Archived

Mary Ann Smith Buchanan
Mrs. Mary Ann Smith Buchanan, 81, of Hickory Nut Gap Rd., Banner Elk, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 at the Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville.
A native of Avery County, she was a daughter of the late William P. and Blanch Andrews Smith.
Mrs. Buchanan was a loving mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She was known for her caring attitude and loving smile. The sparkle in her eyes will always be remembered by those who knew her.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her sons, David Buchanan of Candler, Dale Buchanan of Banner Elk; grandchildren, Quentin Buchanan and his wife, Renee’, of Candler, Marandi Turbyfill and her husband, Shawn, of Spruce Pine, Alexander Gavenus of Montezuma; great-grandsons, Bradyn Buchanan and Dawsen Turbyfill; sisters, Barabra Berry and her husband, Frank, of Banner Elk, Louise Kolesar of Lockport, NY; brothers, Gene Smith and his wife, Emily, of Yerrington, Nev., Charlie Smith and his wife, Janet, of Luray, Va., Paul Smith and his wife, Bobbie, of Banner Elk, and Hal Smith and his wife, Tonie, of Banner Elk.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Ralph Buchanan; a son, Glenn Buchanan; brothers, Claude and Frank Smith; and a sister, Daisy Harvell.
Services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, from the Banner Elk Seventh Day Adventist Church, with Pastor Tony Cirigliano and Pastor Charles Hindman officiating. Interment followed in the Smith Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.rsfh.net
Memorials may be made to the Banner Elk Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Buchanan family.

Ginger Smith Fishel
Mrs. Ginger Smith Fishel, 60, of Emerald Isle, passed away Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 at Carteret General Hospital.
She was born Oct. 19, 1946 in Forsyth County to Benjamin Franklin and Pearl Hayes Smith.
Surviving are her husband, Sidney Austin Fishel; two sons, Gregory Austin Fishel and wife, Charlene, of Stella, and Chris Jenson of Denmark; one granddaughter, Sara Brianna Fishel; her mother, Pearl Hayes Smith of Winston-Salem; two uncles, Baxter Hayes and wife, Janell, of Sugar Grove, and Hobert Watson and wife, Jewell, of Vilas. Several cousins in the Boone area also survive.
A graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 o’clock Friday at Parklawn Memorial Park in Winston-Salem. Officiating will be the Rev. Ronnie Walser and the Rev. Greg Hinnons.
Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home in Winston-Salem is in charge of the arrangements.

Henry “Joe” Joseph Hardin
Mr. Henry “Joe” Joseph Hardin, 89, of Brookfield, Conn., died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at his residence. He was the devoted husband of Anne Stiles Hardin.
He was born in Boone, N.C., on June 22, 1917, a son of the late Henry J. and Grace Blackburn Hardin.
Mr. Hardin was raised on the family farm but soon learned that flying was his first love. At age 24 he trained as a pilot through the Roosevelt administration’s Civilian Pilot Program. He became an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he was commissioned as a pilot to the China National Aviation Corp., which was a subsidiary of Pan-American Airlines.
During World War II, he flew cargo from India to China over the dangerous Assam-China air route. Fifty years after the war, the United States government recognized Mr. Hardin’s service to his country by presenting him with the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the Honorable Service Award and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal.
After the war, Mr. Hardin returned to Boone and purchased a dairy farm. After a few years, he finally realized that flying was his passion so in 1957 he and his wife, Anne, moved their children to Brookfield. He began a 25 year career with Union Carbide Corp. in White Plains serving as chief pilot and then as aviation department manager.
A dedicated volunteer, he served on the Republican Town Committee and was a member of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department where he served as line captain. He was an active member of the Congregational Church of Brookfield where he served as Moderator, a Deacon and was chairman of the Board of Deacons.
In addition to Anne, his wife of 69 years, he is survived by three daughters, JoAnne Gauss and her husband, Rev. Ronald Gauss, of Gales Ferry, Conn., Leslie Bojarski and her husband, Victor, of Ennice, N.C., and Betsy Perry of Naugatuck, Conn.; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Henry Richard Hardin; and a granddaughter, Cynthia Stratton.
Services will be conducted Sunday afternoon, Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Brookfield. Burial will take place on Monday, Feb. 12, at 1:30 p.m. in Mountain View Cemetery, New Fairfield.
Donations in Mr. Hardin’s memory, may be made to the Book of Remembrance of the Congregational Church of Brookfield, 160 Whisconier Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804; or to the Alvah Miller Fund, c/o the Congregational Church of Brookfield; or to the Hanahoe Memorial Children’s Clinic, 205 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.
To light a candle of hope and remembrance please visit our website at: www.CornellMemorial.com.
The Brookfield Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Boyd Edgar Main
Mr. Boyd Edgar Main, 86, of Calico Rd., Lenoir, passed away Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.
He was born April 26, 1920 in Watauga County to the late Ira Hamilton Main and Loy Lee Harmon Main.
Mr. Main was a U.S. Army World War II veteran, in the 82nd Airborne Division, and earned the American Theater Campaign Medal, Eamet Campaign Medal, four Bronze Stars, the American Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was a member of Flemings Chapel Baptist Church, and former member of Hibriten Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School teacher, deacon, and church treasurer.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Ward Main; two sons, Johnny Main and Bill Main, both of Lenoir; two daughters, Jeanette Main and Joan Snyder, both of Lenoir; one brother, Hurley Main of Lenoir; two sisters, Geneve York of Morganton, N.C., and Yvonne Moody of Boone, N.C.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers and one sister.
Services were held on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, 2:00 p.m. at the Flemings Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Hugh Whitfield, the Rev. Lester Honson, and the Rev. Steve Butler officiating. Burial followed in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
Serving as pallbearers were Richard Orr, Eric Pope, Chad Main, Joseph Orr, Gary Shoemaker, Jack Snyder, and David Scarce. Honorary pallbearers were Junior Main, Ray Main, Paul Ragsdale, Tony Main, and Scotty Main.
Memorials may be made to Flemings Chapel Baptist Church, 4430 Littlejohn Church Rd., Lenoir, N.C. 28645 or to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.
Condolences may be placed online at www.pendrysfh.com
Pendry’s Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

