: OBITUARIES :
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JON DUNCAN MACKEY

Jon Duncan Mackey, age 67, of Mt. Juliet, TN, died June 6, 2014. Col. Mackey retired after serving his country honorably for 25 years in the U.S. Army. As an Infantry Officer, he commanded units in the 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Infantry Division. Prior to his retirement, Col. Mackey served as the Senior Army Advisor for the Vermont Army and Air National Guard. He was a member of the American Legion Post #88.  He was the son of the late Jon Cook and Mary MacMillan Mackey of Pensacola community. Mr. Mackey was also preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Lynn Mackey and Julie Mackey.

  

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Dolores Sutton Mackey; daughters:  Mary Lynn (Ryan) Mackey-Paulsen, Laura Mackey (Ryan) Minter, and Julie Elyse Mackey; sisters: Susan Cook (Kent) Palmer and Jan Allison Hoddle; and grandchildren: Kaitlin and Jonathan Minter.

   

Funeral services with full military honors will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Bond Memorial Chapel in Mt. Juliet Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Black, Ernie Calabria, Jerry Childress, Robert Fields, Michael Lynn, Henry Queener and Gerald Chastain.  

 

A visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15, 2014 at Pensacola United Methodist Church. A private graveside service will be held at the Mackey Family Cemetery on Rocky Fork. 

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037. 

 

VIRGINIA LEATRICE YORK

Virginia Leatrice York, 87, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Elizabeth House (Hospice) in Hendersonville.   A native of Yancey County, she was the daughter of the late T. H. and Willie Kate (Ray) York.  She was also preceded in death by three brothers:  Russell, Birl and David York, and a sister, Mary Ann Joyce.  Virginia graduated from Bald Creek High School and Cecil’s Business College in Asheville.  She retired from the U. S. Soil Conservation Service in 1981.  Her church membership has been in Pleasant Valley Baptist, First Baptist Church in Burnsville and Mt. Pleasant Baptist of which she has been a member since 1982.  Her Christian service includes teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Training Union, Discipleship Training, training juniors in Scripture memorization, and has served as the Yancey Baptist Association training director.

Surviving are two sisters:  Lois Holcombe and husband, Grant, of Burnsville and Peggy Ledford and husband, Clarence, of Hendersonville.  She is also survived by six nieces and six nephews, as well as, great nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 7 P.M. Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Pastor Jerry Shelton will officiate with Dr. Harlon Ramsey and Rev. Clarence Ledford participating.  A private graveside service will be held Wednesday in West Burnsville Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 7 P.M. Tuesday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to Gideon’s International, P. O. Box 264, Burnsville, NC 28714.

LILA BLEVINS HIGGINS

Lila Blevins Higgins, 68, of Bill Allen Branch Road, went home Thursday, June 5, 2014 at her home.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Wilma Blevins Mitchell.  She was the wife of the late Shelby Gene Higgins and was also preceded in death by her son, Justin Higgins.

 

Surviving are her daughter, Sherry Banks and husband, Marvin; 2 granddaughters:  Alesha Norton and husband, Tucker, and Amanda Banks; 2 great grandsons:  Tyson and Tripp Norton; 6 brothers:  Gilbert Blevins and wife, Brenda, Michael Mitchell and wife, Kim, Robert Mitchell and wife, Renata, Randall Mitchell and wife, Helen, Billy Mitchell and Darrell Mitchell; a sister:  Donna Chaney and husband, Gary, all of Burnsville. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

 

Funeral services will be held at 8 PM Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Billy Mitchell will officiate.  A graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM Sunday in Academy Cemetery with Rev. Denver Styles.

 

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.

WILLIAM ISAAC SILVERS

William Isaac Silvers, 75, of Alton Ray Drive, Micaville, went home to be with the Lord on his birthday, Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the home of a daughter.   A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Tom and Zora Higgins Silvers.  He was the husband of the late Betty Laws Silvers and was also preceded in death by a son:  Charles Eugene Silvers; brothers:  Bill, Avery and Austin Silvers; sisters: Becky King, Estelle Willard, Thelma Ledwell, Gladys Hylemon and Evangelie Silvers; and, a special friend:  Carolyn Robinson.

