Below are news of our recent deaths:

• John A. Hardee - John Hardee, 73, passed away on January 27, 2010. A Garner resident, John is survived by his wife, Sue Hardee, son, John Michael Hardee, grandchildren, Ryan Hardee and Kristie H. Lee, great grandson, Tanner Lee. Arrangements by McLaurin at Pinecrest.
• Dennis Clifton - Dennis Lawrence Clifton, 61, formerly of Chesapeake, VA, died Friday, September 18, 2009. His loving wife, Joy was by his side at the time of his very unexpected death. He served his country honorably with two tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired from the U.S. Navy (submarines) after 22 years as a QMC. He was a life member of the Garner VFW Post 10225. He was the oldest son of the late Howard Clifton. Survivors are his mother, Nell Clifton of Raleigh; sister, Sarah and her husband, Wayne Faris, (niece, Kristy); brother, Kent and his wife, Tami Clifton (nephew, Kyle) of Raleigh; daughter, Denise and her husband, Kenny Mustin of Chesapeake, VA; stepdaughter, Torrie and her husband, Jeffrey Wilson of Garner; stepson, T.J. and his wife, Misty of Benson; as well as three grandsons, with another grandchild on the way. A memorial service will be held 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 23 at Bryan-Lee Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local Fire and EMS Station or VFW Post.

• Kenneth Earl Seagroves - Ken Seagroves, 73, died September 16, 2009 at Duke Raleigh. Entombment was held at Montlawn Memorial Park with military honors. Mr. Seagroves was the owner and operator of Seagroves Mechanical Co., with over 25 years of service. He served his country in the United States Army and was a proud member of the VFW. Mr. Seagroves is survived by his wife, Libby Seagroves; sons, Steven Seagroves and Brandon Seagroves; stepdaughter, Dawn Blackley; stepsons, Sam Morris and Paul Morris; grandchildren, Sarah Seagroves and Stephanie Seagroves, as well as stepgrandchildren.

• Beulah K Donaldson - Mrs. Beulah Keck Donaldson, 75, died peacefully Sunday night, August 16, 2009 at the residence of her son and daughter-in-law in Pittsboro. Before retiring, Beulah was a nurse who worked for a number of years for Dr. Westmoreland, then at both Laurels and Carolina Meadows. She was an outstanding athlete, having played fast pitch softball with a team that became state champions for four consecutive years. Beulah was a true blue UNC fan, and was known for baking excellent chocolate pies. She was an Auxiliary, having originally joined in Pittsboro, and tranferred to Garner when their Auxiliary closed. Survivors include her husband, Dave Donaldson; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Sara Donaldson of Pittsboro; grandchildren, Adam, Lyle, and Andrea; a great-grandchild; her brother, James Keck of East Point, GA; and sisters, Doris Jackson and Pat Weeks, both of Pittsboro. Mrs. Donaldson was predeceased by her parents, and siblings Geneva Harris, Lib Sykes, Bill Keck, and Roy Keck.
• Arlene Backlund - Alice Arlene Backlund, 83, died on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 after a short illness. Arlene was an active Auxiliary member, selling Poppies, going to the hospital visits, and working at the State's Cancer table for years. Arlene joined the Auxiliary over 60 years ago, after marrying her late husband, John Backlund, a WW II Army veteran. Together they raised five children, and throughout the years, cared for over 40 foster children, which they had for various length of times times, from a few days, to years. She is survived by children Jimmy Backlund of Garner, Anna Holm of Raleigh, Tommy Backlund of PA, and Donna Beckley of GA. Her oldest son John Jr. pre-deceased her. Grandchildren include: Kurt Backlund, Phillip Backlund, Shawna Boell, Tom Backlund Jr., Johnathan Backlund, Glenda Flannagan, and Barbara Womack, plus several step grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many loving friends throughout the country. A visitation will be held on Saturday, Aug 22 at Bryan Lee Funeral Home in Garner at 1:00 PM, followed by a Celebration of Life service there at 2:00 pm. The VFW will then host a meal for family and friends at the VFW Post following the service.

• Dennis "Mac" McMillan - Dennis "Mac" McMillan died on Saturday, June 6, 2009 ending his battle with cancer. Dennis was one of the Post's bartenders in recent years, and his frequent presence at the Post added much to the atmosphere there. He was near the end of his term as the 2008-09 President of the Men's Auxiliary. Services will be held on Saturday, June 13 at Montlawn Memorial Park, on Wilmington Street in Raleigh. There will be a visitation at the funeral home at 1:00 PM followed by interrment at 2:00 PM. There will be a reception for family and friends after at the Post.

