Local and Area Obituaries

Walter Maurice “Bud” Elder, 77, of Taylorsville, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2008, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory.
He was born in Alexander County August 22, 1930, the son of the late Maurice Elder and Mano Deal Elder. He was employed with Rock-Tenn, formerly Waldorf Corporation, for thirty-one years. He was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was proceded in death by one son, Richard Elder; one brother, Billy Elder; and one sister, Edna Elder Smith.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-seven years, Sylvia Jolly Elder of the home; three daughters, Judy Chaney and husband Troy of Conover, Doris Royal and husband Thomas of North Wilkesboro, and Linda Coffey and husband Kenneth of Hickory; three sons, Benny Elder, of the home, Curtis Elder of Hiddenite, and David Elder of Taylorsville; five grandchildren, Shane Childers of Taylorsville, Mark Royal of High Point, Crystal Shumate of North Wilkesboro, Erin McConnell of Hickory, and Justin Coffey of Boone; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Royal, Sarah Royal, and Adam Royal, all of High Point; three sisters, Lavada Matheson of Hiddenite and Joyce Lackey and husband Carlton and Cozette Millsaps and husband Billy, all of Taylorsville; two brothers, Johnny Elder and wife Judith and Wayne Elder and wife Joan, all of Taylorsville; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at the Alexander Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Gary Jennings officiating. Burial followed in Taylorsville City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Coffey, Thomas Royal, Troy Chaney , Jared McConnell, Justin Coffey, and Mark Royal. Condolences to the Elder family may be emailed to alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net .
Funeral arrangements by the Elder Family entrusted to Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service Staff, Taylorsville, NC.

James Larry Barnes, 65, of Hwy. 90 East, Taylorsville, passed away Monday, August 11, 2008, at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville.
He was born in Wilkes County February 26, 1943, the son of the late Avery Barnes and Mammie Bumgarner Barnes. He was a dairy farmer and furniture worker and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Elmer Barnes, Elden Barnes, and Kenneth Barnes.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Roberts Barnes of the home; three sons, Dean Barnes and wife Sharon of Whitsett, Stevie Barnes of Greensboro, and Timothy Barnes and fiancée Corlissa Watts of Troutman; two daughters, Joyce Worley and husband Robert of Hiddenite and Janet Barnes of Stony Point; two brothers, Billy Joe Barnes and wife Lucille of Taylorsville, and Pete Barnes of Stony Point; a sister, Ilene Harrold and husband Walter of Hays; eleven grandchildren, Shannon Barnes and wife Ashley, Justin Barnes, Tony Grant, Danielle Barnes, Brandon Worley and wife Blakely, Anthony Worley, Jessie Barnes, Brianna Barnes, Erek Barnes, Marissa Barnes, and Kaylea Barnes; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapman Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Chatham officiating. Burial will follow in the Stony Point Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Chapman Funeral Home Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the Barnes Family by visiting our website at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point is assisting the family of Larry J. Barnes.

John Sherrill McLeod, 87, of Taylorsville, passed away Monday, August 11, 2008, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
He was born September 7, 1920, in Alexander County, the son of the late Richard McLeod and Ada Watts McLeod. Mr. McLeod was a member of Three Forks Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and was a member of Masonic Lee Lodge #253 in Taylorsville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul McLeod and Ralph McLeod; one sister, Nora Ellen Earnhart; and an infant son, Gregory Paul McLeod.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Reba Winfrey McLeod of the home; one daughter, Joyce Poulter and husband Donnie of Taylorsville; four grandchildren, Nicole Hendrix and husband Jordan of Hudson and Tara Poulter, Ashley Poulter, and Molly Poulter, all of Taylorsville; one sister, Elma Lee Price of Taylorsville; one brother, Bain McLeod of Webberville, Mich.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Thursday, August 14, 2008, 1:30-2:45 p.m., at Three Forks Baptist Church. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Carson Moseley officiating. Burial, with Masonic rites, will follow in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Jordan Hendrix, Matt Garner, Donnie Poulter, Gene Price, Steve Price, and Ralph McLeod.
Condolences to the McLeod Family may be emailed, alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net.
Funeral arrangements are being provided by Alexander Funeral and Cremation Services of Taylorsville.

Roy Lee Bentley, 57, of Taylorsville, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at his residence.
He was born in Alexander County July 23, 1951, the son of the late Acie Lee Bentley and Lola Mae Daniels Bentley. He attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and worked as an upholsterer at Icenhour and Vanguard furniture companies. He loved music, motorcycles, tinkering with cars, and collecting.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Bentley was preceded in death by one brother, James Bentley, and one half-brother, J.B. Daniels.
Survivors include his wife, Debra Harrington Bentley of the home; one son, Eric Bentley and wife Star of Taylorsville; one daughter, Heather Bentley and friend Brian Harrington of the home; one sister, Dorothy Harrington and husband Dwight of Taylorsville; one half-brother, Devon Daniels and wife Brenda of Taylorsville; three uncles, Fred Daniels and Harvey Lee Daniels, both of Taylorsville, and Harold Daniels and wife Peggy of Franklinville, N.C.; one aunt, Lois Daniels of Claremont; two sisters-in-law, Charlotte Carrigan, of Bellville, Mich., and Donna Haigler, of Collettesville, N.C.; and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
A graveside service was conducted Saturday, August 9, 2008, at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Cecil Lovelace and Rev. Gary Jennings officiating.
Pallbearers included Marty Johnson, Roger Johnson, Garrett Harrington, Kevin Smith, Ben Gilreath, Rick Southard, and T.J. Smith.
Condolences to the Bentley Family may be emailed, alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net.
Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

