Dr. Darwin William McCaffity, DDS, the son of Duff Whitley and Henrietta Jones McCaffity, died Monday, December 31. He is survived by his wife of 60 Years, Margaret Brown McCaffity of Jamesville NC; his sister Joyce M. Wood of Stuart, FL; his son Darwin W. McCaffity, Jr. (wife Kim), their children, Darwin “Will” McCaffity III, John Murphy and Maggie; daughter Laurie Jane Outland (husband Tracy), their children, Margaret Kasey and Jessie Anna; and daughter Elizabeth E. McCaffity.

Darwin was born in Beaufort County, NC in February of 1928 where he grew up working on the family farm and general store. He graduated from Aurora High School and then attended Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) graduating with a BS in Science and Mathematics in 1949. During his time at Atlantic Christian College, Darwin played on the Bulldog basketball team and was a member of the Phi Delta Gamma fraternity.

After graduation from college Darwin taught Math and Science at both Jamesville High School (1949-1951) and Aurora High School (1954-1955) where he also coached baseball and both boys and girls basketball.

In 1950 Darwin was drafted into the United States Army where he attended Officer Candidate School and then Advanced Officer Training School. He then attained the rank of First Lieutenant and commanded an Anti-Aircraft Artillery battery, departing the Army in 1954.

Darwin attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1959 and proceeded to create a successful dental practice in Raleigh, NC, semi retiring in1998 and continued to practice as a substitute dentist in Eastern NC.

While dedicated to the practice of dentistry, Darwin was a member of the American Dental Association, the NC Dental Society, the Zi Chi Phi Organization and has served as a dental consultant for the Mayview Convalescent Home.

Darwin served several years as a board member and president of the Wake County Chapter of the American Cancer Society and
received the Whitaker Memorial Award in 1980 for outstanding contributions.

Additional civic accomplishments and honors include being a member of the Raleigh Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Raleigh Kiwanis Club, Raleigh Jaycees, and the American Business Club (AMBUCS) where he served as President, District Governor and Regional Director.

Darwin was an active member of the Hillyer Memorial Christian Church in Raleigh, where he served as an Elder, chaired the Church Board, the Board of Elders, World Outreach, Evangelism, Worship, Education and Pulpit committees. Darwin also served the Regional Christian Church in North Carolina (Disciples of Christ) as moderator and stewardship chair. He also served as president and board member of the Florida Christian Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Darwin was dedicated to his Alma Mater Atlantic Christian College as an alumnus and served as an Alumni Council Member and President of the Alumni Association where he was recipient of the 1983 Alumni Achievement Award and 1991 Alumnus of the Year. He served on the Board of Trustees from 1980 and served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board. In 2012, he received the Emeritus Award from Barton College for serving as a Trustee for 30 years.

Services will be held at Hillyer Memorial Christian Church on Saturday, January 5, with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM and funeral service at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Hillyer Memorial Chistian Church Endowment Fund or the Barton College Scholarship Fund. Send all contributions to Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, 718 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC  27603, with preferred designation.

Burial will follow Funeral Service at Raleigh Memorial Park with Military Honors.

Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. Condolences  may be sent to www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com.