North Carolina

Matthew Beaver, 40

Died January 19, 2021.

Knox Middle School, Salisbury, NC

Physical Education, Basketball & Tennis Coach

Obituary:

Matthew Dale Beaver left this earth for his heavenly home on January 19, 2021. Matthew was born November 24, 1980 in Christiansburg, Virginia. Matt married the love of his life, Ruth Voorhis Beaver on June 13, 2015. Matt and Ruthie were blessed with their son, Jackson Dale Beaver (5) and their daughter Ella Joanne Beaver (3). Matthew’s parents are Dale A. Beaver and Marsha Wilhelm Beaver of Rockwell, NC and Dianne Newton Lynch and Douglas Wayne Lynch of Meadows of Dan, VA. Matthew is also loved and cherished by his sister Adina Beaver Martin and husband Michael Dean Martin of New Castle, VA, nephews Alexander Craig Straight (Madison), Andrew Bridgley Straight, and Ethan Michael Martin, as well as uncles, aunts and a host of cousins. Matthew was preceded in death by his infant twin brother Joshua Alexander Beaver.

Matthew graduated from East Rowan High School in 1999. He went on to Graduate from Piedmont Bible College and High Point University with degrees in Health and Physical Education. Matthew was a member of the Piedmont Bible College basketball team. He was recognized by High Point University as the spring 2006 Outstanding Student Teacher and Outstanding Physical Education Major. Matt taught Physical Education and coached basketball and tennis at Knox Middle School and was a member of Charity Baptist Church in Kannapolis. Matthew Dale Beaver loved. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and openly and actively shared that love with everyone he came in contact with. Family, friends, coworkers, students, and strangers all knew that love by the infectious smile and laugh that was always part of Matt’s gift to us all. Matthew Dale Beaver experienced joy. He experienced the joy of his salvation, the joy of his dear family, and now “joy unspeakable and full of glory” with his Savior in heaven. Matt’s desire would be for others to know this love and joy through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Arrangments: A service to celebrate Matt’s life will be held at Charity Baptist Church, 2420 Brantley Rd #6402, Kannapolis, NC 28083, at 4:00pm, on Monday, January 25, 2021. Friends and relatives may attend. Social distancing will be practiced and masks are strongly encouraged. The service may also be viewed live stream by going to https://www.charity.church/watch.

Memorials for Matthew may be made to the family at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-family-of-husband-teacher-m-beaver or to a charity of your choice. Powles Staton Funeral Home is assisting the Beaver family. Online condolences may be made at www.powlesfuneralhome.com.

Amy Desormeaux, 60

Died January 22, 2021.

Apex Friendship High School, Apex, NC

Media Assistant

Obituary:

Amy Desormeaux, 60, lost her fight to COVID-19 at Cape Fear Valley Hospital, Fayetteville, on Friday, January 22nd, 2021.
Amy was born Amy Jeanette Parker, in High Point, North Carolina, on August 14th, 1960, to her late parents, Jean Jackson Harper and George Thelton Parker I.

She was a graduate of Smithfield-Selma High School, class of 1978, where she was a part of the beta club, president of the junior women’s club, and a cheerleader. Amy then went on to attend North Carolina State University where she received her Bachelors of Art in Business Management. Later she attended National Louis University, earning her a Masters in Education for Curriculum and Instruction. After attending both schools she went on to receive her North Carolina Real Estate License.

Amy was currently working as a Media Assistant at Apex-Friendship High School, where she made many friends, and impacted the life of her students.

