Obituaries

Dec 11, 2023

Fred E. Chapman, 87, of Morganton, passed away on Monday, December 11, 2023, at UNC Healthcare Blue Ridge, following a period of declining health. Fred was born September 29, 1936, in Burke County to the late Edison and Bessie Chapman. He was a member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death...

Dec 11, 2023

Jerry Daniel Canipe, 68, of Hickory passed away at his home Monday, December 11, 2023.

Jerry was born December 21, 1954, in Catawba County to the late Jacob Canipe and Evelyn Sparks Canipe. He loved Ford cars and spending time with his family and his fur-buddy, Suzie.

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

Dec 8, 2023

Mr. Noel Edward White, 64, of Granite Falls, passed away at his residence, on Friday, December 8, 2023, following a period declining health. Noel was born on August 21, 1959 to the late Ralph and Dorthy Burke Jacumin, and Charles W. White. He was self-employed as a roofer for many years, but his favorite job was at Castle Sports,...

Dec 7, 2023

Mrs. Ardell Moses Leonard, 84, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday December 7, 2023, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, Valdese, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Leonard was born March 5, 1939, in Burke County, a daughter of the late R.E. and Mary Mace Moses.  She was a member of Mt. Home Baptist Church, a graduate...

Dec 7, 2023

On December 7, 2023, Judy Cline went to be with her Lord and Savior after a period of declining health. Judy was born to the late Sid D. Powell and Dovie Lou Young Powell on January 6, 1939.

Judy was a graduate of the 1957 class of Hildebran High School and was a graduate from Lenoir-Rhyne College...

Dec 7, 2023

Mr. Donald Ray Lockee, 79, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday December 7, 2023, at his residence, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Lockee was born June 6, 1944 in Burke County, a son of the late Rev. Angus Archie (A.A.) Lockee and Swoney Oxentine Lockee.  Donald retired from the furniture manufacturing industry and was...

Dec 6, 2023

Peggy Sue Chapman Caudill, 81, of Morganton, departed this life to her heavenly home on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at UNC Blue Ridge following a period of declining health.

Mrs. Caudill was born on December 28, 1941 in Burke County to the late El Canie Chapman and Martha Rachel Bumgarner Chapman. She retired from medical records at...

Dec 6, 2023

Mrs. Sharon Lee Story Wilson,73, of Granite Falls, went to her Heavenly Home Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at College Pines Nursing Center, following a period of declining health.

Sharon was born on August 4, 1950 in Iredell County to the late Clifton Eugene Story and Edna Mathis Story. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker,...

Dec 5, 2023

Randy Dean Bowman, 57, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at UNC Blue Ridge following a period of declining health.

Randy was born August 7, 1966 in Caldwell County to Violet Kirby Bowman and the late Jack Bowman. He was full of life and loved by many people he had a great heart and...

Dec 4, 2023

Mr. Wayne Brownlow Vance, 75, of Icard passed away Monday, December 4, 2023 at Carolina Caring on Robinson Road in Hickory, North Carolina.

Wayne was born on May 31, 1948 in Avery County to the late Roy Elmore Vance and the late Lily Bell Cook Vance. Wayne was a very active person who enjoyed life. He always...

Dec 3, 2023

Mrs. Shirley Lee Mauney Benfield, 84, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday December 3, 2023, at Amorem Burke Hospice, Valdese after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Benfield was born February 4, 1939 in Gaston County, a daughter of the late Richard and Doris Wickham Mauney.   She retired as a Legal Secretary and was a faithful...

Dec 3, 2023

Shirley Lee (Mauney) Benfield born to Richard Lee Mauney and Doris Dellinger Wickham on February 4, 1939. She left a legacy of love as she went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on December 3, 2023.

She left this world surrounded by the love she birthed and nurtured all of her days….laying peacefully under a...

Dec 3, 2023

Mrs. Deborah Hopson Lowman, 67, of Hickory, passed away on Sunday December 3, 2023 at UNC Health Care, Morganton, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Lowman was born November 6, 1956 in TN, a daughter of the late Henry and Emma Lou Bryant Hopson.  She retired from the furniture manufacturing industry after many years of service....

Dec 2, 2023

Mrs. Edna Christine Jones Matthews, 76, of Valdese, passed away on Saturday December 2, 2023, at the Cambridge House, after a period of declining health. Christine was born December 24, 1946, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Gilbert C. Jones, Jr. and Emma Christine Jensen Jones. Christine was full of love for everyone she came in contact...

Nov 30, 2023

Geraldine Elizabeth Chambers Thompson, 89, of State Road, NC, departed this life to her heavenly home on Thursday November 30, 2023 at her residence following a period of declining health.

Geri was born on May 16, 1934 in Haywood County to the late William Frank Chambers, Sr. and Margorie Mozell Lankford Chambers. Geri was a wonderful wife,...

Nov 30, 2023

Wilbur Leroy (Andy) Andrews, age 93, passed away on Thursday November 30, 2023 following a short period of declining health at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation Center in Morganton, NC.

Born on June 12, 1930, in Mitchellsville New York, Willbur was the son of Clyde Leslie and Neva Sillman Andrews and was born into a family of...

Nov 29, 2023

Mrs. Mary Lou Collins Houston, 82, of Lawndale, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at her residence, following a period of declining health. Mary was born on October 18, 1941 in Rutherford County to the late Horace Collins and Addie Lovelace. She retired from Alba-Waldensian. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband,...

Nov 27, 2023

Mr. Paul George Calloway, 88, of Granite Falls, passed away on Monday November 27, 2023, at his residence, after a brief illness.

Mr. Calloway was born October 12, 1935, in Caldwell County, a son of the late John S. and Ada Cline Calloway.  He was a US Army Veteran and retired as a time study engineer with...

Nov 27, 2023

Mr. John Thomas Carswell, 88, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, November 27, 2023 at his residence, following a period of declining health. John was born on May 1, 1935 in Catawba County to the late Logan Carswell and Emmer Watts Carswell. He was a member of Guiding Light Baptist Church and was retired from Century Furniture. In...

Nov 27, 2023

Joshua Lee Lowman, age 38 and Amanda Mae Ferguson, age 40 of Morganton passed away unexpectedly Monday November 27, 2023.

Josh was born on March 24, 1985 in Burke County to Reba Ann Carswell, and Amanda was born on September 10, 1983 in Kingfisher County, OK to Michael Ferguson and the late Sheila Sky-Eagle Ferguson.

...