Kenneth Daniels
July 25, 1937 – September 10, 2007
Kenneth Daniels was a jack of all trades. His most important job was being a servant to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was an awesome servant from setting the greatest of examples to serving as a deacon and a building committee member, to singing in the choir and even driving the VBS bus.
Kenneth was also a loving son who helped take care of his elderly mother and was a wonderful brother who would never let you down.
Kenneth was married to the love of his life for 52 years and was honored to have the title of husband and then father. His only daughter gave him his only granddaughter and she gave him two great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.
Even with that much family Kenneth still looked for people who needed love. He was always on the go. If he wasn’t working at the frame shop where he spent most of his life and retired from, he was on the road pickin’ and grinnin’. Kenneth was a founding member of the bluegrass band “The Sugar Loaf Ramblers” for over 40 years. He could play many instruments, but stuck mainly with the mandolin and fiddle, and played all by ear – he couldn’t read a note of music. If that wasn’t enough, Kenneth spent many hours in his woodshop fixing toys and creating crafts that will be treasured for years to come. He had a small engine repair shop and loved to spend time in the garden and on the tractor.
There are may things about Kenneth that we will never forget, but most of all we will never forget his heart. It was made of gold, had Christ in the center of it and was filled with more love than it could hold.
Derrick Steven Davis II
September 28, 1981 – December 25, 2007
Early on Christmas morning Jesus decided he wanted to give God, his Father, a special gift. So he put his loving arms around God’s newest angel, Derrick Steven Davis II, and delivered him to heaven. God was so full of joy that he began to tell his other children the story of Derrick’s life.
“I am especially proud of my son, Derrick, this morning, he said. I knew when I gave him to Derrick and YoLanda Davis on September 28, 1981 at 2:47 am in Seoul, Korea that he was going to be a special blessing to all of my earthly children. For you see, Dee, as I like to call him, was a special child. Early in life he would sit on his little bed and talk to me and all my angels.
“Dee had touched so many lives and blessed his best friend and mother, so that I let him celebrate. For you see, my children, when you are obedient I allow you to kick up your heels. Dee not only was a good son and loving grandson, but he spread his love to all around him. My child did as I commanded him so many years ago. It was no accident that he had so much love for those who were picked on by other children and always had time for the young kids and had so much respect for the adults in and out of his life. That is why his mother spent his life being known as Dee’s Mom. She always knew he was a special gift for earth; that is why I placed him with her. Whenever she went places people would say – I know you; you are Dee’s Mom. She always smiled and said ‘yes’ and to herself she thought, ‘My baby knows everybody’. Dee also had a love for sports. He played football, baseball, soccer, basketball, and of course there was bowling and swimming. He was good at them all. We did have to work at the little matter of being a good sport when he lost, but his Mom smoothed that one right out for me. See that is why I entrusted my Derrick to her because I knew she could handle that job and she did.
“Dee attended Wilson Community College and Fayetteville State University and had a wonderful time before returning back to Wilson. He worked at the Rocky Mount Post Office, Wilson OIC, Vester Honda and Leiners and was loved by all.
“When his grandparents called, he was there for them. My Derrick was a wonderful son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. He had gone through so many trials and tribulations in his young life with style and grace. He weathered the storm and for that I am so very proud, but of course I knew he would.
“I watched Derrick as he loved his family and friends especially his younger cousins Christian, Celine, and B.J. No one could love them more and they knew it. Then I watched how the neighborhood children just adored him. He always had time for them. I knew that before his early life was over I had to make him a father. So I gave him the love of his life, Nessie, and she gave him two beautiful children. He was elated. He had all these special talents and so much love that he was able to leave part of him to continue spreading spirit and love across time.
“So, on Christmas morning as Jesus was preparing to take My Dee on this journey, he could be heard talking with such love and pride about the gifts he had gotten for Bear Bear and DeMaya. Jesus knew at that moment it was time and brought my son, Derrick, home to me. He had done well.”
