Obituaries
W. Trent Ragland Jr.
RALEIGH - W. Trent Ragland, Jr., a leader in
Dusmess, public service
and philanthropy, died
March 1, 2015 at Rex
Hospital. He was 94
years old.
A graveside service
was held at Oakwood
Cemetery at 11:00, Sat
urday, March 7. The
service will be followed
by a reception at St. Da
vid’s School Dining Hall.
3400 White Oak Road,
Raleigh.
In his life as a successful business leader, active
public servant and generous philanthropist, Trent
Ragland was known and loved for his boundless
energy, genial spirit and wit, keen intellect, mod
esty and compassion for those in need of support
or a helping hand. He took his responsibilities as a
citizen very seriously.
Mr. Ragland was bom August 12. 1920 in Salis
bury7, NC, the son of the late William Trent and Alice
McKenzie Ragland. He grew up in Raleigh where
he attended public schools before attending high
school at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia
.After attending his freshman year at Virginia Mil
itary Institute, he transferred to the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was gradu
ated with a B.S. in Geology in 1941. At Chapel Hill,
he was president of liis fraternity Zeta Psi and Rex
of the Order of Gimghoul.
Upon graduation, Mr. Ragland went to work for
Superior Stone Company, which was founded in
1939 under the leadership of his father, William
Trent Ragland, and uncle, Edmond Ragland. Tire
beginning of World War II sent Trent Ragland, Jr.
to the U S. Navy where he served on the staff of
Admiral Chester W'. Nnuitz. Corumander-in-Chief,
Pacific Fleet. Pearl Harbor, and later he w as gradu
ated from the Post Graduate School at the l \S. Na
val Academy.
Mr. Ragland returned to Superior Stone Com
pany m 1946 and became president at age -34, in
1954. 1 rider his quiet, strong leadership, Superior
Stone became a major producer of crushed stone
and related products in the southeastern U.S. He
continued as CEO of its successor companies for
23 years as he led Superior Stone into a merger
with American Marietta Company in 1959. Ameri
can Marietta merged with the Martin Company in
1961 to become Martin Marietta.
'He serv ed on the board of directors of American
Marietta and Martin Marietta and. after stepping
down as President, was Senior Vice President of
Martin Marietta Aggregates for many years. Upon
retirement, he was named Senior Vico President,
Emeritus. He founded the NC Aggregates .Asso
ciation. which celebrates its 50th anniversary this
year.
. An active man of wide-ranging interests, and a vie
rations reader. Mr. Raglan< I combined a far-ranging
;ind successful business career with a remarkable
record of public service and personal philanthropy.
This one-time newspaper r;uner boy w ho grew up
in modest circumstances became a quiet-spoken
business executiv e who moved easily among peo
ple and groups in all walks of life. His life reflected
one who generously shared his time, Clients and
resources with others.
His many activities in public service involved
more than 20 non-profit organizations ;md state
government agencies. They include Chairman,
The Independent College Fund of North Carolina
1 elected Hononuy late Member); ('hairman. Peace
< lollege Board of Trustees (elected Honorary Lift■
Member and received from Peace an Hononuy
Doctorate); Vice Chairmtin. Carolina Challenge
and Board of Visitors, I '.NC-Chapel Hill; and rnein
t>er, N( B<>ard of ('< u i.serv at ion A Development.
; Other positions were trustee. Rex Hospital. Ra
leigh; board member. Kate P> Reyn< >)ds 1 lealth t 'are
Trust; b<>ard member Atlanta A East ( an>lma Rail
road and North ( arolma Railroad; Vice President.
Better Transportation for North ( arolma; execu
tive committee. I nited Wav of Wake County; ;md
President, Friends < 4 the ( < Jlege ( 4.nreri Associa
tion, NC’ State I niversity. Additionally, he was a
niember < >f the North • an ilmiuna Society ;u id a re
cjpient of their award in 2004 1 le w as honored by
the News ;uid < ibserver in 1' M >•'! as far Heel of die
Vyeek. In 1977 he served as President of the N.C
(Citizens .Association, now known as N ('. Citizens
for Business ;uid Indus! ly. In 2012 he w as awarded
the PG Fox Compassionate ( 'are Award from the
IF i. Fox Society ;uid 1 >uke Raleigh 1 h ispital.
