'Bill' McCombs
MORGANTON - William L. "Bill" McCombs, 84, of Grace Ridge, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 at Grace Ridge Health Care Center following a period of declining health.
Born Aug. 21, 1917, in Richland County, S.C., he was a son of the late Joseph and Ludie Hinton McCombs.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Morganton.
He received his B.S. degree in commerce from the University of South Carolina.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
In 1947, Mr. McCombs opened Bob's Cola, a soft-drink facility on West Union Street, and from 1949 until 1953, he owned and managed the Alva Service Station on North Green Street.
He owned and operated the Western Auto Store on Avery Avenue, until 1971.
He then worked for Pilot Life Insurance until his retirement at age 62.
A retired businessman, civic leader, and supporter of elderly citizens, Mr. McCombs was chosen Morganton's Man of the Year in 1981.
He is survived by his wife, Corene Stack McCombs of the home; a son, the Rev. Joseph Arthur McCombs and his wife, Joyce of Lincolnton; daughters, Byllye Boardman and her husband, Colin of Knoxville, Tenn., and Beth Coley and her husband, Bill of Raleigh; a sister, Margaret Richardson of Lexington, S.C.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Bob Roach and Bill Bowen officiating.
Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Sossoman Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, S.C. 29605-4277, or to the Morganton Rotary Club for the J.D. Fitz Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 294, Morganton, N.C. 28680-0294.
Joyce Setzer
VALDESE - Joyce Long Setzer, 64, of Windy Hill Drive, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2001, at Hospice Shytle House, following an illness of two years.
Born in Lincoln County, on Oct. 19, 1937, she was a daughter of the late June Long and Macie Shuping Long Cook.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Samuel "Cotton" Cook and by a sister, Helen Faye Long.
Mrs. Setzer was a retired CNA from Broughton Hospital and was a member of Faith Chapel Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband, W. Edward Setzer, of the home; daughters and their husbands, Penny and George Mayfield of Morganton, and Janet and Ralph Glazebrooks, of Hickory; brothers, Burlin Long and his wife, Nadine, and Danny Cook, all of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held 3 p.m., Wednesday, in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home, with the Rev. James Bollinger officiating.
Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8 p.m. today, at Sossoman Funeral Home.
At other times, the family will be at the residence, 3155 Windy Hill Drive, Valdese.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Burke County, P.O. Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690.
Ann Hackett
WINSTON-SALEM - Ann Carolyn Hackett, 62, formerly Ann H. Lindon, of 1459 Harding St., formerly of Lenoir, died Friday, Nov. 16, 2001, at her residence, after a period of declining health.
Born May 28, 1939, in Wilkes County, she was a daughter of the late Luther Hackett and Sarah Galetha Ferguson Hackett.
She was a material handler for Tyo International (U.S.), Inc. for 15 years.
She was also a former employee of Broyhill Inds. (Lenoir Furniture) for 18 years.
She was a former member of Mitchell Chapel AME.
She attended Holy Ghost Miracle Fellowship Church in Winston-Salem.
She was also a former member of the Soul Singing Caravan.
Survivors include her son, Charles Christopher Lindon of Kings Creek, Lenoir; sisters, Veacie H. McMillian and Sarah H. Stucky, both of Winston-Salem; brothers, James Luther Hackett of Lenoir, and Jerry Horton of Wilkesboro; aunts, Theresa Howell, Elree Ferguson and Dorothy Ferguson, all of Lenoir; a stepson, Marton Lindon of Lenoir; a stepdaughter, Earnestine Lindon of Lenoir, and a foster goddaughter, Elizabeth Ferguson Carter of N. Wilkesboro.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Mitchell Chapel AME Church, with the Revs. Clement Blache, James Womack, Billy Joe Lipford, and Jimmie Norwood, Sr. officiating.
Burial will be held in the church cemetery.
Casketbearers will be William Corpening, Tony Ferguson, Darius Patterson, Chester Ferguson, Ralph Lindon and Michael Sally.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 1:55 p.m. Wednesday in the church.
Ebony Funeral Services of Lenoir is assisting the Hackett family.
Frances L. Ross
MORGANTON - Frances L. Ross, 78, of Williams Road, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, at Grace Hospital, following a brief illness.
Surviving are her husband, Robert J. Ross and sons, Larry J. Ross of Morganton, and Rex Ross of Connelly Springs.
No services are planned.
Sossoman Funeral Home of Morganton, is assisting the Ross family.
John Ray Pyatt
NEBO - John Ray Pyatt, 68, of 5522 Harmony Grove Road, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 in the McDowell Hospital.
Survivors include a daughter, Leslie Dula and her son, Thomas of Morganton.