Loving you always, Your Mom and Granny
Trevor James Davis
January 15, 1968 – July 24, 2007
Trevor was a blessing in our lives. He was my husband, best friend, and father of our two beautiful children, Amanda and Ben. He was born in San Diego, CA but spent most of his life in Charlotte, NC. We were married in Charlotte on September 19, 1998. Only two years later on July 30, 2000, he became not only a father to our newborn son, but also Amanda’s legal adoptive father. How truly we were blessed to have such a wonderful father and husband.
Trevor had an eye for detail that only a truly gifted mechanical engineer could have. He was Mr. Fix-It at home and was awarded six patents in his career with GE. He earned his Masters of Engineering Management degree in 2005 from UNCC, attaining a 4.0 GPA. He was selected for membership into the Phi Kappa Phi honorary society in recognition of his academic achievement.
In 2006 Trevor turned his attention towards his health and became a regular at the YMCA, always wearing his favorite red Nike hat the kids had given him for Christmas. He and I both ran our first 5K race that year. It was such an accomplishment for him.
We had just relocated to the Wilmington area, and Trevor was excited to start a new position within GE, and to have his family with him in such a beautiful area near the beach. He was so happy and content, really discovering himself and all of the talents and gifts he had to offer. Fortunately, the day before he died, he took his son Ben fishing on a pier close to home. Ben will always treasure those memories of this special time with his Dad. There were other special memories from this summer for our family, taking Daddy to the driving range for Father’s Day, attending a baseball game and watching 4th of July fireworks at the stadium, and having a fun day at the water park.
Trevor died unexpectedly on July 24th in his sleep due to a cardiac arrhythmia. It is so hard to accept that he was taken at such a young age from a family who loved and needed him. He was at the prime of his life.
We will always remember his beautiful hazel eyes. Knowing that his corneas have blessed two people with the gift of sight helps us to realize that in death he continues to give. His spirit continues to be a strong presence in our lives and we know he is in Heaven with our Lord.
God bless you Trevor (Daddy),
Christina, Amanda and Ben
William Dawkins
My husband was a wonderful man with the biggest heart any human could have. He loved his family more than life itself. He had two children, Brandon and Brandy, that he was very proud of and also two grandchildren, Landon and Devin, that were his world. Larry lived a lifetime of experiences in the short period of time that we had him. He affected everyone he came into contact with his big personality.
Larry was a kick boxer and worked very hard at it. He was the North Carolina welterweight kickboxing champion in his earlier years and loved training anyone who was interested in his art. He never gave up without a fight and he fought his cancer as long as he could. I know deep in my heart that he fought this fight with all he had, but this was one battle he could not win.
He was the love of my life and always will be. We had been together since we were 16 years old, and even though our time together was cut short, we know that no matter what may happen in our lives, he’ll always be with us. He looked out for his family, and I’m sure right now in heaven he’s looking out for us now. Good-bye my love; there will never be a minute in the day that I won’t think of you and the memories we have shared over the years. This house seems so lonely now, but your kids and I know that you are never very far away from us.
Laura De Hart
Laura was like the gardens she loved to cultivate; full of beauty and variety, colorful and fragrant.
She treated all of us like her garden also. She would love and protect us and nurture us in whatever way that was needed to make us strong, healthy and fruitful.
Although she went through some bitter times, her smile and wit were always with her. Her sense of humor and faithful love for the family she made will always be with us.
She was strong yet tender, fearless yet vulnerable.
She taught us to be better people.
She does not need another obituary but instead a continuation of our appreciation and celebration of her life.
It seems W.B. Yeats was thinking of her when he wrote:
O cloud-pale eyelids, dream-dimmed eyes,
The poets labouring all their days
To build a perfect beauty in rhyme
Are overthrown by a woman’s gaze
And by the unlabouring brood of the skies;
And therefore my heart will bow, when dew
Is dropping sleep, until God burn time,
Before the unlabouring stars and you.
