OBITUARIES

 

Mrs. Elvalee Becknell Harris, age 78, died Tuesday, January 7, 2003

Mrs. Elvalee Becknell Harris, age 78, of Parks Ridge Road, Wilkesboro, widow of Rogan Harris died Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 11, at Parks Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Montreal Howell officiating. Burial was in Old Damascus Church Cemetery. Mrs. Harris was born December 6, 1924 in Wilkes County to the late Walter and Rosabell Parks Becknell. In her early years, she was a member of Parks Grove Baptist Church. In her later years, she attended the Worldwide Church of God. Mrs. Harris is survived by five daughters, Carol H. Alexander of Wilkesboro, Brenda M. Harris of Morrisville, Wanda Horton of Lorton, VA, Andrea “Anne” Ferguson of North Wilkesboro, Terry Thompson of Mt. Airy; two sons, Granville W. (G. W.) Harris of Clinton, MD, Jerry A. Harris of Shelby; five sisters, Julia B. Dalton of Yadkinville, Magdalene B. Gwyn of Jonesville, Rosalee Harris of Wilkesboro, Betty B. Jones of Radford, VA, Joyce B. Johnson of Wilkesboro; 23 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 

 

Mr. Matthew Johnson, age 61, died Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Mr. Matthew Johnson, age 61, of East Bellsview Lane Ext., Purlear died Wednesday, January 8, 2003 at his home.

Funeral services were held Saturday, January 11, at Arbor Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jenny Stewart officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mr. Johnson was born December 24, 1941 in Wilkes County to Lester and Mary Belle Hayes Johnson. He was retired from Kam Co Industries and was a member of Arbor Grove United Methodist Church. Mr. Johnson served in the United States Army. He is survived by: his wife, Rebecca Ann Jarvis Johnson of the home; three sons, Kelly Matthew Johnson, Kevin Lesley Johnson, James Walter Johnson all of Purlear; one sister, Katherine Faw of Grapevine, TX; two brothers, Lester Jones Johnson, Jr. of Huntsville, AL, Timothy Jasper Johnson of Dallas, TX and nine grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Arbor Grove United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Lois Doss, 481 Old Hwy 60, Millers Creek, NC 28651. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

 

 

Mr. Vaughn Church, age 94, died Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Mr. Vaughn Church, age 94, of Purlear Road, Purlear, died Wednesday, January 8, 2003 at his home. Funeral services were held Friday, January 10, at Lewis Fork Baptist Church with Rev. Sherrill Wellborn officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mr. Church was born in Wilkes County, August 28, 1908, to Rufus Fletcher and Amanda Alzenia Walsh Church. He was a member of Lewis Fork Baptist Church. Mr. Church served in the US Navy during World War II. He was retired from the North Carolina Forest Service. Mr. Church was also a member of the Mt. Pleasant Ruritan Club. Mr. Church is survived by his wife, Laura Neusiis Church of the home; one daughter, Dawn W. Jackson of Eaton, OH; two sons, Day P. Church of Millers Creek, Cody Y. Church of Purlear; one sister, Vecie C. Yasinsac of Sparta; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild. Memorials may be made to Lewis Fork Baptist Church, 395 Lewis Fork Baptist Ch. Rd., Purlear, NC 28665. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 

Mrs. Mary Tate Anderson Kilby, age 75, died Thursday, January 9, 2003

Mrs. Mary Tate Anderson Kilby, age 75, wife of Joseph Clinton Kilby, of Germantown Road, Moravian Falls, died Thursday, January 9, 2003 at Forsyth Medical Center. Funeral services were held Sunday, January 12, at Cub Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Homer Greene, the Rev. Monroe Huffman, the Rev. Dean Crane and the Rev. Christopher Fitzgerald officiating. Burial was in Scenic Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Kilby was born in Wilkes County November 25, 1927, to William Wesley and Retha Faye Tina Anderson. She was a member of Cub Creek Baptist Church. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Kilby is survived by twin daughters, Debra Kilby Miller of Moravian Falls and Denise Kilby Miller of North Wilkesboro; Robin Kilby Call of North Wilkesboro; twins, Jerry Clinton Kilby of Moravian Falls and Jan Elizabeth Kilby of North Wilkesboro; one sister, Mildred Kay Gilreath of North Wilkesboro; one brother, William Lee (Boodie) Anderson of Rocky Mount, VA; eleven grandchildren; two great - grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Wilkes Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, PO Box 609, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or to Ebenezer Gardens Christian Children’s Home, PO Box 2777, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Reins – Sturdivant Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

 

 

Mr. W. E. Winstead, age 74, died Thursday, January 9, 2003

Mr. W. E. Winstead, better known as “Willie”, age 74, of Hillcrest Drive, Wilkesboro, died Thursday, January 9, 2003 at his home. Funeral services were held Sunday, January 12, at the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro with Dr. Sydnor Thompson, III officiating. Entombment was in Scenic Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Mr. Winstead was born in Wilson County, November 25, 1928, to Rozelle and Mae Edwards Winstead. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro and the Men’s Bible Class Sunday School. Mr. Winstead retired from the NC Dept. of Transportation on July 1, 1989 and he also worked for Northwestern National Bank as part time courier. He was a member of the Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow Award and received the President’s Award. He also received the NC Department of Transportation Extra Mile Award. Mr. Winstead is survived by his wife, Maxine Davidson Winstead of the home; two daughters, Pam Lenderman, Sue Pennington both of Wilkesboro and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wilkes, PO Box 609, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or to the Emergency Fund of the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro, PO Box 1145, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 

