Category: 1980s

Jeffrey David Burns was born on Christmas Day by the ocean in Milford, Connecticut. Born to Bernard J. Burns and Kathryn Mary Eustace Burns, Jeff was the youngest of five children. Jeff’s childhood by the water cultivated a deep love of the sea that persisted throughout his life.

Jeff attended John Hopkins high school, going initially to the University of Richmond, then transferring in the fall of 1978 to Davidson College. Jeff was recruited by Davidson after catching Davidson’s attention during a spring game as quarterback with University of Richmond by completing 8 of 13 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns against the number one defensive unit. His athletic performance made newspaper headlines. During Jeff’s time at Davidson, his artistic abilities caught the eye of his professors, and Jeff’s beautiful oil paintings are treasured to this day by his family. Of Jeff’s most memorable experiences in college were those in the company of his lifelong college friends and his canine companion, Bo.

Jeff graduated with a degree in economics in 1981. Feeling called by his adventurous spirit, he embarked on a formative six-month solo bicycle tour of Ireland, Europe and the Middle East. He lived and worked on a Kibbutz in Israel, concluding his travels in Egypt and sailing the Nile River. Jeff’s travels left an indelible mark on him, and cultivated both a lasting impression of the profound and nuanced beauty of the world, and a deep love for people that would guide him throughout his lifespan.

Returning home in 1982, he began a career that would grow into global risk management, working as he said “with people to resolve challenging situations before they became more challenging.” He was considered by others in the industry to be a construction expert with product development expertise and design of risk solutions for large-scale civil projects around the globe. He excelled due to his love of people and visionary outlook.

Jeff, above all else, cherished every moment of time with his family. Jeff had three beloved children during his first marriage and married his wife, Jamie in 2019. They shared loving, deeply cherished years together. Jeff trusted God’s love and never wavered in both his Catholic faith and deep love for family.

Throughout his life, Jeff’s adventurous spirit made him most at home climbing mountains or sailing into the wilderness of the sea. He maintained a love of all watercraft, some of which were barely seaworthy. His final home was in Evergreen, Colorado, with his wife Jamie, surrounded by the mountains he so deeply loved.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Jamie, daughter Jennifer Caitlin Markey and son-in-law Craig Phillip Markey, son Jeffrey B. Burns and daughter- in-law Katherine Renee Burns, and daughter Katherine Hally Burns. Jeff is survived by his well-loved grandchildren Jack Alden Markey, Owen Oliver Markey, and Eleanor Emerson Markey. Jeff precedes in death his beloved siblings, sister Kathleen Halperin, brother Bernard Burns, and brother Chris Burns. He joins his beloved brother Joe Burns in eternal rest. Jeff’s family and friends grieve deeply the passing of Jeff’s brilliant life and light, and he is remembered by the laughter, joy, hope and love he gave to so many in his lifetime.

Paul Bradley “Brad” Brechtelsbauer passed away on April 15, 2026, surrounded by his family – he was 61 years old.

A Funeral Service will be hosted at the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, April 19, at 2pm, and his visitation will take place at Wilkerson Funeral Home on Saturday, April 18, from 5pm to 7pm.

Brad was a physician in Greenville, NC, practicing as an ear-specialist for over twenty years at Eastern Carolina ENT. He relished the opportunity to care for his patients and was especially honored to provide the gift of hearing through cochlear implants – something that often moved him to tears.

An active member of the local music scene, Brad could often be found performing and jamming with friends across eastern North Carolina. He was a founding member of The Low Tide String Band, a trio that specializes in bluegrass, old time music, and Americana. He played many instruments, including the piano, bass, guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, and he constantly sought out new tunes.

Brad was born in Waynesboro, VA, in 1964, and lived briefly in Richmond while his father pivoted from engineering to dentistry. When he was in middle school, his family moved to Pinehurst, NC, in large part drawn to the incredible golf offerings in southeastern NC. Growing up, he spent much of his time golfing with friends and family, tending to his family’s collection of magnolia trees, and building and tinkering various projects at his workbench.

After graduating from Pinecrest High School in 1982, Brad attended Davidson College, where he received a bachelor’s in economics in 1986. He then went on to attend medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and was a lifelong UNC sports fan thereafter. Towards the end of medical school, he met his first wife, Tonita, and they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, when he began his residency in 1991. They had two children: William, born in Michigan, and Laura, born in Greenville, NC.

Brad was larger than life, not just personally, but physically – his 6-foot, 9-inch frame couldn’t be missed when he entered a room. But his big, warm smile was immediately disarming, earning him the unofficial title of “gentle giant” among those close with him.

