Jerry Martin Narron
Dr. Jerry Martin Narron of Raleigh, NC, died on July 12, 2007 due to an acute and rare heart condition. Jerry was well known and loved in the Wake and Johnston County communities. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from Atlantic Christian (Barton) College in Wilson, NC in 1960 and his Masters and Ed.D in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University in 1980. He taught social sciences as an adjunct professor at local colleges and universities after his retirement from the State Department of Mental Health in the spring of 2002. He had also previously worked as Chief, Medical Eye Care Program, Division of Services for the Blind.
Jerry’s passion was art. He spent much of his free time sketching and painting landscapes, local sites and family images and was well known in the local area for his paintings and pen and ink drawings. He was a member of Sertoma Artists’ Association in Raleigh and showcased his talent in local art galleries and exhibits. His greatest joy came from spending time with his family, especially his three grandsons, Nathan and Noah Graves (9), and Joshua Montgomery (3). Jerry also enjoyed visiting with friends and family and thrift shopping/yard sales. He and his wife, Faye, enjoyed eating out, traveling, holding hands, and watching UNC football and basketball games. He was a regular attendee at New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh. Jerry was always a cheerful giver to his family members and those less fortunate. It was not uncommon for him to leave a tip larger than his check at a local cafeteria or restaurant. He is well-loved and missed by all who knew him, especially his wife and his daughter, Becky Graves of San Diego, CA and Jackie Montgomery of Wendell, NC.
Daniel Lee Neal, Jr.
Daniel was our beautiful 10 lb. 13 oz. gift from God on April 8, 2001. He had huge sparkling blue eyes that would draw you in, and a smile that would just make you adore him with his missing teeth grin. He loved to play basketball and baseball. He was so happy when he finally was old enough to go to “scub scouts” with his older brother. He was a Tiger Cub with Pack 293.
Daniel was full of life, busy all the time, loaded with energy. He was climbing up things before he learned to walk. He was very tender hearted and wanted to please everyone, yet he was very stubborn and opinionated. He adored his Uncle Daniel and wanted to dress like him and be just like him. We called Little Daniel “GQ” because at two years old he was picking out his own clothes. If he did not like it, he was not going to wear it.
Before he started to school this year – the first grade – all he talked about was getting a Mohawk. When he went to school the first day, he was so proud of his hair. Now there are several boys with Mohawk haircuts like his.
Daniel was his little brother Nikolas’ best friend. Nikolas thought the world revolved around Daniel. He also had an older brother Craig and a sister Marsha who love him dearly.
On December 10, 2007 the Lord called Daniel home. He was running on the playground at school and left the earth and ran straight into heaven.
I know that he is up there smiling, watching us, and having a wonderful time. He will always be in our hearts. We love and miss you, Boogie.
Birthday number six was such a special day
How were we to know that another would not come your way.
You left us so quickly without any good-byes,
God called you home and you had to fly.
Those beautiful blue eyes, that cute toothless grin
My little angel, my heart aches to see you again.
I’m comforted now by sweet memories,
And thankful because of my Daniel, two people can now see.
Love,
Mom, Jarrett, Craig, Marsha, Nikolas, Granny Jill, Papa Rex, Joel and Uncle Daniel
Vivian Ester Needham
Vivian Ester Needham was just a little angel that God let us have for a short while. Vivian was mentally handicapped and diabetic all her life.
Vivian was a gentle, loving person. Her greatest concern was that she would be loved and taken care of. She lived her whole life at home with her mom, dad, and sister.
She liked books, cards, and TV. Vivian’s favorite books were bride magazines. She loved people and enjoyed being in large groups of people. Vivian liked all her doctors, nurses and the hospitals.
Vivian passed away on March 12, 2007 after a short stay in the hospital. We hope that the organ donations Vivian contributed have made the lives of the recipients better.
Vivian has gone on to heaven to be with her dad again. Her mother and her sister love her and miss her every single day.
Larry Josh Nelson
Josh Nelson loved living life to the fullest. He was the Duke Blue Devils’ #1 fan. He loved riding his motorcycle and working out at the gym to keep his body in shape. Josh was such a people person; he had more friends than anyone ever needed. He was just an amazing, outgoing, down-to-earth man. He was also very humble; he helped anyone he could when needed. He actually received recognition for stopping and helping a man who was having a heart attack on the side of the road. He stayed with him until help arrived. He was close with the Lord; he attended church regularly with his friends and kept his life on the right path. He truly was the backbone of his family; he took care of his mother, sister and granny. He was the man of the family. Josh will forever be missed and loved by everyone he knew. He really had a big impact on a lot of people’s lives. Nobody will ever forget that smile on his face and those ears everyone adored. So I’ll end this by saying – we love you, Josh, and we can’t wait until we see you again one day!
Love,
Your Family and Friends
Christopher Newby
Christopher Newby, age 21, of Allen, TX, was born April 10, 1986, in Bloomingdale, IL to Lyall and Deborah Newby. Christopher graduated from Allen High School where he played on the Allen Eagles lacrosse team for four years. Christopher graduated from Universal Technical Institute in Houston, TX in June 2007 and was just beginning his advanced studies at the NASCAR Technical Institute in North Carolina where he was pursing his life-long dream of becoming part of a NASCAR Team.
