Obituaries

Feb 27, 2023

Mrs. Gladys Mae Pruitt Carswell, 87, of Rutherford College, passed away on Monday February 27, 2023 at her residence, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Carswell was born July 14, 1935 in Burke County, a daughter of the late Oscar and Lois Benfield Pruitt.  She owned and operated a daycare business from her home and retired...

Feb 27, 2023

Ann Carolyn Rexrode, age 84 of Davenport, Fl passed away Monday, February 27, 2023 in her home. She was born in Burke County, NC to the late Carl and Charlsie (Burns) Queen. Carolyn retired from teaching in Illinois and enjoyed living in the Florida sunshine. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dale Rexrode.

Feb 26, 2023

Betty Jo Holden Sanford, 75, of Granite Falls, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at her residence following a period of declining health.

Betty was born March 16, 1947 in South Carolina, to the late Ervin Holden and Retha Rhodes Holden. She loved spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren.

In addition...

Feb 25, 2023

Perry G. Anthony

Perry Gene Anthony, 75, of Drexel, departed this life to his heavenly home on Saturday February 25, 2023 at Carolina Caring following a period of declining health.

Perry was born on March 1, 1947 in Burke County to the late James William Anthony and Norene Franklin Anthony. He was a maintenance supervisor...

Feb 24, 2023

Benjamin Mark Buff, our beloved son, grandson, brother and friend, passed away on Friday, February 24 th , 2023 at the young age of 25.

Born August 5, 1997, he was the middleborn of three boys. He grew up in Burke County, North Carolina and graduated from Robert L. Patton High School, in Morganton. He attended Western...

Feb 23, 2023

Mrs. Louise Powell Owens, 92, of Valdese went home to her Heavenly Father, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, on February 23, 2023 at Amorem Hospice in Hudson following a period of declining health. Louise was born March 12, 1930 in Burke County to the late Robert Lee and Mary Etta Watts Powell. She was a member at Way...

Feb 22, 2023

Mr. Larry Sidney Willix, Jr., 49, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at UNC-BR Valdese. Larry was born on February 27, 1973 in Burke County to Larry Willix Sr. and Violet Grant Willix. He was previously a member of Oakland Heights Church. Surviving in addition to his parents, are his siblings, Carol Hayes, Billy Willix...

Feb 21, 2023

Mr. Charles Leonard Bryant Sr., 82, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health. Charles was born on July 19, 1940 in Catawba County to the late, Thurman Cicero Bryant and Annie Johnson Bryant. He spent most of his life in the chicken farming business. In...

Feb 21, 2023

Mr. Harley Tate Cooke, 71, of Granite Falls, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at his residence, following a period of declining health. Harley was born on November 9, 1951 in Avery County to the late Rev. Barney Cook and Magdalene Calvert Cook. He was a retired cloth cutter in the furniture manufacturing industry. In addition to his...

Feb 20, 2023

Mrs. Karen Sue Hicklin Ward, 65, of Valdese, passed away on Monday February 20, 2023 at Wendover House, Hospice of Cleveland County. Karen was born on September 21, 1957 in Knox County, Tennessee to Bille Sue Kinlaw Hicklin and the late Robert L. Hicklin. She was retired from Valdese General Hospital, where she worked in housekeeping for many years....

Feb 20, 2023

Mr. Johnny Allen Wright, 55, of Valdese, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2023, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Wright was born September 14, 1967, in Avery County, a son of Martha Stewart Wright and the late Jimmy Wright.  Before his illness, he was formally employed with Ellis Hosiery as a dyehouse...

Feb 20, 2023

Mr. Lance Dexter Carswell, 32, of Hickory, passed away on Monday February 20, 2023 at Carolina Caring Hospice, after a period of declining health. Mr. Carswell was born January 13, 1991, in Burke County, a son of Anita Kaye Carswell. He was employed as a Mental Health CNA with Broughton Hospital and was a member of the Hickory Masonic...

Feb 19, 2023

Betty Harris Sherrill, 93, of Valdese, NC, departed this earthly life for her heavenly home on Sunday, February 19,2023, after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Sherrill was born  on December 10, 1929, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Ellen C. and C.M. Harris. She was a faithful and active member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church where she served...

Feb 18, 2023

Mr. Buddy Steve Whitener, 85, of Hickory went home to be with his Lord and Savior, on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at UNC-BR Morganton, following a period of declining health. Buddy was born on April 14, 1937 in Catawba County to the late Craig Whitener and Tansie Mull Whitener. He was a lifelong member of Providence Baptist Church, and...

Feb 18, 2023

Charles Wade Moore, 70, of Morganton passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Amorem Hospice in Burke County, following a brief illness.

Charles was born February 3, 1953, in Georgia to the late Lillian Griffin Moore. He served honorably in the United States Air Force and was a member of Baton United Methodist Church. Charles enjoyed...

Feb 17, 2023

Mr. Eugene Everette Lindsay, 90, of Hickory passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Catawba Valley Medical Center following a period of declining health.

Mr. Lindsay was born on May 1, 1932, in Catawba County, NC, to the late Charles “Ronal” Lindsay and Amanda Pruitt Lindsay.  Eugene served honorably in the United States Army.  He loved...

Feb 15, 2023

Mrs. Kay Frances Powell Robinson, 85, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at College Pines Nursing Home, following a period of declining health. Kay was born on August 2, 1937 in Burke County to the late William Marvin Powell and Lorena Robinette Powell. She was a charter member of East Valdese Baptist Church, and was a...

Feb 15, 2023

Mr. Joseph Patrick Fox, Jr., 93, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday February 15, 2023 at UNC Healthcare, Morganton, after a period of declining health. Mr. Fox was born April 7, 1929, in Newark, NJ, a son of the late Joseph Patrick, Sr. and Anna Hasko Fox. Joe served his country as a veteran of the US Army and...

Feb 14, 2023

Felicia Michelle Perrou Helmstetter, 51, of Evergreen, CO, formerly of Rutherford College, passed away Tuesday February 14, 2023 at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver.

Felicia was born on December 7, 1971 in Burke County to Stephen and Faye Perrou of Valdese. She was a sales director with Direct TV. She was a lifelong member of Waldensian Presbyterian...

Feb 14, 2023

Mrs. Jackie Sue Cobb Worrell, 79, of Hickory, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday February 14, 2023, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Worrell was born December 27, 1943, in Darlington, MO, a daughter of the late Jack Blaine and Freda Smith Cobb. Jackie earned her master’s degree in special education from...