Frank Monroe Pitts, Jr., age 43, of Lentz Rd., Stony Point, died Sunday, March 27, 2005, at Frye Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 16, 1961, the son of Frank Monroe Pitts, Sr., and Margie Pitts, both of Polk County, Florida. He was a carpenter and was of the Baptist faith. In addition to his parents, survivors include a son, Kyle Trent Monroe Pitts of the home; special friend, Michelle Hubbard of the home; four daughters, Christie Pitts of Cleveland, Ohio, Brenda Pitts of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Arien Pitts and Lenette Pitts, both of Winter Haven, Florida; one brother, Ronald Neil Pitts of Lakeland, Florida; and two sisters, Donna Johnson of Lakeland, Florida, and Linda Gail Beard of Hiddenite.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, March 30, 2005, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Chapman Funeral Home in Stony Point.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, March 31, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapman Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Scott Green officiating. Burial will follow in the Stony Point Cemetery.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point is in charge of arrangements.
Sheri Lee Green, age 47, of Stony Point, died Sunday, March 27, 2005, at Frye Regional Medical Center following a sudden illness. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point is in charge of arrangements.
John Kenneth Canupp, age 71, of Advance, died Monday, October 17, 2005, at his home, surrounded by his family. He fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer for eighteen months. He was born in Concord December 24, 1933, the son of Lee Roy Canupp, Sr., and Mary Linker Canupp. He became a Christian at age sixteen, and for the remainder of his life followed biblical teachings of serving God through service to his fellow man. He was a graduate of Concord High School, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the New York School of Social Work at Columbia University. Mr. Canupp was also a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy.
In 1986, he retired as Regional Director of the North Central Region of the N.C. Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services and continued his service to those with mental illness by returning to the Forsyth/Stokes Area Mental Health Authority, where he served as a caseworker for nine additional years. While serving in this capacity, he, along with other concerned citizens, founded the Bethesda Center for the Homeless in Winston-Salem. He continued working at the Bethesda Center until August 2004 when he retired because of his illness. Among other recognitions Mr. Canupp received because of his services to and advocacy for those less fortunate were the Order of the Longleaf Pine, presented upon his retirement from N.C. State Government and a plaque from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Council honoring him for “a lifetime of service to God’s disenfranchised children.” He was currently an active member of Ardmore Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, sang in the Adult Choir, and organized and participated in a number of Disaster Relief and Recovery mission trips. He also participated in mission trips to several locations outside of the U.S., including Brazil, Puerto Rico, and North Africa. He had previously been active at the Lewisville Baptist Church, where he served for many years as a part-time choir director. He was also a member of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of N.C., had served as Master of West Bend Lodge #434 at Lewisville, and in 1979 helped to organize and served as first Master of the Clemmons Masonic Lodge #755. He served the Grand Lodge of N.C. as District Deputy Grand Master, 1981 to 1983, and as Grand Chaplain in 1984. He was also a member of the Winston-Salem Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bobby Gene Canupp and Fred Arnold Canupp; his father-in-law, Robert M. Grant, Sr.; and a brother-in-law, Robert Thompson. He is survived by his loving wife of forty-one years, Barbara Ann Grant Canupp; two sons, Jon A. Canupp of Clemmons and Patrick W. Canupp and wife Paula M. Stathakis of Charlotte; one daughter, Susan E. Canupp Johnson and husband Timothy of Clemmons; and a grandson, Andrew Carroll Johnson of Clemmons. Also surviving are two brothers, Lee Roy Canupp, Jr., of Lakeland, Fla., and James Canupp and wife Lisa of of Concord; two sisters, Phyllis Barbee and husband Clarence and Marie Thompson, all of Concord; a sister-in-law, Frances Canupp of Concord; his mother-in-law, Minnie P. Grant of Taylorsville; and a brother-in-law, Robert M. Grant, Jr., of Hickory. Others surviving include one aunt, Kate Parker of Goldsboro; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. John was a strong and loving family member whose influence was inspirational throughout the extended family. He was an anchor of rock-solid stability to those who knew him, and he will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, October 20, 2005, at Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Burial followed in the Westlawn Gardens of Memory in Clemmons. Memorial contributions may be made to Imagine More (building campaign) or Disaster Relief/Recovery, both through Ardmore Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer 5507, Winston-Salem, NC 27113-5507; the Bethesda Center for the Homeless, 930 N. Patterson Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
Larry Lynn Lambeth, age 76, of Newton, died Tuesday, October 18, 2005, at his residence. He was born in Guilford County January 2, 1929, the son of the late Clarence Sylvesta Lambeth and Carolyn Hazel Crabtree Lambeth. Prior to becoming a pastor, he was a freelance actor doing commercials and training films. He was a retired pastor of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. A Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Air Force, he served during the Korean Conflict. Survivors include his wife of forty-five years, Anna Faye McNeill Lambeth of the home; two daughters, Lydia Lynne Dosa and husband Andrew of Omaha, Nebraska, and Laura Lesa Lambeth Bowman of Taylorsville; two sons, Donald Lee Lambeth and wife Brenda of Austin, Texas, and Laird Lawrence Lambeth and wife Donna of West Jefferson; five grandchildren, Logan, Emily, and Jean Marie Lambeth of Austin, Texas, Emily Faye Bowman of Taylorsville, and Sabrina LeAnne Lambeth of West Jefferson; and a sister, Carolyn Sue Bassett and husband Don of Greensboro. A Service of Remem-brance was held Thursday, October 20, 2005, at First United Methodist Church in Newton with Rev. Daniel G. Martin officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 332 Lauderdale St., Memphis, TN 38105 or to the First United Methodist Church Renovation Fund, PO Box 926, Newton, NC 28658. Condolences may be sent to the Lambeth family at www.willisreynoldsfuneralhome.com. The Lambeth family entrusted funeral arrangements to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home & Crematory in Newton.
