Obituaries

Mar 28, 2025

Mr. Boyd Leon Hoyle, 64, of Valdese, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Frye Regional Medical Center. Leon was born on August 22, 1960, in Rutherford County, to the late Avery Jackson Hoyle and Shirley Hudson Hoyle. He was previously employed as a contractor in the construction industry and also served as the pastor for Back to...

Mar 28, 2025

Steven “Sam” Wayne Moretz, 63, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2025 at home following a period of declining health.

Steven was born on August 29, 1961 in Chatham County, GA, a son of Linda Jean Moretz Ball Martin and the late Ned Thomas Moretz.

In addition to his father, Steven is...

Mar 28, 2025

Randy Lynn Buchanan, 53, of Morganton, passed away at home on Friday, March 28, 2025, following a brief illness.

Randy was born on July 2, 1971 in Burke County, a son of Barbara Young Buchanan and the late Robert G. Buchanan.  Randy loved his family, especially his nephews, niece, great nephew, and great niece.  He was an...

Mar 25, 2025

Mrs. Willie Elizabeth Price Gillespie, 76, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at her residence.

Willie was born on March 5, 1949, in Gaston County to the late George Price and Maggie Cook Price.  She was retired from the textile industry and previously attended Burkemont Baptist Church.  Willie was very active in her community,...

Mar 24, 2025

Stephen “Steve” Russell Brown, 67, of Valdese, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Magnolia Lane Nursing and Rehab Center following a period of declining health.

Steve was born on September 27, 1957, in Burke County, a son of the late Buyet and Dorothy Abee Brown.  He loved sports of all types, playing softball, baseball, football,...

Mar 23, 2025

Travis James Brothers, 48, of Hickory, NC passed away of an unexpected cardio-vascular event Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 in Winnsboro, SC.

Travis was born on October 6th, 1976 in Massena, NY. Son of Gary Lee Brothers and the late Anna (Luther) Brothers of Lenoir, NC. In addition, to his late sister Kristine (Brothers) Jackson of Schenectady NY....

Mar 23, 2025

Mrs. Evelyn Deal Sanders Owens, 86, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday March 23, 2025 at Magnolia Nursing Center, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Owens was born June 19, 1938 in Burke County, a daughter of the late Lawrence Nelson and Myrtle Dallas Settlemyre Deal.  Evelyn was a member of the Valdese First Baptist Church...

Mar 22, 2025

Elgie Leslie Benfield, Jr., 79, of Drexel passed away Saturday, March 22, 2025 at UNC Healthcare Blue Ridge following a period of declining health. Elgie was born May 11, 1945 in Burke County to the late Elgie Leslie Benfield, Sr. and Margaret “Ruth” Bowman Benfield. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Mason...

Mar 22, 2025

Charles Timothy “Tim” Shelton, 63, of Valdese, went to his Heavenly Home on Saturday March 22, 2025, at Burke Hospice, Valdese, after a courageous battle with cancer. Tim was born December 8, 1961, in Hamilton County, TN a son of the late Dannie Douglas and Sandra Spence Shelton. Tim was an active and faithful member of Enon Baptist Church,...

Mar 21, 2025

Betty Sue Mull, 96, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, after several years of declining health and a courageous battle with dementia.

Born on November 13, 1928, in Burke County, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Gladys Baker.

She was a quiet person who enjoyed spending time with her family,  playing...

Mar 21, 2025

Mr. Cecil Hildred Shields, 86, of Granite Falls, passed away on Friday March 21, 2025, at UNC Healthcare, Valdese, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Shields was born February 19, 1939, in Macon County, North Carolina, a son of the late Emmett and Myrtle Grant Shields.  He was a retired machine operator for General Electric in...

Mar 20, 2025

William “Dwaine” Elliott, 77, of Hickory, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2025. He was born on June 2, 1947, in Walker County, Georgia, to the late Herbert Elliott and Nelle Hudgins Elliott.

Dwaine was raised on a dairy farm, where he developed a deep and lasting love for animals—especially horses. This passion inspired his...

Mar 18, 2025

William “Kenneth” Smith, 87, passed away on March 18, 2025. Born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, on March 31, 1937, to Herman Lenoir Smith and Minnie Mae Wehunt Smith, Kenneth moved to Burke County at a young age. He attended Salem High School before joining the army in 1954. He ended his military service in 1966 as Petty Officer...

Mar 18, 2025

Mrs. Julie Mae Young Dula, 83, of Hickory went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday March 18, 2025.

Mrs. Dula was born July 14,1941, a daughter of the late Otis and Edna Brittain Young.  When her health allowed her, she attended New Covenant Church.  Julie retired from Robinson Hosiery Mill after many years of...

Mar 18, 2025

Barbara Ann Anderson Miller, 85, of Connelly Springs, passed with dignity and grace on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Carolina Caring following a period of declining health.

Barbara was born on June 18, 1939, in Catawba County, a daughter of the late Avery “Jack” Tellis and Betty Louise Heavner Anderson. Barbara was a woman of strength and...

Mar 17, 2025

Mrs. Linda B. Cook, “Little Mama” 75, of Hickory, went to be with her Lord, on Monday March 17, 2025, at Forsyth Medical Center after a brief illness.

Mrs. Cook was born, July 4, 1949, in Catawba County, the daughter of Ruth Parker Brittain Fulbright and the late Paul Edward Brittain.  Linda, was retired from the Cambridge...

Mar 16, 2025

Marilyn Faye Brendle Davis, 88, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Autumn Care of Drexel following a brief illness.

Marilyn was born March 5, 1937, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Clarence and Velna Watson Brendle.  She was very active with the Burke County Senior Center following her retirement from Shadowline...

Mar 16, 2025

Barbara Burleson Curtis, 79, of Morganton, NC, formerly of Avery County, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Barbara was born September 4, 1945 in Avery County, the daughter of the late Olin and Margaret Biggs Burleson. She was a 1963 graduate of Crossnore High School and went on to earn her business degree at Lees McRae...

Mar 16, 2025

Mrs. Geraldine Carroll Corpening, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at UNC-BR Morganton, following a period of declining health. Geraldine was born on December 9, 1943, in Cherokee County to the late William Carroll and Edna Hancock Carroll. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, who was known for her quick wit...

Mar 14, 2025

It is with earthly sadness but heavenly rejoicing that we announce the passing of Linda Faye Carpenter Lowman, a devoted mother, grandmother, and steadfast follower of Christ, who left this world at the home of Randy and Jaimee Lowman following a brief illness peacefully on March 14, 2025, at the age of 79.

Linda was born on...