Category: 1948

Sterling Jackson Edwards, Jr, a retired Presbyterian minister, age 97, died at his residence in Auburn, AL on April 26, 2024. He was born August 31, 1926 in Tampa, FL to Sterling Jackson Edwards, Sr and Ruth Youmans Edwards. He was a graduate of Plant High School, Tampa, FL, 1944, Davidson College, 1948, Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA, 1952, and received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1960. Dr. Edwards served pastorates in Barnwell, SC, Charleston, SC, Augusta, GA, Edisto Island, SC and Birmingham, AL. He served on the faculties of Mt. Vernon College, Washington, DC, and Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL, as well as the staffs of the Medical School UAB and Medical School USF.

During his retirement, he wrote three books, and was researching others. Dr. Edwards enjoyed traveling and visited numerous countries in Europe, South America, Central America and the Middle East.

He is survived by his sons, Robert Sterling Edwards of Tampa, FL, Davidson College Class of ’80, Lee Alexander Edwards of Cullman, AL, and his daughter Elizabeth Edwards Davis of Auburn, AL and his eight grandchildren. He is preceded by his wife Margaret McRae Edwards, his second wife, Delphine Vennett Edwards, and his son Martin McRae Edwards.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at South Highland Presbyterian Church, 2035 Highland Ave., Birmingham, AL

Robert Cullen Rapp, Jr., 98, of Greensboro, passed away April 10th 2024 peacefully at his home with his family. Bob was born in Thomasville, NC on February 6th, 1926 to the late Eunice Blair Jerome Rapp and the late Robert Cullen Rapp, Sr., and is preceded in death by his brother Walter Jerome Rapp.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Victor Graham Rapp; son, Robert Cullen Rapp III of Greensboro; daughter, Katherine Reston Rapp Wood and her husband, Jon, of Columbia, SC and his precious granddaughters, Adelaide, Adair, and Reston Wood.

Bob was a proud graduate of Woodberry Forest School, Davidson College, and later went on to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His love and loyalty to each of these schools ran deep.

Bob was a man of faith and a devoted servant leader. He fiercely loved his church and its community. He faithfully served First Presbyterian Church as a deacon, an elder, and was former president of the Young Men’s Bible Class. He dedicated his time as chair of the Property Committee and was steadfast in his work through the church’s historic renovation project. It was through Bob’s insightful benevolence that the “Special Projects Fund” was established to assist necessary expenses for members who might be experiencing difficult times.

Believing in the importance of good and healthy communities, Bob followed in his father’s footsteps as an active Rotarian. He was a lifetime member of Rotary International and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Bob’s love of work was in the construction and building business. In the late 1960’s he co founded Westminster Company which later became a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Co. He went on to establish Arappco Inc. that was later acquired by D.R. Horton Company in the late 90s.

Bob loved the game of tennis, playing well into his golden years, snow skiing, and playing golf. He was a Formula One sports enthusiast and enjoyed vintage car racing on his own at the Virginia International Raceway. His love of Ferraris, in particular, was immeasurable. He served as Treasurer and Vice President of the Ferrari Club of America.

Bob was a dedicated and loyal friend. His friendships were plentiful and spanned across generations. He never missed an opportunity to celebrate and share fellowship. At 98 years he had outlived most of his contemporaries, yet he was still surrounded by generations of friends who loved him dearly. He will be remembered for the many ways he shared his sense of humor – always ready to share a joke from his back pocket.

Bob was an active member of the Greensboro community, exercising generously the importance of giving back. His benevolences and philanthropy were vast and he knew the importance of sharing blessings with others. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice in honor of Bob.

Of all Bob’s accomplishments, his greatest point of pride was his family and his three granddaughters.

The family would like to express gratitude for Carolyn Rivers, his long time caretaker and friend, Tonya McCulley, and Authora Care Collective – providing so much peace for Bob and his family. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, April 18th at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC. The service will be available via livestream for those who cannot attend at www.fpcgreensboro.org. Following the service, the family will receive friends at Greensboro Country Club, 410 Sunset Drive.