February 7, 2007
Elva Hicks Laws
Mrs. Elva Hicks Laws, 87, of Burnsville, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, in Brookside Rehabilitation and Care Center.
She was born May 7, 1919 in Avery County, to the late Garfield and Lilly Odom Hicks, and was the wife of the late Ira Clifton Laws.
Mrs. Laws was a homemaker and before moving to Burnsville, a member of Bible Way Baptist Church in Boone.
Survivors include two sons, Paris Laws and wife, Mary, of Burnsville and Pal Laws and wife, Wynette, of Chambersburg, Pa.; one sister, Lillian Gwyn of Salem, Oregon; three grandsons, Chris, Keith and Daniel; one granddaughter, Sherry; and nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m., from the chapel of Yancey Funeral Service. Rev. Wayne Buchanan will officiate. Burial will be in the Bolick Cemetery in Avery County. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., prior to the service, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, N.C. 28714.
Online condolences may be sent at www.yancey-funeral-service.com.
Yancey Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

February 5, 2007
Mr. Anthony Ray Brown
Mr. Anthony Ray Brown, 46, of Sunny Knoll Acres, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 at Wake Forest University, Baptist Hospital.
He was born July 17, 1960 in Wilkes County, a son of the late Elbert Gwyn and Shirley Ann Parsons Brown, and the husband of Janice Cheek of the home.
Other than his wife, he is survived by two brothers, Gwynn Brown and wife, Melissa, of North Wilkesboro, and Barry Brown and friend, Anna Pena, of New York; one nephew, Cameron Brown of Wilkesboro; and one niece, Natasha Pearson of Wilkesboro; and his aunt and uncle, Arlie and Jeannie Johnston of North Wilkesboro and several cousins.
A celebration of life service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007 in Westview Baptist Church in Boone.
Memorials may be made to the Westview Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 692 NC Hwy 105 Bypass, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Brown Family at www.evansfuneralservice.com
Evans Funeral Service of Lenoir is serving the Brown Family.

Troy Ransom Greene
Mr. Troy Ransom Greene, 87, of Boone, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007 at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
He was born in Watauga County, a son of the late Judson and Hattie Wellborn Greene.
Mr. Greene was known as the “Apple Man” and raised and sold apples in the Boone area for over 30 years. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving in Germany in World War II. He was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart. He was a deacon, choir member and Sunday School teacher in the Baptist Church for many years. He was currently a member of Stony Fork Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and a friend to all.
Surviving are two daughters, Jane Kendrick and husband, Roger, of Gastonia, Linda Addaman and husband, Ron, of Fishers, Ind.; three brothers, Riley Greene and wife, Nina, of Deep Gap, Cline Greene and wife, Kathryn, of Fleetwood, Hershel Greene and wife, Imogene, of Wilkesboro; two sisters, Bonita Stewart of Wilkesboro and Carolyn Austin of Boone; three grandchildren, Scott Kendrick, Jennifer Hicks, and Tracy Stephens; and six great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 60 years, Daisy Shore Greene; and one brother, Charles Greene.
Services will be conducted Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at Stony Fork Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Vernon Eller. Entombment will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western NC Chapter, 3 Louisiana Avenue, Asheville, N.C. 28806 or to Stony Fork Baptist Church in care of Betty Triplett, 414 Stony Fork Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5 o’clock until 7 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Greene family.

