Betty Brooks Daniel
Betty was born in Roxboro (Person County) in North Carolina. She was the oldest daughter of Robert Daniel and Ethel Brooks Daniel. She grew up on a farm and graduated from Roxboro High School in 1960. She was voted “Most Studious” by her class.
Attending East Carolina University, she received her degree in Library Science in 1966, and her Master’s in 1978. She worked in Johnston County, Reidsville City Schools, Randolph County Schools, the Rocky Mount Public Library, and Sampson County Schools. She retired from Clement Elementary School in June 1999, where she had been the media center specialist and a reading teacher.
Betty loved to read. She liked butterflies and collected many objects with them on it. She also was fond of cats. She enjoyed going to the beach, and other travels.
In 2001 she moved to Laurinburg, to be closer to her sister, Shirley Daniel Jones, and her family. She joined the First Methodist Church and participated in many study groups. She was a member of the St. Andrews Book Club, Scotch Gardeners Garden Club, and Senior Place. She also worked part time as a tutor and volunteer in the library at Scotland High
Alex Ryburn Daughety
My husband, Alex Ryburn Daughety, was born and raised in a small community in Eastern North Carolina. He grew up on a small farm with his sisters, Zana (Daughety-Grant) and Minnie (Daughety-Savage). His parents, Estelle and Jeff Alexander Daughety, raised a smart, bright, funny man that became a part of my life in 1981.
Alex and I have two children, Amy Frances and Erick Daniel. We all remember Alex for many things, some of them his love of sports, family, and ketchup! Anyone that knew him knew of his love of ketchup, and yes, he even tried it on chocolate cake. We all remember him for this funny and somewhat strange sense of humor. He could make people laugh without effort.
Diane, wife
Dad helped me get my first job. He was easygoing for the most part, although he was a man who flew by the seat of his pants, sometimes. Everything he told me about life came true. I wish I could go back and listen to what he had to say now. I’m thankful that God allowed us to work together for the last few weeks of his life. He helped make me the lady I am today, and until we meet again, just know how much I miss you and love you.
Amy, daughter
Helen Davidson
For a woman who was blessed by God in many ways, it was easy to be a blessing to someone else. Helen had a great belief in the power of God, and always wanted to share the love she had with everyone else. She has been an inspiration to her neighbors, and a blessing to her family. Helen gave comfort to many people without even knowing it. It could be in a hand shake, just a drop of the head, sometimes just a wink of the eye, or just a smile – sometimes a prayer at the midnight hour. When it seemed like no one else cared, she’d be near in prayer.
Helen tried to be understanding of everyone, no matter what anyone else may have thought, and never considered a person’s past, but their future. Even in the midst of her sickness she tried to be a help to others in any way she could.
We, her family, believe that even during our great loss, by giving her eyes to someone else, she was able to help and share once again. We only hope that the persons that received her eyes will allow them to shine and make a difference to whoever might look into them.
Joshua Tyler (Josh) Dean
My son, Joshua, was the youngest of three sons. He turned 19 on June 30, 2003, and passed away on July 1, 2003. He was a very vibrant young man with love for so many. He was a very giving young man with a smile that would light up a room. He enjoyed fishing, riding three wheelers, hanging with his friends, and the time he was with his older brothers, Jason and Jeremy.
I am a single Mom and Josh was still living at home with me at the time of his death. He is missed tremendously. I always called him my “darlin’ angel” and now I know he is my guardian angel. He is in a better place today and I look forward to being with him again.
When I first heard of his death, my first thought was organ donor. I am so thankful that my son’s eyes were able to provide sight for two people. As painful and devastating as his death has been to me, there was some good that came out of it.
Becky Dean, Joshua’s Mom
Jeffrey William DeckerJeff’s eyes were the bluest of blue, and twinkled with mischief from the day he was born. The men in GQ didn’t have anything on him when it came to his gorgeous smile. He had a vibrant personality, and a zest for life that was contagious. Anyone who met him was in one way or another affected by him.
Jeff loved to listen to music. He would listen to country, techno, hard rock, rap…you name it. It didn’t matter what type it was as long as it was loud. He loved horses and started showing Arabians when he was only 4 years old. His biggest joy in life, though, was riding motorcycles. He had no fear – jumping over or going through anything that came up in front of or around him. The faster he could ride, the happier he was.
