A two-car crash last week in Orange County has claimed the lives of a well-known and respected Person County couple.

Bennie Lewis Bradsher , 89, and his wife, Mary Jones Bradsher, 89, of 5625 Hester’s Store Rd. died Friday at Duke University Medical Center from injuries sustained in the accident that took place April 1 at the intersection of N.C. 57 and N.C. 157, in the Caldwell community, near the Person County line.

The accident occurred just after 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday of last week.

According to investigating North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper R.L. Graves, Bennie Bradsher was operating a 2008 Chevrolet eastbound on N.C. 157. Bradsher reportedly stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of N.C. 57 before driving into the intersection where the Bradshers’ vehicle was struck by a 1996 Chevrolet driven by Miranda Lea of Roxboro. Lea was southbound on N.C. 57.

A funeral service for the Bradshers was held Monday morning at Salem United Methodist Church.

Bennie Bradsher, a World War II veteran, served as chairman of the Person Board of County Commissioners for 20 years and was the current chairman of the ABC Board in Person County and the vice chairman of the Person County Economic Development Board.

No charges were filed in connection with the accident.

Damage to the Bradsher vehicle was estimated at $5,000, while damage to the Lea car was placed at $4,000.