Willie Lee ‘Bill’ Hobgood Hodges
Mrs. Willie Lee “Bill” Hobgood Hodges, 97, of 163 Shadowline Drive, died Sunday morning, Feb. 4, 2007 at home.
She was born May 13, 1909, in Oxford, N.C., a daughter of the late William Plummer and Julia Myrtle Hobgood.
Mrs. Hodges was a retired elementary school teacher, having taught at Wilkesboro Elementary School for 12 years and in Granville County for eight years. She attended Appalachian State University and East Carolina University. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Boone, where she worked in the nursery for over 25 years and sang in the Senior Choir.
Surviving are one daughter; Jane Hodges Shoemaker and husband, Ronald, of Millers Creek; one son, John W. Hodges, III and wife, Sara, of Lexington; one brother, Clarence Edward Hobgood and wife, Nell, of Charlotte; three grandchildren, John W. Hodges, IV and wife, Elaine, of West Jefferson, Elizabeth Hodges Kepley and husband, Ted, of Lexington, and Leigh Shoemaker Melton and husband, Dean, of Advance; six great-grandchildren, Joshua and Justin Hodges, Chase, Logan and Lauren Kepley and Spencer Gray Melton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Waitstel Hodges, Jr.; two brothers; and nine sisters.
Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the Chapel of the First Baptist Church. Officiating will be Dr. Wayne Brown. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon following the service at the First Baptist Church. The family respectfully requests no food or flowers and suggests memorials to the First Baptist Church, 375 West King Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Hodges family.

Margaret Wilson Proffitt
Mrs. Margaret Wilson Proffitt, 84, of 188 Lee South Road, Boone, died Saturday evening, Feb. 3, 2007, at Blowing Rock Hospital.

She was born March 4, 1922 in Bloutville, Tenn., a daughter of the late Leonard and Effie Wilson.
Mrs. Proffitt was a member of Meat Camp Baptist Church, and served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and other activities until her health failed.
Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Wellborn and husband, Odis, of Deep Gap, and Iris Allen of Charlotte; two sons, Wayne Proffitt of Boone, and Jim Proffitt and wife, Sharon, of Weaverville; four grandchildren, Remi Wellborn of Arlington, Texas, Brian Allen and wife, Melissa, of Charlotte, Gina Russell and husband, Don, of Locust, and Matthew Proffitt of Boone; two great-grandsons, Sherman Greer and wife ,Jenni, of Locust, and Richard Greer and wife, Christi, of Locust; one great-great-grandson, Asher Greer of Locust; and one sister, Edith Greene of Conover.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bynum Proffitt; and one granddaughter, Amber Proffitt.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, Feb. 5, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 12:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. David Clippard. Burial will follow in Meat Camp Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday afternoon, from 12:00 until 1:45, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Meat Camp Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 236 Meat Camp Baptist Church Road, Boone, N.C. 28607, or to the Resident Council Fund, in care of Marie Tsourakis, Blowing Rock Hospital, 416 Chestnut Drive, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Howard William Wiseman, Jr.
Mr. Howard William Wiseman, Jr., 58, of Lincolnton, N.C., died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, in Blowing Rock, N.C.
He was born Oct. 15, 1948, in Fayetteville, N.C., to Howard William Wiseman, Sr. and Olga Stocks Wiseman.
Mr. Wiseman was an employee of First Citizens Bank for 33 years, serving as area Vice-president and Assistant Secretary. He was a devoted employee and considered the people of First Citizens his extended family. Mr. Wiseman participated in many civic organizations, including the High Country United Way, Board of Directors of Wilkes County United Way, Wilkesboro Rotary Clubs, Watauga County Community Foundation and ASU’s Walker College of Business Advisory Council. He was also involved in Lincoln County, serving as a Scout Master, PTA Vice President, Optimist coach, past chairman of Lincolnton Rotary Scholarship Committee, and was an active Mason.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Wiseman; children, Michael and Natalie; his mother, Olga Wiseman; sisters, Rachel Newsome and Susie Cleveland; a brother, Dwayne Wiseman; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was a loving father who will be missed by his family, his friends and his beloved Labradors, Bailey and Shoelace.
He was preceded in death by his father; a sister, Mary Ann Lockamy; and a brother, Dale Wiseman.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, Feb. 3, at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Lincolnton, with Dr. J. Dixon Free officiating. Burial followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Wiseman was an advocate and personal supporter of Crossnore School, home for children of families in crisis. Memorials may be sent to Crossnore School, P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, N.C. 28616.
Warlick Funeral Home of Lincolnton was in charge of the arrangements.