Obituaries

Jun 17, 2025

Mark Self, 69, of Hildebran, passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at Frye Regional Medical Center.

Mark was born April 8, 1956 in Graham County to the late Riley Self and Zetta Anderson Self. Mark was a simple man, who enjoyed working outside doing many different hobbies from small engine repair, wood working, or being in his garden. He loved...

Jun 17, 2025

Pat Norris Cranford, 68, of Drexel, passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at home, following a period of declining health.

Pat was born April 12, 1957 in Burke County, a son of the late Jack Norris and Geraldine Deal Cranford. He was a great father and grandfather, and he was always considerate of others. He liked to sing karaoke, and...

Jun 17, 2025

Judy Renee Townsend Lowe, 54, of Connelly Springs, passed away at home on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 following a brief illness.

Judy was born March 24, 1971 in Burke County, a daughter of Marilyn Kelly Townsend.

She is preceded in passing by her grandmother, Maxine Townsend.

Those left to cherish her memory include her mother; her husband of thirty-six years, Kenneth Lee Lowe,...

Jun 16, 2025

Anthony Bryan Self, 49, of Hildebran, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Bryan was born November 2, 1975 in Catawba County to Rita Mathis Self and the late Mark Self. He was a member of Zion Road Baptist Church and worked as a butcher. Bryan’s greatest joy in life was his family. He was...

Jun 16, 2025

Mr. Harold Yates Berry, Sr., 91, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday June 16, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Berry was born February 4, 1934, in Burke County, a son of the late Harold Odell Berry and Golda Lou-Emma Childers Berry Kiser. He attended Bollinger’s Chapel United Methodist Church and retired from Alba-Waldensian as...

Jun 15, 2025

Mrs. Mattie Lene “Pat” Heavner, 88, of Valdese, passed away at her residence on Sunday June 15, 2025, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Heavner was born October 20, 1936, in Cleveland County, a daughter of the late Lester and Annie Queen Pruett. Pat was a member of East Valdese Baptist Church and retired from the Valdese Doctors Clinic as...

Jun 13, 2025

Mrs. Erna Hildgard Hayes, 97, of Morganton, passed away on Friday June 13, 2025, at Carolina Caring Hospice, Newton, NC after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Hayes was born July 6, 1927, in Bremia, Germany, a daughter of the late Ludwig and Erna Rienlter Soboll. Erna was of the Lutheran faith and retired as a seamstress in the Dry-Cleaning industry....

Jun 13, 2025

Janet Hildebran Mull, 85, of George Hildebran, NC, passed away on June 13, 2025, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. She had a sweet, gentle soul and a fearless heart. She was determined not to leave her family, and she fought relentlessly until the end.

Born May 31, 1940, to the late John James and Desolia Jane Hildebran, she...

Jun 12, 2025

Luther “Buck” Nichols, 89, of Drexel passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at Amorem Hospice following a period of declining health.

Buck was born December 9, 1935 in Graham County to the late Luther L. Nichols and Florence Wright Nichols. He attended Community Baptist Church of Drexel and retired from Western Youth Institution after 20 years of service with the...

Jun 10, 2025

Samuel Franklin “Sammy” Horne, 61, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at his residence.

Sammy was born June 16, 1963 in York, South Carolina to the late Richard David Horne and Margaret Patterson Horne. He was a collector of collectables, loved music, and watching YouTube videos in his spare time.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in...

Jun 9, 2025

Ronald “Ronnie” Charles Lail, 52, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, June 9, 2025, near his home.

Ronnie was born July 11, 1972 in Burke County, a son of the late Tom and Linda Young Lail. He was an avid collector, particularly of antiques. He loved antiques and spent many weekends searching around yard and estate sales to see what...

Jun 9, 2025

Vanessa Benfield Grill, 73, of 305 Alpine Dr. NW, Valdese, NC passed away on June 9, 2025, after a 3-year battle with cancer. Vanessa was born May 27, 1952, at Valdese General Hospital to B.W. Benfield and Clara Watson Benfield. She attended primary and elementary school at Rutherford College and grew up attending Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church where...

Jun 9, 2025

Judith Patricia Ayers Hudson, 83, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday June 9, 2025 at College Pines Health and Rehabilitation following a period of declining health.

Judith was born May 22, 1942 in Burke County to the late Paul Andrew Ayers and Ruth Alexander Ayers. She was a member of Abernethy United Methodist Church and worked...

Jun 8, 2025

Roy Russell Bailey, Jr., 78, of Hildebran, passed away at home on Sunday, June 8, 2025, following a period of declining health.

Roy was born on March 24, 1947, in Catawba County, oldest child of the late Roy Bailey, Sr., and Edna Huffman Bailey. He grew up in Icard and graduated from Hildebran High School in 1965. Upon graduating high school,...

Jun 8, 2025

Edwin Dennis “Denny” Powell, 78, of Drexel, passed away on Sunday June 8, 2025 at UNC Health Blue Ridge, after a period of declining health.

Denny was born September 29, 1946 in Burke County, a son of the late Nuvart Wilson and Hazel Cuthbertson Powell.

Denny retired from Broughton Hospital as a welder and before...

Jun 8, 2025

James Herbert Broyhill, affectionately known as “Herb” passed away at the age of 92 on June 8, 2025. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Jane Broyhill. He is survived by his four daughters, Debra “Debbie” Lowman (Tony), Julia “Julie” Duffey, Amy Lowman (Clay) and Jennifer Morehead (Travis). He was the proud “Paw-Paw” of...

Jun 6, 2025

Mrs. Clara Glenn, 84, passed away Friday June 6, 2025 at Amorem Hospice in Valdese.

Clara was born on February 12, 1941 in Catawba County to the late Horace and Mary Ethel Pruette. Clara is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert Dale Glenn; son, Timothy D. Glenn and his wife Dana; sons Danny R. Glenn...

Jun 4, 2025

Gordon Russell Fawcett Jr. was called home to be with his Lord on June 4, 2025, just weeks before celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary with his beloved wife, Mary. Born on June 21, 1937, in Middleboro, Massachusetts, Gordon was the son of Gordon Sr. and Ida (Knickman) Fawcett. As a young man, Gordan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout...

Jun 3, 2025

Susan Denise Walker Nanney, 54, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2025 at her family residence, following a period of declining health.

Susan was born April 3, 1971 in McDowell County, a daughter of the late Gary Walker, Sr., and Judy Rathburn Walker.  She lived her life leading with love for others.  She never...

Jun 2, 2025

Robin Lea Davis, age 56, of Connelly Springs, passed away suddenly on Monday, June 2, 2025. She was born April 13, 1969 in Michigan.

Robin is preceded in death by her mother, Mary Rosalea Blankenship.

Robin is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Ronnie Davis; daughter Amanda Cook (Jason); her granddaughter Raylyn Icenhour;...