Category: General

Charles Ives Bryan died on October 28, 2025 at the age of 95. Charles was born in New Bern, North Carolina, to William Moore Bryan and Laura Ives Bryan. He attended New Bern public schools until 1948 when he entered Staunton Military Academy in Virginia for his senior year. Charles studied business at Davidson College and graduated in 1952, during the Korean War. At Davidson he was a member of the Army ROTC program, which provided him with a commission as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation.

As a result of the ongoing war, Charles was called into active duty for two years. He served at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, an infantry training post that played an important role for war preparation. Charles was assigned to a training company, then a headquarters company, and then, by far his favorite assignment of all, the Commanding Officer of a small Army band, which aligned with his lifelong love of music. After his honorable discharge from active duty in 1954, Charles served six years as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

After active duty, Charles attended Harvard Business School and then began work for his father’s business, Carolina Rubber and Supply Company in New Bern, which sold industrial and marine supplies to the industries in eastern North Carolina and fishing businesses on the coast. In 1961 he had the good fortune of a blind date with Louise Moore of Kinston for a dance at the Coral Bay Club in Atlantic Beach. Romance quickly followed, and on June 9, 1962, Charlie and Lou were wed. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Raleigh where Charlie had accepted a position in the State Department of Cultural Resources. At the same time, Lou joined the Family Services Agency as a marriage counselor. In the fall of 1963, Charlie moved to the State Budget Office, which later became part of the Governor’s Office. He remained there for the balance of his career, retiring as a Budget Administrator in 1990. He was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his many years of dedicated service to the state of North Carolina.

Retirement was a joy for Charlie and Lou. They had a wonderful life together filled with countless adventures. They enjoyed spending time in Raleigh with their son, Bill, and his family, and they made many trips to Louisville and then Oshkosh to visit their daughter, Laura, and her family. They especially enjoyed times spent with their three grandchildren, William Bryan and Hannah and Zoe Fiser, who lovingly called their grandfather “PopPop.”

Charlie’s life was marked by boundless curiosity and an insatiable desire for exploration. Spending time in nature and the great outdoors meant so much to Charlie and Lou. They loved setting out on road trips for weeks at a time to take in the natural beauty of the United States and Canada. They particularly enjoyed National Wildlife Refuges for hiking and birdwatching, one of their favorite hobbies. With amazing compatibility as travel companions, they toured the U.S. together without reservations and no set plans as to where they may end up that night or the next. They proudly proclaimed, “We’ve never had to sleep in the car!”

Charlie and Lou also traveled extensively abroad, always learning and gaining appreciation for other cultures. They particularly enjoyed trips to Europe, the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Egypt, Israel, countries in southern Africa, and several extended trips to the British Isles to visit historic sites and gardens. When overseas Charlie took great pleasure in navigating the challenges of driving on the wrong side of the road, “luckily without incident” he was quick to point out.

Charlie and Lou felt so fortunate to live in North Carolina, where they spent many wonderful times at their mountain home near Blowing Rock and at Lou’s family cottage on the Intracoastal Waterway near Swansboro. In Raleigh they cherished their many close friendships and the city’s cultural activities, particularly visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art and attending North Carolina Symphony concerts. For many years Charlie served as the Treasurer of the Botanical Garden Foundation of UNC in Chapel Hill. At home he avidly pursued many interests including reading, listening to classical music on WCPE, feeding the birds and meticulously documenting the many species who visited their backyard, researching family genealogy, developing extensive files pertaining to every interest imaginable, and taking long drives to investigate the latest developments in and around Raleigh.

Charles was predeceased by his parents and his best friend and loving wife of 59 years, Louise. Charles is survived by his son, William Moore Bryan II, daughter-in-law, Andrea, and grandson, William Moore Bryan III, of Raleigh; and his daughter, Laura (Bryan) Fiser, son-in-law, Daniel Fiser, and granddaughters, Hannah Ives and Zoe Elise Fiser, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He is also survived by numerous cousins who greatly enriched his life over the decades.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 11 at 2:00pm at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. The family will receive friends after the service in the Jane Bell Gathering Place behind the sanctuary. A burial service will take place on Wednesday, November 12 at 11:00am in New Bern at the family plot at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Charles’s family would like to thank the staff of Perpetual Healthcare, UNC Rex Hospital, Hillcrest Raleigh of Crabtree Valley, and Transitions LifeCare for their compassionate care and support of PopPop over the past few months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charles’s memory to the V Foundation for Cancer Research or the North Carolina Symphony.

Dr. Lawrence Huitt “Larry” Parrott, 89, of Camden, passed away Friday, October 24. 2025.

Born in New York City, NY on November 9, 1935, he grew up in Charlotte, NC. He attended Davidson College, graduating with a B.S. degree in 1956.  He attended Duke University Medical School, graduating in 1960 and completing his internship at Vanderbilt University Hospital the same year.

