Harold Ray Zimmerman
Jul 23, 2025
Harold Ray Zimmerman, 74, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday July 23, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.
Harold was born April 7, 1951, in Roxboro, NC, a son of the late Ray and Theresa O’Briant Zimmerman. He was a longtime employee of Joan Fabrics in Hickory and enjoyed hiking, gardening and spending time with his...
Phyllis Mae Wilson Howell
Jul 22, 2025
Phyllis Wilson Howell, 90, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully at her home on July 22, 2025 after a period of declining health.
Phyllis was born on November 30, 1934, in Burke County, a daughter of the late June and Lizzie P. Wilson. Phyllis was lifelong member of Friendship United Methodist Church. She was the former co-owner of Blue Ridge Gift...
Audrey Janet Griffin Smith
Jul 22, 2025
FOR AUDREY
An Encomium
“Between the date of birth and the date of demise there was a life that mattered.”—Unknown
During the nascent hours of July 22nd, Audrey Smith silently slipped away to that place which she envisioned and of which she frequently spoke. Her departure was not announced as “breaking news” or instantaneously plastered all over social media. She journeyed-on as she...
Richard Clifton Townsend
Jul 20, 2025
Mr. Richard Clifton Townsend, 82, of the George Hildebran community, finally made it home on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Richard was born on June 18, 1943, in Burke County to the late Clifton Townsend and Trivie Young Townsend. He was a retired telephone technician for Centel Telecommunications and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Richard never met a stranger and...
Douglas Roy Bridges
Jul 20, 2025
Mr. Douglas Roy Bridges, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday July 20, 2025, at the Greens of Hickory Nursing Center.
Mr. Bridges was born October 30, 1943, in Burke County, a son of the late Posey and Mattie Mosteller Bridges. He was a member of the First Baptist Church Hildebran and was self-employed as a plumber. He was a...
Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner
Jul 20, 2025
Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner, 75, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully on Sunday July 20, 2025 at her residence following a period of declining health.
Joan was born on April 3, 1950 in Burke County to the late Roy Clayton Yancey and Virginia Madeline Brown Yancey. She was a homemaker, and also worked at the College Pharmacy in Rutherford College for...
John Harold Lefeber
Jul 19, 2025
John Harold Lefeber, born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Elmer and Margaret Lawrence Lefeber, passed away on July 19, 2025, in Morganton, North Carolina after a period of declining health.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Beatrice Lefeber, his sister, Linda Lefeber and brothers, Roger, Michael, Norman Lefeber, as well as his brothers-in-law,...
Heather Sweezy Frye
Jul 17, 2025
Heather Diane Sweezy Frye, 54, of Claremont, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at her residence.
Heather was born February 2, 1971, at Valdese General Hospital in Rutherford College, daughter of Roy Franklin Sweezy and Phyllis Mulligan Sweezy. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Valdese. She was preceded in death by her little sister, Erin...
Lavada Aiken Johnson
Jul 15, 2025
Mrs. Lavada Aiken Johnson, 90, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a period of declining health.
Lavada was born on October 28, 1934, in Burke County to the late Walter Aiken and Ruth Powell Aiken. She was retired from the furniture and hosiery industries and was a longtime member of Shady...
Joyce Scarlett Wall
Jul 15, 2025
Mrs. Joyce Marilyn Scarlett Wall, 82, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at her residence, following a period of declining health.
Joyce was born on February 7, 1943, in Alamance County to the late William Grady Scarlett and Ruby Cora Davis Scarlett. Joyce’s life truly exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman of the Bible. She was a longtime member...
Lueann Morris Garcia
Jul 14, 2025
Lueann Morris Garcia, 51, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center following a period of declining health.
Lueann was born on November 28, 1973 in McDowell County, a daughter of Darelene Webb and the late Jack Morris. She loved making bracelets and anything to do with her granddaughter, who was the apple...
William Michael Huffman
Jul 14, 2025
Mr. William” Michael” Huffman, 52, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.
Mr. Huffman was born July 28, 1972, in Burke County, a son of Larry and Ruby Mull Huffman. He was employed as a dye-house operator with Seiren and a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. William...
Ronald Glen Dickens Jr.
Jul 14, 2025
Ronald Glen "Bubby" Dickens Jr., 59, of Valdese passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his residence, following a period of declining health
Bubby was born October 5, 1965, in Mullens, West Virginia, to the late Ronald Glen Dickens Sr. and Geraldine Mae (McKinney) Rose-Dickens. He worked as a butcher and in his spare time, loved to hunt, fish and...
Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger
Jul 10, 2025
Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger, 50, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday July 10, 2025, at UNC Healthcare, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Ruediger was born November 4, 1974, in Las Vegas, NV, a daughter of Carol Bradley Dressler and the late Patrick Dressler. Dawn was a loving wife, mother and homemaker and enjoyed helping her husband with their construction...
Donald Ray Hammett
Jul 10, 2025
Mr. Donald Ray Hammett, 92, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday July 10, 2025, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Hammett was born December 22, 1932, in Gaffney, S.C., a son of the late Charles Nesbitt and Addie Childers Hammett. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Hickory and retired from the financial industry...
Dana Michaels Chapman
Jul 9, 2025
Mrs. Dana Michaels Chapman, 75, of Hickory, passed away on Wednesday July 9, 2025, at Frye Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Chapman was born August 26, 1949, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Glenn and Lorene Reep Michaels. She retired as a Medical Lab Tech. with the American Red Cross. Dana was a faithful...
Deborah Ann Huffman
Jul 4, 2025
Deborah Ann Huffman, 72, of Hickory, NC, passed away at home on Friday, July 4, 2025 following a period of declining health.
Deborah was born on March 11, 1953, in Catawba County, NC, a daughter of the late Glenn and Shirley Huffman.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by two brothers, DJ Sine and Glenn Ray Huffman.
Her sister,...
Mabel Elizabeth Wooten Dale
Jul 4, 2025
Mabel Elizabeth Wooten Dale, 94, of Morganton, passed away peacefully at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation on Friday, July 4, 2025.
Mabel was born January 18, 1931, in Caldwell County, a daughter of the late Loyd Richard and Margaret Catherine Swanson Wooten. She was full of love and respect for others. Many were struck by the kindness and grace she displayed...
John Tilden Brittain
Jul 4, 2025
John Tilden Brittain, 82, of Connelly Springs, NC passed away on July 4, 2025, after a happy and productive life. John was born on December 18, 1942, to the late Bruce Edward Brittain and Thelma Hildebrand Brittain of Burke County. He married the love of his life, Marilyn Hildebrand Brittain in 1961 and moved to Boone working and attending AppState...
Avie "Susie" Elkins Pendergrass
Jul 3, 2025
Mrs. Avie “Susie” Elkins Pendergrass, 91, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday July 3, 2025, at Autum Care, Drexel, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Pendergrass was born August 14, 1933, in Yancey County, a daughter of the late Creed and Amanda Hutchins Elkins. She was a member of the Heritage Baptist Church and retired as a seamstress from Drexel...