In 1959 Mr Ragland established the W Trent
Ragland, Jr. Foundation. He quietly ;uid effective
ly made generous contributions for over 55 years
to many charitable ;tnd educational organizations
and institutions in North ( arolma and in the south
eastern I S These included many involved in
higher education, youth services, historic preser
vation, environmental protection, shelter and rare
of homeless, music, arts ;md culture His generous
gift of land made it possible for Raleigh to build a
upw Boys and (lirLs ( dub in 1977.
; The William Trent Ragland Building at the Re
search Triangle Institute was named in honor of
las late father. In 1971 Saint Mary’s School named
aiclassroom building in honor of his mother, Alice
McKenzie Ragland, Class of 1914
■ Trent Ragland established ;ui Anna Wood Rag
land Library Fund at UNC-Chapel Hill to honor
Iijs wife of 70 years <married in 1944), Anna Wood.
Proceeds of the fund support the North Carolina
()oflection at the Wilson IJbrary where the re
npwned Hayes Libnuy is now located d’he Hayes
Library was originally at the home of Anna Wood’s
family in Edenton.
• Later in life, in addition to their home in Raleigh,
Trent and Anna Ragland epjoyed a home at Roar
ing Gap, NC for summer months and at John’s
Island, FL for wintertime. As active residents in
three communities, they belonged to many clubs
and other organizations, including the Carolina
Country Club, Raleigh; Roaring Gap Club, Roaring
Gap (including a term as President); John’s Island
Club, John’s Island; the Country Club of North Car
olina, Pinehurst, NC; The Sphinx Club, The Circle
Club, The Nine O’Clock Cotillion Club, The Carou
sel Club, The Terpsichorean Club, and The Hoover
Syndicate, Raleigh; The Raleigh Racquet Club; and
others.
Surviving Mr. Ragland, in addition to his wife, are
two daughters, Anna Ragland Hayes, Chapel Hill,
Alice McKenzie Ragland (husband Duff McAd
ams), Raleigh, and a son, William Trent Ragland, HI
(wife Wes), Raleigh, and brother, William McKenzie
Ragland. In addition, there are four grandchildren:
John Patrick Keenan, Anna Christine McKenzie
Keenan, William Trent Ragland, IV, and Mary Suiter
Ragland; one great-grandchild: Guinevere Keenan.
The family would like to express profound ap
preciation to the following caregivers and helpers:
Alyson Young, Emmett Furrow, Carolyn Hall, Jane
Reynolds, Yolanda Robinson, Mary Beth Bilbry,
Donna Rocha, Emily Pardue, Kelley Kams, Shirley
Payne, Katherine Pullen, Vicky Cassell, Iris Turner,
David Ruff, Julie Adams, and Carol Hoke. The fam
ily is also grateful to the Rex Hospital Fourth Floor
nurses and aides who showed extraordinary care
and kindness to Mr. Ragland and his family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to
Boys and Girls Club or to the charity of the donor’s
choice.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Fiineral Home,
300 Saint Mary’s Street Raleigh.
John P. Arcaro
EDENTON - John Peter “Johnny” Arcaro, 93,
passed away on Friday, March 6, 2015.
Mr. Arcaro was bom on October 28, 1921 in Syra
cuse, NY and was the son of the late Rocco and
Mary DeFrancisco Arcaro. A veteran of World War
II, he served in the United States Marine Corps
from 1942 through 1946, and upon his discharge
came to make his home in Edenton. On June 15,
1946 he married Mary Lewis, and they spent 57
years together until her death in 2003.
Always striving to improve himself, Mr. Arcaro
earned Iris high school diploma at the age of 46,
;md his pilot’s license when he was 47. At the age
of 85 he learned to use a computer and thoroughly
enjoyed communicating with people by e-mail
A bricklayer, he was dedicated to his work, was
known locally as the best at Iris trade, and was of
ten referred to as “the Michelangelo of bricklayers”
by people who recognized his talent. Still work
ing at the age of 91, lus artistry will be visible for
many years in the Town of Edenton, and now that
same talent can be appreciated by others as he lays
golden bricks in the streets of Heaven.