Funeral services will be held 3:30 today, at Rocky Pass Freewill Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the church prior to the service.
Kirksey Funeral Home of Marion, is assisting the Pyatt family.
Charlie A. Lail
CONNELLY SPRINGS - Charlie A. Lail, 57, of Wards Gap Road, in the South Mountain Community, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001 at Grace Hospital in Morganton, following a period of declining health.
Born in Burke County, on April 21, 1944, he was a son of the late Bynum and Roney Bell Chapman Lail.
He was an employee of Valdese Weavers.
Charlie was a loving husband, father and grandfather and in turn, he was loved by everyone and never met a stranger.
He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He was a member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lucy Brittain.
Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Shirley Jean Hudson Lail of the home; sons and their wives, Mark and Cynthia Lail, and Curtis and Kim Lail, all of Connelly Springs; grandsons, Austin Sigmon, Hayden Lail, Matthew Hicks, and Derrick Hicks; brother, Russell Lail of Connelly Springs; sisters, Carrie Buff of Connelly Springs, Minnie Lou Brittain of George Hildebrand, and Edna Brittain of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, with the Revs. Ernest Richards and Keith Fulbright officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today, at Sossoman Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour.
At other times, the family will be at Mr. Lail's home, 8751 Wards Gap Road.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, Burke County Chapter, c/o First Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 560, Rutherford College, N.C. 28671-0560.
Judy Greene
LAWNDALE - Judy McEntire Greene, 51, 909 Arbor Drive, died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2001 at her residence.
Born June 1, 1950, in Cleveland County, she was a daughter of Bryte Williams McEntire of Lawndale, and the late Clyde Hoey McEntire.
She was a retired employee of Western Carolina Center in Morganton.
She was a member of Union Baptist Church.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her brother, Tommy McEntire.
Survivors include: a brother and his wife, Larry and Doris McEntire of Boiling Springs, sisters and their husbands, Glenda and Bill Canipe, and Pam and Edwin Harrill, all of Lawndale; two nieces and four nephews; and two great-nieces and two-great-nephews.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, at Union Baptist Church, with the Rev. Michael Shumate officiating.
The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour.
Burial will be in Union Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at Stamey Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Union Baptist Church Building Fund, 3800 Polkville Road, Shelby, N.C. 28150.
Stamey Funeral Home of Fallston, is assisting the Greene family.
Jenine Messick
LAWNDALE - Jenine Charlene Rickman Messick, 29, of 2632 Curt Ledford Road, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.
There will be no services.
Stamey Funeral Home of Fallston, is assisting the Messick family.
Eunice Marie Ervin
DREXEL - Eunice Marie Cuthbertson Ervin, 85, of 307 Oakland Ave., died Friday, Nov. 23, 2001, at Autumn Care of Drexel, after a period of declining health.
Born Aug. 30, 1916, in McDowell County, she was a daughter of the late Charlie Cuthbertson and Martha Caldwell Cuthbertson.
A retired domestic worker, Mrs. Ervin was also a member of the Bethune Woman's Civic Club and a volunteer for the Burke United Christian Ministries.
She was a member of Shiloh AME Church, where she was a member and former president of the Stewardess Board for 14 years.
She was also a member and former president of the Nina Bess Missionary Society and a former member of the Willing Workers Club at Shiloh AME Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Phifer Ervin Sr.; brothers, Kirksey Cuthbertson, Charles Edward Cuthbertson, Avery Cuthbertson; sisters, Flossie C. Caldwell, Lucille E. Ervin, Mildred N. Cuthbertson, Gladys Cuthbertson and Mary Willie Cuthbertson.
Survivors include her sons, retired Lt. Col. Charles Phifer Ervin, Jr. of Tallahassee, Fla., Danny B. Ervin and his wife, Dottie of Marion, and Kenneth D. Ervin and his wife, Liz of Greensboro; a foster son, Alan Cuthbertson of Greensboro; daughters, Norma E. Caldwell and Flossie E. Bryant and her husband, Elias, all of Morganton, and Carolyn E. Hill of Hackensack, N.J.; a sister, Minnie James of Chapel Hill; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces and a circle of family and friends.
Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, at Shiloh AME Church, with the Revs. Frank W. Saunders, Carol Davis, Charles P. Ervin, III and Herbert Carter officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends 1 p.m. Monday at the church.
At other times, the family will be at 2624 N.C. 126 in Morganton.
Memorials may be made to the Shiloh AME Church Building Fund, 1323, N. Powerhouse Road, Morganton, N.C. and Burke United Christian Ministries, 305 B. West Union St., Morganton, N.C. 28655.
Ebony Funeral Services of Morganton, is assisting the Ervin family.
John B. Harris
