Obituaries in Hillsborough, NC

DURHAM– Our loving mother, Jewel Crabtree DeHart, 94, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. She was born in Durham County to the late Jack and Ona Crabtree. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Charles DeHart, and her sisters, Lillian Stutts, Margaret Hockaday, Thelma Rober...

DURHAM– Virginia “Ginny” Pence, 71, passed away on Saturday, December, 27 at TransitionsLifeCare in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was born in Washington, DC to the late Jacob David Penceand Beatrice Fernsner Pence.As Sergeant First Class Virginia Lee Pence, she was stationed out of Fort Bragg in Faye...

Rougemont – Kenneth James Leonhardt, 86, passed away on Saturday, December 27,2025 at UNC-Hillsborough. Born in Jersey City to the late James Melvin Leonhardt and Margaret Greta Kucks Leonhardt. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mary Gerolyn “Gerry” O’Neill Leonhardt.Mr. Leonhardt was in t...

Deborah Daniel Hunt, 72, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2025, at her home after being cared for by family and Duke Hospice. She is preceded in death by her father, R.E. Daniel; mother Blanche Reaves Daniel; brothers Wesley R. Daniel and A. Wayne Daniel; and her beloved husband of 50 years, Bobby V...

Roxboro ~ Heather Aiken Oakley, 55, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Duke Regional Hospital. She was born in Durham County to William Hubert Aiken and Rebecca Nichols Aiken.Heather’s memory will forever be cherished by all who knew her. She was selfless, caring, gentle, and humorous—som...

James (Jim) Sorauf, 94, of Croasdaile Village, Durham, NC passed away peacefully on January 21, 2026. He was born in Milwaukee, WI to the late Mary Norton Sorauf and Frank Joseph Sorauf. He shared 63 years of marriage with Simone, until her death in 2025. Jim is survived by his daughter Christine...

Helen Roberts Ellis, 91, of Bahama, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, at Duke Regional Hospital.Helen was born and raised in Bahama, NC, where she spent her life rooted in family, faith, and community. She had a lifelong devotion to her loved ones, especially her son and gr...

Fitting a hearing aid to help a disabled veteran, guiding his boat into the ocean near his “Brown Rug House” on Emerald Isle or wading into a Montana river to fly-fish, advising a young homeowner on the best shrub for a particular space, gently caring for an injured little donkey, mowing acres of pa...

James Pendleton “Jim” RayHILLSBOROUGH — James Pendleton “Jim” Ray, 84, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Duke University Hospital. He was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, to the late J. Marvin Ray and Aileen Blanche Pendleton Ray, and lived most of his life in Hillsborough, Ora...

DURHAM, NC – Cordelia Annie McBroom Blalock, 103, Durham, NC died January 12, 2026. She was born on February 26, 1922. Cordelia is predeceased by her husband BY Blalock, her son Barry Yandell Blalock, her parents, Joseph Samuel McBroom and Annie Wilson McBroom and her brother Raymond McBroom.Cordeli...

Lorene Wiseman Evans, 82, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Hock Pavillon in Durham. She was born on October 30, 1943 in Tellico Plains, Tennessee to the late William Welcome Wiseman and Eva Gene Dockery Wiseman. She is also preceded in death by her daughter, Lorrie Ann Stables.Mrs. Evans is...

Creedmoor – Donna Michelle Hall, 61, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026 at her home. Born in Durham to the late Leon Earl Bynum and Louise Pendergraft Carter.Ms. Hall is survived by her children, Hannah Hall, Megan Fitch, Justin Teague; sisters, Darlene Reilly (Jeff), Debra Hester (Van); grand...