In addition to lus parents and wife, he was pre
ceded in death by his stepson, Terry Beimett; his
brothers, Martin, Michael, Albert, and Anthony; and
by his sisters, Letitia, Nicolina Mary, and Pasqua
lina
Surviving are his step-daughter, Frances Ober,
grandsons, Martin Bissell, David Ober (Blake), and
Tony Bennett; granddaughters, Lisa Bissell and
Kathy Halm (Ron); great-granddaughters, Carly
;md Riley Ober and Stephanie Bissell; and by 26
nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March
14th, 2015 at 4:00 p in. St. Anne Catholic Church.
Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, Edenton, assist
ed the family with the cremation arrangements.
The family requests no flow ers be sent, but that
memorial contributions be made to the Edenton
Food Pantry, P.O. Box 643, Edenton, NC 27932.
< inline condolences may be made by visiting
www.millerfhc.com.
Carl Brandon
LENOIR - Carl Campbell Brandon, age 83, of
unoir. passed away
Friday. January JO, 2015
at his niec e’s home in
Lenoir Bom January
7, 1052 m Chesterfield,
South Carolina, ('arl
was a son of the late
Albert Neal and Willie
Frances Boyd Bran
don and the husband
of Dorothy “Dot” Dtney
Brandon with whom he
shared over 02 years of
marriage.
i /mer man ms parents, ne was preceded in death
Iiy one sister, Mary Ellen Brandon and two broth
er, ( harles Brandon and Everett Brandon.
( ml w as raised in ( lover, South Carolina work
ing on the family farm mid in construction. He
graduated Clover High School as liis class saluta
torian. As a young, hardworking man, he along
w ith his good friend, the late Dick Pennell worked
building roads in eastern NC. With his work eth
ics, it w asn’t long before Carl entered the furniture
indust ry working for several different companies,
managing mid building plants in several states
throughout the country. Along with another life
long friend, Henry Smith, they would spend week
ends and holidays up fitting plants while other em
ployees were enjoying time off.
After retiring in the early 1990’s, Carl mid his wife
Dot, with their niece and husband, Lisa mid Chris
Evans purchased a funeral home in Edenton, NC
where they lived mid partnered for several years.
I-ater, they moved bar k to Lenoir to assist in the
care for Dot’s mother, Wilma Laney.
When Evans Funeral Service opened in Lenoir
in 2005, Carl was very active in the remodeling of
the facility and worked as a funeral assistant until
his death.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of
Lenoir and the Lydia Beam Sunday School Class.
He was a former member of Lower Creek Baptist
Church where he was an ordained deacon and had
served as Sunday School Director, Treasurer and
TVustee.
Surviving other than his wife Dot, are his niece,
Lisa Saunders Evans and husband Chris, of Lenoir
along with their two children, Elizabeth “Liz” Re
bekah Evans of Lenoir; Jonathan “Jon” Douglas
Thompson of Morganton; his nephew, James Doug
las “Doug” Saunders and wife
Kathy of Lenoir along with their daughter Chris
ta Saunders Price and husband Jerimiah of Lenoir.
He is also survived by his three sisters, Ann Meek
and husband Tommy of Gastonia; Cathryn Cooke
of Falls Church, VA; Dr. Betty Brandon of Chapel
Hill and one brother, Boyd Brandon of Columbia,
SC and many other nieces and nephews.
A service of worship, remembering Carl’s life was
held at 2:00 PM Sunday, February 1, 2015 in the
First Baptist Church of Lenoir with Dr. Bill Leath
ers officiating. Burial followed in Lower Creek
Baptist Church Cemetery with Reverend David
Gales and Reverend Don Ingle officiating.
The family received friends from 5:00 until 6:30
PM Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Evans Funeral
Service.
Pallbearers were: Russell Dula, Dewey Raby,
Reggy Greene, Doug Story, Aaron Deal, James
Phillips, Steve Biggs and Josh Woodruff.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to
Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirk
wood Street, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645 or the
Music Love Fund of First Baptist Church, 304 Main
Street, Northwest, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645.
Online condolences may be sent to the Brandon
Family at www.evansfuneralservice.com
Evans Funeral Service & Crematory of Lenoir
served the Brandon Family.
Elizabeth Parker Tomlinson
VIRGINIA BEACH - Elizabeth Parker Tomlin
son, 73, passed away March 3, 2015. She was bom
in Chowan County, N.C. to the late James Thomas
Copeland and Elizabeth Rose Long. She was also
predeceased by her special granddad she called
daddy, Jesse Smith and his wife, Goldie Parker
Smith.
Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband
of 14 years, Phillip Tomlinson and her daughter,
Andrea Rankins Dwyer.
Funeral Services were conducted Saturday,
March 7, 12015. Memorial contributions may be
made to the American Heart Association. Condo
lences may be made at www.altmeyer.com.
Jessie Downing Harrell
WILLLAMSTON - Jessie Downing Harrell, 84, of
Williamston, NC, went home to be with the Lord on
Sunday, March 8, 2015. She passed away peaceful
ly at Vidant In-Patient Hospice House in Greenville,
NC. A native of Chowan County, Jessie was bom
on July 26, 1930 to the late George William and Cas
sandra Alexander Downing of Edenton, NC. On
December 12, 1954, she married Lt. Aubrey Evans
Harrell and they eryoyed 56 years of marriage. 1 le
preceded her in death as did infant daughter, Amy
Lee Harrell, and a sister Maggie D. Dale.
She was a member of Williamston Memorial Bap
tist Church and the Dorcas Ladies Sunday School
Class. Jessie worked in the home, raising her three
children for fifteen years before working at Harrell
Oil Company in Robersonville as secretary-book
keeper. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf in finer
earlier years.
Also, while living in Windsor, NC, Jessie was in
volved in the community, served as a Cub Scout
leader, and President of the Woman’s Club.
Surviving family includes children, Michael I )ean
Harrell and wife Jane of Williamston, Aubrey Kent
Harrell of Williamsburg, VA, and Sandra (Sandy)
H.
Harrell and husband David Troy of Williamston,
NC. Grandchildren are Perry Price
Harrell and wife Corinn of Philadelphia PA, Jus
tin Troy Harrell and wife Grace of Williamston, and
Cassie Leigh Harrell, also of Williamston, a sister
Virginia D. Johnson of Halifax, NC, as well as sev
eral special nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 11.,2015
from 10:00 to 11:15 am in the Memorial Baptist
Church atrium, 109 W. Church St. Williamston, fol
lowed by tlie funeral at 11:30 and burial at Martin
Memorial Gardens. Services will be officiated by
Revs. Robbie Parker and Dean Harrell. Memorial
donations may be made to Williamston Memorial
Baptist Church or to the Williamston Fire/Reseue/f
US.
Special thanks to Dr. Paul Walker at the Leo Jen
kins Cancer Center and staff, as well as Dr. Dean
Patton and the staff of Vidant In-Patient Hospice
House of Greenville, NC for their wonderful care
and compassion. Funeral arrangements conducted
by Biggs Funeral Home of Williamston, NC.
DEATH NOTICES
ELIZABETH CITY - Mary
Elizabeth TYueblood Jen
kins, 70, died on Sunday,
Marc h 8, 2015. Funeral is
Friday, March 13 at 11 am.,
at Pearl Street Pentecostal
( hurch. Visitation Thursday
5:30 to 8 p.m. at the funer
al home. Arrangements by
IWiford Funeral Home, Me
morial Chapel.
WINDSOR - George
Wayne Perry, 75, died on
Thursday, March 5, 2015.
Funeral was held Sunday,
March 8 at 4 pm, at die
chapel of Miller Funeral
Home. Arrangements by
Miller Funeral Home & Cre
matory.
Finding Hope at Center Hill Baptist Church
From staff reports
•People from all walks of
lJe are losing hope. Come
hear accounts of real people
in real fafe situations finding
real hoj*“ in a real God.
Everyone needs to hear
encouraging words, re
minding as that God loves
u.s througli the worst situa
tions
Center I fill Baptist
Church is sponsoring “Find
ing Hope,' March 15-20
nightly at 7 p.m.
Come for vibrant wor
ship^powerful testimonies
and heaJing hope, expecting
God to meet you where £ou
are and rescue you from ad
dictions, iiai)its and hope
lessness. Find hope in Jesus
— the One who will love
you through the liard times.
Everyone is invited —
don’t let your past or your
present keep you from
experiencing the love and
forgiveness of God.
The church is located
at 936 Sandy Ridge Road
in Tyner. Go to www.cen
terhillchurch.org for more
details or call (2520 339
5359.