Herman Clarence Elder
Herman Clarence Elder, age 78, of Taylorsville, died Sunday, June 9, 2002, at Avante Nursing Center in Wilkesboro. He was born in Alexander County July 25, 1923, the son of the late John C. Elder and Lillie Payne Elder. He was educated in the Alexander County Schools and was a retired poultry farmer. Mr. Elder was also an avid horseman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ila Elder, and his second wife, Cecil Daniels Elder; one sister, Thelma Sharpe; one brother, Haywood Elder; four half-brothers, Charles Elder, Arthur Elder, Plummer Elder, and William Elder; three half-sisters, Molly Elder, Florence Elder, and Pearl Elder Steele. He is survived by a number of nieces and nephews, including Kenneth and Shirley Daniels, Larry and Phyllis Elder, Faynell Daniels, and Clara and Henry Tevepaugh, all of Taylorsville. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Arlie Roten and Rev. Gary Jennings officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers include Bobby Daniels, Richard Elder, J.C. Elder, Kevin Elder, Mark Elder, Howard Tevepaugh, and Tony Tevepaugh. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 31 Pleasant Hill Church Rd., Taylorsville, NC 28681. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville is in charge of arrangements.

Rosa Juanita White
Rosa Juanita White, age 70, of Fredrick, Maryland, and formerly of Taylorsville, died Saturday, June 8, 2002, in Maryland. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Chapman Funeral Home in Stony Point.

Doris Lynn Brown
Doris Lynn Brown, age 61, of Church St., Hiddenite, died Saturday, June 8, 2002, at his residence following a nine-and-a-half month battle with cancer. He was born in Alexander County September 16, 1940, the son of the late Connie Clato Brown and Wilma Inez Chapman Brown. He was a retired truck driver of thirty-four years and was a member of Hiddenite Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-daughter, Shirley Diane Dancy Fortner, and two special uncles, L.J. (Lefee) Brown, Sr., and Lindsay Brown, Sr. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Sebastian Brown of the home; one son, Connie Lynn Brown and wife Patricia Elmore Brown of North Wilkesboro; one daughter, Laura Rebecca Brown of Stony Point; two grandsons, Austin Lynn Brown of Stony Point and Wesley Lynn Brown of Taylorsville; one brother, Ronnie Brown and wife Joy of Taylorsville; three sisters, Linda Barnes and Shirley Brown, both of Taylorsville, and Retta Sharpe of Hiddenite; two step-sons, Jeffrey Eugene Dancy and Gregory Dean Dancy, both of North Wilkesboro; one step-grandson, Harold Fortner; three step-granddaughters, Jessica, Taylor, and Leslie Dancy; one step-great-grandson, Buddy Fortner; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted Monday, June 10, 2002, at Hiddenite Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Chatham, Rev. Keith Childers, and Rev. Jason Guyer officiating. Burial followed in the Hiddenite Cemetery. Pallbearers included J.L. Brown, Ricky Brown, Dennis Bumgarner, Jay Duncan, Dale Pennell, and Tom Alexander. Memorials may be made to Hiddenite Baptist Church, P.O. Box 38, Hiddenite, NC 28636 or to Hospice and Home Care of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Brown Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com.
Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.