Robert Milton Allen, Sr. of Charlotte, NC age 101 years old passed away at Novant Medical Center on March 1, 2024. Robert was born in Charlotte, NC to Joseph Edmund Allen and Harriet Evelyn Allen.

Robert was a graduate from Davidson College in Davidson, NC. He served in the US Army during WWII in Italy with the 34th Infantry. He was wounded in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart.

He spent his career employed with Fredrickson Motor Express as Chief Accountant until he retired. His retirement years were spent living at Lake Wylie. He enjoyed fishing, boating and gardening until he moved to Aldersgate Retirement Community. He was a member of Plaza Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon.

He is survived by his daughter, Andrea Allen Huffman, Son, Edmund Lawrence Allen (Lisa), Daughter, Pamela Allen Taylor, daughter-in-law, Debbie Blythe Allen, 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and three step-children.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Rinck Allen, son, Robert M. Allen, Jr. and son-in-law Gary Keith Huffman, Sr.

A celebration of life will be held at Wilson Funeral and Cremation Service on Thursday, March 7th, 5301 Albemarle Rd., Charlotte, NC 28212. Receiving of friends will be at 10:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am. A private burial will follow after the funeral service.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis Tennessee 38105 or www.stjude.org.

On September 11th, 2022, in Jackson WY, surrounded by his loving family, Christopher Bland Walker Sr., sailed over the horizon, after attaining the ripe, prime number of 97.

Christopher was born July 25, 1925 in Lakeland, FLA, of John P. and Virginia Proctor Walker. He and his two brothers grew up on a farm in Collierville, TN, riding a mule to the school bus every morning.

During WWII he volunteered and spent a year in the Merchant Marines (one trip as mess boy on a freighter in the S. Pacific was enough for him), then two years in the Army Infantry, where he acquired a Combat Infantry Badge, a Purple Heart, with a final rank as Staff Sergeant in the 95th Division.

He received a B.S. from Davidson College in 1948 [valedictorian] and, three years later, a Ph.D. in Physics from M.I.T. in Cambridge, MA. After being awarded a Fullbright Fellowship Chris spent a year in Paris and then returned to M.I.T. as Instructor in the Physics Dept.; and then spent ten years doing research at the University of Chicago in the Institute for the Study of Metals. In February 1963 he accepted a Guggenheim Fellowship at the Harwell Atomic Energy Research Establishment in England for the next two years. Upon returning to the U.S. he took a Civil Service job as Research Physicist in the Army Materials & Mechanics Research Center in Watertown, Mass., where he studied x-ray crystallography for the next twenty years.

Although Chris lived in many interesting places he spent the majority of his life with his wife Helen ‘Nell’ McDill Walker (married in San Francisco ’61) living, working and raising their three sons: Chris Jr., Alex, and Bruce, at 22 Baskin Rd. in Lexington, Massachusetts. When not busy with the academic/research aspect of his life Chris enjoyed many hobbies and outdoor adventures with friends and family. Skiing in Vermont, the Alps of Europe, or in the Western Rockies, (primarily Jackson Hole, but rumor has it he met his beloved wife Nell by colliding with her on the slopes of Alta, UT). Sailing was also of great interest to Chris who, together with Nell, accompanied friends and family on different voyages primarily in the New England region, with occasional forays to further distant shores. We miss him and wish him a safe journey.

For a more detailed obituary please visit: https:// www.jhnewsand guide.com/valley/obituaries/walker-97-a-singing-scientist/article_fdcc0539-8cf4-51f4-ad41-698553766b5d.html

There will be a celebration of C.B.’s life at First Parish Church, Sunday October 30th at 2 pm.

He is survived by his brother Walter P. Walker (Mary-Francis), three loving sons Christopher Bland Walker Jr. (Heather Morrison), Alexander McDill Walker (Christine Warren) and Bruce Woodward Walker, grandsons Tenzing and Qiu Walker and many nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers please donate to causes Chris supported: Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/secure/onetime-donate

Alzheimers Research: https://www.alz.org/get-involved now/ advocate/ research-funding Native American Rights Fund: https://www.narf.org/

Nature Conservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/