A Times journalist lifts the lid on the obituary desk. But when anyone can publish a life, who still needs the Gray Lady’s last word?

Michael Russo, 86, of Elkhart, died August 20, 2026, at Mishawaka, Indiana. Arrangements are pending at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

John Lock, Sr. November 27, 1926 - August 17, 2026 Durham, North Carolina - John Henry Lock, Sr., 99, passed away on August 17, 2026 at his home in Durham, NC. John was born in Memphis, TN to the late ...

Robert Willard Gleason. Robert Willard Gleason, 94, passed peacefully while surrounded by family members on Friday July 17, ...

GUNTOWN -- Wade Hampton Smith , 43, passed away Monday, Aug 17, 2026, in Tupelo. at North MS Medical Center Services will be at 6 PM Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Holland Funeral Directors - Tupelo ...

July 19, 1942-Aug. 18, 2026 STRAWBERRY POINT-George J. Kauffman, 84, of Strawberry Point, died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug.

Judge Phillip Ulysses Fines passed away peacefully on August 16, 2026 in his home, surrounded by his loved ones, after a courageous battle with cancer. Phillip was born and raised in Spotsylvania, ...

Determining the reliability of final thoughts can be a challenge when conveying a person’s life story on deadline.

Dr. David Lawrence "Larry" Merricks, of Keymar, died Friday, June 12. Arrangements are by Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home, Boonsboro. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. Condolences ...

Edinburg - Lucinda Torres, 85, passed away to be with our Lord, Sunday, August 16, 2026, at her residence in Edinburg. She is preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Guadalupe Jesus Torres.

Flipkart is facing criticism over a newspaper advertisement for its Freedom Sale. The advertisement used the format of an ...

Sam Roberts has spent a good part of his career writing obituaries for the New York Times. NPR's Eyder Peralta talks with him about his work and his new book, "Are They Dead Yet?" ...