/the-lives-lost The pandemic has claimed around 12,000 North Carolinian lives since March 24, 2020. To honor them, we're telling eight life stories – a cross-section of our Carolina neighbors – that ended too soon due to COVID. en-US Copyright Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:51:57 GMT /news/2021-04-06/irving-pressley-mcphail-president-of-saint-augustines-university-spread-love-as-a-leader Shortly after the start of the fall semester, Irving Pressley McPhail, 71, reported early symptoms of COVID – a headache and a fever. He served as president of Saint Augustine’s University for only a few months before he succumbed to COVID-19. Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:51:57 GMT /news/2021-04-06/irving-pressley-mcphail-president-of-saint-augustines-university-spread-love-as-a-leader Leoneda Inge /news/2021-04-01/jane-klein-remembered-family-irish-festival-covid-nursing-obit More than 40% of the people who’ve passed away from COVID-19 in North Carolina lived in nursing homes or residential care facilities. Jane Klein was one of them. She died in Fayetteville on Jan. 30. She was six days away from her 68th birthday. Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:40:48 GMT /news/2021-04-01/jane-klein-remembered-family-irish-festival-covid-nursing-obit Celeste Gracia /news/2021-03-30/yoshi-soto-morales-first-nc-child-to-die-from-covid-19-lived-life-to-the-fullest Aurea Yolotzin Soto Morales, known to her friends and family as Yoshi, was a fun-loving, studious girl. Born and raised in Durham, she attended second-grade at Creekside Elementary and at 8 years old, had a long list of interests. Tue, 30 Mar 2021 22:37:33 GMT /news/2021-03-30/yoshi-soto-morales-first-nc-child-to-die-from-covid-19-lived-life-to-the-fullest Cole del Charco /health/2021-03-29/covid-obit-remembering-teacher-coach-jamie-seitz-lincoln-denver Jamie Seitz taught physical education for 25 years, mostly at the Lincoln Charter School in Denver, North Carolina. He was a beloved coach, known for his charisma, playfulness and respect for others. He was 51 when he died of COVID-19. His family and school community have mourned his loss together. Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:10:34 GMT /health/2021-03-29/covid-obit-remembering-teacher-coach-jamie-seitz-lincoln-denver Liz Schlemmer /arts-culture/2021-03-25/with-mourning-rituals-put-on-hold-north-carolinians-adapt-to-grieve Around 12,000 North Carolinians have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020, leaving countless friends and families forced to adapt to honor their loved ones. From live-streamed funerals to in-person memorials with tight attendance, for many, the rituals that traditionally guide loved ones through the process of grief have been stripped away or put on hold. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:31:18 GMT /arts-culture/2021-03-25/with-mourning-rituals-put-on-hold-north-carolinians-adapt-to-grieve Laura Pellicer /2021-03-25/a-note-on-our-covid-19-obit-series On March 24, 2020, COVID-19 claimed its first recorded life in North Carolina. Since then, the pandemic has upended our communities, our families, and our lives in devastating ways. This series aims to tell the life stories of some of those we've lost too soon. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:31:01 GMT /2021-03-25/a-note-on-our-covid-19-obit-series Elizabeth Baier, Dave DeWitt /sports/2021-03-25/nfl-lineman-tootie-robbins-ecu-teammate-windsor-covid-obit A native of Windsor, North Carolina, Tootie Robbins is one of the best football players to come out of East Carolina University. He played 12 years in the NFL. Robbins died after contracting COVID-19 in August 2020. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:27:27 GMT /sports/2021-03-25/nfl-lineman-tootie-robbins-ecu-teammate-windsor-covid-obit Mitchell Northam /2021-03-25/billy-bingham-died-while-in-prison-his-death-has-raised-questions Billy Richard Bingham Jr. – a son, sibling, Marine, and inmate number 0031427 - grew up in Gaston County. His simple life turned tragic in 2005 when he stabbed a man, who later died. For that, Bingham Jr. spent years at the Albemarle Correctional Institute, where his family believes he died of COVID-19 last year. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:26:55 GMT /2021-03-25/billy-bingham-died-while-in-prison-his-death-has-raised-questions Jason deBruyn /2021-03-25/small-town-big-loss-spindale-loses-longtime-leader-james-hamilton Except for his college years, James Hamilton lived his entire life in the tiny Rutherford County town of Spindale. He couldn’t imagine making anywhere else home, said friends and family. After decades in roles including town police officer, mayor pro team and deacon of his church, many in town couldn’t imagine living without him, either. Now they are, though. Hamilton, 55, died October 14 from complications related to COVID-19. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:26:15 GMT /2021-03-25/small-town-big-loss-spindale-loses-longtime-leader-james-hamilton Jay Price /2021-03-25/a-community-servant-goes-home-remembering-wyvis-oxendine-sr Wyvis Oxendine Sr. — or Senior as he was affectionately known — was a longtime Robeson County educator, community organizer, county commissioner and entrepreneur. He died of COVID-19 in January at age 74. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:24:38 GMT /2021-03-25/a-community-servant-goes-home-remembering-wyvis-oxendine-sr Laura Pellicer