James David Smith
NEWLAND - James David Smith, 49, of Everette Clark Road, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2001, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
A native of Avery County, he was a son of Cordelia Shook Smith of Newland and the late Joe Smith.
He was a shrubbery man.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by two sisters, Lula Belle Clark and Rita Nelson.
Surviving in addition to his mother are: his son, James Smith of Newland; a grandson, Dakota James-Arthur Smith of Newland; a granddaughter, Kelsi Dawn Smith of Newland; sisters, Colleen Clark of Newland, Lillian Campbell of Yadkinville, Arlleta Dudley of Stanley; and a brother, Joe Allen Smith of Morganton.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. today, from the Grandfather Chapel of the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, with the Revs. Burl Saine and Hugh Hall officiating.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services today at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at 11 a.m. Monday in Wilburn Shook Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the American Cancer Society.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland, is serving the Smith family.
Ruth M. Conley
MORGANTON - Ruth McGimsey Conley, 93, of Morganton Long Term Care, formerly of Vintage Avenue, Winston-Salem, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, at the nursing home, following a period of declining health.
Born in Burke County, on May 10, 1908, she was a daughter of the late T. Jessie and Frances McGimsey Conley.
She lived in Winston-Salem, for a number of years and was a retiree of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and was a member of Central Terrace United Methodist Church.
Surviving are a sister-in-law, Mae M. Conley of Morganton, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, at Forest Hill Cemetery, with the Rev. Tom Stinson-Wesley officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Central Terrace United Methodist Church, 3 E. Devonshire St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27127.
Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Evelyn Marie Bronson
RUTHERFORD COLLEGE - Mrs. Evelyn Marie Pons Bronson, 87, of 101 Oak Terrace, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
Born Jan. 7, 1914, she was a daughter of the late Rev. John Pons and Lydia Jacumin Pons.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Bronson, three brothers, Arnaldo Albert "Trigger" Pons, Edward Pons and Walter Pons.
A graduate of Rutherford College, college, she lived out a life of exemplary service to her home, church and community, as a member of the Valdese Pilot Club and employment as office manager of The Valdese Building and Loan. She was a lifelong member of Waldensian Presbyterian Church of Valdese and served this church as a member of the Session.
In 1964, she was elected as the first woman member of the Diaconate and ordained in 1965; also elected an Elder in 1971 and ordained in 1972.
She was awarded Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership.
In addition, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of Valdese, she served on the community's Steering Committee.
Her indefatigable service as member of the church's Waldensian Historical Committee will long be remembered.
To her credit is attributed organizational talent and effort in initiating permanent and up-to-date record of the of the Waldensian settlers of Valdese.
Through this effort, pictorial family albums, as well as community albums, are on permanent display at the Historical Museum.
In addition, much credit is due to aiding in assembling and publishing a genealogy of the Waldensian settlers of Valdese.
Her assistance was also invaluable, as a child of the Manse, serving on committee to compile the History and Heritage of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church 1893-1993 for its centennial year as well as compiling information for centennial year's community-wide publication, "What Mean These Stones."
She is survived by: her sister, Marguerite Albertine Pons Reich and her husband, Gary, of Winston-Salem; sister-in-laws, Annie Mae Pons and her husband, Arnaldo, Jennie Mae Pons and her husband, Edward, and June Pons and her husband, Walter, all of Valdese; and a number of nieces and nephews to whom she was very devoted.
Funeral services will conducted 3 p.m. today at Waldensian Presbyterian Church, Valdese, with the Revs. Dr. Paul Felker and Dr. James Aydelotte officiating.
Interment will be in the family plot of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
The family received friends Saturday at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese.
Memorials may be made to the Walter Pons Educational Fund, or the Waldensian Historical Museum, P.O. Box 216, Valdese, N.C. 28690 or the Trail of Faith, 401 Church St. N.W., Valdese, N.C. 28690 or the charity of choice.
Heritage Funeral Service, Valdese, is assisting the Bronson family.
William Vance Hall
HUDSON - William Vance Hall, 54, of Deal Mill Road, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001 at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
wBorn in Caldwell County, on Feb. 21, 1947, he was the son of the late Glenn Willard Hall and Thelma Howell Hall.
He was a retired furniture employee and graduate of Hudson High School and Caldwell Community College.