Connie Loraine Remington, age 54, of Newton, passed away with dignity and grace Saturday, October 22, 2005, after a very strong and courageous battle with lung cancer. She was born in Plainwell, Michigan, November 2, 1950, the daughter of William J. Remington and Beverly Loraine Rhoades Remington of Plainwell, Michigan. She graduated from Gull Lake High School in Richland, Michigan, in 1968 and attended Kellogg Commu-nity College in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was a successful business woman for many years in Michigan until 1995, at which time she moved to North Carolina to be near her grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She had been with Bank of Granite for many years and in recent years became involved with the Guardian ad Litum program as a facilitator and recruiter. This was a program about which shewas very passionate. Ms. Remington was also an avid gardener, a wonderful hobby she shared with her grand-daughters. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Elwood "Woody" Hackworth of the home; a son, Michael J. Coy of Belvue, Michigan; a daughter and caregiver, Nanette Derrer and husband Randy of Taylorsville; and three granddaughters, Ashley and Alexandria Derrer and Katya Coy; three step-children and their families, all of Michigan; three sisters, Linda Duncan and husband William of Frankenmuth, Michigan, Jeanne Tobias and husband Terry of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Leslie Haley of Charlotte; two nieces; four nephews and their spouses; and a great-nephew and four great-nieces. She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents and an aunt. Services were held at Grace Reformed United Church of Christ in Newton, where Ms. Remington was a member. The celebration of her life service was conducted Tuesday, October 25, 2005, with Rev. James R. Luck, Jr., officiating. She will be laid to rest in Plainwell, Michigan, at Cressey Road Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Grace Reformed United Church of Christ, 117 East J St., Newton, NC 28658. Condolences to the Remington family may be e-mailed, alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville, was in charge of arrangements assisted by Farley-Estes and Dowdle Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Ned Calvin "Brother" Parsons, Jr., age 64, of Taylorsville, departed this life on Saturday, October 22,
2005. He was seriously ill for a number of years. He was born in Alexander County November 18, 1941, the son of the late Ned Parsons and Epsie Parsons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Floyd Parsons, Johnny Parsons, and Don Parsons, and two sisters, Mary Alice Parsons and an infant sister. Survivors inclue his wife of forty-three years, Edna Parsons of the home; two daughters, Janice King and husband William and Melinda Jackson and husband Freddie, all of Taylorsville; three sons, Tony Parsons and wife Denise of North Wilksboro and Barry Parsons and wife Christy and Anthony Parsons and wife Dana, all of Taylorsville; fifteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Beulah Parsons and husband Henry of Taylorsville; two brothers, Tommy Parsons and wife MaryLynn and Robert Parsons and wife Debra, all of North Wilkesboro; two special nieces; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, October 26, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Johns Baptist Church in Taylorsville. Rev. John Rowe, Rev. James Ferguson, Rev. Gene Martin, and Rev. James Millsaps will officiate. Condolences may be e-mailed to the Parsons family, alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net.
Funeral arrangements are being provided by Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville.
Ollie Lou Steele Presnell, age 85, of Shady Rest Home, Taylorsville, and a former resident of Watson Avenue, Taylorsville, died Friday, October, 21, 2005, at Shady Rest Home following an extended illness. She was born in Alexander County May 8, 1920, the daughter of the late Earl Lee Steele and Mime Keller Steele. She was a member of Concord Baptist Church and was a retired textile and furniture worker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Archie Frank Presnell, whom she married March 20, 1948, and three infant daughters, Jean, Patsy, and Delores. Survivors include a son, Lee Presnell and wife Nancy of Taylorsville; two grandchildren, Scottie Presnell and wife Tami of Taylorsville and Mark Presnell of Charlotte; two step-grandchildren, Brian Lackey and wife Melissa of Taylorsville and Jason Lackey of Hiddenite; and six great-grandchildren, Christina, Jesse, Josh, Autumn, Miles, and Peyton. A graveside service was held Sunday, October 23, 2005, at the Taylorsville City Cemetery with Rev. Tony Dyson officiating.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Condolences may be e-mailed to the Presnell family at sympathy@chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.
