Category: 1950s

Lloyd Woodson Bostian, Jr. “Paw Paw” died peacefully at his home on February 19, 2026. Born December 16, 1932 in Charlotte, NC, Lloyd graduated from Davidson College and earned his master’s degree at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. After serving in the U.S Army as a counterintelligence officer stationed in Germany, he began a nearly 40 year career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Beginning as a bank examiner and retiring as Senior Vice President in charge of Supervision and Regulation, Lloyd’s humility and quiet confidence made him a trusted leader and mentor. 

Always generous with his time, Lloyd was an active supporter of Virginia Voice, Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis, and Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church among others. He was known for helping friends and neighbors with just about anything, especially during tax season. While maintaining interests in aviation, travel, woodworking and stamp collecting, he also took great joy in his daily “puzzling” routine. His vast array of cryptogram, crossword and jigsaw puzzles were always in use as well as his nightly Jeopardy! answers which kept everyone on their toes. He was most proud of his accomplishments as a private pilot and a maker of beautiful furniture that his family is blessed to have and will forever cherish. 

Lloyd was predeceased by his wife, Cornelia Miles (Moir) Bostian; as well as his brother, Ralph Bostian; and sisters, Betty Bostian Caddell and Mary Lou Bostian Johnson. He is survived by his daughter, Caroline Woodson Bostian McDowell and her husband, Chris of Richmond, VA and their children, Wilson Meriwether McDowell, Cornelia Miles McDowell and Charlotte-Reade Warner McDowell. Lloyd was a loving and kind “Paw Paw” who enjoyed teaching his grandchildren bridge and whose sense of humor was always on display in their company. No matter what they got themselves into you could always hear him laughing and see him shaking his head smiling. 

The family wishes to thank the care staff at Parham Doctor’s Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital and special angels like Rita, Carrie, Nea and Matt whose kindness and wisdom made all the difference. 

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 7,  at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. A private graveside service will be held in Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1627 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220. 

Walter Herbert O’Briant of Austell, GA died peacefully in hospice care at age 88.

He was born March 22, 1937, in Durham, North Carolina, to the late Ira David O’Briant and Ruth Annie McCollum O’Briant. His older brother, David Walker O’Briant, died before Walter was born. After moving throughout the upper Piedmont region of North Carolina due to his father’s work, the family settled in Reidsville when Walter was in the fourth grade.

He graduated from Reidsville High School in 1955 and from Davidson College, A.B. cum laude, in 1959, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Emory University and taught college and university students for thirty-three years. He and his wife Mary lived in Athens from 1965-2009.

After retiring in 1995, he began a second career in computer technology. He taught at two technical schools and later founded a business providing on-site tutoring and technical support. He closed the business in 2009 and moved with Mary to Presbyterian Village in Austell, Georgia. There, he continued to provide technical help to those in his local community.

Walter was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Prevette O’Briant, who died in August 2023. He is survived by his daughters: Kathryn O’Briant Roper (Tracy), of Cumming, Georgia; Jennifer O’Briant Portnick (Jim), of Milwaukie, Oregon; and Erin Quinn O’Briant Heller (Laura), of Haarlem, the Netherlands.

He is also survived by his grandchildren: Callie Laird (Brian), Jace Roper (Diana), Mitch Roper (Sarah), and Jaynie Griffie (Jonathan); and by his great-grandchildren: *Alia and Ahrora Laird; Nolan Roper; and James and Luke Griffie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Class of 1959 Fund of Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina. To do so, visit davidson.edu/makeagift.

Robert Flowers Baker was an inspiring, resilient man. Battle-tested and unwavering in spirit, he carried himself with humility, athletic drive, and a sense of humor that lifted those around him. He lived with a strong Christian faith and an unshakeable love for his family, his profession, his alma maters, and the comfort of country music.

He was a true Southern gentleman, a champion of civic responsibility, and a thoughtful listener to clients, colleagues, and anyone offering up a good joke. His laughter was contagious, his smile was sincere, and his hugs were heartfelt. These personal hallmarks defined a remarkable man whose life was filled with accomplishments that were admired by those who knew him well or were fortunate enough to cross his path along the way.

Born in Durham, North Carolina on December 15, 1935, Bob, aka Bobby, attended Hope Valley School, Calvert Methodist School, and Carr Junior High School. During those early childhood years, he served as batboy for the Duke University baseball team.