Lillian Lucille Lackey Davenport
Lillian Lucille Lackey Davenport, age 84, a resident of Valley Nursing Center in Taylorsville, died Friday, June 7, 2002, at Valley Nursing Center following an extended illness. She was born in Alexander County September 22, 1917, the daughter of the late Kirby Lackey and Callie Adams Lackey. She was a retired telephone operator with Bell South, having worked in San Antonio, Texas, and in Charlotte. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Murrell H. Davenport; one brother, French C. Lackey; and two sisters, Kathleen Lackey and Emma Lee Lackey Allen. Survivors include one sister, Winnie Faye Mitchell of Hickory; a sister-in-law, Elline D. Lackey of Taylorsville; and a number of nieces and nephews. Private services and burial will be held in the National Cemetery in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Home Care of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Davenport Family, www.chapmanfuneralhome.com. Chapman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Gladwin “Gerald” Benfield
Gladwin “Gerald” Benfield, age 58, of Lenoir, died Monday, June 10, 2002, at Caldwell County Hospice in Lenoir. He was born in Caldwell County February 10, 1944, the son of Faye Austin Benfield of Oak Hill and the late Gladwin Henry “Cap” Benfield. He was owner and president of Benfield Insurance in Lenoir and was a member of Union Baptist Church in Lenoir.
In addition to his mother, survivors include one son, Gladwin Gerald “Jerry” Benfield, Jr., of Hudson; one daughter, Amy B. Rood of Oak Hill; one brother, Henry Dal Benfield of Dudley Shoals; one sister, Louise B. Huffman of Oak Hill; and four grandchildren. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, June 12, 2002, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Pendry’s Funeral Home in Lenoir.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, June 13, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. at Union Baptist Church with Rev. Scott Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers include Gary Benfield, Leon White, Jason White, Brad Walters, Steve Pritchard, Andrew Benfield, Alan Benfield, and Bruce Benfield. Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or to Union Baptist Church, 4725 Union Baptist Church Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645. Pendry’s Funeral Home of Lenoir is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Elliott Bradshaw
Margaret Elliott Bradshaw, age 89, of Conover, died Thursday, June 6, 2002, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory following a period of declining health. She was born in Catawba County March 18, 1913, the daughter of the late Jesse Elliott and Sally Bumgardner Elliott. She was a member of Springs Road Baptist Church in Hickory and was a homemaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Avery Bradshaw; four brothers; and a sister. Survivors include five sons and daughters-in-law, J.W. and Jasperine Bradshaw and Wade and Annette Bradshaw, all of Claremont, and Albert and Carolyn Bradshaw, George and Sylvia Bradshaw, and William and Carolyn Bradshaw, all of Conover; four daughters and sons-in-law, Colleen and Claude Fox of Taylorsville, Brenda and Paul Phifer of Cleveland, and Nettie and Tommy Houston and Kay and Billy Lowman, all of Conover; two sisters, Lucille Deal of Claremont and Anna Bradshaw of Florida; thirty-two grandchildren; fifty-six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Sunday, June 9, 2002, at Springs Road Baptist Church with Rev. Arthur Yount officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Bradshaw’s grandsons served as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Springs Road Baptist Church, 3580 Springs Rd., NE, Hickory, NC 28601.
Hickory Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. 

Ethel Carrigan Wike Brookshire
Ethel Carrigan Wike Brookshire, age 90, of Herman Road, Taylorsville, died unexpectedly Monday, October 7, 2002, at the residence of her daughter following an illness of six months. She was born in Alexander County May 28, 1912, the daughter of the late Robert C. Carrigan and Hattie Mae Little Carrigan. She was retired from textiles and was a homemaker. She was educated in the Alexander County Schools and was a member of Liledoun Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Ladies Adult Sunday School Class. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Chaunce Wike; her second husband, Charlie Brookshire; a sister, Carma Teague; and two brothers, Ronald Carrigan and Monroe Carrigan.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Brown and husband Herman of Taylorsville; a step-daughter, Evelyn Harring-ton and husband David of Statesville; a son, J. D. Carrigan and wife Jossie of Taylorsville; a step-son, Everette Wike and wife Dorothy of Taylorsville; a sister, Dalphine Loudermelk of Taylorsville; three brothers, William (Bill) Carrigan, Samuel Carrigan, and Ozzie Carrigan all of Taylorsville; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. at Liledoun Baptist Church with Rev. James Bumgarner and Rev. Michael Barber officiating. Burial followed in the Liledoun Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Adams Funeral Home of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Jane Kinsey Heffern
Mary Jane Kinsey Heffern, age 84, of Salisbury, and formerly of Culpeper, Va., and Long Branch, N.J., died Saturday, October 5, 2002, at Autumn Care of Salisbury. She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, March 22, 1918, the daughter of the late Wilkie Kinsey and Thresa Kinsey. She married Vernon Wilson Heffern on February 7, 1942. Together, they attended the Salvation Army Training College in New York City, preparing them to serve as officers with that organization for ten years. Mary was a devoted wife and helpmate, assisting and supporting her husband in his professional work and in his many civic and religious activities. They spent fifty-three years together until the time of his death in 1995.
Surviving are her three children, Robert Heffern and wife Diane of Salisbury, Barbara Sue H. McBride and husband David of La Crosse, Wisc., and Thomas Heffern and wife Janet of Clinton, Tenn.; grandchildren, Thomas, Collin, Peter, Robert, Todd, and Andrew Heffern and Jane, John, and James McBride; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Joseph, Noah, and soon to be born Daniel Heffern; sister, Helen Kinsey of East Liverpool, Ohio; sisters-in-law, Lois Kinsey of Franklin, Tenn., and Marion Phillips of Port Orange, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. In addition to her husband and parents, Mary was preceded in death by brothers, Collin, Harry, Wilkie, Donald, Ray, and Robert Kinsey; sisters, Minnie Hyder and Ruth Sanford; and a great-grandson, Isaiah Heffern. Visitation will be Wednesday, October 9, 2002, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at Found and Sons Funeral Home in Culpeper, Va.
A service of celebration of Mary’s life will be held Thursday, October 10, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. at the Culpeper United Methodist Church with Rev. John Crawford and Rev. Robert Donnelly officiating.
Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 61 Atlantic Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740, to Culpeper United Methodist Church, 1233 Oaklawn Dr., Culpeper, VA 22701, or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 83, Culpeper, VA 22701.
Found and Sons Funeral Home of Culpeper, Va., is assisting with arrangements.

