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    "result": {"data":{"obituary":{"id":"61d93e44-0c81-5d5b-bc49-4f5002b6315f","slug":"2026-05-25-Benjamin-Sanya","name":"Benjamin Joel Sanya","content":{"data":{"content":"Benjamin Joel Sanya was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 16, 1993, and left this world far too soon on May 25, 2026, at 32 years old. He spent most of his childhood in Bullock, NC where he attended Granville County schools and played basketball and football at J.F. Webb. Ben was the kind of person you do not forget. He made an impression wherever he landed—not because he tried to, but because his spirit was as big as him. He was funny, mischievous, loyal, tenderhearted, and completely, unapologetically himself. \n\nTo know Ben was to know love in action. He adored his longtime love, Taylor Driggs, and their engagement on Christmas Day in 2021 was one of the happiest moments of his life. He loved her deeply and credited her positivity and support with helping him grow into the mature man and father he had become. He was also the proud father to his son, Maverick Joel, and daughter, Mila Dare, who had him wrapped completely around their fingers from the beginning; there was nothing he would not do for his children. Being their father was his greatest accomplishment in life, something he shared often.\n\nFrom the moment he came into this world, Ben was a good-natured, fun-loving knucklehead with a knack for getting caught red-handed. He kept life interesting from the very beginning. One of the family stories that will always make us smile is how he chose to get baptized five or six different times. Partly to ensure he would achieve his spot in heaven, but also because being in the water was a lot more enjoyable than sitting still and watching everybody else get wet! That was Ben—full of life, full of humor, and always finding his own way to do things. \n\nHe loved anime, breakfast food, trying new recipes, Duke basketball, random FaceTime calls, conspiracy theories, and celebrating his North Carolina-Nigerian heritage. But more than any hobby or pastime, what Ben truly loved and cherished was his people. He had a gift for making strangers feel like old friends. He accepted people exactly as they were, and somehow always found a way to make them feel better about themselves after each conversation. He was loyal to a fault, and if someone needed him, that was the one time you could count on him to not be late. He lived life on his own terms and never stopped trying to lighten the mood, even in hard moments. \n\nBen leaves behind so many people who love him dearly: his grandfather, Chief A.A. Sanya; his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Sanya; his brother, Chasen Ross, along with Chasen’s wife, Kim, and their children, Ava and Camden; his sister, Rachel Sanya, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as Taylor’s family, the Driggs and Goodwins. He also leaves behind Taylor and their precious children, Maverick and Mila, who will carry his love with them always. He was welcomed into heaven by his grandmother, Omolara Sanya, and by his grandparents Lee and Lynda Ross—Pop and GG—, with whom he spent most of his childhood summers. \n\nThere will be a Family Visitation 6:00-7:00 pm, Tuesday, June 9, at Betts & Sons Funeral Home, 512 Lewis Street, Oxford, NC 27565.  \n\nThe family is currently planning the Celebration of Life, with details to soon follow. In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a memorial fund for Taylor, Maverick, and Mila.  Contributions can be made at https://gofund.me/8508a1b08. \n\nIf you want to honor Ben’s memory, feed the people you love, call them when they cross your mind, always find a reason to laugh, but when life feels heavy and laughter is hard to find, “Just breathe.”  We will miss him deeply, love him always, and carry his laughter, his warmth, his randomness, those facial expressions, and his big, beautiful spirit with us for the rest of our lives."}},"city":"Raleigh","state":"North Carolina","deathdate":"2026-05-25","age":32,"image":{"localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/272d6a5a1b35a32ed1eea5df93d50dd6/object_Object_14a32cf292.jpeg"}}},"services":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Direct Cremation","slug":"cremation","path":"/services/cremation","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$1196.75","blurb":"Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. We include everything you need for a simple or direct cremation. Simple, affordable and reliable. We have not changed the cost of our direct cremation service since we opened City of Oaks in 2012."},"excerpt":"Direct or Simple Cremation $1196.75 When calling another funeral home to compare cost, it is important to ask how much the total invoice…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","slug":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","path":"/services/cremation-with-solidified-remains","icon":"icons/icon-stones.svg","price":"$2875.66","blurb":"We offer the option of choosing how you receive your loved ones remains. Selecting our Direct Cremation with Solidified Remains option is a beautiful way to transform cremated remains into 40-60 “stones” that you can hold."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Solidified Remains $2875.66 City of Oaks Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with the service of transforming…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Visitation","slug":"cremation & visitation","path":"/services/cremation-with-visitation","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1917.84","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation. Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here.  Simple, affordable and reliable."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Visitation $1917.84 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing","slug":"private viewing cremation","path":"/services/cremation-with-private-family-viewing","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1596.75","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation with a private family viewing. A private family viewing allows up to 10 immediate family members or friends to spend time with a loved one when a public visitation is not preferred."