Archived

William Franklin Hicks
Mr. William Franklin Hicks, 64, of Lonnie Carlton Road, Deep Gap, the Triplett community, died Tuesday morning, March 13, 2007 at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Sept. 6, 1942 in Avery County, a son of Plato Wesley and Nina Fields Hicks. Mr. Hicks was a farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo Carlton Hicks; two daughters, Janie and Jeanette Hicks; and one son, Willie Hicks, all of Deep Gap, the Triplett community; two sisters, Evelene Harmon and husband, Ernest, of Banner Elk and Phyllis Potter and husband, Homer, of Jacksonville; his sister-in-law, Susie Barlow and husband, Roy, of Deep Gap; a number of nieces and nephews including Cindy Calloway of Deep Gap, Belinda Goins of Boone, Debbie Robbins of Newland, Theresa Hughes of Hickory, Tim and Doug Harmon of Banner Elk, Chris Ward of Hickory, and Wesley Hughes of Oklahoma. He is also survived by two great-nephews, Phoenix Calloway and Nathan Goins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Eula Ward.
Services were conducted Thursday morning at 11 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Harvey Bauman. Burial followed in the Little Laurel Creek Cemetery, named in memory of Lonnie and Ethel Carlton.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Hicks family.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Hicks family.

Bill Mink
Mr. Bill Mink, 37, of 214 Green Street, Boone, died Sunday, March 11, 2007, at Johnson City Medical Center.
He was born Sept. 24, 1969 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Mr. Mink was owner and operator of Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers in Boone.
Survivors include his wife, Kristi Bunn, and two daughters, Mary Hazel Mink and Linnea Mink, all of the home; his father, John Mink of Tampa Fla.; and two sisters, Lisa Legaspi of Williamsburg, Va., and Casey Sprague of San Diego, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Beaver Mink.
A memorial service will be conducted Friday morning, March 16, 2007, at 11:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Pastor Tim Smith.
A reception will follow the memorial service at Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, 957 Rivers Street, Boone.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Orrin B. Sherrill
Mr. Orrin B. Sherrill, 90, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, formerly of 145 Rocky Mountain Road, Boone, husband of the late Eddie Payne Sherrill, died Wednesday, March 14, 2007, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Oct. 12, 1916 in Watauga County, a son of the late John Finley and Sallie Cook Sherrill.
Mr. Sherrill was a retired building contractor and a member of Boone Advent Christian Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Joanna S. Winebarger of Conover, and Brenda Golowin and husband, Serge, of Pickerington, Ohio; and two grandsons, Brandon Craig and Brian Craig, both of Columbus, Ohio. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, March 16, 2007, at 2:00 o’clock, at Boone Advent Christian Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Gordon Noble. Burial will follow in Cool Springs Cemetery.
The family received friends Thursday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Flowers will be appreciated.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Reba Miller Triplett
Mrs. Reba Miller Triplett, 81, of 3629 Gamewell Heights, Lenoir, went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.
She was born Sept. 20, 1925 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Willie Fred and Laura Triplett Miller.
Mrs. Miller was a homemaker and attended South Lenoir Church of God.
Survivors include one son, G. Cooper Triplett and wife, Carol, of Lenoir; two daughters, Gloria T. Southard of Lenoir, and Angela T. Hinesley and husband, Eric, of Raleigh; three granddaughters, Angela T. Moore, and Melanie T. Keen and husband, Keith, all of Lenoir, and Rebecca C. Allen and husband, Rusty, of Johnson City, Tenn.; two grandsons, Ryan B. Southard of Lenoir, and Kevin Goodman of Raleigh. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gurnie R. Triplett; six sisters; five brothers; and one son-in-law, Junior Southard.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, March 16, 2007, at 2:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Ernest Bowes. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements..

March 14, 2007
John A. Mayo Jr.
Mr. John A. Mayo, Jr., 81, died March 10, 2007, in Wilkesboro, N.C.
