Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Paul Gene Mayfield

Paul Gene Mayfield

Jul 25, 2025

Mr. Paul Gene Mayfield, 80, of Morganton, passed away on Friday July 25, 2025 at Atrium Health Winston-Salem, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Mayfield was born May 9, 1945, in Burke County, a son of the late Preston and Mary Stamey Mayfield. He was a faithful member of the Zion Road Baptist Church, a graduate of Oak Hill High...

Marissa Marie Neely

Marissa Marie Neely

Jul 24, 2025

Marissa Marie “Missy” Neely, 32, of Hickory passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at her residence.

Missy was born September 13, 1992 in Caldwell County to Ralph Keith Nanny and Tabatha Neely Schronce. Missy was a caring person and loved animals and traveling to the beach or to the mountains.

She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Thomas Paul...

Patricia Reynolds Murray

Patricia Reynolds Murray

Jul 24, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia “Patti” Murray, who died on July 24, 2025 at the age of 65 in Valdese, North Carolina. Patti was a beloved wife, daughter, mother, sister, and friend and will be deeply missed.

Patti was born in Miami, Florida. She attended Southwest Miami Senior High School. After high school, she...

John William Combs

John William Combs

Jul 24, 2025

John W. Combs, 96 of Valdese NC, went home to be with the Lord on July 24, 2025 at Amorem Hospice.

John was born September 23, 1928 to the late Arnold Dee and Naomi Combs of Kentucky. John served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. John and Glenna left their birthplace in Covington, Kentucky in their late...

Harold Ray Zimmerman

Harold Ray Zimmerman

Jul 23, 2025

Harold Ray Zimmerman, 74, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday July 23, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Harold was born April 7, 1951, in Roxboro, NC, a son of the late Ray and Theresa O’Briant Zimmerman. He was a longtime employee of Joan Fabrics in Hickory and enjoyed hiking, gardening and spending time with his...

Audrey Janet Griffin Smith

Audrey Janet Griffin Smith

Jul 22, 2025

FOR AUDREY

An Encomium

“Between the date of birth and the date of demise there was a life that mattered.”—Unknown

During the nascent hours of July 22nd, Audrey Smith silently slipped away to that place which she envisioned and of which she frequently spoke. Her departure was not announced as “breaking news” or instantaneously plastered all over social media. She journeyed-on as she...

Richard Clifton Townsend

Richard Clifton Townsend

Jul 20, 2025



Mr. Richard Clifton Townsend, 82, of the George Hildebran community, finally made it home on Sunday, July 20, 2025.

Richard was born on June 18, 1943, in Burke County to the late Clifton Townsend and Trivie Young Townsend. He was a retired telephone technician for Centel Telecommunications and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Richard never met a stranger and...

Douglas Roy Bridges

Douglas Roy Bridges

Jul 20, 2025

Mr. Douglas Roy Bridges, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday July 20, 2025, at the Greens of Hickory Nursing Center.

Mr. Bridges was born October 30, 1943, in Burke County, a son of the late Posey and Mattie Mosteller Bridges. He was a member of the First Baptist Church Hildebran and was self-employed as a plumber. He was a...

Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner

Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner

Jul 20, 2025

Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner, 75, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully on Sunday July 20, 2025 at her residence following a period of declining health.

Joan was born on April 3, 1950 in Burke County to the late Roy Clayton Yancey and Virginia Madeline Brown Yancey. She was a homemaker, and also worked at the College Pharmacy in Rutherford College for...

John Harold Lefeber

John Harold Lefeber

Jul 19, 2025

John Harold Lefeber, born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Elmer and Margaret Lawrence Lefeber, passed away on July 19, 2025, in Morganton, North Carolina after a period of declining health.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Beatrice Lefeber, his sister, Linda Lefeber and brothers, Roger, Michael, Norman Lefeber, as well as his brothers-in-law,...

Heather Sweezy Frye

Heather Sweezy Frye

Jul 17, 2025

Heather Diane Sweezy Frye, 54, of Claremont, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at her residence.

Heather was born February 2, 1971, at Valdese General Hospital in Rutherford College, daughter of Roy Franklin Sweezy and Phyllis Mulligan Sweezy. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Valdese. She was preceded in death by her little sister, Erin...

Lavada Aiken Johnson

Lavada Aiken Johnson

Jul 15, 2025

Mrs. Lavada Aiken Johnson, 90, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a period of declining health.

Lavada was born on October 28, 1934, in Burke County to the late Walter Aiken and Ruth Powell Aiken. She was retired from the furniture and hosiery industries and was a longtime member of Shady...

Joyce Scarlett Wall

Joyce Scarlett Wall

Jul 15, 2025

Mrs. Joyce Marilyn Scarlett Wall, 82, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at her residence, following a period of declining health.

Joyce was born on February 7, 1943, in Alamance County to the late William Grady Scarlett and Ruby Cora Davis Scarlett. Joyce’s life truly exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman of the Bible. She was a longtime member...

Lueann Morris Garcia

Lueann Morris Garcia

Jul 14, 2025

Lueann Morris Garcia, 51, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center following a period of declining health.

Lueann was born on November 28, 1973 in McDowell County, a daughter of Darelene Webb and the late Jack Morris. She loved making bracelets and anything to do with her granddaughter, who was the apple...

William Michael Huffman

William Michael Huffman

Jul 14, 2025

Mr. William” Michael” Huffman, 52, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Huffman was born July 28, 1972, in Burke County, a son of Larry and Ruby Mull Huffman. He was employed as a dye-house operator with Seiren and a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. William...

Ronald Glen Dickens Jr.

Ronald Glen Dickens Jr.

Jul 14, 2025

Ronald Glen "Bubby" Dickens Jr., 59, of Valdese passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his residence, following a period of declining health

Bubby was born October 5, 1965, in Mullens, West Virginia, to the late Ronald Glen Dickens Sr. and Geraldine Mae (McKinney) Rose-Dickens. He worked as a butcher and in his spare time, loved to hunt, fish and...

Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger

Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger

Jul 10, 2025

Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger, 50, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday July 10, 2025, at UNC Healthcare, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Ruediger was born November 4, 1974, in Las Vegas, NV, a daughter of Carol Bradley Dressler and the late Patrick Dressler. Dawn was a loving wife, mother and homemaker and enjoyed helping her husband with their construction...

Donald Ray Hammett

Donald Ray Hammett

Jul 10, 2025

Mr. Donald Ray Hammett, 92, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday July 10, 2025, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Hammett was born December 22, 1932, in Gaffney, S.C., a son of the late Charles Nesbitt and Addie Childers Hammett. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Hickory and retired from the financial industry...

Dana Michaels Chapman

Dana Michaels Chapman

Jul 9, 2025

Mrs. Dana Michaels Chapman, 75, of Hickory, passed away on Wednesday July 9, 2025, at Frye Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Chapman was born August 26, 1949, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Glenn and Lorene Reep Michaels. She retired as a Medical Lab Tech. with the American Red Cross. Dana was a faithful...

Deborah Ann Huffman

Deborah Ann Huffman

Jul 4, 2025

Deborah Ann Huffman, 72, of Hickory, NC, passed away at home on Friday, July 4, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Deborah was born on March 11, 1953, in Catawba County, NC, a daughter of the late Glenn and Shirley Huffman.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by two brothers, DJ Sine and Glenn Ray Huffman.

Her sister,...

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