Archived

Richard Edward Blizard
Mr. Richard Edward Blizard, 70, of Winston-Salem, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.
He was born Nov. 3, 1936, in Forsyth County to the late Burris and Cora Angel Blizard.
Mr. Blizard was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He worked for Hanes Corp. for 15 years, before working at Westinghouse for 23 years. He was an officer of the Westinghouse Retirees Group and president of the Westinghouse Credit Union. He taught several computer classes at Forsyth Technical Community College.
Mr. Blizard was also a 32nd degree Mason. He loved to travel. He loved his computer. He loved and adored his family. He had a great obsession for his grandson, Nicholas, and he loved to laugh and have fun with his brother and sister.
Survivors include his loving and dedicated wife of 46 years, Jeanne L. Blizard; a daughter, Corrine B. Scott; a grandson, Nicholas Ogburn; a brother, Jerry Blizard; a sister, Linda B. Nelson; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb 7, at St. John's Lutheran Church. Interment followed at Forsyth Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston Salem, N.C. 27103, or to St. John's Lutheran Church, 2415 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston Salem, N.C. 27103.
The family would like to send a special thanks to the staff of Kate. B. Reynolds Hospice Home, especially to Michelle Carter and Dr. Cross. They would also like to thank Chaplain Megan McSwain.
Vogler & Sons Funeral Home, Reynolda Road, were in charge of the arrangements.

February 21, 2007
John M. Harrison
Mr. John M. Harrison, 87, of 13611 Rockridge Road, Lakeland, Fla., a native and former resident of Blowing Rock, the Boone Fork community, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007.
He was born March 3, 1919 in Watauga County, a son of the late James Monroe and Minnie Bristol Harrison.
Mr. Harrison owned and operated a sawmill and was also a rock mason. He was a member of Boone Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Verla Norman Harrison; three daughters, Bertha Mae Reece of Patterson, Beulah Howell and husband, Gene, of Boone, and Georgia Pearson and husband, Bill, of Blowing Rock; five sons, Donald Harrison and wife, Sue, Scott Harrison and wife, Judy, and David Harrison, all of Blowing Rock; James Harrison and wife, Barbara, of Boone, and Billy Harrison and wife, Shirley, of Lakeland, Fla. He is also survived by 29 grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, James Monroe and Minnie Bristol Harrison; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Annie Harrison, Ester Harrison and Bertha Anderson; five brothers, Frank, Horace, Spencer, Ballard, Edd, and Paul Harrison.
Services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at Boone Fork Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 1:00 until 2:00. Officiating will be the Rev. Darrell Miller and the Rev. Carl Osborne. Burial will follow in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7:00 until 9:00 at Hampton Funeral Service.
The family respectfully requests no food.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Bobbie Greer Land Spencer
Mrs. Bobbie Greer Land Spencer, age 75, known as “GranBobbie” by her family, of Morganton, N.C., died Monday, Feb. 19, 2007 at Grace Ridge Retirement Community.
She was born July 18, 1931 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Charles M. and Virginia Swift Greer.
As a young girl, Mrs. Spencer moved to Hudson where she graduated from Hudson High School where she enjoyed the sport of basketball. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hudson. She had worked at Hudson Drug Store from 1960 until 1966.
Mrs. Spencer and her husband, Don, were former residents of Orangeburg, S.C.
She was a lover of the sport of golf and had attended the “Masters”. She had been a member of the Country Club of Orangeburg, S.C. She was a UNC-Tarheel fan and never missed the Kentucky Derby.
Survivors include three sons, C. David Land and wife, Suzanne, of Morganton; Rick Land and wife, Genita, of Statesville; and Mark Land of Durham; 3 step-sons, Donnie, Bill and Paul Spencer, all of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Ruby Greer Haas of Hudson; one brother, Floyd Greer and wife, Betty, of Cleveland, Ohio; seven grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Jack Land; her second husband, Don Spencer; two brothers, Clyde and Howard Greer; and four sisters, Belle Hollar, Ethel Edmiston; Edna Bumgarner and Beulah Love.
A Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Spencer will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hudson with the Rev. Marcus Ollis officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, N.C. 28645; Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Road; Valdese, N.C. 28690 or to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 352 Central Street, Hudson, N.C. 28638.
Online condolences may be sent to the Spencer family at www.evansfuneralservice.com
Evans Funeral Service of Lenoir is serving the Spencer family.

