Area Obituaries

Hazel Barnette Bradshaw, 105, of Hiddenite, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday morning, June 6, 2023, at Taylorsville House Memory Care in Taylorsville. Hazel was born August 28, 1917, in Alexander County, to the late Ed Barnette and Nora Baker Barnette. Hazel was a long-time faithful member of Hiddenite Baptist Church.…

Debbie Pope Bennett, 61, of Statesville, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville. She was born in Iredell County on January 26, 1962, to Mr. Fairley R. Pope of Taylorsville and the late Ms. Suma (Fox) Pope Lambert. Debbie was preceded in…

Anna May Eckenrod Llora of the late Silas and Ruth Eckenrod was born on July 16, 1939, in Canton, North Carolina. She moved to Lenoir with her parents circa 1942 and lived there in the Caldwell – Alexander County area until moving to Mint Hill, NC in 2013. She was united in marriage to Robert…

Michael Joseph Petote, 71, of Taylorsville, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at his home. He was born May 20, 1952, in Brockport, New York, the son of the late Joseph Michael Petote and Audrey Popp Petote. He was a farmer in western New York and a millwright for most of his working career.…

Robert Lewis Hicks, 80, of Hickory, passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Carolina Caring Hospice following a period of declining health. Lewis was born January 24, 1943, in Watauga County, to the late William Arnie Hicks and Lena Pearl Harmon Hicks. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers,…

Gene “Earl” Smith, 65, of Taylorsville, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He was born January 19, 1958, the son of the late Raymond Smith and Elizabeth Higgenbothem Smith. He was a truck driver for most of his working career and attended East Taylorsville Baptist Church. He enjoyed…

Eric Cook, 58, of Taylorsville, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023, at Frye Regional Medical Center. Eric was born January 10, 1965, in Alexander County, the son of Edna Sue McLain Cook and the late Robert Cook. He was a truck driver during his working career and a member of Smyrna Baptist Church. He…

David Alan Craig, 66, of Taylorsville, passed away on May 28, 2023, at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital after an extended illness. David was born December 7, 1956, in Catawba County, to the late Milton A. Craig and Nancy Powell Wilkie. David worked in landscaping and he was a member of Lighthouse Ministries. David loved to…