He was born in Biltmore, N.C., May 28, 1925, to Hattie Sawyer Mayo and John Augustus Mayo.
Mr. Mayo grew up in Washington, N.C., attending public schools and graduating from Washington High School in 1943.
He graduated from Luke Field, Arizona as a United States Army Air Corp pilot and served during World War II. He subsequently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1950 with a degree in political science. He was a member of Phi Gamma Fraternity.
In 1951 he married Delphia Joyce Corbett at Greenville, N.C. They moved to Vienna, Va. where he began his career with the United States Government, working in the Central Intelligence Agency from 1951-1978. He served as Trustee, Deacon, and Elder of the Vienna Presbyterian Church from 1956-1970.
After retirement, Mr. Mayo lived in New Bern, N.C. where he and his wife joined First Presbyterian Church. He obtained his Real Estate Broker’s license in 1981. In 1994, he moved to Greenville, N.C. and joined the First Presbyterian Church. He made his final move with his wife to Boone, N.C. in 2004 and they joined the Boone United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Corbett Mayo, and son David C. Mayo of Boone; his son John Augustus Mayo III of Wilkesboro, N.C.; his brother, William Patrick Mayo of Washington, N.C.; his grandchildren, Jesse Mayo Washburn, John David Mayo, Zackary Gaines Mayo, Benjamin Bradshaw Mayo, Whitney Kathryn Mayo and Kaitlin Victoria Mayo; and his great-grandchildren, Maggie Pearl Washburn and Joseph William Washburn.
A memorial service will be held for the family at Boone United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 14, at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Boone United Methodist Church, 471 New Market Blvd., Boone, N.C. 28607, or contributions to research Huntington’s Disease: HDSA: North Carolina Chapter, P.O. Box 240353, Charlotte, N.C. 28224-0353.
Miller Funeral Service in North Wilkesboro, is in charge of the arrangements.

March 12, 2007
Vernease Grigg Cook
Mrs. Vernease Grigg Cook, 91, of Kings Mountain, N.C., died Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Grand Strand Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
She was born in Cleveland County, N.C.
Mrs. Cook was retired from the nursing field in several hospitals. She was a member of Eastside Baptist Church and was a member of the Ruth Sunday School Class.
Survivors include daughters, Jeanette Childers and husband, Bill, of Kings Mountain, N.C.; Juanita Scott and husband, Hollis, of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Kitty Carder and husband, Billy, of Gamaliel, Ky.; Marjorie Abbott of Atlanta, Ga.; and Shelia Robertson and husband, Mike, of Wendell, N.C.; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Rev. Howard T. Cook; a son, Edward T. Cook; her parents, Charlie G. and Novella Pryor Grigg; brothers, Charles and Ray Grigg; sisters, Bessie Crowder and Geneva Short; and a granddaughter, Janet Childers.
Services will be held Wednesday afternoon, March 14, at 2 p.m. at Eastside Baptist Church with Drs. Harold Fite and Chip Sloan officiating. Burial will follow in Union Baptist Church. The family will receive friends Tuesday eveing from 6:30-8 p.m. at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Eastside Baptist Church, 1165 Wyke Rd., Shelby, N.C. 28150.
The guest registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com.
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred Edmisten Cornett
Mrs. Mildred Edmisten Cornett, 70, of 525 Adams Road, Mountain City, Tenn., died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Northside Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn.
She was born Sept. 26, 1936 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Paul and Lena Cable Edmisten.
