James A. Cooper
James Albert Cooper, 80, of Salem Drive, Morganton, died Monday, May 8, 2000, at Grace Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Sossoman Funeral Home.
Bill Pittman
"Bill" William Harold Pittman, 67, of Music Mountain Road, in Morganton, died Monday, June 12, 2000, at College Pines Nursing Home in Valdese, following a lengthy illness.
Born Sept. 18, 1932, in Yancey County, he was the son of the late Morgan and Amanda King Pittman.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Peterson Pittman.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Moose Lodge No. 193 and VFW Post No. 5362 in Morganton.
Surviving are: a son and daughter-in-law, William Terry and Patricia Collins Pittman of Morganton; grandchildren, Jessica Elaine Pittman and Alicia Mae Pittman, both of Morganton; a brother, Grady Pittman of Burnsville; a sister, Martha Pittman of Burnsville; favorite nieces, Melinda Hester and Sheila Rhom, both of Morganton; and other nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Westview Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dwayne Turner officiating.
Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Clarence L. Griffin
MARION - Clarence Leonard Griffin, 77, of Ashworth Circle, died Friday, June 9, 2000, in the V.A. Medical Center.
Born July 26, 1922, in Burke County, to the late Commodore and Ada McClure Griffin, he was a retired Chief Flight Engineer with the U.S. Navy with 23 years of service, during which he served in World War II.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Wofford Griffin.
Survivors include: two sons, Leonard Griffin of Marion and Randy Griffin of Black Mountain; two granddaughters, Cori and Stevi Griffin of Black Mountain.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday at noon, at Drexel Memorial Park, with the Rev. Ray Holland officiating.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Kirksey Funeral Home, Marion.
Von Farr
Von Farr, 60, of Linville Street, Glen Alpine, died unexpectedly Friday, June 9, 2000, at his residence.
Born Aug. 16, 1939, in McDowell County, he was a son of Dolly Patterson Farr of Marion, and the late Kelly Farr.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Warren Edwin Farr.
Surviving in addition to his mother are: his wife, Melinda McNeilly Farr of the home; a son, Shane Farr of the home; daughters, Stacie Farr of the home, and Lavona Farr of Marion; brothers, Donald Farr and Jerry Farr, both of Marion; sisters, Sybil Williams, Glenda Burleson and Frankie Elliot, all of Marion; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Mount Moriah United Methodist Church, in Cleveland County, with the Revs. Wayne Buff and Bob Deviney officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Sossoman Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour.
Mary Adams Brooks
Mary Adams Brooks, 61, of Fern Gully Drive, Morganton, died Sunday night, June 11, 2000, at her residence following a brief illness.
Born Feb. 6, 1939, in Swain County, she was a daughter of the late Wade H. Adams and Elizabeth Nations Adams.
She was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Morganton, and a retired employee of the Buncombe County, health department.
Surviving are: her husband, John Brooks of the home; sons, Tracy Brooks of Knoxville, Tenn., and Douglas Brooks of Asheville; a granddaughter, Emily Brooks of Knoxville Tenn.; and a sister, Jane McMahan of Morganton.
Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, at Faith Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Sandy Curnow officiating.
The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Burke County, P.O. Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690, or to a charity of personal choice.
Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Pauline Smith Craig
MARION - Pauline Smith Craig, 68, of Wilkerson Way, died unexpectedly Saturday, June 10, 2000, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Hospital, in Baton Rouge, La.
Born Sept. 11, 1931, in McComb, Miss., she was a daughter of the late Johnnie Benton and Maybelle Jones Smith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Johnnie B. Smith, Jr.
She was a member of Glenwood Baptist Church in Marion, and a retired employee of Southern Bell.
Surviving are: her husband, Benny Joe Craig of the home; a son, Randal Wayne Craig of Crumpler; brothers, Alva Lee Smith of Valdese, and Ralph M. Smith of Harrisburg; sisters, Betty Jean Payne and Linda Gale, both of Charlotte, Sue Evans of Mooresville, and Bennie Miller of Hickory; and grandchildren, Sara Craig and Mary Craig, both of Crumpler, and Matthew Craig of Charlotte.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Glenwood Baptist Church in Marion, with the Rev. Jim Brewer officiating.
Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, 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 Glenwood Baptist Church Building Fund, 1089 Old Highway 221 South, Marion, N.C. 28752.
Jessie McAteer
GASTONIA - Jessie Elizabeth Wilson McAteer died Sunday, June 11, 2000.
Survivors include: her daughter, Louise McAteer Henson and her husband, William Henson, Jr., of Valdese.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m., at First United Methodist Church of Gastonia.
