Moses Matthews was born on March 3, 1952 unto the union of Mr. James K. Matthews and Mrs. Toto Matthews in Wainsue, Bong County, Liberia-West Africa. He started his early education at the age of eight years old at the K. Diabolo Elementary and Junior High School in Wainsue, Bong County, Liberia in 1960 and graduated in 1966 with a Government Exam Certificate.

He later left Wainsue, Bong County for Monrovia where he entered the Matilda Newport Junior High School in 1967 where he completed his Junior High School Education in 1969 and was awarded a Diploma and Government Exam Certificate. He later enrolled at the William V. S. Tubman High School in Sinkor, Monrovia in 1970 where he graduated with a High School Diploma and Government Exam Certificate in 1972.

After graduation, he successfully passed the Voice of America (VOA) job placement test and later was employed by the Voice of America, Careysburg Branch in 1974 where he worked up to 1990. Due to the Liberian Civil War, he left Liberia in 1991 with his family and went to the Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). While in Cote D’Ivoire, he qualified as part of the Voice of America (VOA) Employees’ Resettlement Program along with his family and had the opportunity to travel to the United States of America in 1992.

While in the United States, he relocated his family in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and began employment with Kaba-Ilco in 1994 until February 18, 2013 when he met his untimely death as a result of a major job-related accident on January 14, 2013.

Besides his age, family, and work, he was an ardent lover of the game of soccer. He encouraged every young Liberian in the community to play the game of soccer and made all his children, especially his girls, play soccer in high school and special tournaments. He was the founder and member of the Kaba Soccer Team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Our hearts are broken as families and friends of Moses Matthews. His death has created a serious vacuum in our family. He was a true father to all who had the opportunity to meet and talk with him.

He was married to Eva Matthews and blessed with seven children and five grandchildren. He leaves to mourn a host of relatives in Liberia, West Africa and the United States of America.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Goler Memorial AME Zion Church. There will be a wakekeeping on Friday evening beginning at 8:00 PM at the church. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

Mr. Theander Cornelius Brannon passed away on Monday, February 25, 2013 at his home. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Theron T. Brannon, Sr. and Vernessa Wright, on May 13, 1975.

Theander was baptized at St. Matthew Apostolic Church.

A graduate of the High School Academic Program of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Theander attended Wake Forest University and earned his bachelors degree in chemistry from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He was a former employee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University.

Theander was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Wright, Jr.; grandparents, Ed and Kathleen Brannon, Richard White, Sr., and Dearieo McFadden.

Those survivors who will forever cherish his memory include his parents, Kenneth and Vernessa Wright, Theron Brannon, Sr.; two brothers, Theron Brannon, Jr. of Parker, CO and Theophlius Brannon of the city; his grandmother, Estella McFadden; aunts, Gloria Richardson, Frances (Carl) Williams, and Casandra Banner, all of the city; uncles, Ronzoni (Carolyn) White of Knob Noster, MO, Glen White, of the city, Tony White of Sacramento, CA, Theodore, Alphonso and Eddie Brannon, of the city; a niece; three nephews; his BFF, Michael Oles of Siler City, and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2013 at St. Matthew Apostolic Temple Church with Bishop Joseph P. Lowery officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the church. The family will assemble at the residence of Kenneth and Vernessa Wright.

Roland Harris Hayes, 82, passed away at his home on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, after a brief period of illness.

He was the youngest of four children born to the late Juanita Harris and John Henry Hayes, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on February 4, 1931.

Judge Hayes was a product of the local public school system and a 1948 graduate of Atkins High School. Following high school graduation, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Winston-Salem Teachers College (now, Winston-Salem State University) in 1952, and was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of North Carolina Central University, where he was awarded his Juris Doctor degree in 1971.

He was married to Barbara Spaulding in 1953 and they became the proud parents of three children and the doting grandparents to a granddaughter and six grandsons.

Before entering law school, Judge Hayes worked in commercial banking for sixteen years at Wachovia Bank and Trust Company. He began as an assistant manager at the Church Street Branch. Among the branches he managed during his career was the Wachovia branch located on the campus of Wake Forest University. During the summer months while in law school he continued to work at various branches of the bank.

Hayes began the practice of law at The Legal Aid Society, and worked as an associate in the firm of Richard C. Erwin.  Hayes opened his law office in NCNB Plaza in 1974 and was a solo practitioner until 1984.  His nephew, Billy D. Friende, Jr., practiced in his office from 1977 through 1978.     

Hayes was appointed to the North Carolina District Court by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., in 1984. This was a historical appointment as he became the first African American appointed judge in the 21st Judicial District. He was elected to successive terms and retired in 2002. Following his retirement, he was commissioned Emergency District Court Judge, which allowed him to be “on call” for any court in the district.

Judge Hayes, affectionately known as “the people’s judge,” was very committed to his community and its people, which he demonstrated through his leadership and membership in many professional, civic and social organizations.

Those affiliations included, but are not limited to: the Forsyth County, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, and American Bar Associations, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, North Carolina Association of District Court Judges, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Bachelor Benedict Club, Mules, Winston-Salem State University Alumni Association, Golden Heritage Life Member of the NAACP, North Carolina Central University Law School Alumni Association, and Friends of the Library - Winston-Salem State University.

He was a lifelong member of Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church (formerly Cleveland Avenue Christian Church). He was an Elder, former Sunday School teacher and Chairman of the Official Board of the Church. As Elder Emeritus, he was a role model and father figure for many in the congregation.

The Honorable Roland Harris Hayes is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara; three children, Roland, Jr., John and Reba; a son-in-law, William Rodman Warren; seven grandchildren, Roland III, Roddy, Reid, Raines, Sly, D’Jay, and Tigra; two sisters, Velma H. Friende and Jacqueline H. Harris (Robert); a brother, Clyde H. Hayes (Evolia); a sister-in-law, Gloria S. Hill; a brother-in-law, Reginald F. Spaulding; many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 15, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church, 5095 Lansing Drive. A private ceremony of interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 14, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church. Public viewing at the funeral home will be on Thursday, February 14, 2013 from 12:00 noon until 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church Hayes Scholarship Fund, Kids For Christ (KFC)-First Baptist Church (Highland Avenue), Winston-Salem State University Friends of the Library (O’Kelly Library) or to the donor’s choice.

For copy of the funeral program, click here

Mr. Gene Tinsley Austin passed away on Friday, February 1, 2013, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

He was born on April 22, 1942 to Geneva Jackson and James Tinsley, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Mr. Austin was a member of St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church where he sang with the Senior Choir. And he was employed at The Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

His survivors include Janice Austin, his wife of thirty years; his mother, Geneva Jackson; a brother, Harold (Linda) Jackson; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Francis; a sister-in-law, Lorretta Jackson; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. The family will meet with friends thirty minutes prior to the services at 1:30 p.m. at the church. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery.

For copy of Funeral program, click here