Mrs. Cornett was a caregiver at Highland Hall Nursing Home in Boone, and a great mother and homemaker. She was a member of Beech Valley Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Ellard Cornett; three daughters, Gaye Graham and husband, Dennis, of Melbourne, Fla., Kay Harmon and husband, Butch, of Zionville, and Kathy Harmon of Boone; one son, Keith Harmon and wife, Sherry, of Sugar Grove; two step-daughters, Sherry Reese and husband, Gary, of Vilas, and Marlene Oliver of Elizabethton, Tenn.; five grandsons, Dustin Graham of St. John, US Virgin Islands, Bradley Graham of Hobbs, New Mexico, Chris Stansberry of Boone, Gregory Harmon of Sugar Grove, and Travis Presnell of Vilas; three brothers, Lane Edmisten and wife, Doris, and Phil Edmisten, all of Sugar Grove, and Duane Edmisten and wife, Runell, of Connersville, Ga. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Bernard Harmon; and two sons, Kert Harmon and Kent Harmon.
Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, March 13, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Beech Valley Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Bill Warren and the Rev. Quincy Norris. Burial will follow in Beech Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock, at the church, prior to the service.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Jack Dewey Hicks
Mr. Jack Dewey Hicks, 74, of 644 Love Hollow Road, Vilas, died Saturday, March 10, 2007, at his home.
He was born May 15, 1932 in Watauga County, a son of the late Edith Hicks Isaacs.
Mr. Hicks was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Wesley D. Hicks and wife, Lena, of Lansing; two daughters, Maggie Parsons and husband, Scott, of Banner Elk and Anna Green and husband, Wayne, of Vilas; two granddaughters, April Green of Vilas and Jessy Parsons of Banner Elk; and one grandson, Benjamin Hicks of New Brunswick, N.J.; and one half-sister, Blanche Isaacs of Johnson City, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virda Arnett Hicks; an infant daughter; his mother and step-father, Edith Hicks Isaacs and Clark Isaacs.
Services will be conducted Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 10-11 a.m. Burial will follow in the Arnett Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service.
Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the Arnett Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Larry Story, 1208 Arnett Hollow Road, Vilas, N.C. 28692.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Lillian Odum Keller
Mrs. Lillian Odum Keller, 102, of 3951 Tonbridge Lane, Winston-Salem, died Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at her residence.
She was born Oct. 2, 1904 in Robeson County, N.C., a daughter of the late Jerry and Mary Hodges Odum.
Mrs. Keller was a Wingate College graduate and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Meredith College in May of 1929. She continued her education at Louisville Finishing School, which later became Southern Baptist Seminary, where she received her Masters in Religion Education. After her retirement from Public School teaching, Mrs. Keller maintained an active role in the affairs and concerns of Senior Citizens. She was very active in the Region D Council of Governments, serving on the Regional Advisory Committee on Aging from 1985-1986. Mrs. Keller served as Chairman of the Regional Advisory Committee from Sept. 9, 1983 until 1984. Furthermore, she served on the RSVP-Retired Senior Volunteer Program for a total of six years.
In 1982, Mrs. Keller received the Governors Volunteer Award. She was a member of Greenway Baptist Church in Boone and attended Oldtown Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
She was a member of Greenway Baptist Church in Boone and attended Oldtown Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
Survivors include one son, Rev. Paul D. Keller and wife, Marguerite, of Castle Rock, Colo.; one daughter, Joy Phipps of Winston-Salem; one granddaughter, Amy Lindsey and husband, Kevin, of Winston-Salem; four grandsons, Harold Phipps and Michael Phipps, both of Winston-Salem, Joseph R. Keller and Daniel R. Keller, both of Castle Rock, Colo.; one great-grandson, Silas Lindsey of Winston-Salem; and two sisters, Ruth Wiggins of Red Springs, N.C., and Evelyn Bundy of Maxton, N.C. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Roy D. Keller; and two brothers, Lorenzo Odum, and Lawrence Chesley Odum.
Services will be conducted Tuesday morning, March 13, 2007, at 11:00 o'clock, at Greenway Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Dr. David Luster, the Rev. Harold Bennett, the Rev. Paul D. Keller, and Dr. Ricky D. Speas. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family will receive friends Monday evening, from 7:00 until 9:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Greenway Family Life Center, 880 Greenway Road, Boone, N.C. 28607, or to Boone Senior Center, 132 Poplar Grove, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Sudie Ford Lunsford
Mrs. Sudie Ford Lunsford, 78, of Elk Creek Road, Deep Gap, died Wednesday evening, March 7, 2007 at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born May 6, 1927 in Watauga County, a daughter of Ralph Allen and Mary Helen Young Ford.
