All Obituaries

Billy Lewis Deal, age 72, of Sanford, NC, died Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. He was born in Lee County, NC on July 11, 1947 to the late John Mack Deal and Mary Elizabeth Campbell Deal.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son Billy Lewis Deal Jr. “Scooter”; and brothers Connie Mack Deal and John Wayne Deal.  Billy was a sales representative for a janitorial service company. He is survived by a son Chad M....

Douglas Philip Yoders, age 60, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at his home. He was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky on December 5, 1958 to the late Philip Dale Yoders and Eleanor Lorine Moore Yoders.  Doug worked many years as a truck driver.  Reading a good book was his passion.  Watching television and swimming also brought him joy.  Doug is survived by his daughter, Tasha Yoders of Ohio; brothers, Johnny Yoders and wife, Peaches of Mt....

Myrtie C. Garner, age 78, of Sanford, NC, died Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at Central Carolina Hospital. She was born in Lee County, NC on December 7, 1940 to the late Hubert Roscoe Coe and Maggie Holder Coe.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by siblings; Garnet Coe, Eva Jourdan, Neffie Kiser and Wesley Lee Coe.  Myrtie ran the office for Garner Roofing, her family business, and was an active member of New Covenant Community Church where she taught Sunday...

Rebecca Sue Vanata Rightley, age 69, of Sanford, NC, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019 at her home. Becki was born in Greenville, Ohio on August 5, 1950 to the late Robert Richard Vanata and Elizabeth Ann Sellman Vanata.  She worked many years at Big Bloomers Flower Farm. She is survived by her husband, Timothy William Rightley; son Tony Bloedorn and wife Candace of Sanford; daughter Jennifer Thrash and husband Spence of Prattville, Alabama; sister Roberta Vanata and longtime...

John Aaron Johnson, age 96, of Sanford, NC, died September 7th, 2019 at Westfield Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Charleston, SC on August 15, 1923 to the late Milton Butler Johnson and Jessie Elizabeth Jones Johnson.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his siblings Mildred Elizabeth Johnson Oldham, Hazel Burchalski, Milton B. Johnson, Robert L. Johnson and Carroll L. Johnson and a grandson, Robert Anthony Johnson, Jr. John served our country in the United...

Richard Ervin Clark, age 64, of Sanford, NC, died September 6th, 2019 at Sanford Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Lee County on Jan. 31, 1955, to the late Vinson Clark and Ruth Phillips Clark.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Roger Dale Clark. Surviving relatives include his sisters, Jean Baker of Augusta, GA, Cecelia Macko, Cathy Pleasants and husband Terry both of Sanford; nieces and nephews in Knightdale, NC; and Augusta, GA;...

Mae Hancock Dunlap Scarbrough, age 74, of Sanford, NC, died Thursday, September 5, 2019, at her home. She was born in Mecklenburg County, NC on August 8, 1945 to the late Eula Mae Hancock.  In addition to her mother she was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth Dunlap.  Mae worked for Abbott Labs, Pilkington Glass and was a nurse’s aide for many years.  She and her husband Daniel loved to dance and danced every Saturday night at the Enrichment Center of Lee...

James Daniel Gunter “Jimmy”, age 80, of Sanford, NC, passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2019. He was born in Durham County on September 22, 1938 to the late Curtis Glenn Gunter and Katherine Ann Kelly Gunter.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother C.G. Gunter.  Jimmy was raised in Chatham County and considered himself a “Chatham Rabbit”.  He was a self-employed building contractor for over 50 years and was thankful he...

Carol Brown Roberts, age 72, of Fayetteville, NC, died Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at the Magnolia House Retirement Center. She was born in Black Hawk County, Iowa on April 13, 1947 to the late Frances Eugene Brown and Gloria Inez Kelly Brown.  Carol worked in retail sales. She is survived by her husband Gerald Lee Roberts; daughters Stephanie Roberts of Durham, Cynthia Webb and husband David of Raleigh; brother Thomas Brown and wife Jane of Waterloo, Iowa, sister Susan Jackson of...

Rudolph Copeland Mullis, Jr, age 65, of Sanford, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019 at UNC Hospice House in Pittsboro. He was born in Lee County, on Sept. 26, 1953, to the late Rudolph Mullis and Oberia Suggs Mullis.  He was a co-founder of Broadway Hemp Company. Rusty is survived by his son Jordan Mullis of Raleigh; a daughter, Grayson Mullis of Sanford and a brother Reggie Mullis and wife Susan of Washington State. The memorial service will be held Sept. 14, 2019, Saturday at...