Walter William Melton
Walter William Melton, age 66, of N.C. Hwy. 127, Taylorsville, died Tuesday, October 1, 2002, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory. He was born in Rutherford County April 30, 1936, the son of the late Jesse William Melton and Dora Gladys Philbeck Melton. He was of the Baptist faith and was a retired furniture worker. Mr. Melton was also an avid CB operator whose handle was “Red American.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Melton and Larry Melton, and an infant sister, Sylvia Melton. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Fox Melton of the home; three daughters, Cindy Wyatt, Lisa Brown, and Sandy Shook, all of Taylorsville; four brothers, Harley Melton and Clarence Melton, both of South Carolina, Jack Melton of Dallas, N.C., and James Melton of Granite Falls; one sister, Brenda Bunton of Hickory; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, October 4, 2002, at the Chapman Funeral Home Chapel in Stony Point with Rev. Rick Peterson officiating. Burial followed in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Hickory. Memorials may be made to Hospice and Home Care of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Melton Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com. Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.

Rosa Lee Gunter Payne
Rosa Lee Gunter Payne, age 67, of Statesville, died Thursday, October 3, 2002, at her residence.
She was born in New Port, Tenn., September 22, 1935, the daughter of the late Dave Gunter and Neter Gunter. She was a retired seamstress and a retired sales clerk at JR Sales. She was of the Baptist faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her second husband, Glenn Payne; one son, Ronnie Gunter; two brothers, Arville Gunter and Jessie Gentry; and two sisters, Dorothy McDade and Nancy Sowers. Survivors include one son, Wayne Gryder of Hickory; two daughters, Teresa Gryder Queen of Statesville and Kathy Payne of the home; three brothers, L.V. Gunter and Andrew Gunter, both of Statesville, and Steve Gunter of Maiden; three grandchildren, Tim Gryder, Ashley Simpson, and Sara Elizabeth Fox, all of Statesville; and three great-grandchildren, Brandon Gryder, Kaylan Gryder, and Jazlyn Simpson, all of Statesville. A graveside service was conducted Sunday, October 6, 2002, at Iredell Memorial Gardens in Statesville with Rev. Jason Guyer officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Kidney Founda-tion, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Payne Family at www.chapmanfuneralhome.com. Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point was in charge of arrangements.

Harold Winston Bowman
Harold Winston Bowman, age 72, of Asheville, died Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at his residence.
He was born in Alexander County, the son of Retha Simmons Bowman of Asheville and the late Ransom Bowman. He was a member of Corinth Baptist Church and was retired from WNC Tile. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Bowman will be remembered most for his unconditional love for his family. His hobbies were family, playing with the grandchildren, and chatting with the guys at McDonald’s.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Bowman, in 1975. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his loving wife of forty-six years, Annie Mae Russ Bowman; three daughters, Brenda Sue Plemmons and husband Ted of Leicester, Nancy June Bowman of Asheville, and Mitzi Wade and husband Larry of Leicester; eight grandchildren, Scott Plemmons, Tim Plemmons, Kellie Plemmons, Mark Plemmons, Jennifer Campbell, Harold Keith Sellers, Justin Wade, and Courtney Wade; two great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Jackson Plemmons; two sisters, Nancy Randall of Asheville and Janet Cartwright of Leicester; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted Saturday, October 5, 2002, at the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home in Asheville with Rev. Ralph Sexton, Jr., Rev. C.J. Duvall, and Rev. Bennie Wade officiating. Burial followed in the Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers included Van Duncan, Joe Lamir, J.T. Barber, Mark Gowing, Joe Woody, and Ron Gowing. Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. The memorial register is available at “Funerals Scheduled” at www.grocefuneralhome.com.