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing $1596.75 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Immediate Burial","slug":"burial","path":"/services/burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers.svg","price":"$2497.50","blurb":"An immediate burial has the same end result as a traditional burial; however, we have eliminated the extra (sometimes unnecessary) services prior to getting to the cemetery. Not everyone wants an open casket for viewing or a limousine for the family. Despite the term immediate, we can move as fast as you need or as slow as you like. This option simply allows you to save money by eliminating some of the fancy extras at the funeral home."},"excerpt":"Immediate Burial $2497.50 An Immediate Burial is when the body is taken directly from the place of death (or from the morgue) to the…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Traditional Funeral","slug":"funeral","path":"/services/funeral","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$6081.48","blurb":"We offer the same traditional funeral services as the big corporately owned funeral homes in the area; however, we cost about half the amount. You might consider a traditional funeral service if your family is looking for an open casket visitation, a traditional church service or a funeral service in the funeral home's chapel. A traditional funeral service can be altered to fit the needs of your family."},"excerpt":"Traditional Funeral Service $6081.48 City of Oaks Funeral Home is a wise choice for families that desire to honor their loved one with time…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Green Burial","slug":"green burial","path":"/services/green-burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers-green.svg","price":"$3033.75","blurb":"This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council; a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainability in the field of funeral service. Our Green options allow for a funeral to take place without the use of toxic and non-biodegradable materials/chemicals."},"excerpt":"Green Burial $3033.75 This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Alkaline Hydrolysis","slug":"alkaline-hydrolysis","path":"/services/alkaline-hydrolysis","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$2640.59","blurb":"As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home offers Alkaline Hydrolysis. The Alkaline Hydrolysis process uses a solution of water and potassium hydroxide to facilitate natural decomposition."},"excerpt":"Alkaline Hydrolysis $2640.59 As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home offers Alkaline Hydrolysis.\nThe Alkaline…"}}]},"cities":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Apex","path":"/city/apex"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Apex.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Asheville","path":"/city/asheville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Asheville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cary","path":"/city/cary"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Cary.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Chapel Hill","path":"/city/chapelhill"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Chapel Hill.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Clayton","path":"/city/clayton"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Clayton.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Creedmoor","path":"/city/creedmoor"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Creedmoor.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Durham","path":"/city/durham"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Durham.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Fayetteville","path":"/city/fayetteville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Fayetteville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Four Oaks","path":"/city/fouroaks"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Four Oaks.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Franklinton","path":"/city/franklinton"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Franklinton.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Fuquay-Varina","path":"/city/fuquay-varina"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Fuquay Varina.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Garner","path":"/city/garner"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Garner.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Goldsboro","path":"/city/goldsboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Goldsboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Henderson","path":"/city/henderson"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Henderson.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Hillsborough","path":"/city/hillsborough"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Hillsborough.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Holly Springs","path":"/city/hollysprings"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Holly Springs.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Knightdale","path":"/city/knightdale"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Knightdale.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Louisburg","path":"/city/louisburg"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Louisburg.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Morrisville","path":"/city/morrisville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Morrisville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Pittsboro","path":"/city/pittsboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Pittsboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Raleigh","path":"/city/raleigh"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Raleigh.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Rocky Mount","path":"/city/rockymount"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Rocky Mount.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Roxboro","path":"/city/roxboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Roxboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Selma","path":"/city/selma"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Selma.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Smithfield","path":"/city/smithfield"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Smithfield.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Wake Forest","path":"/city/wakeforest"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Wake Forest.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Wendell","path":"/city/wendell"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Wendell.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Zebulon","path":"/city/zebulon"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Zebulon.md"}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":"61d93e44-0c81-5d5b-bc49-4f5002b6315f"}},
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