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Darlene Ellis Brandon
After a long and courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her family, Darlene Ellis Brandon, 59, of Fish Brandon Road, Yadkinville, took the healing hand of her heavenly father, who welcomed her into heaven.
Darlene was a great inspiration and role model for her family, friends, church and community. Heaven is brighter with such a shining star. She was born on November 13, 1942, in Rowan County to the late Paul Franklin "Bud" Ellis and Helen Cody Cuthrell Ellis Osborne. Darlene enjoyed working with the First Baptist Church of Yadkinville Day Care. The children involved were a daily inspiration to her, and she loved them dearly. Darlene is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, William "Bill" Brandon, of the home; three children, William "Billy" Brandon, and wife, Charlene, Rodney Blair Brandon and Talisa Darlene Brandon, all of Yadkinville; two grandchildren, Christopher and Amber Brandon; a brother, Paul Franklin Ellis Jr., of California; and a special friend, Rachel Hunt.
Her funeral service was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at South Oak Ridge Baptist Church by Dr. Phil Beavers and Rev. Chris Hauser. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday at Gentry Family Funeral Service on U.S. Highway 601, north of Yadkinville.
Flowers were appreciated, and memorials may be made to either the Palliative Care Dept. at Forsyth Medical Center Foundation, 3333 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, N.C., 27103, or to South Oak Ridge Baptist Church Youth Department, 1336 Lone Hickory Road, Yadkinville, N.C., 27055.
Elizabeth Motsinger
Elizabeth Motsinger, of Burnsville, founder and longtime director of High Pastures Christian Retreat Center, died Saturday, October 19, 2002, at Spruce Pine Hospital.
Born November 17, 1910, in Forsyth County, she was the daughter of the late Madison Eugene and Myrtle Elizabeth Chatham Motsinger. Elizabeth graduated from Brenau College in Gainesville, Ga., in 1932; studied physical therapy at the D.T. Watson School for Crippled Children University in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; hospital administration at Yale University and was a Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corp serving on Saipan. She was a physical therapist, airline pilot, worked on a sheep ranch and had remarkable building design talents.
Betty, as she was affectionately known, acquired her property at the head of George’s Fork Road and moved to Yancey County in 1959, where she resided for the remainder of her life. She always said she did not plan for the development of High Pastures, but just tried to contend with what God allowed to happen when church groups began to come to her house for weekend retreats and Bible studies. Those meetings grew to where a dormitory, modern lodge, dining room, private huts and camping area became necessary. The Retreat Center can now accommodate more than 150 people.
Betty was a member of Higgins United Methodist Church, an ordained minister and speaker who loved to share her testimony of the love of Jesus. Jim Jackson, president of Christian Believers United, called her a "cutting edge Kingdom pioneer." She authored a book entitled, "Into His Light," an everyday pilgrimage moving from darkness to light .... new birth to spiritual growth .... self-centeredness to servanthood.
Having been very instrumental in starting prison ministry at the now-closed Yancey Correctional Facility, where she served many years as a volunteer, Betty was a member of the Mountain Prison Ministries Board of Directors.
She traveled extensively, having made two trips around the world, attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, and often entertained visitors.
Elizabeth Motsinger is survived by one sister, Myrtle Motsinger Reed, of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Margaret Motsinger, of Roaring Gap; several nieces and nephews; and her friend of many years, Ann Banks, and her children: Juanita, Talmadge, Marie, Calvin Randy and Bobby, their spouses, children and grandchildren.
Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, in the cemetery at High Pastures. A celebration of her life was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, in the chapel at High Pastures.
Memorials may be made to High Pastures, 290 Kings Hwy., Burnsville, N.C., 28714, or to The Gideons, P.O. Box 264, Burnsville, N.C., 28714.
Frank "Buzz" Finney
Frank "Buzz" Finney, age 99, of Hillcrest Drive, Elkin, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2002, at Yadkin Nursing Center in Yadkinville.
Mr. Finney was born on January 3, 1903, in Yadkin County to Franklin and Laura Martin Finney. He was retired from Brown-Rogers-Dixson and was a member of Elkin First Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, W.A. "Bud" Finney and W.B. "Watt" Finney; five sisters, Myrtle Mastin, Margie Eskridge Wells, Blanche Pegram, Annie Sudie Finney and Margaret Cheek.
Survivors include his wife, Ennis Finney, of the home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Tom Finney of Elkin and Jim and Lynne Finney of Winston- Salem; one stepgranddaughter, Donna Drinnen; and one stepgreat-granddaughter, Danielle Drinnen.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. at Hollywood Cemetery by Dr. Bill Johnson and Rev. Joe Dell Rust. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Elkin First Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Elkin First Baptist Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Finney family.
