: OBITUARIES :
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CHARLES E. RAY
Charles E. Ray, 83, of Hickory Lane, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at his home. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Horace D. and Ada Hensley Ray. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Horace Daniel Ray, Jr. Charles was a U. S. Army Veteran, retired rural letter carrier and an apple farmer.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Chloe Ella Adkins Ray; daughter: Sandy Ray Deyton and husband, Donald Deyton, of Unicoi, TN; a son: Pastor Ricky Ray and wife, Claudia, of Burnsville; 4 grandchildren: Tiffany Leigh Deyton of Arden, Travis Deyton of Knoxville, TN, Michael and Matthew Ray of Burnsville; and a sister: Louise Roberts of Chapel Hill.
Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday in West Burnsville Baptist Church of which he was a member, deacon and greeter. Pastor Harold Bennett, Jr., and Pastor Charlie Carroway will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the West Burnsville Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P. O. Box 264, Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road or West Burnsville Baptist Church, P. O. Box 38, Burnsville, NC 28714.
STEVE WAYNE LEDFORD
Steve Wayne Ledford, 48, of the South Toe Community went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, August 18, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Briggs Ledford and 2 sons: Matthew and Timothy Ledford and fiancé, Natalie Fuller all of Burnsville.
Surviving in addition to his wife and children, are his mother: Doris Silver and husband, Frank, of Burnsville; father: Earl Ledford and wife, Nancy, of Monticello, GA; grandmother: Irene Hyatt of Burnsville; 1 sister: Judy Ledford of Spruce Pine; 4 brothers: Dean Ledford and wife, Paula, of Burnsville, Charles Ledford and wife, Carol, of Monticello, GA, Gary Ledford and wife, Teresa, of Burnsville, David Ledford and wife, Tammy, of Erwin, TN; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Gerald Beaver and Ricky and Suzette Hilliard; mother-in-law: Adaleen Briggs. He was preceded in death by a sister: Dianne Beaver and father-in-law: Paul Briggs.
Funeral services will be held at 8:00 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Ronnie Whitson will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday in the Circle of Faith Cemetery at Pensacola.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 8:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home and, at other times, will be at the home of Adaleen Briggs on Blue Rock Road.
Memorials may be made to South Toe Fire Department, of which Steve was a member for 20 years, 65 Roaring Spout Lane, Burnsville, NC 28714 or Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
MAUD EMMA RAY LEWIS
Maud Emma Ray Lewis, 85, of Spruce Pine, passed away Sunday August 16, 2009 in the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Wesley and Emma Sue Banks Ray. She was the wife of Leonard O. Lewis who passed away in 1963. Maud was also preceded in death by brothers; Rollin Riddle, Jay Riddle, Shelby Riddle and Robert Riddle and a sister Flora Robinson.
Surviving is a son, Jerry E. Lewis of Ormond Beach, Florida; two daughters; Deloris Young and husband, Ed, and Sue Fleener and husband, Todd, of Spruce Pine; a sister: Helen Frost of Morehead City, 11 grandchildren and a great grandson also survive.
Graveside services will be held at 1 P.M. Wednesday in the Wilson Cemetery at Concord. The Rev. Larry Green will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 P.M. Tuesday at Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.
CHESTER PHILLIPS
Chester Phillips, 65, of Bloody Fork, went home, Friday August 14, 2009, at his home. A native of Yancey County he was a son of the late James and Lockie Adkins Phillips. He was preceded in death by 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Chester enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a member and deacon of Millers Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of 44 years: Flossie Rich Phillips; a daughter: Pamela Hall, and husband Mark of Rising Sun, Ohio; a son: Travis Phillips and fiancé, Stephanie Godfrey of Erwin, TN; grandchildren: Chas Buchanan, Brittney Buchanan, Colton Buchanan, Zachary Hall, Alexis Honeycutt and Hannah Honeycutt; 3 brothers Segal Phillips and wife Edith, Lester Phillips and wife Louise, D.L. Phillips and wife Sandy all of Burnsville; 2 sisters: Zula Hensley of Burnsville and Dona Bryant and husband Boyd of Hickory. Funeral Services will be held at 7 PM Monday in the chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Tony Miller, Clifton McCurry and Gary Rich will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Tuesday in the Miller Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
MARY ANN McINTOSH HENSLEY
Mary Ann McIntosh Hensley, 96, of Asheville, went to be with her Lord Friday, August 14, 2009, at The Oaks of Sweeten Creek. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late W.N.C. and Althea McIntosh, and the wife of Talmedge Hensley who died in 1951. She was also preceded in death by a daughter: Ella Juanell Hensley; and, a grandson: F. Ronald Sutphin, II.
Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law: Juanita and Ron Sutphin of Fairview; a grandson: Jeffrey K. Sutphin and wife, Lee Ann, of Asheville; and, a great granddaughter: Brook Sutphin. Several nieces and nephews also survive, and Matt and Jason Holt, of whom she was their former governess.