• Charles "Chuck" Fulghum - Charles Howard "Chuck" Fulghum died May 9, 2009 after a brief illness. Surviving him are his wife, Dorothy Sue "Dot" Fulghum; daughters, Mary "Snooks" and her husband Ronnie Denton, Etta Jean and her husband David Ball, Donna Calhoun, Cathy and her husband Frankie Brewer; grandchildren, April Honeycutt, Sandi Creech, Summer Vanriper, Matthew Denton, Derek Ball, Carla Wooldridge, Stacey and Dillon Calhoun, Amanda Standley, Caitlyn and Joseph Brewer; and great-grandchildren, Racheal Pearce, Mikala, Xavier, and Skylar Vanriper, Brayden, Haley, and Kristen Ball, Kiyanna and Damian Wooldridge, Lila Standley, as well as his sisters, Janie Dennis, Peggy Wood, Betsy Williams and Judy Gay; and brothers, Ernest "Pee Wee" and Larry Fulghum, and beloved family friend, Terrence E. McEnally and family. He was preceded in death by brothers, T.W. and Bill Fulghum. Chuck was born to the late Ernest Lee and Etta Bryant Fulghum in Knightdale, NC. Chuck’s roots were both humble and noble. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Army 11th Cavalry regiment and proudly served his country in both Korea and Vietnam, later taking peacetime posts in Alaska and Germany. After 22 years, having reached the rank of Master Sergeant and having been several times decorated, Chuck retired from active service in September 1970, though he remained involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10225 in Garner, NC where his counsel was valued by all who knew him. In his later years Chuck held a variety of positions in the private sector, ranging from Gas Station proprietor, construction company owner, to school bus driver. To each he brought a work ethic and sense of integrity and individual dignity that will forever be the standards toward which we all should strive. A devoted and loving husband, heroic and loving daddy, brave soldier, kind neighbor, a humble country boy, Chuck always exemplified that modest strength of character so seldom seen nowadays. Chuck was actively serving as our Post Quartermaster, after having served several prevopis terms in the capacity.
• William Faircloth - William "Bill" Shelton Faircloth, Sr., 66, died Monday, February 23, 2009, at his home. A US Marine Corp veteran, Bill was born August 23, 1942, in Coats. Son of the late Harmon and Geneva Faircloth of Harnett County, NC. He is survived by: loving companion of 26 years, Nita Trull of Raleigh, NC; sister, Phyllis Stephenson of Angier, NC; children, Catherine Batts of Junction City, TN, Holly Trull of Raleigh, NC, Teresa and Ricky Brantley of Bunn, NC, Willie and Debbie Faircloth of Garner, NC, Ricky Faircloth of Raleigh, NC, the late Kenneth Faircloth of Raleigh, NC, and Billy Faircloth of Raleigh, NC; grand-children, Leslee Loggans and husband, Brad, of Garner, NC, Hope Moore and husband, Dustin, of Louisburg, NC, Mellisa Brantley of Bunn, NC, Amanda Batts of Junction City, TN, Jake Faircloth of Garner, NC, Joshua Faircloth of Garner, NC, Jesse Faircloth of Garner, NC, and Chadwick Trull of Raleigh, NC; great grand-children, Emma Loggans of Garner, NC, Casey Loggans of Garner, NC, Sophie Loggans of Garner, NC, and Jayden Brantley of Bunn, NC. He retired from 30 years at Winn Dixie, Inc. He enjoyed many wonderful days at his summer home at Lake Gaston. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed boating, and spending time in his garden. He was a patient and loving father with a sense of humor like no other.
• Stanley Theopolis Harris - Stanley T. Harris, a 84 year old WW II veteran, died April 26, 2009 at Rex Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, Berlena Wray Harris. Mr. Harris was a veteran of the United States Navy and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp medal for heroism from Admiral Stark, Commander of U.S. Forces in Europe, for actions performed during combat. Survivors include his daughter, Gail Burger of Garner; son, Chester Harris of Raleigh; sister, Sara Miller of St. Petersburg, FL; brother, Alan Harris of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Jason Campbell, Alissa Campbell, Jeremy Campbell and Hannah M. Burger; great-grandchildren, Jaydon Campbell, Wade Campbell and Dallas Campbell.