One of Brad’s greatest gifts was his passionate and joyful curiosity. He always sought out new experiences and skills, including flying, ham radio, photography, computer programming, and sailing. And any interests his kids dove into, he often hopped on board and learned too. In the final years of his life, he embraced country living in Farmville, NC, becoming an avid tractor operator, tree enthusiast, and welder – activities that he loved to do with his wife, Karen, who was always an eager project partner.

Tragically, Brad was diagnosed with cancer in late 2022, which took him much too early. He handled every aspect of his cancer journey with profound grace, and his resilience and sense of humor made it easy to forget he was even sick. Without a doubt, Brad was a source of joy until the very end.

He is preceded in death by his father, Paul Brechtelsbauer. He is survived by his wife, Karen Brechtelsbauer; his mother, Anne Brechtelsbauer; his children, William Brechtelsbauer and Laura Brechtelsbauer; and their mother, Tonita Branan. He also leaves behind his sister, Wendy Spears; and his stepchildren, Caleb Roberson and Linzy King; along with a host of extended family members and friends who will miss him dearly.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional care and comfort provided by Physicians East Oncology, ECU Oncology, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

William Watson Regen died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 15, surrounded, as he had been throughout his life, by people who loved him.

Born December 27, 1966, to the late Barbara Lucas Regen and Jon Watson Regen, William’s earliest years were spent in Davidson, North Carolina where he established the roots that were to feed his entire life. When his father chose to attend seminary, the Regens left Davidson for Virginia, soon settling in Martinsville, the home of Jon’s first pastorship at First Presbyterian Church. There, William met, at age seven, the love of his life and wife of 32 years, Harriet Mauck. William cherished the years in Martinsville, building friendships to last a lifetime, and he and Harriet were married in the church of their childhood in 1995.

William’s academic years were enormously important, as much (if not more) for the relationships he cultivated as for the knowledge he gained. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School, and then followed his grandfather, father, and brother Kelsey to Davidson College. At Davidson, he, like Kelsey, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. “Boogs” was a beloved brother and friend to all: loyal, fun-loving, and humble. William graduated in the Class of 1989.

William earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and within a few years returned to Davidson to pursue his career and raise his family. He bought All Creatures Pet Hospital in Stanley, North Carolina, in 2004. His clinic grew to be a place that mirrored his life, with community, compassion, and conversation at the heart. He cared for animals and their people equally; an appointment with “Doc” always involved stories – stories of roadside purchases, motor vehicle repairs, memorable concerts, family recipes, his client’s or his own children, and the next adventure on the horizon.

William lived life full throttle and wide open. His son Jon said, “Dad had so many interests. He was astonishingly good at a few of them, and really enthusiastic about all the others.” Among William’s many interests were: old Toyotas, cooking, hiking, camping, boating, blackjack, DIY projects, his guitar, and all music, of course, from the Grateful Dead to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He loved Murrell’s Inlet, Sunset Beach, and Chautauqua, any roadtrip, any playlist, and any diner, drive-in or dive.

William never met a stranger, nor did he ever have mere acquaintances. He engaged every person who crossed his path. He was the friend you would call when you needed help, or more likely, the friend who would reach out before you even knew you needed it.

William’s children, Mary Lang and Jon, were the source of his greatest pride and his deepest joy. He lives on in them.

He is survived by his wife Harriet Mauck Regen, his beloved children, daughter Mary Langhorne Regen and her fiancee Kendall Cage, and son Jon Watson Regen. He is also survived by his brother Kelsey (Katie) and sister Suzanne Grzeszczak (Rob), sister-in-law Louise Rawls (Tim), brother-in-law Hutch Mauck (Tracey), eleven nieces and nephews whom he adored, and friends too numerous to count.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the Congregation House.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte. humanesocietyofcharlotte.org

John H. Hoots, Jr. passed away on January 2, 2026 at the age of 66. He was born on November 7, 1959, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to the late John H. Hoots, Sr. and Eleanor Wolfe Hoots.

John graduated from R. J. Reynolds High School in 1978. He attended Davidson College, where he was a member of the cross country team and the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1982. Most recently, he was employed by Publix. He was living in Florida at the time of his death.

John was an avid UNC basketball fan. He also enjoyed running, windsurfing and being at the beach. He loved music and played in a number of bands over the years, primarily as a bass guitarist.

John is survived by his sisters, Dr. Carswell Jackson, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Danielle Rosler (Russ) of Columbus, Ohio, an aunt, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A special thank you is extended to David Bailey and Diane Balsara for their help and care.

A cremation has taken place. There will be a private memorial.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.