Carles Michael “Mike” Wellman
Carles Michael “Mike” Wellman, age 49, of Morganton, died Saturday, October 5, 2002.
He was born in Cleveland County June 20, 1953, the son of Verlie Denton Deaton of Morganton and the late Carles Sidney Wellman. He was a graduate of Salem High School and was the founder and co-owner of Town and Country Tire in Mountain View, Hickory, Taylorsville, and Morganton. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, where he served as a Sunday School teacher, committee member, R.A. leader, and choir member. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Randy Olin Wellman.
Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Rachel Shook Wellman of the home; one son, Jeff Wellman and wife Melisa of Morganton; one daughter, Kimberly Wellman of Morganton; four grandchildren, Taylor Lane, Blake Wellman, Anna Tallant, and Alec Wellman; a sister, Bettye Baird and husband David of Morganton; his step-father, Bill Deaton of Morganton; his parents-in-law, Clyde and Marie Shook of Connelly Springs; three sisters-in-law, Elaine Lawton, Patricia Wright, and Laura Schark; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday morning, October 9, 2002, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Cline and Rev. Ernie Richards officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 678, Morganton, NC 28680 or to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 2396 Enola Rd., Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home of 
Morganton was in charge of arrangements.

Charles Robert “Bob” Cagle
Charles Robert “Bob” Cagle, age 76, of Taylorsville, died Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at his residence.
He was born in Haywood County October 11, 1925, the son of the late Archie Martin Cagle and Maude Cochrane Cagle. He was a member of Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hickory and was retired from General Electric. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he served during World War II in the South Pacific.
Mr. Cagle was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association, a charter member of the Hickory Rescue Squad, Chairman of the Hickory City School Board (1970-1973), Commissioner with the Employment Security Com-mission (1986-1996), Past Commander of Hickory American Legion Post #48, and Past State Commander of the American Legion. Mr. Cagle was a 1942 graduate of Hickory High School and attended Lenoir-Rhyne College and the Franklin Institute in Boston, Mass. He also served seven years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Survivors include his wife, Mary Alice Townsend Cagle of the home; one son, Chris Cagle of Hickory; one daughter, Jennie C. Hefner and husband Barclay of Hickory; two grandchildren, Rachel E. Hefner and Clay T. Hefner, both of Hickory; two brothers, Carl Cagle of Canton and Lawrence Lyons of Hickory; and a family friend, Mary Sain of Hickory. Funeral services were conducted Friday, October 4, 2002, at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church with Rev. Jim Stephenson officiating. Burial followed in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens with military graveside rites provided by American Legion Post #48. Memorials may be made to Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church, RFD 13, Hickory, NC 28601 or to Hospice and Home Care of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Bass-Smith Funeral Home of Hickory was in charge of arrangements.

Clyde Ray Matheson
Clyde Ray Matheson, age 96, of Valley Nursing Center in Taylorsville, and formerly of Newton, died Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at Valley Nursing Center. He was born in Ironsburg, Tenn., November 27, 1905, the son of the late Martin Alexander Matheson and Ura Blackwell Matheson. He was retired from the textile industry as a machine operator and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Newton. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Lee Ledwell Matheson; two sons, Richard Matheson and Charles Matheson; five brothers; and two sisters. Survivors include one son, Forrest Matheson of Taylorsville; one sister, Willie Matheson of Newton; eleven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Monday, October 7, 2002, at the Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home Chapel in Newton with Rev. Keri Hefner officiating. Burial followed in Eastview Cemetery in Newton with military rites provided by American Legion Post #16. Pallbearers included James Matheson, John Matheson, Guy Barriger, Paul Harrington, Steve Staley, and Wendel Cook.
Memorials may be made to Taylorsville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 507, Taylorsville, NC 28681.
Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home and Cremations of Newton was in charge of arrangements. This obituary is a courtesy of Adams Funeral Home in Taylorsville.

L. Willard White
L. Willard White, age 77, of Lenoir, died Tuesday, October 8, 2002, at Caldwell County Hospice.
He was born in Caldwell County March 22, 1925, the son of the late Columbus White and Lydia Winkler White. He was owner and operator of a sawmill and was a member of Dover Baptist Church in Taylorsville, where he was the Assistant Sunday School Superintendent and teacher of the Young Adult Sunday School Class. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Glenn White and Willie White. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Irene Myers White of the home; two sons, David Alan White of Taylorsville and Luther Gordon White of Lenoir; a daughter, Cherie Annette White Bowman of Lenoir; a brother, A.Y. White of Argyle, Mo.; a step-brother, Tony Stevens of Bethlehem; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Thursday evening, October 10, 2002, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home in Lenoir.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, October 11, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. at Dover Baptist Church with Rev. Eddie Shumate officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The body will lie in state thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory of Lenoir is in charge of arrangements.

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