Amy had a huge heart, and gave more than anyone ever asked. She was a woman filled with wisdom, and always knew what to do in every situation. Amy loved spending time with her family. In particular, she loved her trips to Disney Parks and Kure Beach. She loved to laugh, and to make her friends and family laugh. She lit up a room with that same laughter.
Amy is preceded in death by her stepfather, Allen Stanfield Harper; brother George Thelton Parker II and his wife Jane, along with other aunts and uncles. Amy is survived by her husband of thirty-nine years, Mabry Joseph Desormeaux, and daughter Olivia Parker Desormeaux; her sister Stannette Harper; her nieces and nephew, Eliza Weaver Gingras, Amy Leah Weaver, Molly Jeanne Parker, and George Thelton Parker III, and great niece and nephew, Ava and Jackson Gingras, dear friend Sam Boyer; as well as many other family members and friends, whom she loved very much.
During this time of sudden loss, and grief, in lieu of flowers or donations, please share any stories that you have with her, and send them to amymemorybook@gmail.com. This is a way we will remember our Amy on hard days.

Due to concern regarding the pandemic and wanting to spare others what she suffered through, the family has decided to celebrate her life at a later point with a trip to her favorite place, the beach. Amy was loved by many, gone too soon, and her legacy will be remembered.

Latina Perry, 42

Died January 10, 2021.

Wakefield Creative School, Raleigh, NC

Curriculum Specialist

Local news:

The Wakefield Creative School community is still in disbelief after curriculum specialist Latina Perry died from coronavirus complications.

It’s something that’s difficult to explain to any child.

“Why is Ms. Tina not going to be there, where did Ms. Tina go? We explain to her that she had to go and live with God, and she wants to know why we told her that COVID has been very ugly to Miss. Tina,” said Sonya Thomas, who has a granddaughter at Wakefield Creative School.

Thomas said Perry loved her job and her students. But, Thomas said she has concerns about the school.

“We are ushering our students and our babies into a facility that’s contaminated, and the staff and the directors on the inside know that and have not shared that information with us,” Thomas, said.

Thomas added that the school sent out one email informing families of Perry’s death, but, never mentioned it was related to COVID — something she she feels parents have the right to know.

“We have not received any communication that a staff member tested positive,” added Thomas.

Wakefield Creative School president Brad Hester said the last time Perry was inside the building was on Dec. 22.

In a statement, he said the school is “conducting verbal screenings, temperature checks and are sanitizing and deep cleaning, as well.”

Hester added that other employees and staff are being tested for the virus as a precautionary measure and that he plans to send another letter out to staff and families with plans for the remainder of the week. He added that he wants to be as transparent as possible.

Thomas said she will not be taking her granddaughter back to the school until she feels it’s safe.

“It needs to be professionally sanitized and it needs to be deemed safe,” she explained. “It complicates things for us, but we need to do what we need to do.”

Wendy Fipps, 52

Died January 8, 2021.

Edgewood Elementary School, Whiteville, NC

Fourth Grade

Obituary:

Wendy Jenrette Fipps was born August 6, 1968 and passed away January 8, 2021 in McLeod Seacoast Hospital, Little River, SC. She was the daughter of Bettie Gore Jenrette and the late Harry Jenrette Jr. She is also predeceased by her Sister Jeanene Jenrette Lee.

In addition to her Mother, she is survived by her husband of 26 years Shawn Fipps; sister, Michele Jenrette Williams and husband Jonathan, nephew Jon; brother in law, Nelson Lee, niece Madison Lee Ward, nephew Harrison “Rett” Jenrette Lee, niece Chessa Lee, great nephew Nash Ward, great nephew Noxx Ward.

Wendy graduated from Nakina High School in 1986 and attended Pembroke University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She earned a Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Pembroke University. Wendy was an elementary school teacher in the Whiteville City School District for 30 years. Wendy has been a wonderful wife to the love of her life and best friend Shawn for 26 years. Wendy loved her two fur babies Snuggles and Hemi like they were her children. Wendy loved to travel, she loved the beach, and she loved to fish in the Waccamaw River with her husband. She loved to cook and have social gatherings at her home. Wendy also loved to read and play the piano. If you knew her she would light up the darkest room when she walked into it, with her beautiful smile and outgoing personality. She was previously awarded Teacher of the Year, teaching was her passion and she touched the lives of many students over the years. She has been a lifetime member of Old Zion Wesleyan Church. She served her Lord and Savior for 52 wonderful years. She loved her family more than anything. Her giving spirit and loving nature will be missed by all.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM in the Isaac Gore Cemetery, Miller Rd., Tabor City, NC.

