Visitation
Committal
We regret to announce the passing of Bryan Lail, 39 of Durham, NC, who left this earth to enter his eternal heavenly home on October 6, 2024. He was involved in a fatal accident after leaving work on October 3.
He is survived by his parents Dewey and Angela Lail, brother Brandon Lail, and uncle Larry Small (Barbara), all of Morganton, NC. Bryan was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, David and Jean Small and his paternal grandparents, Dewey and Peggy Lail.
Bryan made Durham his home for the past ten years and formed strong bonds with his colleagues at Lenovo, where he worked as a Senior Specialist Merchandiser, and excelled in his role.
Bryan was a 2010 graduate of Appalachian State University with a BS in English.
He was an adventurous individual who loved sports, travel, hiking, committed to daily workouts and his canine companions Watson and Charlie. He will forever be remembered for his zest for life, family, and friends, sense of humor, and love of everything ‘Panthers’. He was an excellent cook and loved to try new dishes for his friends. He was a compassionate friend to ‘many’ and was loved dearly in return. He will be forever loved and missed.
He was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church before moving to Durham.
A memorial service in his honor will be at Sossoman on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 1pm.
Donations in his memory may be made to Burke County Animal Services or Samaritan's Purse Relief Fund of WNC.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Tribute Wall
Leave a tribute for Bryan Lail.
Dear Lail Family (Angie, Dewey, and Brandon), I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Bryan. I had the privilege of working with him at Lenovo, and I wanted to express my heartfelt condolences to your family during this incredibly difficult time. Bryan always had a way with words, conjuring up clever copy in seconds. He was always willing to lend a hand on projects with a positive attitude. His presence will be profoundly missed by all of us who had the honor of knowing him, from here in our Raleigh office, to our Argentina team, to our colleagues worldwide. Bryan was not only a valued colleague but also someone who brought kindness, tenacity, and wit to the workplace (especially in team chats with playful jests and snarky memes). When I started at Lenovo 10 years ago, Bryan was one of the few people who was extremely welcoming to me - inviting me to the team's Skype chat (where he was affectionately referred to as "Bry"), to lively team lunches, to workouts in the gym with him and Russ (where I showed him that I could indeed do squats), and over to his house for parties with colleagues (the last time that my husband and I played beer pong!). Bryan had such a zest for life and his friends. He loved eating at various restaurants, trying new beers, loving on his dogs, all things gaming, the Carolina Panthers, and his beloved jeep. Being a part of Bryan's honor walk at Duke University Hospital was the most spiritually moving experience I've ever had in my life, one that truly reflected the incredible impact that he had on those around him. Bryan's decision to be an organ donor speaks volumes about the kind of person he was—someone who, even in his final moments, was thinking of others and giving the gift of life to those in need. His legacy will live on in the countless others that he saved. Here are two quotes that I hope will grant you some comfort, with the first being: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one’s friends." - John 15:13 And the second: "But know this; the ones that love us never really leave us. And you can always find them in here [your heart]." - Sirius Black (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) I pray that Bryan's gift of life brings wholeness and healing to your family and that it serves as a call to others to follow this selfless path. And to Bry, I'll see you on the other side of the stars. With deepest sympathy and love, Ashley Morse
What a beautiful tribute. Angie, Dewey, and Brandon I am so sorry. Bryan was such a wonderful person and was taken much too soon. My thoughts are with you as you go through this difficult time.