Larry served his country as a captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1961-1963.  Following his military service, he completed his residency in Pathology at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Miami, FL, from 1963-1967. From there, he served as Associate Pathologist at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, NC, from 1967-1973 before relocating to Camden to serve as Pathologist for Kershaw County Memorial Hospital until his retirement in 1995.

Certified as an anatomical and clinical pathologist by the American Board of Pathologists, he was a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and the College of American Pathologists as well as a member of the American Medical Association, SC Medical Association, SC and NC Societies of Pathology, Columbia Area Pathologists, and Piedmont Pathology Club.

After retirement, Larry stayed active in the medical community, serving as a volunteer physician with Community Medical Clinic, and as an instructor with the Medical University of Columbia and Medical University of Charleston.

Active in his local community, Larry was a member of Bethesda Presbyterian Church, Rotary Club, and Kershaw County Medical Society.

A long-time, much beloved and respected member of Camden Country Club, he was a skilled and avid golfer and was fortunate enough to play a number of the world’s most famous golf courses, including The Old Course St. Andrews, Augusta National, and Pebble Beach. He was also an avid horseback rider, participating in the Camden Hunt for a number of years.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Joy B. Parrott; three children, Stephen Parrott (Julie) of Blythewood, Holly J. Tatum (James) of Tryon, NC, and Amy P. Harrigan (Mike) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Bethany Siebert (Jason, MD) of St. Louis, MO, David Parrott of Murfreesboro, TN, Mabry Parrott of Swansea, Christian Harrigan, Sutton Harrigan and May Harrigan, all of Raleigh, NC. He was predeceased by a son, David Parrott.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 14, 2025 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 502 E. DeKalb Street, Camden, SC 29020.  Memorials may be made to the David Parrott Scholarship, c/o Bethesda Presbyterian Church, or the charity of one’s choice.

The family would like to thank Retire EASE Senior Services, Dr. Carl Kearse, the staff of Kershaw Health MUSC, and Aaron Munn.

William Paul Sawyer passed peacefully from this world with his wife by his side on Sunday, August 31, 2025 in Tallahassee, FL.

Paul was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 5, 1949 to Charles Glenn and Betsy Ivey Sawyer. The oldest of four children, Paul was raised in Winston-Salem, NC. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Davidson College (1971) and attended medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill (1975). Residency brought him to the University of Florida where he met and fell in love with Jonette Muszynski, who was by his side as his wife and best friend for the past 49 years.

Paul and Jonette started their married life together by moving cross country to San Diego, CA. There, Jonette worked as a nurse while Paul served two years as a ship’s doctor in the U.S. Navy touring the South Pacific and as an emergency room physician at Balboa Naval Hospital. In 1978, they returned to Gainesville, FL, where Paul completed his residency and they welcomed their first child, Nikki.

Paul and Jonette moved to Tallahassee, FL in 1982 to begin Paul’s career as a urologist. They grew their family with the addition of two sons, Glenn and Peter. A dedicated physician, Paul loved taking care of people. It seemed impossible for him to be out in Tallahassee and not be greeted by a thankful patient.

Over the course of his career, Paul served two terms on the Medical Executive Committee and as Chairman of the Medical Staff at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center. He served as President of the Florida Urological Society, board member of the Southeast Section of the American Urological Society, and managing partner of the Southeastern Urological Center. He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee. Upon retiring from private practice in 2015, he practiced part-time at the VA clinic. He served on the vestry for St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he had been a member since 1982. Paul was a Founding Member of the Tallahassee Sette of Odd Volumes and enjoyed membership in the Colonels and the Cotillion Club.

Paul loved spending time with his three children and their families and was a doting grandfather to his three “grand girls.” His children knew he had been called into the hospital overnight when there was a box of fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the table in addition to his usual daily preparation of a hot breakfast for the family. He taught all of his children how to hook a grouper, back up a boat trailer, and slalom ski – but also the importance of pitching in on washing the dishes and mowing the lawn.

While his happy place was Alligator Point, FL surrounded by family and friends, Paul liked an adventure. He enjoyed hiking and camping with his family in the Florida Keys, California, the Pacific Northwest, the Canadian Rockies and Maine. In recent years, he and Jonette traveled everywhere from Poland and Syria to Cape Horn and China.

Embodying his philosophy of “work hard, play hard,” Paul happily woke up in the dark of morning to meet his walking buddies for a before-sunrise walk, and was always game for pickle ball or a round of golf. He made lamps from clay, carved bowls from tree branches, crafted elegant wooden pens on the lathe, and dabbled in drawing and painting. He loved telling and hearing a great story. He was top-notch company for any occasion.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control describe Paul’s spirit. We will miss him dearly.

Paul is survived by his wife Jonette; his daughter Nikki, her husband North Moore, and their daughters Isabel, Imogen and Sawyer of Charlotte, NC; his son Glenn and his partner Heather Akers of Evergreen, CO; his son Peter and his partner Elizabeth Stoutamire of New Orleans, LA; and his dog, Mia, his constant companion and favorite snacking partner.

