Ways of Life

A weekly obituaries newsletter telling the inspiring, thought-provoking and often-heartwarming stories of people in our community.

Ways of Life

'An interesting life for sure' — and a happy one

Nov 10, 2026

•

7 min read

'An interesting life for sure' — and a happy one

Also remembered: An auto mechanic who opened his own shop; a CMS teacher turned real-estate agent; a longtime receptionist at J.P. Stevens; a longtime orthopedic doctor

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Nov 3, 2026

•

8 min read

She could – and did – do it all

Also remembered: A dedicated church member who helped organized medical mission trips to Haiti; the CFO of the Alcoholic Beverage Control board; a person called one of Charlotte's best kindergarten teachers

Ways of Life

Oct 27, 2026

•

8 min read

Ways of Life: She found her own place

Also remembered: A preschool teacher with an adventurous spirit; an administrator with CMS; assistant district attorney and co-founder of law firm; and adult education instructor at CPCC; a district court judge

Ways of Life

Oct 20, 2026

•

8 min read

Ways of Life: She was a key player in an overlooked part of history

Also remembered: A longtime preschool teacher; a massage and beauty shop owner; a self-taught computer programmer and teacher; a longtime emergency room nurse at Mercy Hospital

Ways of Life

Oct 13, 2026

•

9 min read

Ways of Life: A justice champion who pulled people into her ‘Gina orbit’

Also remembered: A leader of several churches; the proprietor of Margie Maids; a chef and car repairman; a longtime USPS worker

Ways of Life

Oct 6, 2026

•

7 min read

Ways of Life: A hard life, a heart softened before it was too late

Also remembered: An advocate for minority students enter legal professions; a former Charlotte City Council member; a longtime teacher at CMS

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Sep 29, 2026

•

8 min read

Ways of Life: He served JFK, Carter – and the town of Davidson

Also remembered: A 55-year employee of Sears Roebuck; an artist in the music industry known as 'Ennaut'; a gifted cook and restaurant owner

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Sep 22, 2026

•

9 min read

Ways of Life: He built buildings and much more

Also remembered: A female pioneer in the banking industry; a dean of chemistry at Johnson C. Smith; a librarian and president of the African American Genealogy Interest Group; an associate athletics director at UNCC

Ways of Life

Sep 15, 2026

•

9 min read

Ways of Life: Coach, friend and legend

Also remembered: A teacher's assistant and math lab teacher at CMS; a longtime PE teacher with CMS; an advocate for recycling and for women's causes in Charlotte.

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Sep 8, 2026

•

9 min read

Ways of Life: ‘She had it all, except for the years’

Also remembered: A noted electrician and businessman; a longtime cafeteria training manager with CMS; an architect whose work can be seen across Charlotte

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

May 19, 2026

•

7 min read

Ways of Life: An ad exec with keen insights and a warm heart

Also remembered: A longtime officer with CMPD; an art teacher at Charlotte Country Day; the founder of Thomas Chapel Holiness Church; a guidance counselor at East Mecklenburg High School

Ways of Life

May 12, 2026

•

8 min read

Ways of Life: A man of endless curiosity and creativity

Also remembered: The founder of Living Waters; the founder of the Kopper Kettle restaurant; an inaugural member of the Carolina Panthers chain crew

Ways of Life

May 5, 2026

•

7 min read

Ways of Life: A child of SouthPark

Also remembered: A longtime firefighter with the Charlotte Fire Department; a leader in nursing in Charlotte; the founder of Mr. K’s Soft Ice Cream and Hamburger; the owner of Jung’s Laundry and Hong Kong East Restaurant

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Apr 28, 2026

•

6 min read

Ways of Life: Mining the memory bank

Also remembered: The national editor at The Charlotte Observer; a head nurse at the emergency room in Mercy Hospital; a longtime bus driver with CMS; an accountant and frequent speaker at tax conferences