 

Mrs. Beulah Francis Irene Morgan Wagoner, age 84, died Friday, January 10, 2003

Mrs. Beulah Francis Irene Morgan Wagoner, age 84, of Dellaplane Road, Roaring River, widow of Wedford James Wagoner died Friday, January 10, 2003 at her home. Funeral services were held January 13 at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with the Rev. Jesse McCloud and the Rev. Mike Parker officiating. Burial was in Mountlawn Memorial Park. Mrs. Wagoner was born in Swain County, NC, September 7, 1918, to George and Agnes Pendergrass Morgan. Mrs. Wagoner is survived by three daughters, Geneva (Eve) Eller and Alethia Brown both of Wilkesboro and Sallie Handy of Morganton; five sons, Arvil Wagoner, Jerry Wagoner and Gary Wagoner all of Wilkesboro, Gene Wagoner of Roaring River and Dennis Wagoner of North Wilkesboro; three sisters, Mildred Mashburn of Bryson City, Nora Wagoner of North Wilkesboro and Bessie Harris of Old Fort; forty grandchildren; thirty-eight great grandchildren; eight great great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wilkes, PO Box 609, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

 

Mr. Roby Brown, age 83, died Monday, January 13, 2003

Mr. Roby Brown, age 83, of Elledge Mill Road, North Wilkesboro, Monday, January 13, 2003 at Avante of Wilkesboro. Mr. Brown was born November 23, 1919 in Wilkes County to George and Dona Wingler Brown. He was an Army Veteran of World War II and was retired from Carolina Mirror. Surviving are his wife, Grace Warren Brown of the home; one daughter, Barbara Cox of Traphill; one sister, Laura Hall of North Wilkesboro; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Military Graveside services by VFW Post 1142 will be held 2:00 o'clock Wednesday, January 15 at Mountlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. John A. Harrold officiating. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 

Mrs. Dolly Mae Pilkenton Holland, age 60, died Friday, January 10, 2003

Mrs. Dolly Mae Pilkenton Holland, age 60, wife of Conrad Lee Holland, of Hwy 16 S, Moravian Falls died Friday, January 10, 2003 at her home. A graveside service was held Monday, January 13, 2003 at Walnut Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in the Pores Knob Community with the Rev. Hal Stultz officiating. Mrs. Holland was born in Wilkes County, March 23, 1942, to James Albert and Minnie Broyhill Pilkenton. She was a member of the Bible Believers Baptist Church. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Holland is survived by two daughters, Penny Brower of Robbins and Delores Blake of Troy; two sons, Tommy Davis of Millers Creek and Kyle Davis of Randleman; one step son, Brian Holland of Boomer; her mother, Minnie Pilkenton Brown of Concord; four sisters, Mary Lillie Bradford and Zella Mae Barringer, both of Concord, Naomi Shumate of Moravian Falls and Carolyn Holman of Todd; three brothers, James Edward Pilkenton, Albert Junior Pilkenton and Millard Pilkenton, all of Moravian Falls; 16 grandchildren; four great grandchildren. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Howard Mathis, age 68, died Saturday, January 11, 2003

Mr. Howard Mathis, age 68, of Clover Street, North Wilkesboro died Saturday, January 11, 2003 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 14 at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Reavis and Rev. Paul Comer officiating. Entombment, with military rites by Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1142, will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. Mr. Mathis was born in Wilkes County, June 25, 1934, to McKinley Lawrence and Martha Mathis. He attended Oak Grove Baptist Church on Hwy 268E. Mr. Mathis served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Mathis is survived by his wife, Doris "Dot" Brown Mathis of the home and one sister, Nona Poplin of Winston Salem. Memorials may be made to Wilkes Transportation Authority, 235 Jefferson Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

 

Mr. J. C. Walker, age 78, died Monday, January 13, 2003

Mr. J. C. Walker, age 78, of Elledge Mill Road, North Wilkesboro, died Monday, January 13, 2003 at Forsyth Medical Center. Funeral services will be held today, 2:00 p.m., at Haymeadow Baptist Church with the Rev. Doug Triplett and the Rev. Lester Carson officiating. Entombment will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. Mr. Walker was born in Surry County, May 19, 1924, to Challie and Danie Huie Walker. He was a member of Haymeadow Baptist Church. Mr. Walker served in the US Navy during World War II. He is retired from Carolina Mirror where he was an engraver. Mr. Walker was preceded in the death by his first wife, Grace Yale Walker. Mr. Walker is survived by his wife, Inez Watkins Walker of the home; two daughters, Vickie Walker, Kathy Bauguess both of North Wilkesboro; three sons, Mike Walker of Hays, Ronnie Walker of North Wilkesboro, Terry Walker of Millers Creek; 10 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haymeadow Baptist Church, C/O Judy Shockley, 3350 Elledge Mill Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or to Ebenezer Gardens Christian Children’s Home, PO Box 2777, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Pallbearers are Dennis Johnson, Ricky Walker, Jeffrey Walker, Lance Miller, Scott Vickers, Jason Vickers, Shaun Baker, Will Roope. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

 

 

Jimmie Ted Teague, age 47, died Sunday, January 12, 2003

Jimmie Ted Teague, age 47, of Indian Trail, Millers Creek, died Sunday, January 12, 2003, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Funeral arrangements, to be handled by Miller Funeral Service, are incomplete. Memorials may be made to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, 300 Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27157; or to Wilkes Regional Medical Center, 1370 West D. Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. The family has requested no food.