Chris was a truly remarkable young man. He always had a smile on his face, enjoyed life and made a huge impact on many levels with everyone he met. What we do in life echoes in death, and his character and kind-natured demeanor will always be a memory that will echo on for everyone who knew him. He always knew how to make you laugh; we will always remember his smile and how he made us feel.
We are forever changed and forever blessed for having had Chris in our lives. He is now reunited together again with his brother and best friend, David Ryan Beck Newby, who were meant to be together, forever. We will all miss him dearly. He will always be in our hearts and memory.
Michael Newsome
A loving husband and father, Mike was devoted to his family and friends. Dedicated to scouting, he spent most of his adult life as a Scoutmaster. He will be greatly missed.
A. Lona Noah
July 6, 1931 – April 25, 2007
Our mama went to heaven eight days after suffering a stroke this past spring. We know how blessed we have been to have her as our mother, as she was precious to everyone who knew her. She was a very strong woman with a sweet, sweet soul and always put others first. She had great faith in God and truly believed in prayer. She never met a stranger, whether grocery shopping or in Belks (her favorite place); others seemed to gravitate to her and she always had time for them. She loved working in her yard with her flowers and had a true green thumb. She was known as “Nanny” by her five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and she loved them all with her whole heart. She always said there was nothing like grandchildren.
Our father passed away eight months after she died after 56 years of marriage. He missed her terribly and we find comfort in knowing they are once again together.
We are thankful for the gift she was able to provide through donation to The North Carolina Eye Bank, and we know this would make her very happy.
In honor of our Mama and Nanny,
Your loving family
Gail Novick
This photo was chosen because it shows Gail’s lovely eyes up close. Though when she smiled or laughed, which was often, they could hardly be seen.
Gail was a New Englander, spending many summers on Cape Cod. She loved to swim and play in the waves with her niece, nephew and other children who were simply drawn to her kindness and youthful spirit.
After traveling to North Carolina, for what was supposed to be just a short visit, she instead remained and made the beautiful state her home for over thirty years.
Gail was a collector – of people and animals. She cherished her many, many friends and several cats that entered her life (usually one at a time).
And she was proud, so very proud of her lovely eyes.
Barbara “Bobbie” O’Brien
Bobbie, as she was known, was semi-retired from a Civil Service position at Cherry Point, NC. She and her husband Tom opened a life-long dream gift shop called Coastal Crafts Plus in Atlantic Beach, NC. She was a skilled craftswoman who could create just about anything from floral arrangements to knitting the most detailed project imaginable.
She was the mother of four daughters whom she raised in Massachusetts and later moved the family to Newport, NC. She enjoyed gardening, spending time with her husband, and they both participated in the theater Worthy is the Lamb. We are happy to honor our Mother's request of giving the gift of sight to others who might never have known this blessing that we all take for granted.
Brent Ollermann
December 1, 1970 – April 21, 2007
Brent was our oldest child, born in Durham, NC, but lived in many states and then, while a member of the U.S. Air Force, in many countries, before finally settling in North Carolina where his son Steven was born. Although his Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters lived miles away in Michigan and Missouri, we felt a closeness that melted those miles. He leaves his family and friends with heavy hearts but with many great memories that will be forever cherished.
His brother Torrey thanks him for those Thursday night Survivor (TV show) discussions. His sister Jenny fondly recalls their peanut wars and the 26 birthdays that they shared. They were both born on December 1st but ten years apart. His Mom thanks him for the regular 9 o’clock check in phone calls – or midnight if he fell asleep. And his Dad fondly recalls all the calls, even from as far away as Germany and Saudi Arabia, to ask for fatherly advice.
Brent loved music, computers, learning, and flying. While in high school in Illinois, he performed in several musicals including Guys and Dolls and Annie. While he could not carry a tune, he also sang and danced with the Swing Choir. But perhaps his greatest talent was playing his cornet in all the bands including the jazz band. He even played in an Air Force band during basic training. Before he was in high school, he pestered his father to get him one of the first personal computers on the market. Brent had received computer related Associates degrees and was working on a 4-year degree in that field when he left us. He was always taking some sort of class and when he passed, he was enrolled at Campbell University. While in the Air Force, he flew as a Load Master to more than 33 countries and even participated in the 50-year anniversary and re-enactment of the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
But Brent’s greatest joy was his son Steven. Brent was divorced, but he would plan time and activities with Steven at every opportunity. When they were together, they were inseparable. Steven was Brent’s first priority. We all thank him for those many “Steven wants to talk” phone calls.
Brent never met anyone with whom he couldn’t immediately exchange friendly conversation. He was loved by everyone. He had an infectious laugh and an ever famous goofy grin that he’d flash in place of hello. We were all touched by the vast number of people who attended Brent’s memorial services, and we were constantly reminded of Brent’s caring and unselfish character.
Brent was a loving father to Steven, our brother, our son, our uncle and our friend. He first met his nephew Ethan in 2004 and cousins Steven and Ethan became fast friends. Although Brent never had an opportunity to meet his nieces Paige and Keirah, they will surely know their uncle. We all love Brent and miss him very much, but we also find solace in our firm belief that we will one day reunite with him in the house of our Lord.