He was also a life member of Green Mountain Park and a member of Hickory Moose Lodge.
He is survived by: a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Dawn and Steve Huffman of Morganton; a grandson, Ryan Harlan Huffman of Morganton; brothers, Danny E. Hall of Hudson, and Larry Hall of Houston, Texas; special friends, Frances Smith, her daughter, Sierra (Pokey), and her mother, of Hudson.
No services are scheduled, but relatives and friends may come by Danny Hall's residence today at 3254 Deal Mill Road, Hudson.
Mackie-High Funeral Home, Inc., of Granite Falls, is assisting the Hall family.
Virginia C. Marr
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mrs. Virginia C. Marr, 84, formerly of Morganton, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2001, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
She was born Nov. 15, 1916, in Statesville, to the late Claude and Maude Curlee.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles B. Marr.
Mrs. Marr was a 1936 graduate of Rutherford College and in 1938, graduated from Cecil's Business School.
In 1940, she moved from Morganton, to St. Petersburg, where she worked at the VA Medical Center in Bay Pines for 50 years.
She was a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, where she attended All States Bible Class, Young at Heart Senior Adult Group and the Women's Missionary Union.
She is survived by: a son, Richard F. Marr of Rancho San Fe, Calif.; sisters, Nelle C. Anderson and Sue R. Curlee, both of Tallahassee, Fla.; four grandchildren, Richard F. Marr of Atlanta, Charles E. Marr of Charlottesville, William H. Marr and Elaine Sexton, both of Los Angeles.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Forest Hill Cemetery with the Rev. John Woods officiating.
Memorials in Mrs. Marr's memory may be made to Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, 600-49th St., No. Suite A, St. Petersburg, Fla. 3370.
Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton, is in charge of local arrangements.
Jessie M. Sloan
FOREST CITY - Jessie M. Sloan, 94, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, at Grace Hospital.
A native of Rutherford County, she was a daughter of the late William Jesse and Rebecca Godfrey Matheny and her stepmother, Carrie Greene.
She was a foster grandmother for many years at Western Carolina Center in Morganton, and a homemaker.
She was also a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Forest City, and was the widow of Raymond Sloan, who died in 1993.
Survivors include: two sons, Joe Sloan and Larry Sloan, both of Morganton; a foster son, William Cortney of Morganton; three daughters, Joyce Hill and Rebecca Sloan, both of Morganton, and Vicki Sloan Brandenburg of Oak Hill, Fla.; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church with the Revs. Bob Clinard and Don Freshour officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be at the church fellowship hall from 1 until 2 p.m. today.
The Padgett & King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Moses Reese
MORGANTON - Moses Garyet Reese, 83, of Conley Road, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2001 at his residence following a period of declining health.
Born in Madison County, on March 26, 1918, he was a son of the late Rev. Cecil Reese and Esther Dockery Reese.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Winslow, Otto, Plato, the Rev. Elzaba Levi, Aaron and Cornelius Reese; sisters, Lula Wildes and Ollie Coates; and son-in-law, James W. Carswell.
Mr. Reese was a former employee of Great Lakes Carbon Corp. and, for more than 20 years, he owned and operated Reese's Store beside his home, on Conley Road.
He farmed for 50 years, growing mainly burley tobacco and for many years, was the only burley grower in Burke County.
He was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, where he was a former deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and the Jr. Boys Sunday School class teacher.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Pearl Dockery Reese, of the home; sons, Ricky Reese and the Rev. Rocky Reese and his wife, Sue, all of Morganton; daughters, Patsy Campbell and her husband, Bob, and Lynda Carswell, all of Morganton; brothers, the Rev. Joseph Reese of Marshall, Enoch Reese of Etowah and Oakley Reese of Asheville; sisters, Minnie Buckner and Leila Michaels, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Karen Wright, Terri Miller, Myron Campbell, Todd Carswell, the Rev. John Carswell, Julie Clark, Jill Suttles, Tashia Cannon, Joshua Reese and Angel Smith and 16 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Steve Sells, and the Revs. Rocky Reese and John Carswell officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today, at Sossoman Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral.
At other times, the family will be at the home of Lynda Carswell, 5204 Reese Store Ave., Morganton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1159, Morganton, N.C. 28680, Faith Freewill Baptist Church Building Fund, 1310 Jamestown Road, Morganton, N.C. 28655 or to Hospice of Burke County, P.O. Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690.