Visitation will be held following the service in the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shawn Fipps, 2757 Miller Rd., Tabor City, NC 28463.

Jamie Seitz, 51

Died December 27, 2020.

Lincoln Charter School, Denver, NC

Physical Education, Basketball, Volleyball, and Golf Coach

Local news:

Teachers and students remembered a beloved Lincoln County teacher and coach, who died Sunday night after a weekslong battle with COVID-19.

Jamie Seitz coached basketball, volleyball and golf, and he was a physical education teacher in Denver at Lincoln Charter.

He spent weeks in a hospital and was put on a ventilator before passing away.

A vigil was held for Seitz Wednesday in the school gym.

“Great man,” teacher Donna Wells said. “Great friend. Caring coach, teacher, father, husband, just a great all-around man. And it’s a loss we will feel for a long time.”

Outside, people sat in their cars and listened to the service on the radio to safely honor the coach during COVID-19.

Several people spoke about how many lives Seitz touched.

The service was called “Shine the Light.” Everyone in attendance lit a candle or shined a flashlight in Seitz’s memory.

Seitz’s former basketball players said he was the type of teacher everyone in the school knew and loved.

“He did a lot of things to where it’s just a little bit to change a person’s life and that’s what Coach Seitz did,” Jeremy Collonia said. “It didn’t matter who it was. He touched everybody.”

“He was a very nice guy,” said Timothy Fowler, a senior. “He had a big open, heart for everyone.”

Seitz taught at the K-12 school for more than a decade.

“He kept the class very fun, made it entertaining,” Fowler said. “(He) made us want to go to that class.”

School leaders said Seitz wasn’t afraid to show his personality in class.

“He was a big Buffalo Bills fan,” said Jonathan Bryant, chief administrator. “He got all of his classes to do ‘Let’s go Buffalo’ chants.”

Monday night, the Bill’s official radio station in Buffalo talked about him.

“Got word today the Bills Nation lost a special fan down in Denver, North Carolina. Jamie Seitz, a native of Newfane. His father Denny was a longtime coach in Newfane. Jamie passed away last night due to complications from COVID. Our best wishes to his family, his wife Liz and children Carter and Peyton.”

Lincoln Charter said it is teaching virtually until at least Jan. 11.

John Krol, 40

Died December 20, 2020.

Swift Creek Middle School, Clayton, NC

Mathematics, Science, Football and Baseball Coach

Local news:

A longtime Johnston County teacher and coach died Sunday from COVID-19 complications, say friends and colleagues now mourning his death.

John Krol, 40, taught seventh grade science at Swift Creek Middle School in Clayton. He died after experiencing a blood clot in his lung, principal Kerri Evans said in an email.

Lisa Krol told CBS17 her husband had a temperature and felt tired last week but continued to teach online.

“It’s his calling. Like teaching, coaching,” shr told the station. “He loved what he did and he loved his school and he loved his students.”

Krol’s death comes as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise across North Carolina and the country.

At Swift Creek, 11 students and four staff members are under active quarantines, according to the Johnston County Public Schools dashboard.

Johnston County’s schools had in-person classes until the beginning of December, but reverted to online learning at least until Jan. 15, after the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services determined the county had critical community spread based on its case rate, percentage of positive cases and the impact on hospitals.

“He (Krol) has been an integral part of who we are today because of his commitment and dedication to students through teaching, coaching and mentoring at Swift Creek and the greater community,” Evans said in a statement. “The passing of Mr. Krol is a loss for our Swift Creek Wolf PACK and he will be greatly missed by our staff, students, and community.”