Paul is also survived by his brother Chris Sawyer and his wife Julie of Atlanta, GA; by his brother Jon Sawyer and his wife Kem of Washington, DC; by his sister Elizabeth Sawyer Kelly and her husband Bill of Winston-Salem, NC; by beloved cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews; by Barbara Ellis of Lloyd, FL; and by the many people who were lucky enough to call Paul a friend.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to Dr. Michael Forsthoefel, the doctors, nurses and staff at Big Bend Hospice, and Paul’s compassionate team of caregivers.

A funeral service is scheduled for 3 PM on Thursday, September 18th at St. John’s Episcopal Church. A reception will follow in Alfriend Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church Foundation (211 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301) or Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Foundation (TMHFoundation.org or TMH Foundation, 1331 East 6th Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32303).

Roger Ellsworth Sheats, Jr., 77, passed away on June 7, 2025, in Red Springs, NC. Born on January 7, 1948, Roger dedicated his life to public service, family, and community engagement.

Roger graduated from Red Springs High School before earning his degree from Davidson College. His career was marked by significant contributions to regional and state development, including roles at the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments, NC Rural Center, and as the Deputy Secretary of Environment and Planning at the NC Department of Transportation. He later served as the Director of Cape Fear River Assembly, advocating for environmental and community issues.

A lifelong member of Trinity United Methodist Church in his hometown, Roger was deeply involved in his faith community. His commitment to service was also evident in his personal hobbies. An avid woodworker, surf fisherman, and gardener, Roger also devoted much of his time to leading Boy Scouts and coaching little league baseball, instilling values of leadership and community service.

Roger was a loving husband to Frances McNeill Sheats and a guiding force in the lives of his children, Lewis (Cindy), Chris (Katie), and Kelly (Scott). His legacy continues through his grandchildren, Kyle, Chandler, MacKenzie, Samuel, Nellie Grace, Alex, and Emmett. He is also survived by his brother Richard (Susan), and sisters-in-law Patricia (David) and Eloise. He also leaves to cherish his memory his nieces and nephews, Virginia Pope, Richard Sheats Jr, Amanda Frazier, Scott Sheats, Daniel Sheats, Collin Pope, Logan Roberson, Molly Sheats, and Finley Sheats. Preceding him in death were his parents, Roger and Johnnie Sheats, and his brother, John C. Sheats.

Roger’s commitment to helping others extended beyond his lifetime, as he chose to donate his body to the Elon University Anatomical Gift Program, continuing to support education and research.

A service to celebrate Roger’s life will be held on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 2pm at Trinity United Methodist Church in Red Springs, NC. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Jimmy V Foundation 14600 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513 or Trinity United Methodist Church 204 3rd Ave, Red Springs, NC 28377 reflecting his lifelong support of cancer research and his faith community.

David Arnold Nichols, 65, of Seale, AL died at his home on Sunday, June 1, 2025, surrounded by his family while under the care of Columbus Hospice.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, June 05, 2025, at 1:00 PM (EST) in the Chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home, Phenix City, AL with Rev. Marcus Hammonds and Rev. Bob Hawkins officiating. Interment with U.S. Army honors will follow in Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the funeral home, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Born on July 9, 1959, in Gadsden, Alabama, Mr. Nichols was the son of the late Austin E. Nichols and Mary Lee McKinney Nichols. A dedicated patriot, he served honorably in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, he found his calling at Russell County High School, where he taught History and Economics to high school seniors, a role he cherished deeply. David also had a profound passion for coaching, particularly wrestling, a sport he loved dearly. His contributions to the wrestling program were so impactful that the David Arnold Nichols Tournament was established in his honor. A devoted sports fan, he proudly cheered for the Alabama Crimson Tide, “Roll Tide!” 

In addition to his teaching and coaching, David enjoyed cultivating a thriving vegetable garden, believing in the health benefits it provided while also relishing the activity itself. His commitment to healthy living extended to his writing a cookbook titled “Papa’s Pantry,” which reflected his dedication to a wholesome lifestyle.

David’s influence on the lives of his students went beyond athletics; he instilled values of character and integrity in them as well. He will be fondly remembered as a man with deep Christian convictions who embodied the principles of God, Country, and Family. Being a father, teacher, and mentor brought him joy, but his greatest pride was being a Papa. He cherished every moment spent with his family, leaving behind a legacy of love, unforgettable memories, and guidance.

Mr. Nichols was preceded in death by his parents, Austin and Mary Nichols and several siblings.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra “Sandy” McCook Nichols, Seale, AL; five children, Kathy “Katie” Nichols, Jackie Carter (Ryan), John Nichols (Elizabeth), Mary Nichols, and Julie Parker (Jonah); three sisters, Dianne Wood (Dick), Linda Farias and Jennifer Nichols; one brother, Roy A. Nichols (Wanda); eight and a half grandchildren, Makayla Nichols, Haylee Altis, David Nichols, Mavrick Carter, Sophia Nichols, Issac Carter, Elias “Eli” Parker and one on the way; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.