Katie Sue Kanipe
MORGANTON - Katie Sue Moore Kanipe, 62, of 1258 Avery Road, died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001, at Valdese General Hospital after an extended illness.
Born Jan. 11, 1939, in Burke County, she was a daughter of the late James Davis, Sr. and Margaret Moore Ervin.
She was a retired domestic worker.
She was a member of Willow Tree AME Church, where she was secretary and member of the Stewardess Board for 42 years, kitchen committee, former Sunday School teacher, former Usher Board member, a member of the Sarah J. Avery Missionary Society.
She also was a member of the Oak Hill Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Hershelle Ervin.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Fred Junior Kanipe of the home; sons, Frederick A. Kanipe and his wife, Merrell and Murphy G. Kanipe and his wife, Corona, all of Morganton; daughter, Stephanie A. McElrath and her husband, Freddie of Morganton; a brother, Jason W. Ervin of Morganton, sisters, Henrietta E. Howell of Morganton, and Katherine Wallace and her husband, Roy of Cleveland, Ohio; an aunt, Ruby Kanipe of Morganton; grandchildren, Darren F. Kanipe, Natalie N. Kanipe, Adrienne L. Kanipe, Tiffany L. McElrath, Brittany S. McElrath, Rachel E. Caldwell, Margaret A. Kanipe, Steven G. Kanipe, all of Morganton, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. today, at Willow Tree AME Church, with the Revs. Jaz Hemby, Frank Saunders, Joyce Avery, Dennis Mims, Julious Hunter and W.F. McIntosh, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:55 p.m. today at the church.
Memorials may be made to Willow Tree AME Church Building Fund, 2500 Willow Tree Road, Morganton, N.C. 28655.
Ebony Funeral Services of Morganton, is assisting the Kanipe family.
Thelmer Foley
NEWTON - Thelmer Howard Foley, 80, died early Monday, Oct. 15, 2001, in Catawba Memorial Hospital, after a period of declining health due to cancer.
He was a member of King's Way Baptist Church in Newton.
Mr. Foley was born May 16, 1921, in Stuart, Va., to Charlie C. Foley and Lonie Pilson Foley.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Jean Foley; a sister, Pauline Hazellwood and three brothers; Ray Foley, Paul Foley, and Marshall Foley.
Survivors are: daughters, Lavern Hatcher of Bassett, Va., Arlene Spencer of Collinsville, Va., and Jennifer Stermer of Martinsville, Va.; four sons, Stanley Foley of Martinsville, Va., Vance T. Foley of Newton, Timothy L. Foley of Goldsboro and Jeffrey A. Foley of Nevarre, Fla.; two sisters, Mildred Evans of Ridgeway, Va., and Hazel Hall of Bassett, Va.; and one brother, Eugene Foley of Stuart, Va.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, at Catawba Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following in Catawba Memorial Park, with the Revs. Andy Stephens and Donald Anderson officiating.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, at Catawba Funeral Home, of Hickory.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society by calling 1-800-227-2345.
Charles 'Charlie' Miller
MORGANTON - Charles "Charlie" Russell Miller, 76, of Raintree Drive, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, following a brief illness.
Born April 20, 1925, in Mississippi, he was a son of the late Cecil H. and Talma Russell Miller.
He was a graduate of Wake Forest University with a degree in education and did his post-graduate studies at Appalachian State University.
He taught school at Salem School, where he also worked as a coach and principal.
He later worked as the business manager at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain.
He served as a member of the national staff of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He was the builder and director of the National Conference Center of F.C.A. in Marshall, Ind.
After his retirement from the F.C.A., he served as an interim pastor at various Baptist churches in Burke County.
He was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Gene H. Miller.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth Orders Miller of the home; a daughter, Beth Miller Kinion of Baltimore, Md.; and a grandson, Zachary Kinion.
The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, at Hopewell Baptist Church, with the Revs. Homer Murdock and Billy Cooper officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 9 p.m. Friday at Sossoman Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hopewell Baptist Church Building Fund, 1112 Hopewell Road, Morganton, N.C. 28655, or to the Leukemia Foundation, 5624 Executive Center, Suite 100, Charlotte, N.C. 28212.
Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
