Douglas Waddell Brinson

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Esther K. and Waddell Brinson. He is survived by his sister, Connie Gaffney, mother of Douglas (Rebecca) Gaffney of Hickory, Rachel Gaffney of Raleigh, his brother, Ellis (Joan) Joseph, Jr. of Colorado Springs, father of Jackie Joseph of New York City, and many loving cousins and close friends.

“Dougie” earned his BA ’69 and M.Ed.’71 from NC State University. His love of all things NC State is still evident outside the campus bookstore, where he engraved his name into the concrete. After college, Dougie managed Café Déjà Vu in Cameron Village for twelve years. He found he loved working with and talking to other people and continued that love working for Crowley’s Restaurant, accumulating friendships with regulars over 30+ years there. He most recently started working at the Alexander Family YMCA, where he was a member for almost three decades.

Dougie was a man of simple pleasures: running, gardening, his cat Stanley, his family, and friends.

Services will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home 300 St. Mary’s Street, Saturday at 11 am. He will be buried with this mother and father in Warsaw, NC.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donation to the Alexander Family YMCA, 1603 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh 27605.