“He Tells of the Perfect Beauty”
Kollin Francis DeNegre
May 28, 1989 – August 7, 2007
“Go Big or Go Home”
Kollin DeNegre was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. He was voted best eyes in his high school yearbook; they were the most beautiful blue eyes.
Kollin represented all that was good and righteous in a world that can be consumed with wrong-doings and selfishness, and he was willing to give his life for nothing in return.
When Kollin turned 16 he joined the Harwinton Volunteer Fire Department (Harwinton, CT). In his short time volunteering he helped numerous people, both young and old, in some of the worst disasters of their lives. Kollin was preparing for a lifetime devoted to firefighting and helping others.
“So when you hear the sirens wail or see the flashing lights
stand aside and look with pride; he is going to save a life.”
Kollis was chosen to be part of Boy’s State, as a representative of his high school by the faculty. The Boy’s State award is based on an individual’s character, leadership, citizenship and scholarship. The faculty had recommended him because they admired, respected and learned from him and knew he exemplified these traits.
Kollin displayed leadership qualities of fairness, compassion and responsibility. Those who knew Kollin are better off today because of what he gave to us, whether it was in the form of a kind deed, a strong welcoming handshake or a practical joke. He brought so much joy and laughter to us through his sense of humor and practical jokes. Kollin’s motto was “Go Big or Go Home.” He felt you had to give 110% at all times in whatever you loved. He aimed “to be a DEP officer and a simple kind of man.”
Family was central and most important to Kollin’s being, and he never missed a chance to be part of something larger. He respected nature and was awed by it every day of his life. His passions were fishing, baseball and snowboarding. He also liked to hunt and was starting to explore photography, but most of all he was a friend to all, and for his closest friends he was there to lead them in times of difficulty; he was there to stand behind them in times of trouble and he was there beside them for the happy times.
Kollin lived life – he loved life – he gave us life, and he taught us about the most important gift we have been given – the capacity of the heart.
Although the tragic loss of Kollin will affect all who he touched for the rest of their lives, his memory will live on. “I stand here deeply, profoundly bereaved but satisfied and proud to have walked an 18-year path with a hero, my grandson, and to repeat the words of Lou Gehrig - I am one of the luckiest men in the world.”
Riley Diggs, Jr.
Riley was always happy and smiling. His smile was infectious. He was adventurous. He loved everybody fully and loved to be loved. He never met a stranger, but if he met someone he didn’t know and they were in need, he would give them the shirt off of his back. He appreciated life and enjoyed every day to the fullest – whether working or playing. He was an avid collector – stamps, coins, jewelry, antiques, albums and 45’s. He was passionate about music. He found solace in nature and found beauty in the simplest of things. He loved food and enjoyed eating, regardless of whether it was pinto beans or steak. He called everyone “my friend.” He took care of everyone but himself as he lived his life without concern for tomorrow.
Ralph Dillard
Ralph was a man of integrity, character and love for his fellow man. He was a gracious father and granddad and my soul mate. He loved people no matter how rich or poor. He had a winsome smile to win people to the Lord. There are no words to describe his loss in our community. He was a great leader in his church, business and community. He surely was an admirable man for all to see and know.
Wendell Dinkins
Julie C. Dixon
Julie was the light of my life and my best friend. She had a unique gift of putting people at ease in almost any situation. Julie loved animals, especially the little creatures; bunnies were her favorites. Of course you can’t leave out our little West Highland Terrier Piper. In her work day life she always tried to help everyone with any problem – personal or work related.
In the last days at the hospital a friend of Julie’s and mine came by to see her. I asked him why God would take such a beautiful person when there were so many evil people in this world. His reply has helped me so much. He said, “Why would God pick a weed for his garden when he could have such a beautiful flower?”