DeEtte Mae Evans Simpson
Mrs. DeEtte Mae Evans Simpson, 97, of Muncus Road, Jonesville, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2002, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
She was born on May 9, 1905, in Yadkin County to the late James Iredell and Mary Jane Turner Evans. Mrs. Simpson was a homemaker and a member of Swaims Baptist Church. Her first husband, Dee Watson Macemore; her second husband, Vandor Simpson; a son, Paul Macemore; two sons-in-law, Lonnie Bottoms and Harold Vanhoy; a sister, Myrtle Marsh; and four brothers, Bob Evans, Marvin Evans, Carl Evans and John Evans, preceded her in death.
Surviving are her children, Gladys Bottoms, of Jonesville, and Lucille Vanhoy, of Salem, Va.; a daughter-in-law, Gay Macemore, of Boonville; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; seven stepgreat-great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-great-great-grandchild.
Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29, in the Gentry Family Chapel by Preacher Conard Hatfield. Burial will follow in the Swaims Baptist Church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, October 28, at Gentry Family Funeral Service on Little Mountain Road in Jonesville.
Ruby Sprinkle Pardue
Ruby Sprinkle Pardue, 83, of Pin Oak Road, Jonesville, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2002, at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin.
She was born on March 11, 1919, in Yadkin County to the late Leonard and Beulah Lewis Sprinkle. Mrs. Pardue was a member of First Baptist Church of Jonesville and retired as the assistant manager of the cafeteria at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gathis Lee Pardue; a son-in-law, Spencer Harris; and two brothers, Clarence Sprinkle and Carlie Clayton Sprinkle.
Surviving are her children, Ruby (Linda) Lewis, of Charlotte, Rev. Jerry (Dorothy) Pardue, of Siloam and Sarah (Sam) Benton, of Jonesville; two stepchildren, Gene (Shelby) Pardue and Rosa Harris, all of Jonesville; a sister, Vermell (Carlton) Cobb, of Chesapeake, Va.; seven grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 28, at the Gentry Family Chapel by Rev. Jerry Pardue. Burial will follow in the Fall Creek Baptist Church cemetery. The family received friends from 7-9 p.m. on Sunday at Gentry Family Funeral Service on Little Mountain Road in Jonesville, and will receive friends at other times at the home of Sarah Benton, 2933 Pin Oak Road, Jonesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to WYZD Gospel Broadcast Radio Station, P.O. Box 797, Dobson, N.C., 27017.
Thelma Lee McGowan Thompson
Thelma Lee McGowan Thompson, age 90, of Highland Avenue, Granite Falls, died Sunday, October 27, 2002, at Pathway Retirement Home.
She was born on September 4, 1912, in Caldwell County to the late Fred Sidney and Addie Lee McGowan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Agie Kelly Thompson; two brothers, Wilfred R. McGowan and Douglas H. McGowan; and a sister, Rosemary Lynes. She was a homemaker and a member of Elkin Valley Baptist Church in Elkin.
Survivors include a son, Melvin Gerald Thompson, of Lenoir; and a grandson, Geoffrey R. Thompson, of Raleigh.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2002, at 2 p.m. at Blue Ridge Memorial Park, conducted by Rev. John Fowler.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church of Lenoir Building Fund, 309 Church Street NW, Lenoir, N.C., 28645.
Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory in Lenoir is in charge of arrangements.
Selma Coe White
Selma Coe White, age 86, of Heritage Care in Elkin, formerly of Dobson, died at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem on Friday evening, October 25, 2002, after a short illness.
Selma was born in Surry County on January 27, 1916, to the late Milton Gene Coe and Emily Mae Coe. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Clarence White; four sisters; and two brothers. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church and was a retired seamstress from Washington Mills in Dobson.
Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Ted and Judy White, of Elkin; two grandchildren and their spouses, Mark and Misty White, of High Point, and Wendy and Derek White, of Dobson; one stepgrandchild and spouse, Teresa and Tim Brown, of North Wilkesboro; two great-grandchildren, Austin White and Nicole White; one stepgreat-grandchild, Ethan Brown; a sister-in-law, Vertie Coe, of Dobson; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Marie Shores, of Heritage Care in Elkin.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, October 27, 2002, at 2 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, with Burial in the church cemetery. Her body remained at Davis & Son Funeral Home in Dobson until carried to the church to lie in state 30 minutes before the services. The family received friends at Davis & Son Funeral Home on Saturday evening from 7-9 p.m. and at other times at her son’s home in Elkin.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, N.C., 27103.
