Justin René Tye

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Justin René Tye, 50, on April 8, 2023 in Mebane, NC. A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to service time at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry St. A Celebration of his life will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Snow’s Memorial Chapel with Pastor Larry Gilpin and a Catholic clergyman officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery (Northgate). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, DUMC Box 3624, 047 Baker House, Trent Drive, Durham NC 27710 or Duke HomeCare & Hospice.

Justin was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 16, 1972 to the late Duncan René Tye and Aileen Dormer Tye. From his earliest years throughout his life he was bright-eyed and bubbled over with a ”joie de vivre” second to none. His passion was to help whoever, whatever, wherever, whenever and his generosity was boundless. He was the classic extrovert, outgoing, charming and welcoming of all whose paths crossed his. He was a keen listener with a great capacity for empathy. These qualities enabled him to be a trusted and valued "life coach" to many friends and family members.

Justin thrived on the outdoors–fishing, camping, hiking, cycling and boating. He was a great lover of music and was blessed with notable vocal talent. In grade school he traveled statewide as a member of the honors chorus. In high school he was selected to attend the North Carolina Governor's School in the choral music program. In college he sang in the University Choir at UNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He also played the cello, classical guitar and hammer dulcimer.

An avid athlete, Justin played JV football and lettered in the three varsity sports, Baseball, Basketball and Swimming. In recent years he took up disc golf with his brother and nephews. He was also an avid sports fan and followed UNC Basketball, UGA Football and the New Orleans Saints.

He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in American History and Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on May 15, 1994. His employment history reflected his broad interests and talents, especially teaching and hospitality. In the summer during college he worked as a Senior Counselor at Camp Tekoa, a United Methodist Church Camp in Hendersonville, NC. where he touched many young lives over the three years he was there. After graduation he served as a teaching assistant at a Montessori school in Sylva, NC and a middle school in Chapel Hill, NC. Additionally, he taught driver's education classes in Durham, NC.

Justin worked as an in-residence men’s dorm counselor at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham, NC, where he also coached the baseball team. Shortly after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans he and a colleague developed and directed a mid-semester course for select students. It included an in-depth study of the history of New Orleans, the planning and carrying out of three restoration projects, (playground, house and greenway), as well as a major fund-raising campaign to help pay for the group's trip to New Orleans.

This effort proved so successful and personally satisfying that, inspired to continue helping in the recovery process there, Justin relocated to New Orleans where he did post-hurricane counseling, census work and served as Dean of Students at the New Orleans School of Math and Science. Needless to say he became a huge fan of Mardi Gras and he was quite a sight to behold on any dance floor, any time anywhere, dancing exuberantly with young and old alike. His last employment was in the hospitality field at the big Marriott on Canal Street. He especially loved his position as Rooms Coordinator and excelled to the extent that quite a number of hotel guests repeatedly requested him by name.

It is an understatement to say that Justin was a very loving and devoted son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend and colleague. He was preceded in death by his father, Duncan René Tye, his maternal grandparents, Bernadette Schalda and Nicholas Joseph Dormer and paternal grandparents, Adrienne Hawkins and William Butler Tye, Jr., uncle, Richard Charles Dormer, aunt, Maureen Dormer Fogleman and uncle William Butler Tye lll.

He is survived by his beloved mother, Aileen Dormer Tye, steadfast brother, Andrew Duncan Tye, beautiful sister-in-law, Reesheda Martin Tye, incredible nephews, Benjamin Andrew Tye and Jacob Martin Tye, uncle and aunt, Ken and Celeste Yowell, aunt, Harriet Dormer, aunt, Dudley Tye, cousins Erika Pope, John (wife, Elif) Tye, Caroline Tye, Kristine Dormer, Kimberly Dormer, and a host of family and friends, including caregivers, Billie Jones and Sara Bynum. Justin will be sorely missed by one and all and will remain in our hearts forever!

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express tributes and condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry St. has charge of the arrangements.