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Apr 21, 2026

•

7 min read

Ways of Life: A music executive with a vision and a quirky side

Also remembered: A real estate agent who helped found the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association; a Black basketball player who broke barriers; a cashier in the Beverly Woods Elementary School cafeteria

Ways of Life

Apr 14, 2026

•

13 min read

Ways of Life: A short life with a lot of sass

Also remembered: A director at the American Recorder Society; the founder of Dikadee’s Front Porch restaurant; an architect for a development firm

Ways of Life

Apr 7, 2026

•

13 min read

Ways of Life: A generous chef and friend

Also remembered: A social worker and watercolor artist; the founder of a recording studio; a longtime resident adviser at The Salvation Army; a pathologist and head of the blood bank at Presbyterian

Ways of Life

Mar 31, 2026

•

13 min read

Ways of Life: His were God's hands

Also remembered: A French teacher at Charlotte Country Day; the founder of an in-house design and general contracting firm; a former commanding officer for the Charlotte Marine Reserve

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Mar 24, 2026

•

14 min read

Ways of Life: A life spent seeing what was out there

Also remembered: The founder of a cats-only vet clinic; a noted chef and food truck operator; the former general manager of The Observer; an African American who broke barriers in the business world

Ways of Life

Mar 17, 2026

•

15 min read

Ways of Life: A full life, to 106 years

Also remembered: The co-founder of Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy; a longtime Charlotte firefighter; a nationally recognized children’s advocate

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Mar 10, 2026

•

13 min read

Ways of Life: A life spent in giving solace

Also remembered: A foster mom to dozens of children; a founder of the Myers Park High School Alumni Association; a longtime police officer with CMS; a former Charlotte Fire captain

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Mar 3, 2026

•

15 min read

Ways of Life: A mom and squirrel saver

Also remembered: A home economist for Duke Power; a board member of various civic groups; a teacher of English and gifted students for decades

Ways of Life

Feb 24, 2026

•

15 min read

Ways of Life: Man behind the music

Also remembered: Highly respected plastic surgeon; a senior engineer at Southern Bell and communications director at Belk; an administrative assistant at East Meck; a founder of Metrolina Nephrology

Ways of Life

Feb 17, 2026

•

8 min read

Ways of Life: A cross-country trip planted the seed

Also remembered: An accomplished ballroom dancer; longtime YMCA staffer and camp director; an assistant principal at Alexander Graham Middle; a Scouting commissioner

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

Feb 10, 2026

•

7 min read

Ways of Life: 'Truly and uniquely Florence'

Also remembered: Substance abuse worker for decades; head golf professional at Quail Hollow; longtime preschool teacher in several Charlotte schools; an accomplished Charlotte area DJ

Ken Garfield

Ways of Life

'An interesting life for sure' — and a happy one

She could – and did – do it all

Ways of Life: She found her own place

Ways of Life: She was a key player in an overlooked part of history

Ways of Life: A justice champion who pulled people into her ‘Gina orbit’

Ways of Life: A hard life, a heart softened before it was too late

Ways of Life: He served JFK, Carter – and the town of Davidson

Ways of Life: He built buildings and much more

Ways of Life: Coach, friend and legend

Ways of Life: ‘She had it all, except for the years’

Ways of Life: An ad exec with keen insights and a warm heart

Ways of Life: A man of endless curiosity and creativity

Ways of Life: A child of SouthPark

Ways of Life: Mining the memory bank

Ways of Life: A music executive with a vision and a quirky side

Ways of Life: A short life with a lot of sass

Ways of Life: A generous chef and friend

Ways of Life: His were God's hands

Ways of Life: A life spent seeing what was out there

Ways of Life: A full life, to 106 years

Ways of Life: A life spent in giving solace

Ways of Life: A mom and squirrel saver

Ways of Life: Man behind the music

Ways of Life: A cross-country trip planted the seed

Ways of Life: 'Truly and uniquely Florence'

The Charlotte Ledger