SoDu Morning Brief: Hope Valley Spirit Night, DPS Jobs & Today’s Events
Sunshine and a light breeze this afternoon, cooler tonight near 50°. Support Hope Valley Elementary at Tomato Jake’s, see today’s obits, free school meals, DPS hiring needs, and a full rundown of Oct. 21 happenings across South Durham.
Your weekday local lowdown, powered by Southpoint Access.
💌 [Subscribe Free] | [Support Local Stories]
Today’s South Durham Weather Forecast (Oct. 21, 2025)
Today: Sunny, high near 76°F. Light south wind becoming southwest 6–11 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Low around 50°F. South wind 5–8 mph shifting to west after midnight.
Quick Take
- Best time outdoors: Late morning to late afternoon - comfortable warmth and sunshine.
- Breezy at times: Occasional SW gusts near 20 mph.
- Jacket tonight: Clearer, cooler overnight with a crisp ~50°F low.
What to Wear/Do
- Light layers this afternoon; a light jacket for the evening.
- Great day for walking the American Tobacco Trail, running errands, or getting out to youth sports practices; tie down lightweight décor due to gusts.
Thanks for reading Southpoint Access! Become a subscriber or sponsor and support neighborhood news!
🍅 Hope Valley Elementary School Spirit Night at Tomato Jake’s + PTA Meeting
Tonight, Tomato Jake's (8202 Renaissance Pkwy.) hosts a spirit night for Hope Valley Elementary School and its supporters from 4 to 9 p.m. The restaurant will donate 20% of proceeds to the school during that window. Customers should tell the clerk that the order is for the elementary school to make sure it's counted.
Principal Ingrid Whitaker and Assistant Principal Paulette Davis plan to attend from 5 to 6 p.m.
After you eat, jump on Zoom for the PTA general meeting at 8 p.m.
Read more in Southpoint Access!
If this helps you plan your day, help us keep it free for South Durham.

🕯️ Durham Obituaries – Oct. 21, 2025
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Service Details | Funeral Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonie Coline Rose | 102 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 22, 12:30 p.m., Woodlawn Memorial Park, Durham | Hudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services |
| Jeffrey R. Thrash | 85 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 22, 11 a.m., Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, Durham | Hudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services |
| Edward Harvey Estes Jr. | 100 | Oct. 16 | No services listed | Hall-Wynne Funeral Service & Crematory |
| Jeffrey William Porter | 64 | Oct. 16 | Celebration of life to be held later in Wilmington | Hudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services |
| Jack S. “Pe Paw” Warren Jr. | 76 | Oct. 16 | Nov. 13, 2 p.m., Hudson Funeral Home, Durham | Hudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services |
| John W. Chappell | 82 | Oct. 15 | Services held Oct. 19 | Clements Funeral & Cremation Services |
| Ronald Lewis Newton | 73 | Oct. 15 | No services listed | Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor |
| Samuel Adedeji | 75 | Oct. 14 | Oct. 28, 1 p.m., Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Durham | Burthey Funeral Service |
| Rebecca Anderson | 79 | Oct. 14 | No services listed | Hanes Funeral Service |
| Barry Yandell Blalock | 76 | Oct. 14 | Services held Oct. 18 | Clements Funeral & Cremation Services |
| James Lynn Hudson | 75 | Oct. 14 | No services listed | Clements Funeral & Cremation Services |
| Johnnie Walker | 65 | Oct. 14 | Services held Oct. 20 | Holloway Memorial Funeral Home |
| Billy Lee Codwise Jr. | 47 | Oct. 13 | Services held Oct. 16 | Clements Funeral & Cremation Services |
| Vidal Benitez Cruz | 70 | Oct. 12 | Services held Oct. 18 | Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care |
| Stanley Branch Sr. | 71 | Oct. 11 | Services held Oct. 20 | Holloway Memorial Funeral Home |
| Tanisha Jones Holland Walden | 51 | Oct. 11 | No services listed | Holloway Memorial Funeral Home |
| Bonnie Sue (Bass) Allen | 78 | Oct. 10 | Services held Oct. 15 | Clements Funeral & Cremation Services |
| S.P. Williams | 86 | Oct. 10 | No services listed | American Cremation & Funeral Service |
| Thurman Cash | 84 | Oct. 9 | Services held Oct. 17 | Holloway Memorial Funeral Home |
| John David Smith | 91 | Oct. 9 | Oct. 22, 12 p.m., First Calvary Baptist Church, Durham | Burthey Funeral Service |
| Wanda Wolfe | 53 | Oct. 9 | No services listed | Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care |
