William Sublett Christian

William “Bill” Sublett Christian, age 88, died on February 16, 2021 following a period of declining health. He was born on April 21, 1932. He was the third child to the late Nellie and Dennis Christian, following his sister Elizabeth, born in 1920 and his brother, Richard, born in 1924.

Bill attended Durham Schools and was especially fond of Durham High School and the reunions with his classmates. He went on to serve in the Navy and Air Force Reserves of which he was proud. In the summer of 1958, Bill married his sweetheart, Jewel Wilson Buffaloe. They celebrated 62 years of life together filled with family and friends.

Bill’s career included work in personnel at Duke University and at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he and Jewel enjoyed many fall game days. In 1972, after a move to Raleigh, Bill continued personnel work for the state of North Carolina until he retired.

In his life outside of work, Bill was a faithful member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church. He and Jewel stepped in and acted as second parents to niece Carol Hamel after the loss of her parents. Bill relished telling everyone about UNC and Duke history and his happy memories of both and also growing up in Durham. He was an animal advocate and would regularly recount his own rescue cat tales.

Bill is survived by his wife, Jewel; niece, Carol Hamel (Al); cousin, Margaret Hilton; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joy and Larry Parrott; nephew, Stephen Parrott (Julie-Ann); nieces, Holly Tatum (Jimmy) and Amy Harrigan (Mike) and six great-nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Hillcrest of Raleigh and each staff member there as well as Duke Raleigh Hospital for Bill’s excellent care.

Due to the pandemic, a private graveside service will be held at Maplewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Duke Chapel Campus Box 90974, 401 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC 27708 or to While Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 or Safe Haven for Cats, 8431-137 Garvey Drive, Raleigh, NC 27616.