William Kirkman Raiford

William (Will) Kirkman Raiford passed away on October 18 after a lifetime of health issues. He is survived by his parents Brooks and Stephanie Raiford of Cary, his sister Lauren Raiford of Charlotte, his paternal grandparents Tom and Carolyn Harmon of Greensboro, and his maternal grandparents Jonnie and Libby Crabb of Clayton.

Will was a resilient young man whose sense of humor charmed everyone he met. He loved our dog Roscoe, who slept on Will’s bed nearly every night. Will was a sports nut, able to quote stats and player news with amazing detail.

He was a Wolfpack fan through and through. The main color in Will’s wardrobe was red! Going to NCSU football games was one of his favorite things to do with his family.

Will often joined his Dad at the coast on weekends, where they spent a lot of quality time together. They had a special bond.

With some prodding, Will was able to convert his Mom into being a Marvel movie watcher. He loved going to movies in the theater and going out to eat. He loved visiting his grandparents and spending time in the mountains with his extended family.

Will had a remarkable and humbling ability to spout off witty one-liners, or “Will-isms,” as we call them. He and Lauren shared a close bond and a similar sense of humor, often using the same facial expressions.

A special thanks to the staff at Duke Children’s Hospital. They were a big part of his life for the past eight years, and we are so grateful for the care and love they gave to him.

In a life of challenges and pain, one of Will’s greatest achievements was, with the patient and loving care of so many teachers and staff, graduating high school, and was in his final year honored with a Wake County Public Schools “Spotlight on Student” for significant achievements. Despite his struggles, he remained a constant cheerleader for his family, celebrating their achievements with the utmost pride and support, a testament to his character.

One of his - and his family’s - best experiences was going on a Make-A-Wish trip to Hawaii. The care and attention to detail that the organization provided was remarkable, and we suggest that any donations in Will’s honor be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina: https://wish.org/eastnc

We will miss him deeply, will love him always, and will smile every day at his memory.

Visitation will be held at the Brown Wynne Funeral Home at 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary NC on Friday, October 25 from 4-6 PM.

Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Brown of Cary is honored to serve the Raiford family.