Surviving are four children:  Mary Lou Silvers and husband, Jupiter, Susan Duke and Dennis Hoover, William Silvers and wife, Renee, and Sunshine Burleson and husband, Steve, all of Burnsville;   9 grandchildren:  April, Matthew, Brooke and Logan Silvers, Zachary Shuford, Conner Burleson, Heather Robinson, Charlene Carroll and Brittany; 11 great grandchildren; the mother of his children:  Julia Higgins Robinson of Burnsville; a sister:  Verlan Tipton of Oak Ridge, TN; and, three brothers:  Earl Silvers and Andrew Silvers of Green Mountain and Lonnie Silvers of Eden.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M.  Sunday in Unity Baptist Church.  Revs. Junior Honeycutt, Joe Bennett and Earl Blevins will officiate.   Burial will be in the Andrew Silvers Family Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home to assist with funeral expenses.  

MARTIN CASTRO PATRICIO

Martin Castro Patricio, 44, of Burnsville, died Friday, May 23, 2014, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, from injuries received in an automobile accident.

Surviving are his parents: Juan Castro Reyes and Antonia Patricio, two sister and a brother.

A Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 P. M. Tuesday, May 27, 2013 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

His body will be returned to Mexico for services and burial.

JAMES 'JR' GRINDSTAFF

James “JR” Grindstaff, 69, of Kings Mountain, went home to be with the Lord Friday, May 23, 2014, at Charles A. George V.A. Medical Center in Asheville.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Fred and Ellen McNeill Grindstaff.  He was also preceded in death by a sister:  Maphra Armstrong and a son:  Chris Grindstaff.  “JR” was a US Army Vietnam Veteran and a Purple Heart recipient.  He retired from Eastern Airlines and was a former employee of Bryant Electric Supply.  He was of the Presbyterian faith.

Surviving are his wife of 17 years:  Artella Moore Grindstaff; a son:  Randy Grindstaff of Forsyth, GA; a daughter:   Jamie Grindstaff of Ft. Payne, AL; 4 step children:  Rhonda Roseboro and Cindy Wood of Kings Mountain, Lisa Davis of Gaffney, SC, and James Farris of  Polkton, NC; a granddaughter; 7 step grandchildren; 8 step great grandchildren; 3 sisters:  Velma Conrad of Burnsville and St. Louis, Betty Frye of Burnsville and Maxine Duncan of Spruce Pine; and, a brother:  Philip Grindstaff of Stockbridge, GA.

Funeral services will be held at 2PM Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Scott Hardin will officiate.  Burial will be in the Grindstaff Cemetery on Halls Chapel Road, with military graverites conducted by Sgt. E. L. Randolph Chapter 57 DAV.

The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Life Enrichment Center of Kings Mountain, 222 Kings Mountain Blvd., Kings Mountain, NC 28086.

ATLAS PETERSON HENSLEY

Atlas Peterson Hensley, 94, of Summerville, SC passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Hospice of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, SC.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late William Burgess and Mary Sorrells Peterson and the wife of 56 years of Isom C. Hensley, who died in 1996.  She was also preceded in death by sisters: June Peterson Miller, Blanche Peterson Hunter Chandler and brother; John Peterson.  Atlas was a graduate of Bee Log High School and could still sing her school song.  She and Isom were married in 1939. Isom was in the US Army for 20 years, so they lived in many places, Tennessee, Maryland, Japan, Georgia and South Carolina.  Atlas was a wonderful homemaker, an expert seamstress, cake maker, loved to crochet and make ceramic and many other hand-i-crafts.   She was an active member of Jonesboro First Baptist Church in Georgia for over 40 years and was always a church goer, no matter where she lived.  She will be remembered and greatly missed by her family and friends.

Surviving are a daughter: Karen Hensley Raines and husband Norman W. of Summerville; a son: William H. Hensley and wife Helen; grandchildren: Marti Hensley Hendrix, Missey Hensley Martin, Michael W. Raines, Anna Raines McCaig; 12 great grandchildren; a sister: Ruth Peterson Higgins of Burnsville and a brother: William Boyd Peterson of, Butler, TN.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P. M. Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Bill Mitchell and her brother Boyd Peterson will officiate.  Burial will be in the Academy Hill Cemetery, in Burnsville.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, at the funeral home.

