James Bernard Karpinos, 22, of Chapel Hill, died Saturday, April 26 in Transylvania County, NC. James was born in Winston-Salem, NC on August 3, 1985.

He was a 2003 graduate of Chapel Hill High School and a senior at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, majoring in sociology with a minor in environmental science. He spent the fall of 2007 studying at the University of Ghana in Accra, Ghana.

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eanclaire Doerschuk, age 83, passed away Sunday, April 20, 2008. Beloved wife of Albert P. (deceased); dear mother of Claire M., Peter C., David O. (wife Peggy I.) and John A. (wife Karen); grandmother of Ethan A. and Kaitlynn M.

Private services. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Activities Department at Britthaven of Chapel Hill, 1716 Legion Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or to the Lighthouse Program at Harborview Healthcare, 3800 Park East Dr, Beachwood, OH 44122.

Mrs. Chrystine H. Culbreth passed away Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Carol Woods Retirement Community where she lived for many years.

Mrs. Culbreth was born in Kinston, NC. She graduated from Louisburg Junior College in Louisburg NC, and Scarritt College in Nashville, TN, where she earned her BA degree. Although she had been accepted into the graduate school she elected to work in Raleigh to be closer to Chapel Hill.

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Margaret Ellen Barrett, age 60, died Friday April 11. She was born on February 15, 1948 in the old Watts Hospital in Durham. She grew up in Chapel Hill and graduated from the Chapel Hill high School in the last class to graduate from the old high school downtown. She attended Brandeis University and later UNC-CH, obtaining first the B.A. and later the M.A.T. degrees. She had a variety of different employments over the years. When the Chapel Hill bus system was begun, she was one of the first bus drivers. Later, she worked as a pastry chef after first training as an apprentice in a small bakery in Lyon, France. For a time, she ran a sewing enterprise with a friend. For the last 20 years, she was employed as a teacher in the English as a Second Language program of the Burlington School System, in the course of which she became very attached to her students and their families.

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A celebration of the life of Margaret McCaull Carmichael Lester will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19th, in the North & South Parlors of the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. For more information, contact Margot Carmichael Lester at 967-3477.

Robert A. Kistner of Chapel Hill, died Wednesday April 2, 2008 at his residence. Robert was a native of Illinois.  He moved to Chapel Hill in 1983.  He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago, and earned medical degrees from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Loyola Medical School (Chicago).  He served in the United States Navy in World War II.  Dr. Kistner had a family medical practice in the south suburbs of Chicago.  He served as Dean of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine for 20 years.  At the state level, he served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Regional Programs; the task force on medical education; and the Council on Continuing Education for the State of Illinois.  At the federal level, Dr. Kistner served as a representative to the White House Conference on Heath; a consultant to the Health Professions Educational Program; and a member of the Graduate Medical Educational National Advisory Committee of the HRA.

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George Odell Barham, 89, passed away at Britthaven of Chapel Hill on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
He was a veteran of WWII and served in the Army in the South Pacific.

His family wrote, “His patience and ingenuity and joy in life were an inspiration to us.”

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Betty June Hayes, former Orange County Register of Deeds, passed early Wednesday morning at the Duke In-Patient Care Facility hospice in Hillsborough.

She was born in Wink, TX, May 27, 1929, to Hardee Boyett and Annie Robbie Plott Boyett. Betty June came to Hillsborough with her mother when Mrs. Boyett returned to help her aged father, Thomas J. Plott. Mrs. Plott Boyett later divorced Mr. Boyett and subsequently married Paul Hayes of Hillsborough.

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Wei-Lee Kuo, 46, of Chapel Hill died Saturday, March 15, 2008 peacefully after a battle with ovarian cancer.

The former Taiwan native was a dedicated wife, mother, and friend to many. As a talented artist and an interior designer specializing in office space design, she worked for Alfred Williams & Company and Closet by Design. She loved to communicate with others.  She was the organizer of a Chapel Hill Lady’s club.

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Mr. Charlie A. Carden, Sr., 97, of Greentree Drive in Hillsborough, died Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Greensboro Commons in Greensboro after a brief illness.

Mr. Carden was born February 17, 1911, to the late George and Gertrude Carden.  He was a lifelong resident of Hillsborough and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he received the Purple Heart.  More »

Hazel Felker Kiser, 83, died Friday at Duke Hospice in Hillsborough.

She was born in China Grove, N.C. on September 14, 1924 and moved to Kannapolis as a child. She graduated from Canon High School in 1942. In 1952, she moved to Chapel Hill with her husband. She was formerly employed by Village Family Medicine as the office manager. She also worked for Central Carolina Bank and was a former church secretary for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chapel Hill, where she was a member for over 50 years.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Richard Bryson of Yadkinville; and her son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Margaret Kiser of Pittsboro.

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Margaret McCaull Carmichael Lester, 83, died unexpectedly but with dignity at her home in Chapel Hill on March 3, 2008. She was a graceful and vibrant woman to the end, and was a positive force in the lives of many people.

Movies, books and Latin jazz were among Margaret’s primary passions and she was a member of several movie and book groups. An avid gardener and bird-watcher, she also loved dogs and cats and was a frequent contributor to wildlife charities. Margaret was a dedicated Democrat, serving as the South Orange precinct chairman for many years, and as a campaign volunteer for several local, state and national candidates. She was an active civil rights advocate, promoting a variety of social justice causes.

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Hanson Douglas Sessoms Ph.D., 76, of Chapel Hill, died Tuesday Feb. 12, 2008, at home after an extended battle with melanoma.

Mr. Sessoms was the son of the late Hanson and Sadie Edens Sessoms. He was a very caring individual who was loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He had a deep care and passion for his students, profession, community and family. He was an active volunteer for the Meals on Wheels foundation in Chapel Hill.

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Mary Talbot Korray, 86, died at her residence on Saturday, January 26, 2007. Mrs. Korray was a homemaker. She is survived by her three children: Kathleen Sherman and spouse, James of Chapel Hill; Bruce Korray and wife, Deborah of Miami , FL; and son, James Korray of FL, and their families. She was predeceased by husband, Julian M. Korray.

Dorothy Phelps Vroome , 86, died Friday, January 25, 2008 at Springmoor Retirement Community. She was born on July 27, 1921 in Riverdale, NY to Albert and Mildred Phelps.

Mrs. Vroome is survived by three children: sons, Roy Vroome of Charlotte and Richard P. Vroome of Snowflake, AZ; daughter, Virginia Stelle of Raleigh; seven grandchildren, Ann Paul of Bedford Hills, NY, James Beattie of San Jose CA, Elizabeth Benson of Raleigh, NC, Darren Stelle of Leesburg, VA, Caroline Setliff of Raleigh NC, Kevin Vroome of Raleigh NC, Christine Hartsfield of Wilmington, NC; and twelve great grandchildren. She was predeceased by daughter, Joan Vroome Beattie in 1981, grandson, William Beattie in 2001, and husband, Ray in 2004 after 60 years of marriage.

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