Tara Lynn Vancil

BURLINGTON - Tara Lynn Vancil, 31, of 2005 Rendall Street, passed away Monday, March 31, 2014. Tara was an 11-year post-heart transplant recipient.
Tara was the daughter of the late Robert Eugene "Bobby" Vancil.
She is survived by her mother, Rhonda Lynn Johnson Vancil Cobb; and her stepfather, Wesley Cobb, of the home.
Tara was a 2001 graduate of Walter Williams High School in Burlington and formerly attended St. Marks Church. She was also a member of the Carolina Donor Foundation.
Tara was an Honorary National Ambassador for Today's American Woman Pageants. In honor of Tara's memory, from this day forward, "Tara's Heart" will be awarded to the pageant contestant who has put the most hours into promoting their personal platform. Tara's was the awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation.
In addition to her mother Rhonda and stepfather, Wesley, Tara is survived by two brothers, Brian Charles Vancil and Tyler Matthew Vancil, both of Burlington; a niece, Hailee Vancil; a nephew, Brandon Vancil; two stepbrothers, Jeremy Wesley Cobb of Roxboro and Kendall Page Cobb of Yanceyville; her paternal grandmother, Theda Wrenn Vancil of Burlington; stepgrandparents, Harold and Virginia Cobb of Yanceyville; an aunt, Patricia Vancil Clark, of Elon; a stepaunt, Debbie Daniels and husband Joel; a stepuncle, Roger Cobb and wife Terri; cousins, Cody Clark and Allison Hawkins; and Tara's faithful companion, her little white Maltese, Heidi, who never left Tara's side.
Tara was preceded in death by her father, Robert Eugene "Bobby" Vancil; her maternal grandmother, Bettie Lynn Nichols Hawkins; her maternal great-grandmother, Alice Peterson Nichols; maternal great-grandfather, Maurice Lynn Nichols; her paternal great-grandmother, Alma Shelton Wrenn; and her uncle, Joe Clark.
The family will receive friends Friday, April 4, 2014, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Rich and Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington. At other times they will be at the residence.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 5, at 3 p.m. in the Rich and Thompson Chapel in Burlington. Officiating will be the Rev. Mark Cobb. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Carolina Donor Foundation or to the American Heart Association.
The family would like to extend a special thanks and appreciation to Dr. Joseph Rogers, The Heart Transplant Team and nurses at Duke University Medical Center and also a special thanks and appreciation for the gift of life in 2003 from her donor, Joseph Lugo; parents, Mike and Sandi Lugo of Goldsboro; and sister, Anne Lugo.
Online condolences may be made at www.richandthompson.com