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OBITUARIES
Tributes Pour In After James Spurling, Director of Kenan Stadium, Dies at 68
James Spurling, who served as the Director of Kenan Stadium and the Kenan Football Center in the heart of the UNC campus since 2006 and had been a Chapel Hill staple for many years prior, died Thursday. He was 68 years old. Tributes flooded in from across the Chapel...
Obituary: John Martin “Jack” Sanders
Longtime Chapel Hill Business Owner and Community Supporter Jack Sanders Passes Away John Martin “Jack” Sanders, 63, of Chapel Hill, passed away on January 5, 2025. Jack was the longtime owner of Jack Sanders Paint Company, which he founded in 1988 and operated with...
Obituary: Clyde Jones — Artist of Bynum, North Carolina
Clyde Jones, “The Critter Man,” a beloved artist and longtime resident of Bynum, North Carolina, passed away on December 24, 2025, leaving behind a rich legacy of creativity, generosity, and quiet influence.
Four-Term North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, a Leader in Education Reform, Dies at 88
Former Gov. Jim Hunt, a towering figure in North Carolina politics in the late 20th century who helped leaders from both major parties strive for public education reform, died Thursday at the age of 88.
North Carolina Author, UNC Administrator and Radio Show Host D.G. Martin Dies at 85
David Grier “D.G.” Martin, Jr. – a lawyer, UNC System administrator and veteran turned longtime author, book reviewer and show host – died on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at his home in Chapel Hill. He was 85 years old.
Obituary: Former Orange County Commissioner, Environmental Builder Mark Marcoplos
Devoted family man and innovative green builder, county commissioner and civic activist, musician and athlete, Mark Marcoplos passed suddenly on Oct. 19.
Obituary for Julie Allison Harrison
Julie Glasser Harrison, 66, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, passed away on October 30th, 2025, surrounded by her family. Julie was born on November 24th, 1958, in Siler City, North Carolina. She attended Jordan Matthews High School and graduated from East Carolina...
Obituary for Ene Marie Thomsen
Ene Marie Thomsen passed away on October 21, 2025, at age 94, after a short illness. She died peacefully in her home at The Arbor at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Ene Marie was born in the village of Timring, Denmark on June 25, 1931, to Charles and...
Barbara Jessie-Black, Longtime Leader of CommunityWorx, Dies at 62
Barbara Jessie-Black, who helped lead the Carrboro nonprofit CommunityWorx for more than two decades, died this week at the age of 62.
Obituary: William Scott Kelly
William Scott Kelly (March 15, 1951 - January 31, 2025) William Scott Kelly died in Charlotte, NC from complications of a stroke. He was the son of William Clavon Kelly and Betty Elizabeth “Jo” Kelly (nee Lynn). Scott lived in Chapel Hill from about 1969 until 1990...
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For Lei (Bella)
Dear Lei (Bella), You are a shining star of Carrboro High! You have excelled in musical theatre and art, captivating audiences with your talent and charm. As you step into the next chapter of your life, we couldn't be prouder of the mature, happy, lovely young lady...
