Nancy Weaver Emerson
Nancy Weaver Emerson rose from cancer patient to valued counselor first as a volunteer, and then leader at Duke University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. She assisted hundreds of people and was loved by all of them.
First diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982, she was told the difficulty of facing recurrence several years later. Chosen as national cancer survivor of the year for Coping magazine, she said in an interview that at first, when she closed her eyes, she saw a big black sign like a billboard with the big black word CANCER. “I focused on the first three letters of that big black word,” Emerson said. “CAN, not cancer.” And that, plus fate, is what led her on for more than 20 years.
Nancy worked in banking when she was diagnosed, but she went on to volunteer for the Cancer Center, and then in 1990, she started to work there. She was director of major projects and assistant director of development and communications until stepping down in early 2003, to concentrate on fighting the disease.
She received the Patient Support Programs Jonquils Award in May and was also honored in 2000 with a light atop Duke’s Christmas “Tree of Hope.” She had begun the Tree of Hope project in 1990, as a way to pay tribute to cancer patients, family members, friends, and staff members.
A native of Watauga County, she is survived by her husband, John, her mother, Gertrude, three sisters and three brothers.
Joe S. Everhardt
Joe S. Everhardt was a kind and gentle person who enjoyed all sports, especially NASCAR. He was a Chevrolet salesperson for about fifteen years, so of course he was happiest when a Chevrolet won, especially Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Jr. Most Sunday afternoons in the summer he would be at the pool, teaching his grandchildren to swim and listening to the race. He was an excellent swimmer and loved showing the kids proper form.
When he was able physically, he loved to travel in the NC mountains, enjoying the Blue Ridge Parkway in all seasons. Myrtle Beach, SC was another favorite spot. He had also traveled to Hawaii, Cancun, and had gone on cruises.
Joe was the only child of Lillian and George Everhardt. He was going to be named after his father. However, two of his older cousins couldn’t say George, so he became Joe, at their insistence, or so his mother loved to tell. His mother was an elementary school teacher. I don’t know if it was her instruction or that he was just so smart, but Joe skipped first grade and therefore graduated high school at seventeen.
I know that Joe would be proud of me for his donation, because he was that kind of person. If there was anything he could do for anyone, he would do it.