Love,
Phil
Jimmie Dotts
Jimmie and I were four weeks away from celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary when he died in a head-on collision on the way to work just a mile from our home. I waited by the road at the scene of the accident, as the state troopers informed me he had been killed. Jimmie was my husband and my companion. We truly enjoyed being with one another. Spontaneous, he was always ready for an adventure, even if it was just going for a drive to explore a road we had never been down. Silly, he made us laugh by making faces and clowning around. Serious, he fathered two fine sons, David and Jeremy, who are now grown with children of their own, which made him a proud Paw Paw of Caleb, Jacob, Emma and Elizabeth.
Jimmie had a rough start in life, handicapped by a dysfunctional home life, and failing in school because of learning disabilities. However he made a new path for himself by joining the US Air Force and finishing school to get his GED. He later earned degrees in graphic art and architectural design. Talented as a designer of living spaces, he was a drafting and design teacher at Enka High School in Enka, NC. His personal motto, taught to his family and his students, was, “Never quit…,” and he never did. Until his death, we had no idea of the impact he had made on the lives of his students. We learned that a flag pole ceremony on the day of his death was prompted by students throughout the school texting one another of the tragedy. In tears we listened to student and faculty speeches. We attended Enka’s graduation ceremony and were honored by the seniors wearing yellow ribbons on their gowns. We were awed with memories shared by students and colleagues. The cards and letters have become part of a memory book to help us heal and to allow his grandchildren to remember him. Jimmie’s greatest passions were his faith in Christ and his love of his family. He loved to sing all kinds of music, and led music at his church for several years. He was also a stained glass artist, producing commissioned work in his studio, A Cut Above, located in Bakersville, NC in Mitchell County. His work is displayed in private homes, businesses and his school. His death leaves a hole in our lives that can never be filled, but he lives on in our memories. Jimmie’s job here on earth was finished, but we are assured that he is waiting in heaven for us to join him. His legacy lives on in the lives of those he touched – family, friends, colleagues and students. This is why I did not hesitate to give permission for his eyes to be used as donor organs. Although we may never know who benefited from this gift, it is a comfort to know that his legacy also includes renewed vision for the recipients.
Jimmie, we love you and miss you so much,
Carolyn, David and Z, Jeremy and Misty, Caleb, Jacob, Emma and Elizabeth
George Edward Dunnings, Jr.
My husband and I met when he began teaching at the same school where I worked. We started dating and one year later we entered into a marriage that lasted for forty-three happy years. The way he proposed always brings happy memories to me. When he first passed away, all I could see in my mind was the way he was the last six weeks of his life. This made me very sad, lonely and unhappy. One day when I was crying over my loss and loneliness, I said to myself that when these twenty-four hours are over, I will never live this day again because I have too many happy memories to keep dwelling on the last six weeks of his life. From that point on, even though I missed him terribly, I had no more crying episodes. Thank God for these beautiful words - ”Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou has for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.”
Becoming parents was a very happy time for us. We couldn’t do enough for our little baby boy. However, becoming grandparents was even a bigger thrill for us. We kept the children a lot before they started school and enjoyed giving them anything they wanted, playing games with them and taking them out to eat. Our three grandsons are really the light of our life.
George taught Industrial Arts in school and he had a hobby of making things to be used in our home such as book cases, a clothes hamper, a sewing kit for me, and he was good at fixing things. He was a giver always with his time in helping others and never expected anything in return. He was also generous in making monetary donations to organizations.
We were not much for traveling, but we did enjoy many trips each year to Atlantic City and to Las Vegas. I still have fond memories of us making plans for the many trips we made each year and the good times we had. Our favorite pastimes were going to church every Sunday, eating out, watching our favorite television shows together and having our grandsons for visits. He was my very best friend. At the end of the day, if one of us decided to go to bed early to watch television, the other would also go. We did everything together including making the bed each morning, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, grocery shopping and even cooking our meals. He was a kind, gentle, loving and giving husband, father, grandfather, son and brother. He was the joy of our life and we will “miss him, miss him, miss him, all of our days.”
His Loving Wife,
Dorothy Dunnings