Visitation will be today from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Carothers Funeral Home.
Peggy Page Lail
Peggy Page Lail, 73, died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at Morganton Long Term Care.
She was born March 16, 1927, in Catawba County, to the late Amos and Annie Sanders Page.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Ivo Lail, Sr., brothers, William Page, George Page, Ernest Page, Garland Page; and sisters, Rozella Page, Florence Hawkins and Eva Hill.
She was retired from Sprint, after a 44-year career.
Survivors are: a son and daughter-in-law, Dewey Ivo Lail, Jr. and Angela of Morganton; and two grandsons, Brandon David Lail and Bryan Dewey Lail, both of Morganton.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 5 p.m., at Bass-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Hickory, with the Revs. Randy Shook and Dr. Hoyle Bowman officiating.
Burial will take place at Fairview Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Raby Page, Ernest Lippard, III, Joe Hill, Billy Page, Brandon Lail and Gene Page.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, at 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 211, Charlotte, N.C. 28202.
Evelyn Townsend
Evelyn L. Townsend, 61, of Main Street, Valdese, died Friday, June 9, 2000, at Valdese General Hospital after a period of declining health.
She was born on April 20, 1939, in Cleveland County, to the late Raymond P. and Mittie Sain Lackey.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Lackey.
She was a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College and retired as the former co-owner and operator of the Knotty Pine Restaurants No. 1, in Valdese, and No. 2, in Icard.
Survivors are: her husband of 42 years, Herbert H. Townsend of the home; a son, Jackie Goodin Townsend of Hickory; two daughters, Patsy Denise Townsend of Rutherford College and Lisa Dawn Townsend of the home; a brother, Ray Lackey of Cooksville; three stepsons, Larry Townsend of Denver, Bobby Townsend of Dudley Shoals and Gary Wayne Townsend of Connelly Springs; and a stepdaughter, Janice Spann of Hickory.
Graveside services were Sunday at Burke Memorial Park with the Rev. Diana Spangler-Crawford officiating.
The Townsend family received friends Saturday at Heritage Funeral Home in Valdese.
At other times, the family will be at Knotty Pine No. 1 on U.S. Highway 70 in Valdese.
Carl J. Bennett, Sr.
Carl J. Bennett, Sr., 85, of Bennett Road, Morganton, died Monday, June 12, 2000, at the Hospice Shytle House in Valdese following a brief illness.
Born June 23, 1914, in Burke County, he was a son of the late Leland Ivy Bennett and Mary Elma Walker Bennett.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Hugh, Harold and Richard Bennett; and a sister, Martha Baker.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and served in the 103rd Cactus Division in Europe during World War II.
He was a retired employee of Duo Drug in Conover.
Prior to attending First Baptist Church in Morganton, he was a very active member of Glen Alpine First Baptist Church.
Surviving are: his wife, Melba Elizabeth Wilson Bennett of the home; sons, Carl J. Bennett, Jr. and his wife, Joann, and Michael L. Bennett and his wife, Shari, all of Morganton; a daughter, Carolyn Bennett Norman and her husband, Ron of Nebo; sisters, Helen Avery and Betty Nichols, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Lindsey, Carrie, Emily, Heather, Matthew and Glen; four great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bland and the Rev. Marvin Goble officiating.
Burial will follow in the Bennett Family Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by the Morganton Veterans Ceremonial Team.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m., at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Burke County, P.O. Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690.
Johnston Williams
Johnston L. Williams, 82, of Tate Street, Morganton, died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at Grace Hospital.
Born April 30, 1918, in Burke County, he was the son of the late John P. and Henrietta Farr Williams.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Manley Williams, a sister, Henrietta Williams, and a niece, Katharine Booth Bartholomew.
Mr. Williams was a retired postal employee of 34 years, and a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving his country in the European Theater during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Murline Childers Williams; a son, Johnny Andrew Williams of the home; a sister, Mary Williams Booth of Morganton; a brother, Troyal L. Williams of Morganton; nieces, Martha Booth Ripley of Fulton, Mo., Mildred Williams Guthrie of Charleston, S.C., Janet Williams Smith of Asheville; nephews, Jimmy Williams of Newland, and Gene Williams of Morganton.
Mr. Williams was an active and devoted member of North Morganton United Methodist Church, and was especially appreciative of the church choir.
He served on numerous committees and projects.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m., at North Morganton United Methodist Church, with Rev. Paul Christy officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park.
Military rites will be performed by the Morganton Veterans Ceremonial Team.
Memorials may be made to the North Morganton United Methodist Church Building Fund, 990 Sanford Drive, Morganton, N.C., 28655.
Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton is assisting the family.
