Category: 1984

Father. Husband. Brother. Son. Cyclist. Bassist. Uncle. Administrator. Friend.

Thomas Pafford, son of Tom and Barbara Pafford of Huntington, West Virginia, and longtime resident of Durham, North Carolina, was, above all, a Gentle Man.

Thomas moved slowly and deliberately in the world, and yet in his 56 years, managed to cover a lot of ground, and deeply touch many, many people across all walks of life.  He had a rare and carefully-developed capacity for creating space for people around him to just be themselves, and he leaves behind a large community of people who love and miss him.

An English major at Davidson College, Thomas was known by his friends to be a young man of considerable “existential angst,” and he continued both his love of grappling with great questions and his love of grappling with great literature throughout his life.  Moby Dick was his favorite novel, but his most constant source of reading material was the Book of Psalms, and many of his friends were exhorted to spend time with those same pages.

After several years experimenting with various jobs and careers, Thomas eventually found his niche as a Program Coordinator and Manager in the Anesthesiology Departments of Duke and the University of Miami, and — both in his work, as well as the rest of his life —  stood firmly and visibly for the creation of community across all potential dividing lines: race, gender, class, age, education.  Even the most casual glimpse of the friends and communities that gathered around him would show his success at forming and sustaining relationships that defied such potential divisions, and he leaves behind a community of colleagues who miss both his talents and his heart.

While working at Duke, Thomas met and fell in love with his life partner, Laura Collins, and their friendship and marriage transformed him.  Together they danced, camped, served as core community and committee members of their church, and — as foster parents  — dedicated themselves to providing a home to those who otherwise had none. They eventually wholeheartedly adopted four children: Robert, Liam, Lassha and Kieran, and inspired all who knew them with their simple, every-day brand of loving and living.

Thomas threw himself unreservedly into play with his children, a trait that was also enjoyed by his nieces, Sara and Alyssa — daughters of his sister Kathy — and all the other children (of all ages) who had the pleasure of knowing him.  He threw himself into other endeavors as well, always with an irresistible sense of delight and curiosity.  Both in Durham and in Miami — where the family lived for five years — Thomas dedicated himself to cycling teams, sharing in the mutual drive to support each other and push each other’s physical limits while playing full out on the long (and often hilly) roads with their cycles.  He was also a beloved local musician, playing with friends and worship community bands, singalongs, Boy Scout campfires, and most notably the Chapel Hill band Other Bright Colors in the late 1980s. All who heard him or played with him were clear that Bob Dylan was his most central influence.

Thomas passed away on October 26th, nine months after lung cancer was detected, but his heart, dedication and gentle spirit live on.

Todd Grant Kimsey was born June 6, 1962 in Athens, Georgia and died September 16,2016 in Westwood, Ca.

Todd fought double hit lymphoma and it’s effects valiantly for three and a half years. He was strong and courageous until the very end and he never lost faith in his God that he loved so much.

Todd was an honor graduate of Clarke Central High School in 1980. He attended Davidson College in North Carolina for two years and then transferred to Florida State to pursue his true passion of acting. After graduation he was accepted for a year’s internship at Bert Reynold’s Dinner Theater in Jupiter, Florida.

After this training Todd went to New York and immediately began booking several commercials and a few off Broadway productions.

Following a year long tour of Biloxi Blues, Todd decided to move on to Hollywood. This is where he began his TV and film career. He had guest shots in Doogie Howser, M.D., Growing Pains and over forty televisions shows as well as films such as The Perfect Storm, Planet of the Apes and Hildago.

As much work as Todd did, he will always be recognized for playing “The Communist” in a popular episode of Seinfield and was named in Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 100 characters of all time. In 2010 Todd began what would be the greatest roll of his life.

He married into a ready made family including 2 young sons and then they added a son of his own.

Todd is survived by his wife Lisa(Andizzoni)Kimsey and sons Jack, Judah and Kellen of Los Angeles, Ca.; his parents Linda and Bill Kimsey of Athens, Ga.;sister, Terri Langford and husband, Jon of St. Simons, Ga.; sister, Tracey Evans and husband Rick of Colbert, Ga.; and brother Dr. Troy Kimsey and wife Bethany of Knoxville, Tenn.; Todd is also survived by his thirteen nieces and nephews, many cousins and several aunts and uncles including his beloved Aunt Jane of Athens, Ga.

There will be a celebration of life in honor of Todd on Friday, October 14, 2016 at 6:00p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church of Athens.

Please join us in remembering the love, joy and exuberance that was Todd. 1962 – 2016

Published in Athens Banner-Herald on Sept. 23, 2016

James Dewey Rumley III, 54, of New York City, died on Thursday, June 23, 2016.

A native of Maiden, NC, Mr. Rumley was a graduate of Gulf High School in New Port Richey, FL, and of Davidson College, where he majored in philosophy. He also earned an MFA in Sculpture at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and was working on an MFA in Poetry at The New School in Manhattan at the time of his death.

Mr. Rumley’s creative talent also made itself manifest in music; he was a talented percussionist, playing over the years with such Southern pop bands as The Popes, Stumble, Discord, and The Lovely Lads.

Survivors include his sister, Caroline Rumley, her husband Hiram Maxim, and their daughter Audrey Pearl of Atlanta and his aunt, Helen Cleek, of Elon and his uncle, Joe Bridewell, of Fort Worth, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. James D. Rumley, Jr. and Charlotte Bridewell Rumley Swain.

The service will be conducted in the chapel at St. Mark’s Church at 1230 St. Mark’s Church Road in Burlington, NC on Saturday, July 9th at 2 P.M. by Rev. Ben Bishop. The family will receive friends at St. Mark’s in the Parlor immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Art Department at Davidson College. Davidson College, Box 7170, Davidson, NC 28035, Designation is the Davidson College Art Department.
Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington is assisting the family.

Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.

Published in TheTimesNews.com from July 6 to July 7, 2016

David A. Lee, 53, of Raleigh, died Wed., Feb. 25, 2015. A native of Raleigh, David was the son of Joshua Alexander Lee of Richmond Hill, GA, and the late Janice Taylor Lee. He was a 1980 graduate of Athens Drive High School, and a graduate of Davidson College. David worked for over 20 years at the baking plant off Weston Parkway in Cary.

David is survived by his father, Joshua Lee, of Richmond Hill, GA; sister, Martha Lee, of Carrboro; and numerous cousins and extended family members throughout the country.

A memorial gathering will be held in the Spring, date to be announced. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311.