Obituary: Adam S. Raleigh

Adam Sanders Raleigh, 22, beloved son of Karen Sanders Raleigh of Durham and Donald J. Raleigh of Chapel Hill, passed away tragically on Oct. 31, 2008, a victim of gun violence.

Adam was born on Sept. 20, 1986, in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1988 he moved with his family to Chapel hill, where he attended Seawell Elementary and McDougle Middle Schools, graduating from Chapel Hill High School in 2004. Adam played clarinet, tenor sax, and bassoon in the Chapel Hill High School Marching and Concert Bands all four years of his high school career. His band friends were among his closest.

He had a passion for marine sciences and knew more about sharks than any Chapel Hillian his age. He enjoyed fishing, always throwing back his catch. He loved animals, especially his dog Spunky and his mother’s dog, Kenzie. Fond of music, he was a devotee of the group called Gorillaz. He read voraciously and was partial to Stephen King novels, science fiction, and the Harry Potter series. He was an enthusiastic gamer. Adam also enjoyed traveling abroad and became fluent in Russian.

Adam never met a stranger. From a very young age, he was equally at ease sitting down with his friends or having serious conversations with adults. People remarked on his kindness, intelligence, and compassion. His friends knew he was always there for them.

Adam is survived by his mother and father; his uncles and aunts Donald S. and Beverly Sanders, Michael and Linda Raleigh, and Marsha and Jay McCormick; cousins Rebecca Raleigh, Mike Raleigh and Matthew McCormick; close family friends, Lawrence Champion, Stan Chojnacki, and Barbara Harris, and many, many more who loved Adam. He was predeceased by grandparents, Arlene and Orin Sanders of Kirkwood, Miss., and Lorraine and William Raleigh of Chicago, Ill..

Adam was the light of our lives and a blessing for all the years we were able to have him.

A visitation was held at Walkers Funeral Home, 120 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill (942-3861), on Nov. 5, between 6 and 8 p.m. The funeral service will take place Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. at United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution in Adam’s name to the Chapel Hill High School Marching Band or to North Carolinians against Gun Violence. They may also share their memories and photos on Adam’s Facebook account under the address adamsraleigh [at] gmail [dot] com