Richard Allen Southard, age 42,of Taylorsville, passed away Saturday, October 22, 2005, at Frye Regional Medical Center - Alexander Campus in Taylorsville. He was born in Catawba County February 4, 1963, the son of Bernice Southard and the late Shirley Southard. He was employed with Food Lion in Taylorsville for a number of years. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Patricia Ann Southard and Mary Lou Scott.
Survivors include his mother, Bernice Inez Carrigan Southard; two brothers, Ricky Southard and wife Diane of Taylorsville and Tommy Southard and wife Karen of Hiddenite; a number of nieces and nephews; an aunt, Aileen Carrigan of Taylorsville; an uncle, Floyd Carrigan and wife Betty of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and a great uncle, Henry Adam Mecimore of Taylorsville. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, October 25, 2005, at Dudley Shoals Baptist Church in Granite Falls with Rev. Eric Yelton officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to the Southard family at alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorville was in charge of arrangements.
Kimberlee Dyann Laws Payne, age 44, of Payne’s Dairy Road, Taylorsville, died Wednesday, October 19, 2005, at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville following an illness of two years. She was born December 12, 1960, in Wilkes County, the daughter of Donald Franklin Laws and Maxine Hamby Laws of Moravian Falls. She was a member of Friendship Lutheran Church and was a homemaker. Mrs. Payne was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Larry Payne. Survivors, in addition to her parents, include her husband, Terry Lynn Payne of the home; a daughter, Julee Marie Payne of the home; her mother-in-law, Shelby Payne of Taylorsville; a brother, Richard Franklin Laws of Moravian Falls; and her grandmother-in-law, Thelma Payne of Taylorsville. Funeral services were conducted Saturday, October 22, 2005, at the Adams Funeral Home Chapel in Taylorsville with Rev. Todd Rauscher and Rev. Phil Thorsen officiating. Burial followed in the Friendship Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Friendship Lutheran Church Family Life Center, 5300 Church Road, Taylorsville, NC 28681 or to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Payne family, adamsfuneralhome@charter.net. Adams Funeral Home of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.
Lee Ray Isenhour, age 84, formerly of Statesville, died Friday, October 21, 2005, at Flesher’s Fairview Health Care Center in Fairview, NC. Mr. Isenhour was born March 19, 1921, in Alexander County, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Isenhour. He was owner and operator of Isenhour Produce for a number of years and was a member of Southview Baptist Church. A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, he served during World War II and was part of the D-Day invasion. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Daphne, in 1995; an infant son, Ronnie Lee Isenhour; and five brothers and sisters. He is survived by three sons, Frank Isenhour of Monroe, Michigan, and Harold Isenhour and Rick Isenhour, both of Statesville; fourteen grandchildren; and twenty-five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Monday, October 24, 2005, in the Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home in Statesville with Rev. J.C. Parks and Rev. James D. Snead officiating. Burial followed at Iredell Memorial Gardens with military honors accorded by V.F.W. Post #2031, Harold Littlefield Chapter #68 of the D.A.V., and American Legion Posts #217 and #65. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.legacy.com. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville was in charge of arrangements.
Willis Miller Millsaps Watts, age 89, of Grand Boulevard, Boone, died Friday, October 21, 2005, at the Devant Rehab and Extended Care Facility in Blowing Rock. She was born in Caldwell County January 16, 1916, the daughter of the late Ruben Watts and Eva Miller Watts. Mrs. Watts was retired as a payroll clerk for the Worth Spinning Company in Stony Point. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Hayden R. Millsaps, and her second husband, Foy C. Watts. Survivors include a son, Steven Millsaps of Boone; two grandchildren, First Lieutenant Saran Elizabeth Millsaps of Bagdad and Benjamin David Watts Millsaps of Portland, Oregon; a cousin, Bobbi Carson of Greensboro; a niece, Noel Fulcher of Greensboro; a grand-nephew, Jay Fulcher of Charlotte; a grand-niece, Kim Fulcher Swaim of Pfafftown; and Hugh Watts of Shelby. A graveside service was conducted Tuesday, October 25, 2005, at the Stony Point Cemetery with Rev. Sid Lanier officiating. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Watts family at adamsfuneralhome@charter.net. Austin and Barnes Funeral Home of Boone and Adams Funeral Home of Taylorsville were in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Howard J. Ford
Dr. Howard J. Ford, age 94, of Raleigh died Friday, July 28, 2006.