Krol, a father to five children, began teaching at Clayton Middle School after he moved to Johnston County from Ohio in 2003. He taught at McGee’s Crossroads Middle School for many years before joining Swift Creek when it opened in 2017. He was its head coach for football and baseball.

“I’m talking to several of his colleagues and friends and we are still struggling with this,” Krol’s friend John Wood wrote in a text message.

John was one of the most positive, loving, compassionate people I’ve ever known, and he loved ALL of his students,” wrote Wood, who taught with Krol at McGee’s Crossroads. “This is just a horrible, senseless tragedy,”

FAMILY IN QUARANTINE

Lisa Krol had written in a Facebook post that the family was quarantining Dec. 19.

“We kind of thought everybody was probably OK from her being casual about the post,” said April Jones Lee, a friend and former coworker. But Krol began having trouble breathing, his health declined quickly and he died Sunday, Lee said.

Lee and Krol taught sixth- and seventh-grade geography and math at McGee’s Crossroads. Their children were friends, too.

“He was an encourager and concentrated on their (the students’) potential and not letting each other down and not letting them fail,” Lee said. “Whatever he did in the classroom was also reflected in his life and the kind of person he was.”

Lee said it is going to be very difficult for students and the community.

“You can’t lose a member of a school family, the community without acknowledging it and dealing with the emotions of the kids who are in his classes,” she said. “And I know Johnston County Public Schools will do a phenomenal job of having support in the building when kids come back. It’s going to be a hard day.”

Lee is also the president of the Johnston County Association of Educators. Krol’s death has been hard on teachers as well.

“We’re just incredibly sad, and at the same time, we’re incredibly angry,” because nobody mentions the adults in conversations about reopening schools, she said. “We have families with children and fathers and mothers.”

“I want us to be open. I just want us to be able to open safely. I don’t want to think that we can lose somebody else,” Lee said.

DECIDING WHETHER TO REOPEN SCHOOLS

Lee hopes the decision about whether or not to reopen Johnston County schools after Jan. 15 is based on data.

Johnston County has had more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the county’s website. There had been 97 deaths and 62 people currently hospitalized as of Monday. Roughly 1,500 children in the county have tested positive.

Tristen Alexander, 21, one of Kroll’s former seventh-graders, said he remembers Krol fondly as a coach.

Alexander played soccer and ran track at McGee’s Crossroads. He described Krol cheering the team on from the sidelines during matches.

“No matter what the score, he would say, ‘Just go out there, have the best time you can,’” Alexander said. “He is probably the best coach I’ve had.”

Alexander said Krol taught him lessons he will never forget. One day, the soccer players messed up some equipment in the gym. It was not immediately clear who did it. Instead of identifying a single person to punish, Krol taught the boys to be a team by making all of them do sprints as a punishment.

Amy Peterson, president of Swift Creek’s Parent Teacher Student Association, said Krol taught her son science in the seventh grade.

“I’m going to miss seeing him,” she said. “He was one of those funny (teachers), always keeping things entertained.”

Krol gave his students tough love, but always let them know he cared, Peterson said.

“My soon-to-be fifth-grader will be going there (Swift Creek),” she added. “I wish he could have been there.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to cover Krol’s funeral arrangements and future expenses for his family at tinyurl.com/yccunn2z.

Krol’s family has asked for cards or notes written to Krol’s children about how he has impacted people in the community, Evans wrote in an email to Swift Creek parents. Cards can be mailed to Swift Creek Middle School, 325 Norris Road, Clayton, NC 27520 (attention Krol Memorial) or dropped off after Jan. 4.

Larry Conger, 66

Ken Stanley, 57

Matthew Beaver, 40

Amy Desormeaux, 60

Latina Perry, 42

Crystal Bennett, 36

Wendy Fipps, 52

Jamie Seitz, 51

John Krol, 40

FAMILY IN QUARANTINE

DECIDING WHETHER TO REOPEN SCHOOLS

Melissa Bowman, 51