with cancer. Her final words, as she beamed her soul-melting smile, were “Heaven is glorious”.
A Medical Technologist by training, Becky spent 22 years managing laboratories in hospitals around the world for the Navy, and deployed to Iraq in 2004 where she commanded a surgical team that established a hospital in the Anbar Province. During her career she earned Master’s Degrees at the George Washington University and the Naval War College, but she loved most her roles as Christ follower, wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an active member of Woodland Baptist Church who would want her final comment on earth to be: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” Becky was a Lady, a scholar, a warrior, and a true child of God. Heaven will now be far more organized.
A service of Worship and Celebration will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, January 24, 2015, at Woodland Baptist Church, 190 Woodland Church Road, Wake Forest.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Frances Barnes Eppes
Wake Forest
Frances Barnes Eppes, 95, died Friday, January 16, 2015. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of the late Horace Barnes and Jewel Glover Barnes.
A memorial service will be held at 10 o’clock Thursday morning, January 22, 2015, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wake Forest where she was a member with a reception to follow. Burial will be held at 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon in Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson.
Ms. Eppes moved to Wake Forest in 1947 where she was a bookkeeper for a local business prior to joining the Wake Forest Public Library in 1973. She retired as assistant librarian in 1987.
She is survived by her nephew, C. Foster Jennings Jr. and wife, Lally, of Richmond; niece, Nancy Jennings Grey and husband, Kevin, of Richmond; great-niece and nephew, Lacy and Mac Jennings of Richmond. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Hall Eppes Jr.; son, Charles Hall Eppes III; and sister in law, Helen Eppes Jennings.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church 830 Durham Road Wake Forest, NC 27587.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Linwood L. Marshall
Wake Forest
Linwood L. Marshall, 65, died Friday, January 16, 2015. He was born in Wake County, the son of the late Pearl Catlett Marshall and Sanford Marshall.
Funeral services were held at 11 o’clock Monday morning in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial was in Wake Forest Cemetery.
Linwood is survived by his wife, Linda C. Marshall; son, Chris Marshall and wife, Paula, of Franklinton; sister, Evelyn Kinton and husband, Curtis, of Youngsville; brothers, Ennis Marshall of Louisburg, Charles Marshall and wife, Brenda, of Zebulon, Owen Marshall of Wake Forest; and granddaughter, Samantha Marshall of Franklinton.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Richard Allan ‘Rich’ Wright Sr.
Wake Forest
Richard “Rich” Allan Wright Sr., 65, passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at Rex Hospital. He was born in Orange County, N.Y., the son of the late James W. Wright and Christine Catizone Wright.
Rich was a lifetime member of Ontario Hose Company No. 5 of Middletown, N.Y., serving for over 44 years and winning Fireman of the Year in 1976. He was a salesman with E.A. Morse & Co. before moving to North Carolina, where he was employed by Lowes Home Improvement as a Facilities Service Associate. Rich attended Family of Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown, N.Y., and Crossroads Fellowship, WFR Campus in Wake Forest. He was a former standout Middletown Middie (Middletown High School) football player, and a Scoutmaster with BSA.
A celebration of Rich’s life will be held at 6 o’clock Thursday, January 22, 2015. at Crossroads Fellowship, WFR Campus.
Mr. Wright is survived by his wife of 42 years, Eileen Marie Wright; son, Richard “Rick” A. Wright Jr. and wife. Kelly, of Wake Forest; daughter, Melissa Wright of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Eve and Rebekah Wright, both of Wake Forest; brother, James Wright and wife, Kathleen, of Bloomingburg, N.Y.; sisters, Christina Gruner and husband, George, of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Judy Quick and husband, William, of Middletown, N.Y.; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service at the church.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Carol Fort Potter
Wake Forest
Carol Fort Potter, 72, died Tuesday, January 13, 2015. She was born the daughter of the late William and Sara K. Fort of Wake Forest.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 19, 2015, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
Ms. Potter is survived by her son, Frank Hollister Potter and wife, Melanie, of Creedmoor; daughter, Sarah Potter Willis and husband, Darren, of Wilmington; grandchildren, Alex and Anna Willis; sister; Sarah Wall and husband, Michael, of Raleigh; niece, Lindsey Wall; and nephew, Adam Wall.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Women’s Center of Wake County, 112 Cox Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27605.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Kimberly Leffke Crocker
Wake Forest
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Kimberly Leffke Crocker, 57, on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, after a long battle with cancer. Born and raised in Tonawanda, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late William and Eunice Leffke.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Dennis, whom she married in 1987 and who provided compassionate and unwavering care during her extended illness.
