Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw
Jun 28, 2025
Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw, 48, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday June 28, 2025 at her residence.
Dana was born March 22, 1977 in Catawba County to Sheila Crowder Ward and the late David Lyn Combs. She enjoyed working as a behavior specialist at Catawba Rosenwald Education Center and was an avid Carolina Tarheel and Dallas Cowboy fan. Dana loved to...
Makenzi D'Shae Hare
Jun 28, 2025
Makenzi D’shae Hare, 31, of Hildebran, went to be with the Lord on Saturday June 28, 2025.
Makenzi was born November 22, 1993 in Burke County, a daughter of Frankie and Jan Weaver Hare.
“Kenzi” was very smart and could fix anything electronic. She loved her dog “Zyn” who was like a child to her and her boyfriend, Matt Ayotte.
She was preceded...
David Charles Baker
Jun 27, 2025
David Charles Baker, 73, of Morganton, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, June 27, 2025.
David was born October 31, 1951 in Warsaw, New York to the late Raymond Baker and Arlene Wallace Baker. He worked as a physician’s assistant and was an excellent, multi-talented musician. David was a loving, giving, and caring man to all of his family...
Janice Rudisill Scarborough
Jun 21, 2025
Mrs. Janice Rudisill Scarborough, 84, of Granite Falls, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Hickory Falls Health & Rehab Nursing Center, following a period of declining health.
Janice was born on June 7, 1941, in Catawba County, to the late Guy Rudisill and Ester Huffman Rudisill. She was an active member over the years of The Eastern Star, The...
Christopher Troy McGalliard
Jun 20, 2025
Christopher Troy McGalliard, 54, of Hickory, passed away at his residence on Friday, June 20, 2025, following a brief illness.
Christopher was born on October 22, 1970 in Burke County, a son of Grace Banner McGalliard and the late Troy Edward McGalliard. He was loved by everyone.
In addition to his father, he is preceded in passing by two brothers, James David...
Mary Susan Houston
Jun 20, 2025
Mrs. Mary Susan Richards Houston, 81, of Icard, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025, at her residence, following a period of declining health.
Mary was born on September 19, 1943, in Caldwell County to the late Percy Richards and Bessie Tinsbloom Richards. She was a member Bethlehem Baptist Church in Valdese and was formerly employed with Doughton Manufacturing.
In addition to...
Mark Self
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...
Pat Norris Cranford
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...
Judy Renee Lowe
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,...
Anthony Bryan Self
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...
Harold Yates Berry
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...
Mattie Pruett Heavner
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...
Erna Hildgard Hayes
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....
Janet Hildebran Mull
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...
Luther J. Nichols
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...
Samuel Franklin Horne
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...
Ronald "Ronnie" Charles Lail
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...
Vanessa Benfield Grill
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...
Judith Ayers Hudson
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...
Roy Russell Bailey, Jr.
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,...
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