Willie Jane Mooney Pennell Brookshire, 92, of Taylorsville, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2008, at Hospice of Caldwell County in Lenoir. She was born in Alexander County March 22, 1916, the daughter of the late James Edgar “Ed” Mooney and Daphna Mae Watts Mooney. A former member of Dover Baptist Church, in 1993, Mrs. Brookshire became a member of Three Forks Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Dorcas Sunday School Class. At the time of her death, Mrs. Brookshire was the oldest active member of
Three Forks Baptist Church. She was manager of the Ellendale School Cafeteria for a number of years and also prepared monthly meals for the Ellendale Ruritan Club for thirty-seven years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Lindsay Hall Pennell and Millard Clark Brookshire; one son, Donald Ned Pennell, Sr.; one grandson, Barry Pennell; two great-granddaughters, Kisha White and Lindsey Pennell; and two brothers, Glenn Mooney and Don Mooney.
Survivors include a daughter, Anna Mae Pennell Head and husband Kenneth of Taylorsville; a daughter-in-law, Lillian Pennell of Taylorsville; five grandchildren, Debbie Harrington and husband Terry, Teresa McNeely and husband Bill, Wendell Pennell and wife Shelia, Kim Pennell, all of Taylorsville, and Donald N. (Donny) Pennell, Jr., and wife Wendy of Bethlehem; a granddaughter-in-law, Tammy Pennell of Taylorsville; thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Betty Rector Shook and husband Paul, Joyce Patterson and husband Kenneth, Dolphine Cody and husband Burl, and Bobbie Nail and husband Clifford, all of Taylorsville; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. at Three Forks Baptist Church with Dr. Carson Mosley and Rev. Don Ingle officiating. The body will lie in state thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. Burial will follow in the Dover Baptist Church Cemetery. Condolences to the Brookshire Family may be emailed, alexfuneralsvc@bellsouth.net.
Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service of Taylorsville is serving the Brookshire Family.

Saturday, August 9, 2008, at 7:30 a.m., Heaven’s gates opened wide for our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend at Iredell Memorial Hospital, Thelma Mable Shatley Robinette, 81, of DeJarnette Lane, Stony Point.
Mrs. Robinette was born in Ashe County January 9, 1927, the daughter of the late Avery Shatley and Bessie Williams Shatley Poindexter. On January 8, 1944, the day before her 17th birthday, she married her best friend and lifetime love, Z.V. Robinette, who preceded her in death in November 2004. Their marriage was one that lasted over sixty years. Mrs. Robinette was a retired textile and furniture worker. She was a long-time member of Stony Point Baptist Church, where she served on numerous commitees and was a member of the Applewhite Circle. Mrs. Robinette enjot-ed flowers and gardening and spending time with her family and grandchildren. She enjoyed shopping at her favorite store DeJa’Vu with her “adopted daughter” Brenda Warren. She was a friend to everyone she met and always had a smile on her face.
Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Carol Cockrell of Statesville and Diane Dellinger and husband Jerry of Stony Point; four grandchildren, Deedra Downs and husband Aaron, Chad Cockrell and wife Donna, all of Stony Point, Amber Shea Gandy of Statesville, and Heather Dru Murphy and husband Nick of Durham; seven great-grandchildren, Parker and Zoe Downs, Colby and Lindy Cockrell, Ali Shea Gandy, and Carter and Landon Murphy; one sister, Ethel Martin of Bethlehem; one sister-in-law, Marie Crisp of Taylorsville; a number of nephews and nieces; her special friend, Ralph “Hoover” Boger; and best friends Ruth McKittrick, Doris Robinette, Glenda Robertson, Lisa Kerley and her little dog “Lu Lu.”
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday August 12, 2008, at Stony Point Baptist Church with Rev. Marshall Sargeant, Rev. Greg Barefoot, and Rev. Phil Addison officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers included Jimmy Martin, Danny Martin, Tommy Cockrell, Clyde Beach, Joe Beaver, and Bill Higgenbotham.
Memorials may be given to Stony Point Baptist Church, 231 Ruritan Park Rd, Stony Point, NC 28678 or to Hiddenite Baptist Church, 250 Church Street, Hiddenite, NC 28636.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the Robinette Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.

