Obituaries

Aug 18, 2023

Mr. Frank Oscar Edwards, III, 87, of Hickory, passed away at Autumn Care of Drexel on Friday, August 18, 2023, following a period of declining health. Frank was born on January 5, 1936, in Burke County, a child of the late Frank Oscar Edwards, Jr., and Katherine Penley Edwards. He was employed by the I WANNA Paper in sales...

Aug 17, 2023

Mrs. Nancy Newton Abee, 79, of Valdese, passed away on Thursday August 17, 2023 at Atrium Health Main, Charlotte, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Abee was born May 6, 1944 in Burke County, a daughter of the late Hershel Earl and Alma Berry Newton Blackburn.  She was an active member of United Baptist Church and...

Aug 16, 2023

Services will be held at Heritage Funeral Home in Valdese, NC on Sunday, August 20, 2023 with the receiving of friends at 5:00 p.m. and a celebration of her life at 6:00 p.m.  A private burial will be Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC, to be placed beside her beloved...

Aug 16, 2023

Mr. Billy Dwayne Frye,  73, of Hickory, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Carolina Caring Hospice, following  a period of declining health.

Dwayne was born on March 18, 1950 in Catawba County to the late James Henry Frye and Pauline Scott Frye.  He was a retired upholsterer in the furniture manufacturing industry, and enjoyed hunting...

Aug 14, 2023

Shelby Geraldine Neal Freeman, 75, of Morganton, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2023 at UNC Health Blue Ridge.

She was born November 4, 1947 in Burke County, NC to the late Eugene Neal and Delphia Moses Lockridge. She had a career in the medical field and was a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church. Shelby enjoyed...

Aug 14, 2023

Mr. Ralph Harrison Prewitt, loving husband, father and grandfather, 74, of Connelly Springs, went home to be with the Lord, on Monday, August 14, 2023. Ralph was born on October 10, 1948 in Burke County to the late Leonard Prewitt and Hazel Poteat Prewitt. He was an active member of Mount Gilead Baptist Church and a veteran of the...

Aug 14, 2023

Mr. Ricky Lee “Lurch” Hagy, 65, of Morganton, passed away on Monday August 14, 2023, at Carepartner’s Hospice Solace, Asheville, NC, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Hagy was born November 22, 1957, in Drundy, VA, a son of the late Lawrence Lee and Peggy Lou Sisk Hagy.  Ricky attended the First Presbyterian Church of Newton...

Aug 12, 2023

Carolyn Evans Rudisill, 95, of Hildebran, passed away Saturday, August 12, 2023, at College Pines, following a period of declining health.

Mrs. Rudisill was born in Burke County to the late Charles Alexander Evans and Essie Knox Evans.  She was devoted to her faith and family.  Carolyn started her career working in a hosiery mill and sweater...

Aug 11, 2023

Rev. Albert Ray Woody, 95, of Connelly Springs, went to his Heavenly Home on Friday, August 11, 2023 at Catawba Valley Medical Center following a period of declining health.

Ray was born December 30, 1927 in Mitchell County to the late Charlie Woody and Vaultie Sparks Woody. He was a faithful member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church....

Aug 11, 2023

Mr. Cory Jacob Brittain, 25, of Valdese, passed away on Friday August 11, 2023, at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

Cory was born September 16, 1997, in Burke County, a son of Kevin Brittain and Kristy Croom.  He was employed as an operator with Prysmian Group in the Fiber Optic industry.  Cory attended The Rising Church in Morganton. ...

Aug 9, 2023

Ms. Donna Clayton Hettrick, 100, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at her residence.

Donna was born March 21, 1923, in Palo Alto, California to the late John and Nellie Needles Clayton.  Those who knew Donna would say she was a well rounded individual with many talents. She raised three daughters, was a self...

Aug 9, 2023

Earl Dean Auton Jr., 62, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

Junior was born December 11, 1960 in Cleveland County to Roena Setzer Smith and the late Earl Dean Auton Sr. Junior was employed at Drexel Heritage for twenty six years and loved woodworking and building things. He also had a great love...

Aug 8, 2023

Mr. Larry Gordon Spiess, 77, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at College Pines Nursing Center following a period of declining health.

Mr. Spiess was born September 28, 1945, in Kane County, Illinois, a son of the late Carol Pearson.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Spiess is preceded in passing by...

Aug 7, 2023

Mrs. Jean Thomason Patton, 93, of Morganton, passed away on Monday August 7, 2023 ,at Catawba Memorial Medical Center, Hickory, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Patton was born June 26, 1930, in Ohio.  Jean lived in Morganton most of her life where she and her husband were the owners and operators of the Greyhound Bus...

Aug 7, 2023

Mr. Clegg Vernon Abernathy, 85, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, August 7, 2023 at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health. Vernon was born on January 21, 1938 in New Hanover County to the late Vance Clegg Abernathy and Hazel Icard Abernathy. He was veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was a retired...

Aug 6, 2023

Mrs. Ruby Lingafelt Wilson Wood, 95, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday August 6, 2023 with her loving family by her side, after a period of declining health. Mrs. Wood was born December 5, 1927 in Burke County, a daughter of the late Thomas Oscar Lingafelt and Ruth Chester Lingafelt Curtis. She was a member of the First Assembly...

Aug 5, 2023

Mrs. Alda Rebecca Perkins McKinney, 84, of Asheville, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the John Keever Solace Center in Asheville, following a period of declining health. Alda was born on April 11, 1939 in Burke County to the late Clifford Foster Perkins and Julia Lail Perkins. She was a longtime member of North Morganton United Methodist...

Aug 5, 2023

Louise Cooke Herman, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Carolina Caring following a period of declining health. Louise was born August 28, 1941 in Burke County to the late Loy H. Cooke and Minnie Bevins Cooke. Louise was a member of Mtn. Grove Baptist Church of Mountain View, Hickory. She was a loving...

Aug 5, 2023

Mr. Carl Robert Peppeard, 81, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at UNC Health Blue Ridge, Morganton, following a period of declining health.

Mr. Peppeard was born on December 8, 1941, in Ohio, a son of the late Lawrence Edwin and MildredLouise Beardeley Peppeard. He served his country in the United States Army. Mr....

Aug 4, 2023

While surrounded by his family, Gerald Dean Huffman, Sr., 76, of Connelly Springs, passed away suddenly at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center on Friday, August 4, 2023. Mr. Huffman was born to the late Paul and Edith Huffman on April 8, 1947, in Burke County. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in passing by his wife of...