Obituaries

Sep 23, 2023

Mr. Charles Jefferson “C.J.” Hurst, 76, of Valdese, passed away on Saturday September 23, 2023, at Mission Memorial Hospital, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Hurst was born October 2, 1946, in Burke County, a son of the late Charles Jefferson Hurst, SR. and Dexter Lynch Hurst.  C.J. had worked as an ambulance attendant with Kirksey...

Sep 22, 2023

Raymond Hall Childers, 79, of Lincolnton, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2023, at The Greens at Lincolnton following a period of declining health. Raymond was born on October 29, 1943, in Alexander County, a son of the late Charlie and Bertha Laws Childers. He was an avid people person and never met a stranger. He loved visiting with...

Sep 22, 2023

Mr. Gary Lee Beck, 77, of Morganton, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2023, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Beck was born May 8, 1946, in Burke County, a son of the late John William Beck and Virginia Morgan.  Gary was a former store manager in the grocery business and a salesman in the automobile...

Sep 21, 2023

Mrs. Christine  Jewel Phillips Townsend, 91, of Icard, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday September 21, 2023.

Mrs. Townsend was born December 17, 1931, in Avery County, a daughter of the late Eli and Sarah Maltba Phillips.  She attended Clevenger Business College and retied as a secretary in the furniture manufacturing industry.  After...

Sep 21, 2023

In Loving Memory of Neal Brown

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Neal Brown on September 21st. Neal’s courageous battle with cancer serves as a testament to his strength and resilience, which inspired all who knew him.

Neal leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion to his family....

Sep 21, 2023

Ms. Betty Lou Prevette Sherrill, 85, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at Amorem of Valdese following a period of declining health.

Betty was born on December 13, 1937 in Wilkes County, a daughter of the late James P. and Ellen Shumate Prevette.  Before retiring, she worked as a furniture inspector.  She loved watching...

Sep 20, 2023

Mrs. Denise Alexander Wilson, 59, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at her residence.

Mrs. Wilson was born March 18, 1964 in Gaston County, a daughter of the late William T. and Pauline Thrift Alexander.  She was an active member of Valdese First Baptist Church and was a loving wife, mother and homemaker.

Sep 19, 2023

Harold McArthur “Sharky” Weaver, 81, of Hickory passed away on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at UNC Blue Ridge Morganton, following a period of declining health.

Harold was born April 24, 1942 in Burke County to the late CD Weaver and Lucretia Whitener Weaver. He was a member of First Baptist Church Hildebran, where he loved working in...

Sep 17, 2023

Mrs. Sadie Mae Fox Fowler, 88, of Connelly Springs, NC, left her earthly home for Heaven on Sunday, September 17th, 2023, at College Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center in Connelly Springs, NC., after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Fowler was born in Caldwell County on March 11th, 1935, a daughter of the late Howard Caney Fox,...

Sep 16, 2023

Tok Hui Kang McMahan of Morganton, NC went to be with the Lord on September 16, 2023. Tok Hui was born on February 27th, 1950 outside of Busan, South Korea. At twenty years old she married and moved to the United States to a little town in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She quickly learned to speak English,...

Sep 15, 2023

Mr. Robbie Pless Cook, 89, of Valdese, passed away at Autumn Care of Drexel on Friday, September 15, 2023, after a period of declining health. Mr. Cook was born in Burke County on July 25, 1934, a son of the late Pless and Ruth Deal Cook. He served his country honorably in the United States Army. He was an...

Sep 14, 2023

Mr. Brian Berry Feimster, 72, of Rutherford College, passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at his residence, following a brief illness. Brian was born on September 12, 1951 in Burke County to the late Ralph Clayton Feimster Sr. and Virginia Berry Feimster. He was the sole owner and operator of Brian B. Feimster Electrical. In addition to his...

Sep 14, 2023

Floyd D. “Dee” Lambert

Floyd Delon Lambert, 88, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.

“Dee”, a longtime resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Forest Lambert and the former Eleanor Robinette. Originally a native of Valdese, NC, Dee was the second of six children in his family. He...

Sep 13, 2023

Mrs. Beulah Louise Ford Wheeling, 95, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at Springs of Catawba Nursing Home, following a period of declining health.

Beulah was born on January 23, 1928, in Burke County, to the late Frank Coleman Ford and Claudia Franklin Ford. She was a longtime member of the Morganton First Church...

Sep 9, 2023

We are sad to announce the death of Betty Jo Taylor who passed away at Autumn Care, of Drexel, on September 9, 2023. Betty was 81 years old and a very devoted grandmother.

Welcoming Betty to Heaven was her husband, Furman “Sonny” Taylor, mother and father, and so many more family members and friends.

Betty...

Sep 7, 2023

Richard Lee Branch, 62, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at his residence following a period of declining health.

Richard was born June 16, 1961 in Burke County to the late George W. Branch Jr. and Gladys Allison. He served honorably in the United States Navy. He was a loving husband, father, and...

Sep 6, 2023

Kaylee Ann Travis Danner, 34, of Drexel passed away Wednesday September 6, 2023 at her home. Kaylee was born October 7, 1988 in Catawba County. She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Neil York; grandmother, Joyce Pennington; uncle, James Travis; aunt, Dawn Bolden, and great grandmother, Alda Peatry. Survivors include her children, Rylie Campbell, Paizley Danner, Kinleigh Parton,...

Sep 6, 2023

Andrew Lee Cole, 41, of Connelly Springs, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

Andy was born on August 24, 1982, in Burke County, to Robert “Bobby” Lynn Cole and Vickie Carswell Cole. He was currently employed as a brick mason in the construction industry.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents,...

Sep 3, 2023

Ms. Ingelore Witt, 80, of Valdese, passed away at College Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center on Sunday, September 3, 2023, following a period of declining health.

Ms. Witt was born August 7, 1943, in Bublitz, Germany, a...

Sep 2, 2023

Mildred Huffman Icard, 67, of Connelly Springs, passed away Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Carolina Caring, in Sherrills Ford, following a period of declining health.

Mrs. Icard was born on June 10, 1956, in Burke County, to the late John Wesley Huffman and Hazel Houston Huffman. She was formerly employed by Alba Waldensian and was a member...