Ethel Anne Powell
Jan 18, 2026
Ethel Anne Powell, 68, of Lenoir, passed away on Sunday January 19, 2026, at UNC Medical Cener, Chapel Hill, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Powell was born in Valdese, a daughter of the late Lloyd Powell, Jr and Joan Brown Powell. Anne loved singing, playing, and writing music. She loved learning and attended UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, UNC...
Roger Dale Barrier
Jan 18, 2026
Roger Dale Barrier, born May 5, 1949, peacefully transitioned to Heaven on January 18, 2026 after a period of declining health, surrounded by his loving family at Valor Hospice in Asheville. Roger served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War. He lived in Morganton, NC, where he was in the car business for over thirty years. He had...
Thomas Everette Littlejohn
Jan 16, 2026
Thomas Everette "Tommy" Littlejohn, 77, of Valdese, passed away Friday January 16, 2026 at his residence.
A full obituary and funeral arrangements will be updated once finalized.
Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory in Valdese is serving the family.
Mary Lou Holland Graves
Jan 14, 2026
Mary Lou Holland Graves, 82, of Granite Falls, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at AMOREM of Hudson following a brief illness.
Mary was born June 20, 1943 in Hazard, KY, a daughter of the late Leonard Holland and Millicent Turner. She was an RN of many years at Valdese General Hospital.
In addition to her...
Martha Warren Henson
Jan 12, 2026
Martha Warren Henson, 68, of Morganton, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026 at Biltmore Haven in Arden following a period of declining health.
Martha was born on September 4, 1957 in Burke County, a daughter of the late James Ray and Rhoda Jane Poe Warren.
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Shasta Madden of Augusta, GA; grandson, Brandon...
Elizabeth Hope Goode Butler
Jan 11, 2026
Elizabeth Hope Goode Butler, 85, of Morganton, passed away peacefully on Sunday January 11, 2026 at Amorem Hospice in Valdese following a brief illness.
Hope was born on July 7, 1940 in McDowell County to the late James Leonard Goode and Mildred Rice Goode. She was a dedicated cosmetic sales representative with Mary Kay Cosmetics for many years, and was a...
Clyde Ray Danner, Jr.
Jan 10, 2026
Clyde Ray Danner, Jr., 81, of Morganton, passed away on Saturday January 10, 2026, at UNC Healthcare Blue Ridge, Morganton, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Danner was born September 8, 1944, in Burke County, a son of the late Clyde Ray Danner, Sr. and Darlia Lail Danner. He was a jack of all trades in the construction business. He...
Raymond "Bud" Clifford Levan Jr
Jan 9, 2026
Raymond Clifford “Bud” Levan, Jr. 66 of Valdese, passed away on Friday January 9, 2026, at his residence.
He was born, September 20, 1959, in Iredell County, a son of the late Raymond Clifford Levan, Sr. and Dorries Ramsey Levan. Bud served his country as a member of the US Marine Corp and retired as a sergeant with the NC Wildlife...
Buford Ray Buff
Jan 8, 2026
Mr. Buford Ray Buff, 62, of Valdese, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Atrium Healthcare Charlotte, following a brief illness.
Ray was born on July 23, 1963 in Burke County to Ernest Alexander Buff and the late Edith Mae Buff. He was a longtime member of North Laurel Baptist Church and was retired from J. Iverson Riddle Center, where...
Lucille Deal Holden
Jan 8, 2026
Lucille Deal Holden, 92, of Morganton, passed away peacefully on Thursday January 8, 2026 at UNC Health Blue Ridge, following a period of declining health.
Lucille was born on March 6, 1933 in Burke County, to the late Lawrence Nelson Deal and Myrtle Dallas Settlemyre Deal. Lucille dedicated many years to her work, first as an inspector with Alba-Waldensian, then showcasing...
Robert Lee Jones
Jan 7, 2026
Robert Lee “Rob” Jones, 93 of Icard, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at Aston Park following a brief illness.
Rob was born April 12, 1932 in Carter County, Tennessee, a son of the late Bobby Taylor and Dorothy Beam Jones. He was a truck driver for Waldensian Bakeries for forty-seven years prior to retirement,...
Earl Edward Clark
Jan 7, 2026
Mr. Earl Edward Clark, 85, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a period of declining health.
Earl was born on June 13, 1940, in Burke County to the late Charlie E. Clark and Ida Chapman Clark. He retired from Drexel Furniture, where he worked in the boiler room and in security for...
Fannie Newton Williams
Jan 7, 2026
Fannie Newton Williams, 94, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday January 7, 2026, at UNC Healthcare, Morganton, after a brief illness.
Mrs. Williams was born April 1, 1931, in Cleveland County, the eighth child of the late William Nolan and Zula Wall Newton. She was a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College and was retired from the US Government as the distributor...
Dorothy Marie Hembree Benfield
Jan 7, 2026
Dorothy Marie Hembree Benfield, 82, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at Magnolia Lane Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a period of declining health.
Marie was born May 8, 1943 in Spartanburg County, SC, a daughter of the late Wade and Sally Hembree.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by her husband, Thomas Benfield, and...
Michael Fred Lunsford
Jan 4, 2026
Michael Fred Lunsford, 57, of Granite Falls, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Mike was born August 9, 1968 in Burke County to Beulah Sharpe Lunsford and the late Jackie Fred Lunsford. He was a well known carp fisherman and loved hanging out at Lake Charles with Greg and the gang....
Gail Jeanette King Waycaster
Jan 3, 2026
Ms. Gail Jeanette King Waycaster, 74, of Morganton, passed away peacefully at her home at 300 Williams Rd. on January 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, after a period of declining health.
She was born in Buncombe County, NC, on August 31, 1951, a daughter of the late Jay and Harriet King.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in...
Alice Hill Nicely
Jan 2, 2026
Alice Hill Nicely, 83, of Valdese, passed away on Friday January 2, 2026 at her residence after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Nicely was born February 14, 1942, in Albion, N.Y. a daughter of the late Robert Wilson and Meriam Davis Hill. She was a member of the New Beginnings Baptist Church in Morganton and retired after a long career...
Joey Michael Rhoney
Jan 1, 2026
Joey Michael Rhoney, 65, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday January 1, 2026, at Autumn Care Nursing Center, after a period of declining health.
Joey was born November 20, 1960, in Burke County, a son of Glenda Poteat Rhoney and the late Jerry Rhoney. He served his country as a US Air Force veteran and was formally employed as a Behavior...
Woodrow Wilson Smith, II
Jan 1, 2026
Woodrow Wilson Smith, II, 62, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Woodrow was born on July, 12, 1963 in Sarasota, FL, a son of the late Donald Marcus Smith, Sr., and Marilyn Robbins Smith. He loved NASCAR racing, and he was in attendance as often as he could. He...
Daphne Lynnette Abernathy Mozeley
Dec 30, 2025
Daphne Abernathy Mozeley, 42, of Valdese passed away on December 30, 2025 after a 4-year bout with cancer. She took her last breath in this life holding the hands of her closest loved ones and immediately began her new life by taking the hand of Jesus, her savior.
Daphne was born on January 13, 1983 and was a lifelong Burke County...
