George W. Kenan

TEACHEY - Mr. Kenan died peacefully today at the age of 102.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Julia Williams Kenan; first wife, Maggie Kenan and a son, George Edward Kenan and siblings, Lavie Kenan and Mary K. Hall.    He is survived by his wife, Pearline Wooten Kenan; sons, Harry Lee Kenan and his wife, Diane; children, Marion (Joe) Dixon, James (Kay) Coolidge and Lorenzo Lisane; grandchildren, Randall Kenan, Rodney Kenan, Tameka Norman and her husband, Raheen and Clintonia Thomas; three great grands; two nieces, Edythe Brown, niece like daughter; one nephew, Lonnie Kenan; two great nieces, Ayesha "Candi" Brown and Nakia "Nikki" Brown and one great great nephew, Jailen Brown.

     On Saturday, November 3, 2013, when he was 100 years old and 26 years as a burn survivor he celebrated at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center's 22nd annual "Celebration of Life" event.  He was 74 when he was burned while trying to repair a boiler at his dry cleaning business.  The boiler exploded and three-fourths of his body was covered with second and third degree burns.  Due to the accident, he was admitted at UNC Hospitals, and while doctors did not expect for him to live, he was able to leave the hospital three months later.  Ever since the accident, he was a strong supporter of UNC Hospital's burn center and he attended the Celebration of Life reunion every year.  He was one of the guest speakers at that year's event.       

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Thursday, August 6, 2015 from First Baptist Church of Chinquapin.  Interment will follow at the Kenan Family Cemetery.  Visitation, 5:00-7:00 PM,
 Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at the Matthews Funeral Chapel. 

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