October 6 , 2006

Mr. Howard H. Baird

Mr. Howard H. Baird, 67, of 1886 Cunningham Road, Thomasville, a native of Watauga County and a former resident of Vilas, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006, at home.

He was born April 30, 1939, in Watauga County, a son of the late Clyde and Lona Dollars Baird.

Mr. Baird was a truck driver and of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his wife, Opal Johnson Baird; a daughter, Becky Richardson and husband, Don, of Vilas; four sons, Len, Michael and Randy Baird and wife, Robin, all of Conway, S.C., and Kevin Baird and wife, Stacey, of Thomasville; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by one son, Edward L. “Eddie” Baird; his father and mother, Clyde Theodore and Lona Dollars Baird; and one brother, Clinton Baird.

Services were conducted Thursday afternoon, Oct. 5, 2006, at 2 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Delmar James officiating. Burial followed in Proffitt’s Gove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Forsyth County, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Tommy Dollar

Mr. Tommy Dollar, 69, of 232 Miller Ridge Road, Todd, in the Meat Camp community, died Wednesday morning, Oct. 4, 2006, at his home.

He was born June 23, 1937, in Watauga County, a son of the late George and Francis Tester Dollar.

Mr. Dollar was employed with Winkler Heating and Plumbing for 38 years and attended Church of Deliverance.

Survivors include his wife, Eula Dollar; three sons, Darrell Dollar, Wade Dollar and Barry Dollar and wife, Sherry, all of Todd; three daughters, Debbie McGuire and husband, Tim, of Todd; Nancy Reese and husband, Keith, of Glad Springs, Va., and Dinah Moretz and husband, Jimmy, of Deep Gap; five brothers, Richard Dollar and wife, Brenda, and “Bud” Harrison Dollar and wife, Joyce, all of Vilas; David Dollar and wife, Jean, of Todd; Raymond Dollar and wife, Carol, of Triplett and Arnold Dollar and wife, Matt, of Lenoir; three sisters, Verlee Robinson and husband, Bill, and Mary Ann Winkler and husband, Roger, all of Lenoir; and Rebecca Presnell and husband, Alvin, of Butler, Tenn. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two infant children, Lee and Gertrude Dollar; his father and mother, George and Francis Tester Dollar; and a brother, Clarence Dollar.

Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 1-2 p.m. Officiating will be Pastor Bruce Miller and Pastor Randy Smith. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family received friends Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Dorothy W. Edwards

Mrs. Dorothy W. Edwards, daughter of the late James C. and Vera Jenne White, died Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center.

She was born on North Manitou Island, Mich.

Mrs. Edwards was an accomplished artist known for her work in portraits.

She was a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School and attended Sophie Newcomb College (The Women’s College of Tulane University). She lived in Kingsport, Tenn. more than 40 years.

She was a member of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Surviving are two daughters, Valerie Joh and husband, Gale, of Kingsport, Tenn., Gayle Despard and husband, Tom, of Lancaster, Pa.; one son, Jim Edwards and wife Linda, of Blountville; her loving companion, Joe Ridenhour, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Barbara Shilling and husband, George, of West Lafayette, Ind.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Val Edwards, and two brothers, Col. Jim White and Jack White, preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport, Tenn.

A graveside service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday at Oak Hill Memorial Park with Andrew White officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Wellmont Hospice Program, P. O. Box 238, Kingsport, TN 37662; First Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660; or Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, 5555 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308.

Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport, Tenn., is serving the family of Dorothy Edwards.

October 4 , 2006

William Doub Bennett

Mr. William Doub Bennett, Sr., 84, of Rocky Mount, N.C., died on the morning of Oct. 1, 2006, at his home.

He was born June 19, 1922 in Rocky Mount, N.C., a son of the late Josephine Doub and John Robert Bennett, Sr. 

Mr. Bennett’s life was rich in civic and academic pursuits. As a young boy he was active in Boy Scouts, attending the first Boy Scout Jamboree. After graduating from Rocky Mount High School in 1939, he attended Brevard Junior College, and matriculated into Duke University the following year. After one semester at Duke, he enlisted with the Army to serve in World War II. During the war he served in the American Theater of Southeast Asia in the 105th Chemical Processing Company. He received numerous medals during the war, including a Campaign Stars Papuan Campaign medal, a Luzon Campaign medal and a Philippine Liberation medal.