Kim is also survived by her brothers, Dr. David Leffke and wife, June, of Lynchburg, Va., and Dr. Gary Leffke and wife, Patricia, of Virginia Beach, Va. She was a wonderful aunt to her nephews, Michael Leffke and wife, Maggie, and Zach Leffke and wife, Sarah, and nieces Leslie Leffke Brians and husband, Obadiah, and Stephanie “Spike” Leffke. She is also survived by her great-nephews, Jack and newborn Tommy; sister-in-law, Donna Crocker; brother-in-law, Keith Crocker, and a niece Kassi Crocker.
An upbeat, kind woman who always sought out the good in everyone that she met. Kim had many lifelong friends who she greatly cherished and who will miss her dearly.
A memorial service honoring her life was held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, January 16, 2015, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home with the Rev. Al Thomas officiating.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
John Xavier Dwyer Sr.
Wake Forest
John Xavier Dwyer Sr., 67, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2015, at Duke Raleigh Hospital. He was born in Philadelphia County, Penn,, the son of the late James Francis Dwyer and Catherine Harvey Dwyer.
John attended Parson’s College under a football scholarship. He started his career at The Budd Company/Red Line Plant in Philadelphia as supervisor for 19 years. Upon moving to North Carolina, John was self-employed.
John filled a room with love and joy through a bright smile, loving conversation and his larger than life personality. At the center of his world was his wife, Lucille. He cherished his family and friends with all of his heart every day.
He enjoyed playing golf with his sons, grandson and many friends. He took great pleasure being at the beach and watching his family grow around him. John made everyone feel special, important and loved.We are all going to miss you, BIG GUY!
A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 o’clock Wednesday morning, January 21, 2015. at Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.
Mr. Dwyer is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lucille Ann Dwyer; sons, John X. Dwyer, Jr. and wife. Miriam. of Charlotte and Chris Dwyer and wife, Gwen, of Wake Forest; grandchildren, John X. Dwyer III, Lauren Dwyer and Josh Dwyer, all of Charlotte, Taylor Dwyer of Jacksonville, Fla., Maxwell Dwyer, Zachary Dwyer and Grant Dwyer, all of Wake Forest; great-grandchild, Delaney Dwyer of Jacksonville, Fla.; siblings, Kathy McCaffery, James Dwyer, Judy Hoepfl, Patricia Schull, Mary Jane McDevitt, Michael Dwyer and Kevin Dwyer; and extended family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Duke Raleigh Cancer Center, 3404 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Angela Grieco
Raleigh
Angela Grieco, 75, died Monday, January 19, 2015, at Rex Hospital. She was born in New York City, the daughter of the late Lucille Tilsalio Carinci and Victor Carinci. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Leticia Piluso.
A memorial service will be held 1 o’clock Friday afternoon, January 23, 2015, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.
Mrs. Grieco is survived by her husband, Joseph Grieco; daughters, Victoria Knott and husband, Charles, of Raleigh, Elisa Canipe of Four Oaks and Nicole Barros and husband, Scott, of Massachusetts; a son, Joseph Grieco Jr. of Greensboro; and grandchildren, Anthony, Zachery, Jonathon, Cody, Hannah, Joseph, Adam, Maya, Ryenne and Aegis.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or to the American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, Va. 22312.
Friends may visit with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2015, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest.
