Lorena Mae Deal Erwood, 75, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Lorena was born on December 4, 1950, in Burke County to the late John Deal and Cora Shidal Deal. She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church Hildebran, where she was an active member of the WMU and the choir. Her church family was very important to her, and she found great joy in teaching her Sunday School class. Lorena retired from Adhezion Biomedical in Hudson, NC as an industrial engineer and during her retirement, she enjoyed working as a substitute teacher in the EC Department of Burke County Schools.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Bryan White; brothers, John “Buck” Deal and Ricky Deal, and sisters, Norma Jean Causby and Shirlene Spann.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Renée Fraley and husband Tommy of Connelly Springs, and Denise Nichols of Sherrills Ford and her treasured grandchildren, whom she loved “to the moon and back”: Bentley Fraley, Thea Taylor, Avery Fraley, BT Taylor, Trevor Fraley and Callie Taylor; and her sister, Frances Stovall. Lorena leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, that she dearly loved and held close to her heart. Special recognition is given to Shelia Lockee, who selflessly assisted with Lorena’s Care and provided love and support throughout her illness.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church Hildebran, with Rev. Cory Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Baptist Church Cemetery in Drexel.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, from 1:30 until 3:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church Hildebran, 8831 Old NC Hwy 10, Hildebran, NC 28637.

Memorials may be sent to Amorem Hospice of Valdese, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.

An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com

Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is assisting the Erwood family.