After the war Mr. Bennett returned to Duke University to graduate in 1947 with a degree in chemistry. He worked in his family dry cleaning business until 1963. After leaving the family business Mr. Bennett worked as a chemist for Texas Gulf Sulphur Lee Creek Phosphate Mine and later for the North Carolina Public Health Laboratory.

Having a lifelong love of genealogy, Mr. Bennett received the Historian of the Year award by the North Carolina Society of Historians as well as an award of Excellence for Service. He also served as Director of the Wake County Historical Society and was a member of the North Carolina Society of Historians and Friends of the North Carolina Archives. In his more than 25 years as a registered genealogist, Mr. Bennett published more than 25 volumes and gave many speeches to interested conferences and families.

A decades long member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Mr. Bennett received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Silver Good Citizenship Medal, the Liberty Medal and the Patriot Medal. Mr. Bennett was a member of First Methodist Church, Rocky Mount, where he served on the Board of Stewards in the 1950’s.

Mr. Bennett is predeceased by his wife of almost 55 years, Ruby Grant Bennett; and a brother, John Robert “Jack” Bennett, Jr.

He is survived by his sons, Rev. William Doub Bennett, Jr. and wife,  Jessica Kozma Bennett, of Raleigh and Thomas McMillan Grant Bennett of Zionville; nieces, Priscilla Bennett Rolls and husband, John Rolls, of Wake Forest and Josephine Bennett Totten and husband, James Patton Totten, of Hendersonville, Tenn.; a nephew, John Robert Bennett, III and wife, Joyce Gibson Bennett, of Raleigh. He is also survived by several great-nieces and nephews: John Walter Rolls, Jr. of Wake Forest, Susan Rolls Sweeney of Charlotte, Andrew Meade Pearce of Santa Cruz, Calif., David Lee Pearce of Birmingham, Ala., Reagan Kathryn Bennett and Lawson Harris Bennett, both of Raleigh, and Jodie Rolls Brickmeier and Virginia Rolls Sochacki, both of Atlanta.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 at the home of Rev. William and Jessica Bennett, 317 Calvin Road, Raleigh. The liturgy for the Burial of the Dead and Eucharist will be celebrated Thursday, October 5 at 11 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 125 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C. Committal will follow in Rocky Mount at Pineview Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Mary McMillan, a longtime family caregiver. The family also extends their gratitude to Hospice nurse Lynn Bradshaw and others with Nash County Hospice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bowling Funeral Home & Crematory, 661 English Road, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804.

Fred F. Isaacs

Mr. Fred F. Isaacs, 75, of 147 Smith Isaacs Road, Zionville, died Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Feb. 3, 1931, in Watauga County, a son of the late Raymond and Lola Beach Isaacs.

Mr. Isaacs was a farmer and a member of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include two brothers, J.C. Isaacs and wife, Frieda, and Dean Isaacs and wife, Mary Alice; and one sister, Irene Pennell and husband, Archie, all of Zionville; two aunts, Madge Campbell of Zionville and Ella Greer of Boone. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Raymond S. and Lola Beach Isaacs; three brothers, June, Lawrence and Estel Isaacs.

Services will be conducted Wednesday night at 8 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 6:30-8 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Harold Danner. Graveside services will be conducted Thursday morning at 11 o’clock at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:30-8 p.m. at the funeral home, prior to the service. At other times, friends may call at the home of Dean and Mary Alice Isaacs, 123 Smith Isaacs Road, Zionville. The family has respectfully requested no food.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Rebecca Clark Saunders

Mrs. Rebecca Clark Saunders, 82, of Hartland Road, Morganton, passed away Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006 at Caldwell Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.

She was born Dec. 2, 1923 in Burke County to the late H. T. Clark and Mamie Thomas Clark.

Mrs. Saunders was a retired bookkeeper and a long standing member of  Hartland  Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Donald W. Saunders, Jr. and his wife, Jewel, of Hudson; a daughter, Judith Saunders Huffman and her husband, Harold, of Boone; a brother, John Clark of Morganton; three grandchildren, Paige Huffman Garland and her husband, Carroll, Jeremy Saunders and his wife, Sara, Joshua Saunders and his wife, Megan; three great-grandchildren, Jordan Allen, Wade and Wyatt Garland.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, D. Wade Saunders, Sr.; a sister, Lillie Copestake; and a granddaughter, Pamela Huffman Allen.