Mrs. Lunsford was a member of Mount Ephriam Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
Survivors include one daughter, Donna L. Tester and husband, James; and one son, Bruce James Lunsford and wife, Donna, all of Deep Gap; one granddaughter, Meleah Wardrupp of Waynesville; and three grandsons, Emmet, Thomas and Jeffrey Lunsford, all of Deep Gap; two great-grandchildren, Keavi and Lilly Wardrupp, both of Waynesville; seven sisters, Sally Taylor of Foscoe, Sylvia Burns and husband, Ronnie, and Marie Jones, all of Boone; Mavis Story and husband, Wayne, and Christine Moretz, all of Lenoir; Charlotte Isaacs of Hudson, and Mariam Pitts and husband, Dean, of Morganton; and two brothers, Merritt Ford and wife, Christine, of Linville and Rev. Edgar Ford and wife, Martha, of Lenoir.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce James Lunsford, Sr.; three sisters, Doris Norris, Bertha Jestes and an infant sister; and three brothers, Max Ford, Ralph Allen Ford, Jr. and an infant brother.
Services were conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. David Austin and the Rev. T. J. Jackson. The family received friends Friday afternoon at 1 p.m., one hour prior to services, at the chapel. Burial followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
The family suggests memorials to the Stewart Simmons Volunteer Fire Department, 191 Jakes Mountain Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Lunsford family.

Jay Lee Shore
Mr. Jay Lee Shore, 84, of 143 Shore Drive, Blowing Rock, died Thursday afternoon, March 8, 2007, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
He was born March 25, 1922 in Watauga County, a son of the late Robert and Nancy Hodges Shore.
Mr. Shore was the retired owner and operator of Jay’s Grocery and Service Station in Blowing Rock. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of Unity Baptist Church in Caldwell County.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille Shore; one daughter, Pat Critcher and husband, Donald, of Boone; one son, Mike Shore of Blowing Rock; one granddaughter, Renee Shore and fiancé, Ray Brose, of Blowing Rock; one grandson, Jonathan Shore and wife, Sara, of Walker, La.; two great-grandsons, Jared Miller and Jonathan Miller; and one great-granddaughter, Jessie Miller, all of Blowing Rock; one brother, Robert Shore, Jr. and wife, Jannette, of Blowing Rock; two sisters, Mrs. Mae Guarneri of Blowing Rock and Floy White and husband, David, of Cartersville, Ga. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Hal Shore and Rev. Burmah Shore; and one sister, Belle Shore.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, March 11, 2007, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was Pastor Paul Dula. Entombment followed in Woodlawn Mausoleum in Blowing Rock.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Unity Baptist Church, PO Box 493, Patterson, N.C. 28661, or to Blowing Rock Hospital, 416 Chestnut Drive, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Elizabeth Denise Woodruff
Mrs. Elizabeth Denise Woodruff, 46, of Martin Lane, Boone, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born April 26, 1960 in Wilkes County to Lester and Jacqueline Wiles Bell.
Survivors include three sons, Anthony Woodruff and wife, Melinda, of Hays; Jason Woodruff of Roaring River, and T.J. Bell of Boone; one brother, Doug Bell of Hays; four sisters, Linda Farrington of Roaring River, Vickie Bell of North Wilkesboro, Susan Bell of Wilkesboro, and Shirley Roten of North Wilkesboro; and three grandchildren.
Services were conducted Friday afternoon, March 9, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Mountain View Baptist Church with the Rev. Julius Blevins officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Miller Funeral Service in North Wilkesboro was in charge of the arrangements.