He was the son of Mr. Jack C. Ford and his wife Laura Gualtney Ford of Alexander County.
Dr. Ford is pre-deceased by his parents and two sisters, Pauline F. Pope and her husband Carl Pope of Statesville and Irene F. Brown and her husband Howard Brown of Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille S. Ford; three children, Linda F. Farrell and husband Dr. Claude Farrell of Wilmington, John H. Ford of Raleigh, and Virginia F. Lockamy of Raleigh (husband, Dan Lockamy, deceased); a sister, Roberta F. Rogers (husband, Marvin Rogers, deceased), of Marion, S.C.; three grandchildren, Shelly L. Booth and husband Joe Booth of Greensboro, Troy Lockamy and wife Beth of Nashville, Tenn., and Ynana Zovich and husband Dr. Daniel Zovich of San Luis Obispo, California; four great-grandchildren, Tristan Lockamy, Jack Lockamy, Michael Booth, and Luca Zovich; seven nieces and one nephew; and numerous great-grandnieces and nephews and cousins.
His education began in a small rural school in the Vashti Community of Alexander County. When it was time for high school, he enrolled in the Hiddenite, North Carolina High School. It was there that he was influenced by a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Lizzie Gwaltney. She instilled in him a deep hunger and love for great literature and poetry. This remained with him throughout his life.
After four active years in high school, it was time to move on. By that time, he had felt a definite calling to the ministry. This meant a need for more education. He enrolled in Wake Forest College, now University. Wake Forest would prove to be the key that would open doors of opportunity and lead to goals being met that up until that time had only been dreams.
Dr. Ford graduated from Wake Forest with a BA degree in 1936. His education continued at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, graduating with a Th. M. degree in 1943. Over the years, he continued his education by attending summer studies at Pastors Institutes at both Princeton and Union Theological Seminaries. He attended the School of Pastoral Care at the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. He continued to be a student over the years, always reading and searching for new and fresher insights into scripture and life around him. In 1966, he was granted an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree by Wake Forest University.
His has been an active life. At different periods in his life, he has been very active with the Red Cross and United Fund, working with various children's organizations, mental health groups, and Kiwanis Clubs.
During his time at Wake Forest and Southwestern Seminary, he served in churches as student pastor. After graduation, he was called to his first full-time pastorate, a field of churches including the First Baptist Church of Sparta and three other churches in the surrounding area, Laurel Springs, New Hope, and Scottsville. Dr. Ford also served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Wilkesboro, First Baptist Church of Elkin, and Winter Park Baptist Church of Wilmington.
During these years, he was very active in denominational work. He served on various committees of the North Carolina Baptist Convention, worked as a teacher in Seminary Extension Schools, was a member of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, served on the Board of Directors of the Biblical Recorder of the North Carolina Baptist Convention, was a Trustee of Meredith College, held the position of Moderator of the Elkin Baptist Association, was a member of the General Board of the Baptist State Convention, and President of the Board and the Executive Committee. Dr. Ford was also a member of the Foreign Mission Board and President of the Baptist State Convention, Trustee of Campbell College (University), and member of the Southern Baptist Convention Baptist Education Study. During this period, he was honored as Tar Heel of the Week by the Raleigh News and Observer.
In 1966, Dr. Ford resigned from the pastorate of Winter Park Baptist Church to become the Director of Mission Ministries of North Carolina. He served the convention until 1978. After retirement, Dr. Ford has served as interim pastor in twelve churches. One of these churches was in Franklin, Virginia, and another in Schweinfurt, Germany.
While still a student at Wake Forest, Dr. Ford met Lucille Smith of Stony Point. She was guest pianist for a revival near her home church. Howard Ford was the preacher for the week. This was the beginning of a long life together. Including courtship, they have been together for more than seventy years.
Howard Ford was a preacher's friend. He spent many hours listening, counseling, and encouraging preachers all over North Carolina. He was to many a preachers' pastor. He also loved the people of North Carolina. Next to preaching, his greatest joy was meeting the needs of churches throughout the state.
After retiring from interim work as pastor, he finished out his years of service as a teacher of The Good News Sunday School Class of the First Baptist Church in Raleigh where he was a member.
A private burial will be at Raleigh Memorial Park in Raleigh.
A Memorial Service was scheduled to be held at the First Baptist Church of Raleigh Wednesday, August 2, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. Friends will be received at the close of the Memorial Service in the church parlor.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Howard Ford Memorial Fund for State Missions, The Baptist Building, PO Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512-1107.
The family would like to send a very special thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Sunrise Assisted Living, Crabtree and Mayview Convalescent Center for the loving care that you gave to our loved one during his illness.
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's St., Raleigh, NC 27605, is in charge of arrangements.
