Yolanda Helen Arnone Sonnessa Whittaker
Raleigh
Yola, or as she was affectionately known as YoYo, was a born and bred New Yorker. She was the only daughter of Christina and Anthony Arnone. Yola was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Tony, who passed away in 1988, and second husband, James, who passed away in December 2014. She is survived by her older brother, Frank Arnone of South Carolina, and her younger brother, Bob Arnone of New York. She is also survived by her loving children, daughters Sandy Sonnessa and husband, Steve Price, and their daughters, Kara and Megan Price, Gerry Sonnessa Weinberger and husband, Richard; son Josh and wife, Emile, and their daughter, Liza Weinberger, son Bob Sonnessa and wife, Sherry, and their daughter, Whitney Armor, and son Jonah and daughters, Kelsea and Erin Sonnessa. She is also survived by James’ sons: Chris Whittaker and children, Alley and Brock, and Corey Whittaker and wife ,Lisa, and children, Jacob and Rebecca.
A memorial service honoring her life was held at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, May 12, 2015, at Hope Lutheran Church.
Yola was a second-generation Italian career woman who was a Navy wife, worked for Montgomery Wards, C & P Telephone and later became a Staff Manager of Training and Development for Corporate AT&T in Basking Ridge, N.J.
Yola and Jim retired to Raleigh, where they joined many local community groups and became active members of Hope Lutheran Church.
Yola loved the Lord and helping people around her. She had a zest for living life to the fullest extent possible.
Yola passed away peacefully on May 8, 2015, surrounded by her family. She will be missed by so many more family and close friends upon whose lives she made an indelible mark.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Duke Raleigh Cancer Center for their support of our mother during her treatment. A special thanks to the staff at Griswold Home Care for their loving care of our mother during her final days. Finally the family wants to extend our sincere gratitude for ALL the prayers and support from the staff and residents of The Gardens at Wakefield Plantation and all others who visited her during this time.
Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer, Society 8300 Health Park Suite 10 Raleigh, NC 27615 or to Transitions Hospice, 250 Hospice Circle Raleigh, NC 27607.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
David William Johnson
Wake Forest
David William Johnson, 18, of Wake Forest died Wednesday, May 6, 2015. He was born in Boston, Mass., the beloved son of Cheri Harrington Johnson and David Paul Johnson.
Funeral services were held at 7 o’clock Tuesday evening, May 12, 2015, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
David is survived by his parents, Cheri Harrington Johnson of Wake Forest and David Johnson of Raleigh; his sister, Madison Johnson of Wake Forest; grandparents, William and Beverly Johnson, Carol and Tommy Marshall and Nelda Freeman; aunts and uncles, Steve Johnson, Bill Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Nancy Johnson Chavez, Paula Johnson Harrington, Kristie Harrington Callahan, Lisa Harrington Coker, Freda Harrington Amerson, Cynthia Harrington Oliphant and Nikki Freeman; and cousins, Nicole Johnson Boyko, Michael Johnson, James Harrington, Hannah Harrington, Elizabeth Callahan and Finnegan Callahan.
In celebration of David’s life, in lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the David W. Johnson Fund. All donations will be dispersed by the family to depression awareness organizations. Please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/u56s44
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Vivian “Bea” Floyd Rogers
Louisburg
Vivian “Bea” Floyd Rogers, 103, of Louisburg, passed away Wednesday May 6, 2015 at the Louisburg Nursing Center. She was born in Franklin County, the daughter of the late Charles Victor Floyd and Minnie Ballentine Floyd.
Ms. Bea, as she was fondly known, was the owner/operator of Bea’s Place in Bunn. She was widely recognized for the wonderful food she served, especially her slaw. Always a colorful character, she could be selective about serving anyone who was not a regular customer. But by the same token, she would be the first to deliver food to a family in need or experiencing a death in the family. She loved dogs and wanted to rescue every one that needed a home.
Graveside funeral services were held at 3 o’clock Friday afternoon, May 8, 2015, at Bunn Town Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. William H. Haley officiating.
Mrs. Rogers is survived by her nephew, Charles Floyd and wife, Sue, of Louisburg; great-nephews, Jonathan Floyd and Adam Floyd and wife, Kristin, all of Louisburg; great-great-niece, Abigail Floyd; great-great-nephew, Nicholas Floyd and Adam Floyd Jr. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ollie Tant and Ellis Rodgers.
Because of her love for dogs, memorial contributions can be made to the Franklin County Humane Society, P.O. Box 338 Youngsville, NC 27596.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Hurley Brantley Sr.
Wake Forest
Hurley Brantley Sr., 83, of Wake Forest passed away peacefully May 6, 2015, with his family near at Hillside Nursing Center. He was born April 4, 1932, in Nash County, the son of the late Lawrence and Belzie Brantley.
Funeral services were held at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon, May 9, 2015, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Faile and the Rev. Gary Williams officiating. Burial was in the Brantley Family Cemetery in Middlesex.
Mr. Brantley is survived by his wife, Margaret W. Brantley; sons, Herley Brantley Jr. aand wife, Janet, James Lawrence Brantley and wife, Alice ,and Jesse Frank Brantley and wife, Cheryl; brother, Worley Brantley; sisters, Shirley Wood and Shelby Lucas; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his step-mother, Annie Lee Thorne Brantley; brothers, Sonnie, Herbert, Earlie, Ervin Brantley and Berlie Brantley; and by a faithful servant to the Brantley family, Sissie Deans.
Memorial contributions may be made to Glen Royal Baptist Church, 731 Elizabeth Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Pallbearers were Terry Lewis, Joey Wood, David Brantley, Nick Jones, Mike Underhill, and Kyle Keaton.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Beverly Vae Chambers
Wake Forest
Beverly Vae Chambers, 83, of Wake Forest passed away Friday evening, May 1, 2015, at WakeMed. She was born in Edinburg, Texas, to the late Allison Beverly Chambers and Hazel Keller Chambers.
Ms. Chambers resided in Texas from 1931 to 1997. She devoted her earlier adult life to raising her children and serving in various church and social activities including FBC, Dallas, the Richardson Garden Club and the DAR. In 1978, Ms. Chambers graduated from Lesley College of Boston, Mass., with a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education. She started her own preschool, The Red Balloon, which she operated for 19 years. In 1997, she retired in Wake Forest and enjoyed being with her grandchildren, reading books, and writing family and friends.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Ms. Chambers will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Thomason Funeral Home, Wimberley, Texas, followed by a private burial at the cemetery.
Ms. Chambers is survived by her daughter, Betty Lawson and husband, Greg Lawson, of Wake Forest; sons, William P. “Pat” Patton and wife, Lynette, of El Paso, Texas, Mark Patton and wife, Jana, of Arlington, Texas, and James Patton and wife, Ginny, of Anchorage, Alaska; sister, Shirley Campbell of Wimberley, Texas; brother, Robert Chambers and wife, Lois, of Lufkin, Texas; eleven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service at Thomason Funeral Home.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