BILLY J BANKS

Billy J Banks, 83, of Burnsville in Yancey County, NC was peacefully called home in his sleep to be with his loving wife, Jody, on Saturday, May 17, 2014.  A native of Yancey County, he was son of the late Frank & Helena Banks, brother of the late John Arthur Banks, and grandson of the late John Arthur and Salomie Banks.  Billy, also known as Dadaw to many of us, was a hardworking man, a loving husband and father, and an excellent provider.  Billy was awarded employee of the year at Martin Marietta Aerospace in Florida for his work as an engineer in the defense industry.  As a Consummate Entertainer, Billy, along with Jody, led the family in a very successful music career, playing many events over the years including 4th of July celebrations and Crafts Fair right here in downtown Burnsville.  Billy and Jody always managed to keep the family busy, healthy, and happily together. 

 

They leave behind 3 children:  Karen Dale, John Randal, and Frank Kelly; 9 grandchildren; and, 6 great grandchildren.

 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 AM Saturday, May 24, 2014 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.

Ruby Mae Wilson Styles

Ruby Mae Wilson Styles, 87, of the Pensacola Community of Yancey County, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014 in Yancey House.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Frank E. and Inez Sturgill Wilson.  She was also preceded in death by sisters: Lucille Wilson Cate and Louise Wilson Pruett and brother-in-law Olden Pruett.  Ruby worked most of her life as a bookkeeper and office manager.  Her greatest joy came from her home, family and friends. She loved a good laugh and could be counted on for her quick wit. 

Loved ones left behind to cherish her memory are her husband of 64 years, Jay Styles; two daughters:  Debby Graham and husband, Bill, of Weaverville and Mary Beth Thurman and husband, David, of Charlotte; four grandchildren:  Will Graham and wife, Shelley, of Weaverville and Thomas, Deborah and Mary Thurman all of Charlotte; a brother:  Jerry Wilson and wife, Betty, of Pensacola; nephew: Dennis Pruett and wife, Carolyn, and great nephew: Jason Pruett all of Knoxville, TN

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Pastor A. J. Moore will officiate.  Burial will be in the Big Tom Wilson Cemetery at Pensacola.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714; or, Pensacola United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 794, Burnsville, NC 28714.

The family would like to extend their many thanks to the caring staff of Yancey House and Hospice of Yancey County for the wonderful care Ruby received during her last few years.

PHILLIP L. LAWS

Phillip L. Laws, 70, of Barn Road went to be with the Lord Sunday, May ll, 2014 at his home.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Lloyd and Clela McCurry Laws.  He was also preceded in death by a brother, Tony Laws and a nephew, Stanley Laws.  A Vietnam Army Veteran. Phillip was a retired employee of the NC Department of Corrections and Buck Stove of Spruce Pine.  He attended Peterson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.  He was a great and loving husband, Father and Pops.

 

Surviving are his wife of 43 years, Wilma Honeycutt Laws; 2 daughters:  Anna Bryant and husband, Gabriel, of Burnsville and Darlene Behler, and husband, Kelly, of Rutherfordton; 4 grandchildren:  Henry Bryant of Burnsville, Dawn Behler of Rutherfordton, Matthew Behler of Polk County and Tabitha Crawford of Rutherfordton; 7 great grandchildren:  Zachary, Dallas, Genessa, Sky, J. C., Cameron and Emma; a brother, Auburn Laws and wife, Alma, of Sebring, FL; a sister-in-law, Betty Jean Laws; 2 nieces: Lisa Shepherd and Teresa Robinson; 2 nephews:  Michael and Anthony Laws; 3 aunts:  Marie Laws, Annabelle Fox and Stella Peterson; and 2 uncles:  E. H. McCurry and Kenneth McCurry.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Revs. Roy Whitson and Denny Wilson will officiate.  Burial will be in the Laws Cemetery on Barn Road.

 

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM Tuesday at Holcombe Brothers funeral Home.

 

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

 

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