Durham (Durham County, NC)

Notable Births & Deaths for Durham ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Durham. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

John 'Big John' Baker (Professional football)
- Full name: John Haywood Baker, Jr.
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John 'Big John' Baker<1>
- He was born in Raleigh (NC) on June 10, 1935 (a Monday) and died in Raleigh (NC) on October 31, 2007 (a Wednesday).
- Raleigh is located in Wake County and is 20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- Raleigh is located in Wake County and is 20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- He is buried at Carolina Biblical Gardens, located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast of Durham. The cemetery is located in Wake County, North Carolina.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Carolina Biblical Gardens<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Carolina Biblical Gardens (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Carolina Biblical Gardens
Janis Carter (Actress)
- Born: Janis Elinore Dremann
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Janis Carter<1>
- She was born in Cleveland (OH) on October 10, 1913 (a Friday) and died in Durham on July 30, 1994 (a Saturday).
- Cleveland is located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
- At the time of her death, she was 80.
- She is buried at Maplewood Cemetery, located nearby and to the west of Durham.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Maplewood Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Maplewood Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Maplewood Cemetery
Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany (Author)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany<1>
- She was born in Raleigh (NC) on September 3, 1891 (a Thursday) and died in Mount Vernon (NY) on September 25, 1995 (a Monday).
- Raleigh is located in Wake County and is 20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- Mount Vernon is located in Westchester County, New York.
- At the time of her death, she was 104.
- She is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, located 21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast of Durham. The cemetery is located in Wake County, North Carolina.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Mt. Hope Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Mt. Hope Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Mt. Hope Cemetery
Rick Ferrell (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Rick Ferrell<1>
- He was born in Durham on October 12, 1905 (a Thursday) and died in Bloomfield Hills (MI) on July 27, 1995 (a Thursday).
- Bloomfield Hills is located in Oakland County, Michigan.
- At the time of his death, he was 89.
- He is buried at New Garden Friends Cemetery, which is located in Guilford County, North Carolina.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for New Garden Friends Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to New Garden Friends Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to New Garden Friends Cemetery
Randall Jarrell (Poet)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Randall Jarrell<1>
- He was born in Nashville (TN) on May 6, 1914 (a Wednesday) and died in Chapel Hill (NC) on October 14, 1965 (a Thursday).
- Nashville is located in Davidson County, Tennessee.
- Chapel Hill is located in Orange County and is 10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 51.
- He is buried at New Garden Friends Cemetery, which is located in Guilford County, North Carolina.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for New Garden Friends Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to New Garden Friends Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to New Garden Friends Cemetery
Andrew Johnson (17th President of the US (1865 - 1869))
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Andrew Johnson<1>
- He was born in Raleigh (NC) on December 29, 1808 (a Thursday) and died in Elizabethton (TN) on July 31, 1875 (a Saturday).
- Raleigh is located in Wake County and is 20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- Elizabethton is located in Carter County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 66.
Jack 'Galveston Giant' Johnson (Professional boxer, civil rights activist)
- Born: John Arthur Johnson
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Jack 'Galveston Giant' Johnson<1>
- He was born in Galveston (TX) on March 31, 1878 (a Sunday) and died in Franklinton (NC) on June 10, 1946 (a Monday).
- Galveston is located in Galveston County, Texas.
- Franklinton is located in Franklin County and is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the east of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 68.
- He is buried at Graceland Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Graceland Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Graceland Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Graceland Cemetery
Ted Kaczynski (The Unabomber)
- Full name: Theodore John Kaczynski
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Ted Kaczynski<1>
- He was born in Chicago (IL) on May 22, 1942 (a Friday) and died in Bahama (NC) on June 10, 2023 (a Saturday).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Bahama is located 12 miles [19.3 km] to the north of Durham. Both communities are located in Durham County.
- At the time of his death, he was 81.
- The body was cremated.
Kay Kyser (Band leader, entertainer)
- Born: James Kern
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Kay Kyser<1>
- He was born in Rocky Mount (NC) on June 18, 1905 (a Sunday) and died in Chapel Hill (NC) on July 23, 1985 (a Tuesday).
- Rocky Mount is located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.
- Chapel Hill is located in Orange County and is 10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 80.
Dewey 'Pigmeat' Markham (Entertainer)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dewey 'Pigmeat' Markham<1>
- He was born in Durham on April 18, 1904 (a Monday) and died in Bronx (NY) on December 13, 1981 (a Sunday).
- Bronx is located in Bronx County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 77.
- He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, which is located in Bronx County, New York.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Woodlawn Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Woodlawn Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Woodlawn Cemetery
Janis Martin (Musician)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Janis Martin<1>