Grover Cleveland Hellard, Jr., 78, of North Morvue Loop, Statesville, went to be with the Lord Friday August 8, 2008, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville.
He was born in Wake County July 21, 1930, the son of the late Grover Cleveland Hellard, Sr., and Myrtle McAlpin Hellard. He served in the United States Air Force, was retired from JC Penney Distribution Center, and was a member of Front Street Baptist Church in Statesville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, John Hellard, and one sister, Ruby Lee Felker.
He is survived by his wife, Norma Lee Hellard of the home; one son, Rev. Rodney Craig Hellard and wife Janet of Siler City; and two grandchildren, Justin Hellard and Bradley Hellard, both of Raleigh.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday August 12, 2008, at Front Street Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Stutts officiating. Burial followed in the Stony Point Cemetery with military rites provided by Hiddenite Post #10,000 and Taylorsville Post #5466.
Pallbearers included Lynn White, Danny Stikeleather, Keith Somers, John Wright, Bob Cook, and Jerry Black. Honorary pallbearers included members of the Homeward Bound Sunday School Class of Front Street Baptist Church.
Memorials may be given to Front Street Baptist Church, 1403 West Front St., Statesville, or to Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, NC 28625.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the Hellard Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.

James Matthew Parson, 63 of Gravel Hill Court Taylorsville, died Tuesday August 5, 2008, at Catawba Valley Medical Center.
He was born in Alexander County August 27, 1944, the son of the late Robert Green and Annie Lou Flowers. He was a construction worker and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Delores Flowers Parson of the home; two daughters, Victoria Louise Parson of Taylorsville and Nancy Bailey of Statesville; a son, James Matthew Parson Jr., of Taylorsville; four sisters, Zelma Flowers and husband John of Statesville, Mary Lou Flowers and husband L.C. of Pennsylvania, Pat Murdock and husband William of Statesville and Dorothy Green Johnson of Taylorsville; five brothers, Johnny Parson and wife Patricia and Thomas Michael Parson and wife Ava, all of Statesville, Robert Flowers and wife Jean and Larry Flowers and wife Lula, all of Taylorsville, and LeRoy Green of Columbus Ohio; eleven grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Sterling Howard will officiate. Burial followed in the Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Notes of sympathy may be sent to the Parson family at www.adamsfunerals.com.
Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

Doffice Lee Branham, 61, of Crider Road, Statesville, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday August 7, 2008, at his home.
He was born in
Dickson County, Va., June 6, 1947, the son of the late Stiles Branham and Luria Mullins Branham. He worked as a plant supervisor at Kewaunee Scientific Corporation for thirty years and was also a member of Victory Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Roger Dean Branham, and one brother, Mack Arthur Branham.
He is survived by two sons, Ike Branham and wife Donna of Statesville and Michael Branham of Harmony; two sisters, Salie Seaman of Lincolnton and Beulah Mullins of Clintwood, Va.; and two grandchildren, Tyler Ike Branham and Emma Lynne Branham.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, August 9, 2008, at Victory Baptist Church with Rev. Mitchell Rash officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given to Victory Baptist Church, 1074 Midway Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the Branham Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.

Kathy Dianna Blanco Dauber, 54, of Sulphur Springs Road, Hiddenite, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2008, at her home.
She was born in Olean, New York, May 28, 1954, the daughter of Ardella Smith Blanco of New York and the late Jose Blanco. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Dauber of the home; three sons, Eric Diamond of Texas, Joe Diamond of Statesville, and Michael Diamond and wife Emily of Hiddenite; four brothers, Dannis Blanco of Tennessee, William Blanco of Niagara Falls, Bronco Blanco of New York, and Jessie Blanco of Tennessee; four sisters, Gail Carpenter of Hiddenite, Sandra Ohlson of New York, Levine Scroger of Hiddenite, and Sheena Blanco of New York; and seven grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted in New York.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the Dauber Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home is assisting the family of Kathy D. Dauber.

William A. Evans died Thursday, August 7, 2008. He was born in Newport News, Va., to William and Juanita Evans.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Evans; a son, Scott Evans; and two sisters, Betty Carson and Ann CeCot.
Survivors include his daughter, Kim Broyhill of N.C., and a sister, Sally Jett of Va.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tri-State Children’s Home, PO Box 888, Bristol, TN 37621 or to a Hospice agency of the donor’s choice.
Bobbie Virginia Davis, 76, of Claremont, passed away Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at Catawba Valley Medical Center.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, and will be announced later by Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service of Taylorsville.

Wyatt Alonzo Kerley, 80, of Taylorsville, passed away Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, and will be announced later by Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service of Taylorsville.

Delmas Shane Boyette, 30, of Laurinburg, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2008, at U.N.C. Hospital in Chapel Hill.
He was born in Scotland County February 27, 1978, the son of Delmus Cleve Boyette and Myrtle Faye “Sue” Hardy Boyette. He formerly had worked with Nature’s Way Landscaping and was currently employed with Randy Medlin Construction Com-pany.
Survivors include his fiancee` Barbara Sue Currie of the home; a son, Ayden Shane Boyette of the home; his mother, Sue Boyette of Taylorsville; his father, Delmus C. Boyette of Laurinburg; and a sister, Donna Sue Pierce and husband Charles of Benson.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, August 14, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. at the Richard Boles Funeral Service Chapel in Laurinburg with Rev. Steve Adams officiating. A private burial will be held at a later date.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at Richard Boles Funeral Service, 13640 Andrew Jackson Hwy., Laurinburg, NC, (910-291-0066).