The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4th, from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. at Hartland Baptist Church. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. with the Dr. Steve Parker and the Rev. Todd Leger officiating. Burial will follow at  Littlejohn  United Methodist Church.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jeremy Saunders, Josh Saunders, Tommy Cannon, Philip Clark, Jordan Allen, Ted Crowe and Alan Crowe.

Memorials may be made to Hartland Baptist Church, 3730 Hartland Road, Morganton, N.C. 28655.

Online condolences made be sent to www.pendrysfuneralhome.com

Pendry’s Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements for the Saunders family.

October 2 , 2006

Charles C. Casamo

Mr. Charles C. Casamo, 90, of 476 41st Avenue, St. Pete Beach, Fla., and a summer resident of Blowing Rock, died Saturday evening, Sept. 29, 2006, at Blowing Rock Hospital.

He was born Oct. 15, 1915 in New York, N.Y., a son of the late Anthony R. and Hilda Johnson Casamo.

Mr. Casamo was a retired ceramic engineer for General Telephone and Electric in Emporium, Pa.

Survivors include his wife, Beulah "Bea" Moore Casamo of St. Pete Beach, Fla., and a summer resident of Blowing Rock; one daughter, Carol Marie Boarigo and husband, Dr. Ben Boarigo, of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; two sons, Robert Carl Casamo and wife, Mary Ann, of Austin, Pa., and Richard Charles Casamo and wife, Amy, of St. Pete Beach, Fla.; two granddaughters, Gina Boarigo of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Lisa Cupella of Hernando, Fla.; three grandsons, Anthony Casamo of Nashville, Tenn., Charles Daniel Casamo, and Kelsey Blue Casamo, both of Seminole, Fla.; one great-granddaughter, Sabrina Cupella of Hernando, Fla.; two step-granddaughters, Patti and Lori Heggenstaller of Austin, Pa.; and one sister-in-law, Angelina Casamo of Clearwater, Fla. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Mr. Charles C. Casamo will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4, 2006, at 2:00 o'clock, at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. Officiating will be Pastor Larry Lyon. Inurnment will be in the Pass A. Grille Columbarium in St. Pete Beach, Fla. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. at the church, prior to the service, in the New Church Lobby.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1218 Main Street, Blowing Rock, N.C.  28605.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Gayla Lee Cornett

Mrs. Gayla Lee Cornett, 53, of Clyde Cornett Road, Vilas, died Tuesday evening, Sept. 26, 2006, at the University of North Carolina Hospital at Chapel Hill. 

Mrs. Cornett was born August 12, 1953 in Baltimore, Md. She was employed by the Department of Social Services in Baltimore before moving to Vilas in 1993. She was a member of the Joppatowne Baptist Church in Joppa, Md. and the Mountain Dale Baptist Church in Vilas. She was a caring and devoted wife and mother and was loved by her many friends.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Emery Bert Cornett, Sr.;  two daughters, Stacie Wise and husband, Chris, of Glen Burnie, Md. and Kelly Louise Cornett of Raleigh; her parents, Franklin and Vivian Wilkerson Smith of Joppa, Md.; one step-son, Emery Cornett, Jr. and wife, Teresa, of Vilas; four step-daughters, Nancy Johnstone and husband, Kevin, of Abingdon, Md., Donna Cornett of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Connie Cornett of Eastern Shore, Md. and Tina Behr and husband, Jerry, of Joppa, Md.; one sister, Dana Smith of Aberdeen, Md.; one brother, H. T. Smith and wife, Diane, of Joppa, Md.; her niece and nephew, Josh and Julie Smith; and eleven step-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Saturday morning, Sept. 30, 2006, at 11 o’clock at Mountain Dale Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Eric Cornett and the Rev. Bill Hayden. Burial followed in the Mountain Dale Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Liver Foundation, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York, N.Y.  10038 or to the American Diabetes Association, 222 South Church Street, Suite 336M, Charlotte, N.C. 28202.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Cornett family.

Hugh Mark Daley, Sr.

Mr. Hugh Mark Daley, Sr., 91, of 6927 Myerlee Country Club Blvd., Ft. Myers, Fla., died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born August 22, 1915 in Lovett, Ga., a son of the late Marcus Pratt and Vera Johnson Daley.

Mr. Daley served with the United States Army during World War II. He  was educated in Rocky Mount, N.C., and was owner and operator of Daley Wholesale Hardware. He also owned Holiday Inn Motels in Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, and Greenville, N.C.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Woods Daley; two sons, Jerry Daley and wife, Nan, of Chapel Hill, and Mark Daley, Jr. and wife, Susan, of Boone; and one daughter, Mary Bryan AdAir and husband, Mike, of Chapel Hill. Nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Carlton Thorpe Daley.

