Donald Basnight Freeman Jr.

Donald Basnight Freeman, Jr., 51, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at the William M. Dunlap Center for Caring (Hospice Home) after an extended illness. Don was born in Greenville, NC on April 1, 1959. He is the son of Donald Basnight Freeman, Sr. of Greenville, NC and the late Lois Jones Freeman.

Don attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology. While there, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Coastal Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Don began his career with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries in Morehead City, NC. He later became part owner and manager of Carolina Cultured Shellfish. For the last eight years of his career, Don served as the Executive Director of the Cape Fear River Assembly.

Don was a member of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, the Promise Sunday School Class and the Adult Choir. As a young man, Don earned the rank of Eagle Scout and continued to actively participate in scouting as an adult.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Mills Freeman; a daughter, Mary Catherine Freeman and a son, William Basnight Freeman of Raleigh; his father, Donald Basnight Freeman, Sr. and stepmother, Elizabeth Winborne Freeman of Greenville, NC; a sister, Deanie Freeman Powell and husband Forrest of Richmond, VA; a sister, Paula Freeman Littke and husband Brian of Rocky Mount, NC and nephew, Garrison Paul Snyder of Rocky Mount.

A memorial service to celebrate Don’s life will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd., Raleigh, NC 27608; COPE Eldercare, P.O. Box 5825, 975 Walnut Street, Suite 351, Cary, NC 27512 and Alzheimer’s NC, 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27609.

Condolences to the family at www.BrownWynne.com