Funeral services will be held at 3PM Monday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Rev. Kelvin Mosley will officiate. Burial will be in the Wilson Cemetery on John Henry Road on Jacks Creek.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
JACK PRESNELL
Jack Presnell, 75, of Fairbanks, Alaska, died peacefully with his sisters at his side on Friday, August 14, 2009. A native of Yancey County, he left his beloved mountains on Bolens Creek as a young man to find work and adventure in Alaska; he loved the wide-open wilderness of Alaska and made it his home for the past 52 years. An avid outdoorsman, Jack enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent much of his free time taking advantage of those opportunities in Alaska. He also loved to travel, and after his retirement from the Defensive Early Warning Line, he traveled extensively and always made at least one yearly visit home to visit family and friends.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents: Stanley and Ollie McPeters Presnell; sister: Ruby Presnell McIntosh; and brother: Frank Presnell. He is survived by sisters: Norma Burnett and husband, Ray, Wanda Riddle and husband, Pearson, all of Burnsville; and brother: Paul “Budger” Presnell of Nebo. He is also survived by 3 step-children: son: Allen of Wasilla, Alaska; daughters: Kay and Debbie of Anchorage, Alaska; and 5 grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by 1 nephew and 8 nieces, 13 great nephews and nieces and 2 great-great nieces.
During the last months of his life, Jack was surrounded by family and friends. Many of his nieces and his nephews spent time with him in Alaska. His step-son, along with wife, Elaine and grandson, Matthew, traveled from their home in Wasilla regularly to visit and care for Jack. His sisters, brother and brothers-in-law spent the last several months of Jack’s life with him at his home in Alaska. They provided loving care during Jack’s last days.
Even after spending more that half a century a great distance from home and family, Jack remained devoted to both; during the last decade of his mother’s life, he was faithful to phone her daily simply to visit. He also remained dedicated to his southern values. A home healthcare nurse said of him, “I always want to shake Jack’s hand before I leave him. He is everything I think of as a ‘Southern Gentleman’.”
A celebration of Jack’s life will be held at the homeplace on Bolens Creek at a later date.
FRED R. TIPTON
Fred R. Tipton, 74, of Mars Hill, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at the John F. Keever Solace Center. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Banner and Opal Crowder Tipton. He was preceded in death by 2 sisters: Alma Jean Buckner and Carrie Justice; and, 2 brothers: Charles and Cecil Tipton. Fred enjoyed woodcarving and listening to gospel music.
Surviving are his wife of 49 years: Reba Rich Tipton; 2 daughters: Linda Bullman and husband, Bonson, of Weaverville, and Gearldine Tipton of the home; a son: Ricky Tipton and wife, Judy, of Weaverville; 5 grandchildren: Sherry Woody and fiance, Matthew Robinson, Robert Woody and wife, Amanda, D. J. Woody and wife, Andrea, Nathan Woody and Justin Bullman; a step grandson: Michael Banks; 4 great grandchildren: Hope, Courtney, Bryson and Tanner Woody; 6 sisters: Emmaline Jackson of Weaverville, Mildred Pate of Marshall, Audrey Arwood of Canton, Mary Hensley and Nell Swann of Asheville, and Virgie Teague and husband, Stacy, of Lenoir; and, 3 brothers: Floyd Tipton and Estel Tipton of Asheville and Lloyd Tipton and wife, Christa, of Mills River.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM Friday in Pine Forest Baptist Church on Ivy Hill Road. The Revs. Kenneth Parker and Bonson Bullman will officiate. Burial will be in the Pine Forest Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM Thursday at Holcome Brothers Funeral Home, where the body will remain until taken to the church to lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at John F. Keever Solace Center.
PATTIE CARTER
Pattie Carter, 96, of Burnsville, passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. Born in Hertford County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Barrow and Blanche Tilson Fleetwood and the wife of Carl A. Carter who died in 1989. She was also preceded in death by her son: Edward Carter and brothers: Robert and Tilson Fleetwood.
Surviving are a son: Barrow Carter and wife, Willa, of Atlanta, GA; daughter-in-law: Kay Carter of Norman, OK; a sister: Elizabeth Bennett of Burnsville; 3 grandchildren: Bo Carter of Atlanta and Marcia and Clare of Norman, OK; 4 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2PM Sunday, August 23, 2009, at Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Mars Hill, NC.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road or Yancey County Public Library, 18 Town Square, Burnsville, NC 28714.
JUANITA SILVERS GOLDSMITH
Juanita Silvers Goldsmith, 82, of Burnsville, formerly of Ellicott City, MD, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, July 30, 2009 at Mountain Manor Assisted Living. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Sherdain and Chetty Higgins Silvers and wife of the late Fred Goldsmith, Jr. She was also preceded in death by sisters: Sherline Silvers and Mary Earlina Royal.
Surviving are her children: Susan J. Hall of Ellicott City, MD, Mevelyn L. Low of Burnsville, Fred S. Goldsmith, III, and wife, Della, of Ellicott City; 9 grandchildren: Tressa, Chris, Melissa, Megan, Michelle “Booter”, Maribeth, Joshua, Erica and James “Jay”; 4 great grandchildren: Keaton and Kason Hall and Maverick and Maxton Gilley; 2 sisters: Loucille Edwards of Burnsville and Mary Ann Sparks of Waynesville; 4 brothers: R. L. Silvers and Reece Silvers of Burnsville, Leslie Silvers of Weaverville and Glen Silvers of Elkton, VA.
Funeral services will be held at 3 P.M. Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Steve Williams will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11 A.M. Monday in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Marriottsville, MD.
The family will receive friends from 1 until 3 P.M. Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.
HELEN BELL SIPES
Helen Bell Sipes, 86, of Jackson, TN, passed away Friday, July 24, 2009 in Jackson. She was a daughter of the late George and Christine Connor Bell of Spruce Pine.
Surviving are a son; David Ward of Jackson, a daughter; Tammy Leyland of Mt. Ulla, NC, a sister; Sandy Robertson of Burnsville and West Union, SC, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 3 P.M. Sunday in the Robertson Family
Cemetery at West Burnsville.
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