- She was born in Sutherlin (VA) on March 27, 1940 (a Wednesday) and died in Durham on September 3, 2007 (a Monday).
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County, Virginia.
- At the time of her death, she was 67.
- She is buried at Highland Burial Park, which is located in Danville City, Virginia.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Highland Burial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Highland Burial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Highland Burial Park
Clyde Lensley McPhatter (Singer)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Clyde Lensley McPhatter<1>
- He was born in Durham on November 15, 1932 (a Tuesday) and died in New York (NY) on June 13, 1972 (a Tuesday).
- New York is located in Kings County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 39.
- He is buried at George Washington Memorial Park, which is located in Bergen County, New Jersey.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for George Washington Memorial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to George Washington Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to George Washington Memorial Park
Anita Rose Morris (Actress)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Anita Rose Morris<1>
- She was born in Durham on March 14, 1943 (a Sunday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on March 2, 1994 (a Wednesday).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 51.
- She is buried at Maplewood Cemetery, located nearby and to the west of Durham.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Maplewood Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Maplewood Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Maplewood Cemetery
Soupy Sales (Comedian)
- Born: Milton Supman
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Soupy Sales<1>
- He was born in Franklinton (NC) on January 8, 1926 (a Friday) and died in Bronx (NY) on October 22, 2009 (a Thursday).
- Franklinton is located in Franklin County and is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the east of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- Bronx is located in Bronx County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 83.
- He is buried at Kensico Cemetery, which is located in Westchester County, New York.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Kensico Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Kensico Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Kensico Cemetery
Nicodemo 'Little Nicky' Scarfo (Crime figure)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Nicodemo 'Little Nicky' Scarfo<1>
- He was born in Brooklyn (NY) on March 8, 1929 (a Friday) and died in Butner (NC) on January 13, 2017 (a Friday).
- Brooklyn is located in Kings County, New York.
- Butner is located in Granville County and is 12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 87.
- He is buried at Atlantic City Cemetery, which is located in Atlantic County, New Jersey.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Atlantic City Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Atlantic City Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Atlantic City Cemetery
Kate Elizabeth Smith (Singer)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Kate Elizabeth Smith<1>
- She was born in Washington, DC on May 1, 1907 (a Wednesday) and died in Raleigh (NC) on June 17, 1986 (a Tuesday).
- Raleigh is located in Wake County and is 20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of her death, she was 79.
Grady Tate (Musician)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Grady Tate<1>
- He was born in Durham on January 14, 1932 (a Thursday) and died in New York (NY) on October 8, 2017 (a Sunday).
- New York is located in Kings County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 85.
- He is buried at Calverton National Cemetery, which is located in Suffolk County, New York.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Calverton National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Calverton National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Calverton National Cemetery
Paul Teal (Actor)
- Full name: Paul Joseph Teal
- He was born in Wilmington (NC) on July 18, 1989 (a Tuesday) and died in Raleigh (NC) on November 15, 2024 (a Friday).
- Wilmington is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Raleigh is located in Wake County and is 20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 35.
- We don't have any burial details.
George 'Possum' Whitted (Major League Baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for George 'Possum' Whitted<1>
- He was born in Durham on February 4, 1890 (a Tuesday) and died in Wilmington (NC) on October 16, 1962 (a Tuesday).
- Wilmington is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- He is buried at Wilmington National Cemetery, which is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Wilmington National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Wilmington National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Wilmington National Cemetery
Mary Lou Williams (Pianist, composer)
- Born: Mary Elfrieda Scruggs
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Mary Lou Williams<1>
- She was born in Atlanta (GA) on May 8, 1910 (a Sunday) and died in Durham on May 28, 1981 (a Thursday).
- Atlanta is located in Fulton County, Georgia.
- At the time of her death, she was 71.
- She is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, which is located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Calvary Catholic Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Calvary Catholic Cemetery
Tom Zachary (Major League Baseball)
- Full name: Jonathan Thompson Walton Zachary
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Tom Zachary<1>
- He was born in Graham (NC) on May 7, 1896 (a Thursday) and died in Burlington (NC) on January 24, 1969 (a Friday).
- Graham is located in Alamance County and is 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- Burlington is located in Alamance County and is 30 miles [48.3 km] to the west of Durham (which is located in Durham County).
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- He is buried at Alamance Memorial Park, located 36 miles [57.9 km] to the west of Durham. The cemetery is located in Alamance County, North Carolina.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Alamance Memorial Park<1>
- The Geni entry for Alamance Memorial Park
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Alamance Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Durham to Alamance Memorial Park

Footnotes ...

<1>	The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.