Betty Lou Gwinn
Sep 8, 2026
Betty Lou Harrison Gwinn, 86, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following a period of declining health.
Betty was born September 4, 1940 in Essexville, Michigan to the late Charles and Julia Harrison. She was a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Hickory and worked as an insurance adjuster before retirement.
In addition to her parents, she is...
Lloyd Franklin Townsend
Sep 8, 2026
Mr. Lloyd Franklin Townsend, 82, of Winston Salem, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at his family’s residence in Hickory, following a period of declining health.
Lloyd Was born on January 16, 1944, in Catawba County to Sadie Ruth Herman Townsend and the late Frank Townsend. He was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Conover and was a retired...
Charles Wayne McGee
Sep 7, 2026
Charles Wayne McGee, 79, of Valdese, passed away on Monday September 7, 2026, at UNC Blueridge, after a period of declining health.
Charles was born September 20, 1946, in Burke County, a son of the late Robert and Katherine Brittain McGee. He retired as the owner and operator of McGee Auto Sales in Morganton. Charles served his country as a proud...
Pamela Callahan Isenhour
Sep 7, 2026
Pamela Callahan Isenhour, 65, of Gastonia, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026, at her daughter’s home, following a period of declining health.
Pam was born June 12, 1961 in Mecklenburg County to Peggy Rush and the late Larry Callahan. She loved animals and spending time with her dogs.
In addition to her father, she is preceded in death by sisters, Foresteen...
Rita Pritchard Powell
Sep 6, 2026
Rita Darlene Pritchard Powell, 67, of Valdese passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health.
Rita was born August 16, 1959 in Burke County to the late Jesse T. Pritchard Jr. and Elzora Burleson Pritchard. She attended The Rising Church and enjoyed fellowshipping with her family and friends. In her spare...
Danny Carroll Brittain
Sep 6, 2026
Danny Carroll Brittain, 66, of Hickory, passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at his residence.
Danny was born July 10, 1960 in Burke County to the late Carroll Glen Brittain and Delma Speagle Brittain. Danny was a member of Shoup’s Grove Baptist Church and worked at Drexel Heritage for twenty five years and then Walmart in Hickory for more than...
Inita Norris Hennessee
Sep 5, 2026
Inita Gail Norris Hennessee, 77, of Drexel, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 5, 2026, following a period of declining health.
Born February 26, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Merrel Norris of Valdese. Inita was a member of First Baptist Church in Valdese.
She worked in data processing at Valdese Manufacturing and as...
Rita Lou Burns
Sep 4, 2026
Rita Lou Burns, 75, of Valdese passed away on Friday, September 4, 2026 at her residence following a period of declining health.
Rita was born July 24, 1951 in Burke County, to the late Joseph Worth Burns and Mary Houser Burns. She was a member of Lenoir Church of Christ and devoted her career to education as a special needs teacher....
Van Clayton Yancey
Sep 2, 2026
Van Clayton Yancey, 71, of Valdese, passed away unexpectedly, on Wednesday September 2, 2026, at his residence, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Yancey was born June 18, 1955, in Burke County, a son of the late Roy and Virginia Brown Yancey. He was retired from the maintenance department of Case Farms and was a member of the American Legion...
Dean Russell McCarter
Sep 2, 2026
Mr. Dean Russell McCarter, 67, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at UNC-BR Morganton, following a period of declining health.
A native of Madison County, NC, Dean was born on June 16, 1959, in Buncombe County to the late Carl McCarter and Jerda King McCarter. He worked throughout his career in various positions in the textile industry.
In addition...
Troy Lee Stamey
Aug 31, 2026
Troy Lee Stamey, 82, of Valdese, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026 at his residence following a period of declining health.
Troy was born July 19, 1944 in Burke County to the late Loye Stamey and Mary Seagle Stamey. He retired from Burke County Public School System where he worked in maintenance and was a faithful member of United Baptist...
Kimberli Dawn Weeks
Aug 31, 2026
Kimberli Dawn Weeks, 56, of Valdese, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026 at Amorem Hospice following a period of declining health.
Kimberli was born September 28, 1969 in Burke County to the late Kenneth Daley Weeks and Freddie Hull Weeks. She earned a degree in Computer Science from UMBC and a degree in Education from Lenoir-Rhyne University before going on...
Betty Mace Yates
Aug 30, 2026
Betty Mace Yates, 79, of Hildebran, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 30, 2026 following a period of declining health.
Betty was born April 18, 1947 in Mitchell County, a daughter of the late Jones and Nadine Rowe Mace. She was a dedicated educator for more than 31 years, primarily serving in the Mitchell County School System....
Terry Lynn Coulter
Aug 30, 2026
Mr. Terry Lynn Coulter, age 70, of Valdese, went home to be with the lord on Sunday August 30, 2026, at his residence.
Terry was born on April 25, 1956, in Burke County to the late Clyde Ray Coulter and Pauline Childers Coulter. Terry spent many years working as an IT Technician at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center in Morganton, a...
Stephen Todd Huffman
Aug 28, 2026
Stephen Todd Huffman, 60, of Valdese, departed this life to his heavenly home on Friday August 28, 2026 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.
Todd was born on March 16, 1966 in Burke County to Coy Stephen Huffman and Janice Franklin Huffman. He was a devoted man of faith and leaves behind a legacy defined by selflessness and deep...
Reba Ann Clark Blankenship
Aug 28, 2026
Mrs. Reba Ann Clark Blankenship, 83, of Morganton, passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026, at her residence, following a period of declining health.
Reba was born on May 26, 1943, in Burke County to the late William Taft Clark and Fannie Brittain Clark. She was a retired dietician supervisor, working for 36 years at Broughton Hospital, and was a member...
Richard Lee Abee
Aug 25, 2026
Mr. Richard Lee Abee, 66, of Valdese, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at his residence.
Richard was born on March 10, 1960, in Burke County to Donald Eugene Abee and the late Betty Jaynes Abee. He was a member of New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church in Gamewell, and was a retired truck driver, working...
Kenneth Dale Gragg
Aug 24, 2026
Kenneth “Dale” Gragg, 80, of Granite Falls, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 24, 2026 following a period of declining health.
Dale was born April 15, 1946 in Avery County, a son of the late Kathleen Gragg and grandson of the late Rosavelt Gragg. He was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Martha, and a loving...
Ned Julius Suttles
Aug 24, 2026
Ned Julius Suttle, 72, of Morganton, passed away on Monday August 24, 2026 at Amorem, Burke Hospice, Valdese, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Suttle was born July 22, 1954 in Burke County, a son of the late James Ervin and Dorothy Suttle. He retired after many years of service as a tow truck driver in the Hosiery Manufacturing Industry....
Gail Childers Killian
Aug 24, 2026
Gail Childers Killian, 75, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully on Monday August 24, 2026 at UNC Health Blue Ridge in Morganton following a period of declining health.
Gail was born on September 22, 1950 in Catawba County to the late Lloyd Childers and Elsie Evans Childers. Gail dedicated many years to Burke County Public Schools, serving as office administrator at...
