Obituaries

Aug 20, 2023

Mr. Jerry Lee Norman, 76, of Valdese, went to his Heavenly Home on Sunday August 20, 2023 at UNC Healthcare, Morganton, after a period of declining health. Mr. Norman was born October 27, 1946, in Burke County, a son of the late William Lee and Betty Pritchard Norman. He was proud of his service to his country serving as...

Aug 19, 2023

Mr. Clyde Parton, 58, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday August 19, 2023 ,at his residence, after a period of declining health. Mr. Parton was born March 27, 1965, in Catawba County a son of the late Roy and Marie Long. He was a long-time employee as an Arborist in the tree trimming industry. Surviving are his daughter, Reshella...

Aug 19, 2023

Mr. Rafeal Cedeño, 60, of Morganton, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at his home following a period of declining health.

Rafael was born on February 12, 1963, in the Dominican Republic to the late Rafael Eugenio Cedeño and Juni Albizu.

Those left to cherish his memory include his mother, Juni Albizu;...

Aug 19, 2023

Nell Berry Hildebrand, 92, passed away peacefully in the arms of Jesus on August

19, 2023, surrounded by her family.

She was the daughter of the late J. Cornelius and Sallie Hauss Berry and was born on September

17, 1930, in Valdese. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years...

Aug 18, 2023

Mrs. Mary Iva Powell Bailey, 95, of Morganton, passed away on Friday, August 18, 2023 at her residence, following a period of declining health. Mary was born on June 18, 1928 in Burke County to the late Robert Lee Powell and Mary Etta Watts Powell. She retired from Western Carolina Center, now J. Iverson Riddle, where she worked in...

Aug 18, 2023

Mr. Jonathan *Scott* Lane, 50, of Valdese, passed away on Friday August 18, 2023 at his residence after a period of declining health. Mr. Lane was born October 5, 1972 in Rutherford County a son of Donna Lynn Woody Goins. Scott was a former employee of Drexel Furniture Co. and an active member of Flat Gap Baptist Church. He...

Aug 18, 2023

Mr. J.P. McCurry, 82, of Connelly Springs passed away on Friday, August 18, 2023, at UNC Blue Ridge Valdese, after a period of declining health. J.P. was born February 14, 1941, in Rutherford County, a son of the late Fred Frank and Clara Mae Swink McCurry. He retired after a career in maintenance. J.P. loved to tinker and was...

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...