Jeff had a heart bigger than Texas and loved little children and animals. Two of his “best friends” were two little girls ages 7 and 8 who absolutely adored him. He had a puppy named Benji and another dog named Lil’ Bit, a registered pit bull that he bought with his own money so that a friend with a male could breed them and sell the puppies to have money to help take care of his baby.
From the time he was old enough to realize what it was, Jeff just wanted to have fun. He hated to see people sad, and always wanted people to smile. He packed more fun in his short 17 years than most people will ever have in a lifetime, and we are very grateful for that.
John Robert DeHart
John Dehart was a quiet, gentle man who loved God and
his family. Born in the mountains of NC in Swain County, Johnny was the youngest of eight children. The pride of his life was his only granddaughter, Christina Marie Hensley. He was 62 when she was born and was always thankful that he lived long enough to have those seven years with her.
He was an upholsterer of fine furniture and was proud of the furniture he built, because he always did his best. He never had the opportunity to get much education, but was self-educated about nature, the world, and history more than most of us can imagine. He loved the History channel on TV, Discovery Channel, Fox news and CNN. I often remarked that he could have been a rocket scientist, if he had the education.
Johnny could fix most anything. He would figure out what he needed in order to accomplish a task, then do it. Something I thought was impossible, he could fix. Repairmen did not come to our house. They do now, since we no longer have our “Mr. Fix It.” He was a good friend to all he met, and especially his mother-in-law, Hazel Yarborough. He was always there for her, to fix and repair whatever needed to be done, and often drove her to do her errands when he could.
He loved to fish in his native mountains and at the coast. His fishing buddy was his daughter, April, when she was young, but his longtime fishing buddy was his brother-in-law, William Griffin, who died in an accident in 1999. He never got over Will’s death. Johnny was not a hunter. He could never kill anything.
Johnny would have wanted this eye donation made in honor of our 33 year old friend and neighbor, Karen Campbell, who has Retinitis Pigmentosa, and we pray for help for her and those like her.
His family (Opal, April, Christina, Joel and Brenda) pray
God’s blessings on your work.
Joshua Lee DesJardins
On Friday evening, 12/26/03, Josh and I discussed our plans
for the weekend and for New Year’s Eve. He then snuggled up to me and we fell asleep. The next morning I watched him as he left for work. The idea I would never see Josh again had never crossed my mind. I received the call that no one wants – I was told there had been a medical emergency involving Josh and I was to get to the hospital as soon as I could. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to face. Josh passed away on Sunday, 12/28/03.
Josh was a correctional officer at Central Prison in Raleigh. He enjoyed his job and was the one everyone went to when they were looking for the best man. He had recently started a part time job at WalMart, and prior to that had worked at Harris Teeter. He did all he could to provide for us. He had many hopes and dreams for the two of us, and was working very hard to make each one come true.
Josh was a quiet guy. He never tried to impress anyone, but his great personality impressed everyone he came in contact with. He had beautiful brown eyes and a handsome smile that would warm your heart. He was a loving, caring, supportive, dedicated, handsome, Christian man. He was always willing to help others and would put their needs before his own.
By donating his corneas, he once again helped someone else. He made friends quickly, and once he made a friend, he would always be there for that person. There was a steady stream of people for over two hours at the funeral home visitation. Over 400 people came to his funeral. What a wonderful tribute to Josh!
His favorite things to do included hunting, fishing, playing basketball, and Nintendo. He also spent a great deal of time playing with our dog named Baby. Spending quiet evenings at home together was very important to him.
Josh and I were married for 22 months. Including the time we dated, we were together exactly three years and eight months. The Lord put us together just when I had given up on finding “Mr. Right.” He was a wonderful husband and we made many happy memories. Josh was not only my husband, but my best friend. Facing each day without him has been very difficult. A few things that keep me going are knowing that he is in Heaven with my mom, watching over me, and that he will always live in my heart, and one day I will see him again.
I think if I could write to him, it would go something likes this: Josh, you were taken so suddenly. I have so many unanswered questions. I know God is in control, and He does everything right. I just wish you, my angel, weren’t in heaven tonight. I wish you were here with me, but I know that you are in a place of eternal happiness, and I would not want to take you from that. I believe, as you did, that our love can reach across eternity. You will be a part of me and in my heart forever. Always remember that I love you very much. I know if you were here you would say, no, I love you more!
Love, “Sweetpea: (Pam)