A memorial service was conducted Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1, 2006, at 4:00 o'clock, at The Methodist Church in Blowing Rock. Officiating was Pastor Jerry Daley, Mark Daley, Jr., and Mary Bryan AdAir. Interment will take place in Rocky Mount Cemetery in Rocky Mount, N.C.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Durham Rescue Mission, Durham, N.C.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Sandra Drury

Sandra Drury, 54, of Reidsville, N.C., died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, at Kindred Hospital in Greensboro, N.C.

She was born in Nuremburg, Germany, the daughter of Clinton A. and Janet Allen Drury.

Ms. Drury entered college in her 40’s and graduated with honors from Smith College in North Hampton, MA. In 1999, she was accepted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School. She wanted to specialize in Medical Ethics Law. Her passion was her care and concern that all could receive the medical care they needed, no matter what their state in life. She was the Director of the Free Clinic in Reidsville, N.C.

Survivors include her sons, Gabriel Owens of Reidsville, N.C., Joshua Owens of Reidsville and his fiancée, Jessica Duff, of Garfield, Ky.; a brother, Douglas A. Drury and wife, Lynn, of Blowing Rock, N.C.; and a sister, Heather Sappington and husband, Larry, of Liberty, N.C.

A Celebration of her Life was held Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, at 1 p.m. at Hanes Lineberry N. Elm Chapel.

Memorials may be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 315 Lindsey St., Reidsville, N.C. 27302 or Rockingham County Animal Shelter, 1401 W. Harrison St., Reidsville, N.C. 27320.

Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Beulah Shook Norwood

Mrs. Beulah Shook Norwood, 94, of Banner Elk, died Friday morning, Sept. 29, 2006, at Life Care Center in Banner Elk.

She was born March 5, 1912 in Watauga  County, a daughter of the late Charlie and Minnie Ruppard Shook.

Mrs. Norwood was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include one son, Robert B. Norwood and wife, Dorothy, and one daughter, Ruby Coffey and husband, Ray, all of Banner Elk; three granddaughters, Loretta Ruppard and husband, Frank, and Angela Simmons and husband, Barry, all of Banner Elk, and Lisa Clark and husband, J.D., and one grandson, Dennis Coffey, all of Erwin, Tenn.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Blaine Woodrow Norwood; two sisters, Alma Norwood, and Emma Shook; and two brothers, Chester Shook and Bert Shook.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1, 2006, at 3:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Barry Sheppard and the Rev. Junior Carver. Burial followed in the  White  Rock Baptist  Church  Cemetery.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Marcia Veatrice Jones Towell

Mrs. Marcia Veatrice Jones Towell, 95, of Davie Academy Rd., Mocksville, N.C., died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, at Davie County Hospital.

  She was born Feb. 6, 1911, in Davie County to the late Hampton Calhoun and Ida Shives Jones.

Mrs. Towell  lived her entire life in Davie County, graduating from Mocksville High School, class of 1929 and was retired from Davie County Tax Collector’s Office. Her lifetime priorities were her family, her community and her church, Jericho Church of Christ, where she was a lifelong member.

She was the loving mother of Anne Gary (Bill) of Mount Holly, Johnny (Jeannie) of Harmony, Jane Lentz of Boone and Joe (Debbie) of Mocksville; cherished grandmother of, Lori (James), Billy (Susan), Justin, Joshua, Jenny and Kristin; step-grandchildren, Haley (Adam) and Drew (Cassie); and adoring great-grandmother of  Sam, Kate, Nicholas, Angelica and Wyatt; and her youngest sister, Mrs. Bert Graves of Mocksville.  

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 76 years, Lemuel Reid Towell in 1987; a son, James Carl Towell; great-granddaughter, Tess; three sisters, Mary Lagle, Helen Koontz and Frances Turner Williams; and two brothers, J. C. and Carl Jones.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, at Jericho Church of Christ, with Dr. Tom Torpy officiating.  The body will be placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the service.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. 

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 2, at Eaton Funeral Home. 

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in her name to Hospice of Davie County, P.O. Box 848, Mocksville, N.C. 27028 and the Jericho Church of Christ grounds, 124 Junction Road, Mocksville, N.C.  27028.

Eaton Funeral Home in Mocksville, N.C. are in charge of arrangements.