| Charles Routledge Eilber | 100 | Oct. 8 | Dec. 6, 2 p.m., Croasdaile Village Chapel, Durham | Hall-Wynne Funeral Service & Crematory |
| Patricia Carpenter | 78 | Oct. 6 | Services held Oct. 17 | Burthey Funeral Service |
| Dr. Paul Jay Feldblum | 72 | Oct. 6 | Memorial service expected in late spring | Clements Funeral & Cremation Services |
| Thomasena Massey | 73 | Oct. 6 | Services held Oct. 16 | Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care |
| Amiah Imani Corbett | 15 | Oct. 5 | Services held Oct. 18 | Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care |
| Kathleen Ann Welsh | 44 | Oct. 5 | Oct. 25, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Hudson Funeral Home & Cremation Services |
| Sara Vanessa Bodison | 54 | Oct. 4 | No services listed | Holloway Memorial Funeral Home |
| Ronald Stephen Watkins | 78 | Oct. 4 | Services held Oct. 17 | American Cremation & Funeral Service |
| Bedel Henry Saintange | 37 | Oct. 1 | Services held Oct. 19 | Peaks & Waters Memorial Funeral Care |
| Bennie Darryl McFarland | 67 | Sept. 15 | Services held Oct. 18 | Holloway Memorial Funeral Home |
💼 Employment Ads
Post your job opening with Southpoint Access for $50 per month. To submit, email a job description with contact information, as well as a logo for your company or organization.

DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The local public school district wants to fill numerous positions, but is particularly keen to bring in new EC (exceptional children) teachers and transportation workers. Also, DPS offers alternative certification tracks for potential educators coming from fields without a background in teaching.
🏆 Triangle Rivalry Challenge: Support South Durham News!
UNC 🩵 or Duke 💙 - no matter your colors, everyone wins when you support local journalism.
Join the Triangle Rivalry Challenge and help Southpoint Access raise $4,000 by year’s end to fund neighborhood reporting that keeps South Durham informed.
🍽️ Durham Public School Lunch Today
🍳 Breakfast (K–12)
Entrée: Fruited Bread Slice (V)
Sides: Applesauce
All breakfasts include a choice of low-fat or fat-free milk, fresh fruit, and 100% fruit juice.
🧒 Elementary School Lunch
Entrée Options:
- Barbecue Chicken with Roll
- Yogurt Snack Pack (V)
On the Side:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Fruit Cobbler
All lunches include milk and fresh fruit.
👦🏽 Middle School Lunch
Entrée Options:
- Barbecue Chicken with Roll
- Yogurt Snack Pack (V)
Sides:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Fruit Cobbler
Middle School To Go Option:
- (No “To Go” salad listed for Tuesday)
All meals include milk, fruit, and 100% juice.
🎓 High School Lunch
Entrée Options:
- Double Cheeseburger on Bun
- Veggie Burger on Bun (V)
Sides:
- Oven Potatoes
- BBQ Baked Beans
- Fruit Choice
Each high school meal includes milk and fresh fruit.
📌 All student meals are free. Menus include choice of milk, fresh fruit, and 100% juice. Items subject to change. Get the full week of menus here. And did you catch the latest DPS school cafeteria inspection reports?
🎟️ Events In and Around South Durham – Oct. 21
- 4–5 p.m. | Teen Spooktober: The Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Taste Test (Durham County Library)
Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd. - 6–7:30 p.m. | Parents’ Night Out (Durham Parks & Recreation)
Community Family Life & Recreation Center, 1309 Halley St. - 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Durham Public Schools Board of Education Meeting (Durham Government)
511 Cleveland St. - 7–8 p.m. | Durham Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Durham Government)
Virtual. - 7:30–8:30 p.m. | BEERthoven with The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (Atomic Clock Brewery)
Atomic Clock Brewing, 501 Washington St.
📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.
Have something to share? Email wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.
💬 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
What issues around your neighborhood in South Durham should get more attention? Reply to this newsletter and let me know. Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.
🤝 Support Our Sponsors
Local journalism in South Durham survives thanks to the generous businesses and organizations that make this work possible. 🧭
By supporting these sponsors, you’re helping Southpoint Access continue to deliver trusted, hyperlocal news and resources for our community - from school updates to neighborhood stories that keep SoDu connected.
💛 Shop local. Hire local. Support those who support Southpoint Access.