His joy of education and athletics continued at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he excelled in the classroom and was named a monitor his senior year. “Be-Bop” was a three-letter athlete in basketball and track and served as a captain of the cross-country team. His talent and passion for basketball carried him to Davidson College, where he played for the Wildcats from 1954 to 1958 and became a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

After graduating from Davidson College, he earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law before serving two years of active duty in the United States Army Intelligence Corps. His assignments included Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort McPherson, Maryland. Following his military service, from which he retired with the rank of Captain, he returned to Durham, the city he would proudly call home for the rest of his life.

Bobby’s principles were shaped not only by these formal institutions that influenced his early life, but also by a proud family legacy. He was the grandson of Robert Lee Flowers, Duke University’s second president, and the eldest of two sons of the legendary orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lenox Dial Baker. Yet his greatest source of inspiration and strength came during his courtship of Billie Faye Edwards of Durham, North Carolina, the beautiful woman he would marry in June of 1958 at Duke Chapel. A cherished marriage defined by great joys and happiness, including the gift of three loving children.

He was a partner at Spears, Barnes, Baker & Wainio, where he practiced from 1963 to 2000, specializing in criminal and family law, product liability, and insurance defense. During that time, he served as President of the North Carolina Bar Association (1982–83), leading with the same respect, integrity, and humility that defined his distinguished career as an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator.

Additionally, he was elected President of the Durham County Bar Association and remained deeply engaged in civic and professional life throughout the years. He was a longtime member of the Tobaccoland Kiwanis Club and the Durham County Safety Patrol Board, and he served as President of Hope Valley Country Club. Among the honors he held most dear were serving as State Chair of the American College of Trial Lawyers and receiving the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the State of North Carolina. His commitment to service extended to the Board of Trustees of Episcopal High School and Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital, as well as to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where he faithfully served as Senior Warden.

Bobby was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia Flowers Baker; his father, Lenox Dial Baker; his stepmother, Margaret Copeland Baker; his wife, Billie Faye Edwards Baker; his father-in-law, W.W. Edwards; his mother-in-law, Ophelia Johnson Edwards; and his second wife, Barbara Ferguson Baker.

He is survived by his brother, Lenox Dial Baker, Jr. (Fran); his three children: William Lenox Baker of Raleigh, North Carolina; Dial Baker Love and her husband, Leonard Norman Love, of Richmond, Virginia; and Robert Flowers Baker, Jr., and his wife, Elizabeth Scull Baker, of Dallas, Texas.

He leaves seven amazing grandchildren: Allison Baker Doak (John); Lenox Baker Meythaler (Bradford) and their mother, Leigh Hines Baker; Robert Norman Love; William Baker Love (Kate); Annie Ward Love; Robert Lenox Baker; and Virginia Elizabeth Baker.

Plus, seven great-grandchildren, Miller, GiGi, and Bobby Meythaler; Evy and Baker Doak; and Nellie and Margot Love.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 19th at 2:00pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 82 Kimberly Dr, Durham, NC 27707. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National MS Society. A donation to your local “19th hole” would also be a fitting tribute to Bobby’s legendary, back-bending fade off the tee box.

Reverend William (“Bill”) Franklin Lee, 95, died on February 10, 2026 in Tallahassee, Florida. He was born July 8, 1930 in Pensacola, Florida to Mary McLean Lee and William Franklin Lee, Sr. He graduated from Davidson College and Columbia Theological Seminary before beginning a long career as a Presbyterian minister. He was a resident of Westminster Oaks and an active member of Fellowship Presbyterian Church.

Bill loved people and was a committed husband, father, and friend. He was an avid reader and intellectual and a committed Christian. At the end of a long and successful life, perhaps it is most important to say that he was loved by many.

Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Patty Hamilton Lee, his brother, Stephen McLean Lee, his sister, Susan Jeanette Lee, and by his son, William Franklin Lee, IV. He is survived by his loving wife, Dottie Lee, his sister, Mary Witherspoon (Newell), his children, Beth Lee (Ed Stafman), Mary Jo Morelly (Dan), and Hugh Lee (Chelley Alexander) and his grandchildren, Laura Stafman, Logan Stafman (Rebecca Elyanow), Samantha Morelly (Max Welch), Nick Morelly, Ashley Alexander-Lee, Willow Alexander-Lee (Bella), Rachel Alexander-Lee, William Franklin Lee, V, and Michelle Su Lee, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, and their children.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3 o’clock at Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 3158 Shamrock St. S., Tallahassee, Florida 32309 followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to Fellowship Presbyterian Church.