February 19, 2007
Elder General Grant Carpenter
Elder General Grant Carpenter, age 97, of Creston, passed away Feb. 14, 2007, at Mountain City Care Center in Mountain City, Tenn.
He was born August 22, 1909 in Ashe County, N.C. to the late Floyd and Rose Calhoun Carpenter.
Elder Carpenter enjoyed farming. He was called into the ministry in the early 1940’s. He pastored churches in North Carolina and Virginia.
Survivors include daughters, Ima Jean Payne and husband, Paul, of Mountain City, Tenn.; and Carol Dixon and husband, Charles, of Denton, N.C.; three sons, Johnny Darrell Carpenter and wife, Elaine, of Elkton, Md.; Rodger Carpenter and wife, Sheila, of Creston, N.C.; and Thomas Carpenter and wife, Cindy. of Creston, N.C.; one sister, Irene Carpenter Poe of Kennett Square, Pa. Also surviving are 27 grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and eight sisters; his first wife, Hattie Hall Carpenter, their daughter, Minnie Carpenter, and two sons, Denver and Dennis Carpenter; his second wife of 60 years, Ruth Pauline Richardson Carpenter; and two daughters, Ruby Carpenter Roland and Jeanette Carpenter Miller.
Services were held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007 at Ashelawn Memorial Chapel in Jefferson, N.C. with the Rev. Denton Hart, Elder Bluferd Eldreth, and Elder Ronda Rash officiating
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western North Carolina Chapter, 3 Louisiana Avenue, Asheville, N.C. 28806.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website at www.ashelawn.com.
Ashelawn Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Steven Mark Coffey
Mr. Steven Mark Coffey, 42, of Newland, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007.
He was a native of Avery County, and the son of Gloria Jean Lindecamp of Newland and the late Boyd Reid Coffey.
Mr. Coffey was a member of the Pineola Baptist Church and an honorary member of the V.F.W. He loved hunting and being outdoors, watching the kids play football and coaching basketball. He also loved going to the lake and being with his friends. Mr. Coffey was a loving father, a good son, wonderful brother and beloved uncle. He was always concerned about those who were “down on their luck.”
He worked for the Department of Corrections for 14 years, before quitting to work with his father’s construction company, where he was an excellent builder. He was currently working for the Blue Green Corporation.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Lisa Johnson Coffey; daughters, Marissa Coffey and Mallory Coffey, of the home; sisters, Pam Wolfe and husband, Jim, of Asheville, and Kimberly Cuthbertson and husband, Steve, of Crossnore; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dwight and Elaine Johnson of Newland; nephews, Trey Wolfe of Asheville, Chandler Johnson of Newland; and a niece, Taylor Carswell of Morganton.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Belas officiating. Interment followed in Tanglewood cemetery.
Condolences may be sent at www.rsfh.net
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Coffey family.

Larry W. Hampton
Mr. Larry W. Hampton, 50, of 115 Burkett Road, Boone, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
He was born July 31, 1956 in Watauga County.
Mr. Hampton was owner of Grassy Creek Tax Service and Grassy Creek Rentals and a member of Middle Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include his father and mother, Herbert and Nettie Lou Hampton of Boone; a sister, Lou Anne Alion and husband, Dan, of Charlotte; and two nephews, Tyler and Bradley Alion of Charlotte.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon Feb. 18, 2007 at Middle Fork Baptist Church. Rev. George Patton and Rev. Elliott Hayes officiated. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, Boone Camp, P.O. Box 3602, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

William McRae ‘Bill’ Matheson Jr.
Mr. William McRae “Bill” Matheson, Jr., 67, of Grand Boulevard, Boone, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, at home.
He was born August 3, 1939, in Watauga County, a son of the late Dr. William McRae Matheson, Sr., and Cora “Dolly” LeMay Matheson.
Mr. Matheson was a member of Boone United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir. He was an avid walker, and volunteered at the Watauga County Library. He was a former employee of Mountain Oil Company.
Surviving are one sister, Barbara Avant and husband, Jim, of Boone; one sister-in-law, Pam H. Matheson of Durham; one niece, Jill Matheson of Durham; five nephews; Jeff Jackson of Las Vegas, Steve Jackson and wife, Mina, of Guam, Andrew Jackson of San Francisco, Todd Matheson of Minnesota, and Drew Matheson of New York.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Bob Matheson; and an infant sister, Elizabeth Ann Matheson.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was Dr. George Naff. Private graveside services followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family received friends Sunday afternoon at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home following the service.
Memorials may be made to Boone United Methodist Church, 471 New Market Boulevard, Boone, N.C. 28607 or to the Watauga County Library, 140 Queen Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Matheson family.

Rachel Adeline Sloan Tuttle
Mrs. Rachel Adeline Sloan Tuttle, 88, of Winston-Salem, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at her residence.
She was born May 20, 1918, in Iredell County, to Albert Alexander and Darcus Benfield Sloan. At age 9, she, her two sisters, and one brother entered the Methodist Children’s Home after the death of their parents.
Mrs. Tuttle graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School. She was a member of Ardmore Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Pamela Tuttle Gillespie and husband, Kenneth R. Gillespie, of New Bern; her grandson, Christopher W. Gillespie; and daughter-in-law, Barbara R. Tuttle of Winston-Salem.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Elihu Tuttle; her son, Major Sloan Tuttle; her grandson, Ryan Matthew Gillespie; her brother, Fredrick Alexander Sloan; and her two sisters, Pearl Mae Getty and Margaret Lois Vanhoy.
Services were conducted Thursday morning, Feb. 15, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. Interment was at Leake Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery in Germanton, N.C.
Memorials may be made to the Children’s Home, 1001 Reynolda Rd., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27104 or Senior Services, Meals on Wheels, 836 Oak St., Suite 320, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27199.
Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.