Ways of Life

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

Ways of Life

Mar 31, 2026

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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

Ways of Life

Mar 24, 2026

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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

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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

Ways of Life

Mar 10, 2026

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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

Ways of Life

Mar 3, 2026

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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

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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

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15 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

Ways of Life

Feb 10, 2026

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14 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

Ways of Life

Feb 3, 2026

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14 min read

Ways of Life: A runner known for his creativity and compassion

Also remembered: A woman active in local Democratic politics; a longtime geriatric nurse; an executive at a Pepsi bottling plant; a textile worker whose real love was fishing

Ways of Life

Jan 27, 2026

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14 min read

Ways of Life: Guided by his true identity

Also remembered: A longtime special education teacher at CMS; an art educator at Spirit Square and a preschool teacher; a head usher at Ovens Auditorium; a woodwind player for the Charlotte Symphony

Ways of Life

Jan 20, 2026

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12 min read

Ways of Life: A cure for a bad day

Also remembered: A teacher at Rama Road and Merry Oaks elementary schools; a longtime piano and organ teacher; a city attorney and jogger; the owner of a toxicology business and a ranked tennis player

Ways of Life

Jan 13, 2026

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13 min read

Ways of Life: She was always 'booked and busy'

Also remembered: Founder of J.R. Cole Industries; a lawyer and advocate for feeding the hungry in Charlotte; an interpreter at CLT

Ways of Life

Jan 6, 2026

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12 min read

Ways of Life: He could fix almost anything

Also remembered: A machine technology instructor at CPCC; fundraiser at the Charlotte Rescue Mission; longtime chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital

Ways of Life

Dec 16, 2025

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14 min read

Ways of Life: Quick thinking and a robbery helped him find his place

Also remembered: A Sisters of Mercy teacher across many Charlotte schools; an art teacher at Charlotte Country Day and Charlotte Catholic; an artist, writer and disability activist

Ways of Life

Dec 9, 2025

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12 min read

Ways of Life: Always surrounded by books

Also remembered: A teacher at South Charlotte Baptist Academy; an industrial psychologist professor at UNCC; a scientist and researcher at Celanese

Ways of Life

Dec 2, 2025

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14 min read

Ways of Life: A champion for University City

Also remembered: A junior tennis champion at Charlotte Latin; general manager at Victory Chevrolet; a chemicals executive; founder of what is now Party Reflections; a top producer in real estate

Ways of Life

Nov 25, 2025

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13 min read

Ways of Life: Service was his high calling

Also remembered: An administrative assistant in CMS; pastor at Christ Lutheran Church; owner of All City Heat and Air

Ways of Life

Nov 18, 2025

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15 min read

Ways of Life: Myers Park remembers an ever-smiling teen

Also remembered: Longtime CMS English and ESL teachers; counselor and leader of the men's shelter; businesswoman and co-founder of Partners in Care of the Carolinas

Ways of Life

Nov 11, 2025

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17 min read

Ways of Life: For Thomas ‘Pop’ Sadler, community was everything

Also remembered: A well-known portrait painter; real estate agent and founder of several landmark restaurants in Charlotte; longtime studio arts teacher at CPCC

Ways of Life

Nov 4, 2025

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14 min read

Ways of Life: Spokesman for the university and the city

Also remembered: Junior League president and board member of various groups; a teacher at Cotswold Elementary School; benefactor to The Ivey Brain Health Center

Ways of Life

Oct 28, 2025

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14 min read

Ways of Life: A croquet champion and pioneer

Also remembered: Owner of company that built the movie theater at Park Road Shopping Center and the Cameron Brown Building; longtime teacher; clerk and lawyer during desegregation

Ways of Life

Oct 21, 2025

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13 min read

Ways of Life: More a friend than a TV personality

Also remembered: A noted volunteer with CMS; executive who helped form the city’s first comprehensive emergency response system for hazardous materials; a longtime Navy chaplain

Ways of Life

Oct 14, 2025

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10 min read

Ways of Life: A protector of the waterways

Also remembered: A custom home builder in the Charlotte area; a longtime nurse and Carolinas Medical Center; a lawyer and member of numerous community boards

Ways of Life

Oct 7, 2025

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16 min read

Ways of Life: She kept reinventing herself

Also remembered: Longtime media specialist and educator; author and creative writing teacher; director of the Mecklenburg County Health Department

Ways of Life

Sep 30, 2025

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12 min read

Ways of Life: A memorial reminds us all

Also remembered: A hall of fame croquet player; director of nursing for the county health department; manager of engraving at the Charlotte Observer

Ways of Life

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'

Ways of Life: A runner known for his creativity and compassion

Ways of Life: Guided by his true identity

Ways of Life: A cure for a bad day

Ways of Life: She was always 'booked and busy'

Ways of Life: He could fix almost anything

Ways of Life: Quick thinking and a robbery helped him find his place

Ways of Life: Always surrounded by books

Ways of Life: A champion for University City

Ways of Life: Service was his high calling

Ways of Life: Myers Park remembers an ever-smiling teen

Ways of Life: For Thomas ‘Pop’ Sadler, community was everything

Ways of Life: Spokesman for the university and the city

Ways of Life: A croquet champion and pioneer

Ways of Life: More a friend than a TV personality

Ways of Life: A protector of the waterways

Ways of Life: She kept reinventing herself

Ways of Life: A memorial reminds us all

The Charlotte Ledger