Obituaries Coverage

Belafonte remembered for smooth voice, civil rights activism

Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.

Aunt remembers 'a happy baby,' community mourns teen shot at pool party

Since her death, the community has held a vigil, a balloon release and a rally all in Johanna's name and in an effort to end gun violence. Another rally will be held on April 23rd at 6pm at the TC Coley community center

Founder of Family Dollar and NC philanthropist dies at 85

Leon Levine, the founder of Family Dollar and a key supporter of medical efforts in the Carolinas, died Wednesday. He was 85.

WCNC Charlotte

Durham mourns long-time employee, Renaissance man killed while biking

John Allore was riding his bicycle around 7 a.m. Thursday when he was was hit from behind

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Family, friends remember young mother with balloon release

Family and friends of Nicole Bullock celebrated her life under sunny skies Saturday at Durham's Solite Park.

Raleigh attorney Roger Smith Sr. dies at 81, memorial service set for next week

The local defense attorney was involved in many high profile cases, including the Duke lacrosse case.

Longtime Raleigh attorney Roger Smith Sr. dies at 81

The local defense attorney was involved in many high-profile cases.

WRAL Staff

Funeral to be held Thursday for Hillside High student shot along American Tobacco Trail

Friends and family will gather Thursday to mourn the death of Anthony Arizona Delorie Feaster, 17, who died as the result of a shooting last week near Durham's Hillside High School.

Memphis Gathers in Grief at Tyre Nichols’ Funeral

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — His siblings remembered his passion for skateboarding and his love of photography. They said he had a sense of independence, a comfort and confidence in being himself, that had taken hold at an early age. At 29, Tyre Nichols was finding his way.

Rick Rojas, New York Times

Former WRAL News reporter 'Dick' Ellis dies at 78

Former radio personality and WRAL News reporter Richard Earl "Dick" Ellis died on Saturday at the age of 78. Ellis worked at WRAL as a reporter for five years in the 1970s after returning home from the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Raleigh doctor who delivered 10,000 babies, fought for integrating health care, dies at 95

Dr. George Clyde Debnam, who was known as one of the most prominent Black physicians in Raleigh, died last week at the age of 95.

Cumberland deputy remembered in emotional ceremony

Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright was among those to eulogize Deputy Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.

Beloved Cumberland deputy remembered for smile, service

Just days before Christmas, a community gathered to honor the life of Cumberland County Deputy Oscar Bolanos-Anavisca, hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver one week ago.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

'Great leader and friend': Fuquay-Varina fire chief passes away, a 32-year veteran of fire department

The town of Fuquay-Varina shared news that longtime fire chief Anthony Mauldin passed away on Sunday.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Oscar winner Irene Cara dies at age 63

Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy-winning singer-actress Irene Cara has died. She was 63.

North Carolina 'trailblazer for women' McCain dies at 91

A decades-long fixture in Democratic politics, Betty McCain was the first woman to chair the state Democratic Party.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Gallagher, watermelon-smashing comedian, dead at 76

Comedian Gallagher, best known for his watermelon-smashing comedy routine and many popular specials in the 1980s, died Friday morning, according his manager Craig Marquardo. He was 76.

By Lisa Respers France, CNN

Country music great Loretta Lynn dies at 90

Loretta Lynn, the Kentucky coal miner's daughter whose frank songs about life and love as a woman in Appalachia pulled her out of poverty and made her a pillar of country music, has died. She was 90.

Louise Fletcher, Oscar-winning actress, dies at 88

Louise Fletcher, the actress who won an Academy Award for playing the villainous Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," died Friday in France, according to her agent David Shaul. She was 88.

By Isa Kaufman Geballe and Zoe Sottile, CNN

Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, 93, Dies; Created Database of Enslaved People

Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, who after years of digging through obscure libraries in Louisiana, Spain and France managed to rescue the identities of more than 100,000 enslaved people from archival oblivion and demonstrate the vast extent of African influence on America's cultural heritage, died Aug. 29 in Guanajuato, Mexico, about 200 miles northwest of Mexico City. She was 93.

Clay Risen, New York Times

Beloved Rolesville fire chief passes away in his home at 67 years old

The beloved Rolesville Fire Chief passed away in his home Wednesday morning, according to a statement from Wake County.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

Olivia Newton-John, an Honestly Loved Singer and ‘Grease’ Star, Dies at 73

Olivia Newton-John, who sang some of the biggest hits of the 1970s and ’80s while recasting her image as the virginal girl next door into a spandex-clad vixen — a transformation reflected in miniature by her starring role in “Grease,” one of the most popular movie musicals of its era — died Monday at her ranch in Southern California. She was 73.

Jim Farber, New York Times

'The Judds: The Final Tour' will become a star-studded tribute to Naomi Judd

Wynonna Judd has decided to turn what would have been her and her mother's final tour into a tribute to her.

By Lisa Respers France, CNN

Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins Dies at 50

Taylor Hawkins, the hard-hitting, charismatic drummer for Foo Fighters, an enduring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band that has won 12 Grammys and released seven platinum albums, has died at 50.

Caryn Ganz and Joe Coscarelli, New York Times

Longtime Cumberland County Sheriff Earl 'Moose' Butler laid to rest in Fayetteville

Butler was responsible for taking the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office through several changes, including making it a fully accredited law enforcement agency.

Gilbert Baez WRAL, Fayetteville reporter and Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer