In Memory

Priscilla “Pris” Jaynes, 84, of Morganton, NC, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 21, 2024. Born on June 20, 1940, in Guilford County to the late Willie Sink and Mary Sink, she was a dedicated

member of both the First United Methodist Church of Morganton and Blowing Rock Methodist

Church. After graduating from Ledford High School, she earned her bachelor’s degree from

Appalachian State Teachers College and taught high school science in North Carolina, South

Carolina, Wyoming, and Alabama. To

We bid farewell to Harold Russell Jr. (Raleigh, North Carolina), whose journey of life gracefully concluded on June 1, 2024 at the age of 84. Harold touched countless lives with warmth and kindness, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever echo in hearts. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. .........

Celeste Ann Holden Phillips, 67, of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on May 2, 2024 surrounded by her loving husband, sister, and her devoted Border Terriers, Hank and Ollie.

Born June 15, 1956, in Lenoir, North Carolina, Celeste possessed unlimited creativity and a generous heart. Beginning in childhood, horses held a special place in Celeste’s life.........

 Mrs. Barbara Cantrell Weathers, 87, of Hickory and Blowing Rock, N.C., died Tuesday, March

12th, 2024 following a brief hospitalization.  Born October 2, 1936, to the late Grace Caudle Cantrell, and William Walker Cantrell, she grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C. and graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School, and Queens University in Charlotte with a BA degree in English. Two weeks after graduating from Queens, Barbara married her lifelong love, attorney Carroll Wayland Weathers, Jr. on June 21,1958 whom she adored for the 49 years of their marriage, and every day following since his death..............

Mrs. Fonville, 86, passed away peacefully in the warm glow of God’s grace on January 24, 2023 after declining health.

Born June 13, 1936 in Charlotte, Doris was the daughter of the late Carl and Ethel Holmes McCraw. After graduating from Myers Park High School, Doris graduated in 1957 from Women’s College (WC), now UNC-Greensboro. She worked at Duke Power before starting her family. She married Charles Fonville in 1962, and they always lived in her hometown of Charlotte............

Shelia Tucker Deal died on January 3, 2024 at Watauga Medical Center.  Shelia was born in Concord, North Carolina and grew up in the town of Stanfield in Stanly County. After her graduation from high school, Shelia attended Appalachian State University where she received an undergraduate degree in Special Education and a Masters in Special Education. Following her graduation from Appalachian State, she became a teacher in Caldwell County and then a teacher in Watauga County, teaching at Green Valley School and at Parkway School.............

 JoAnne grew up on a dairy farm on Snow Creek Road in Iredell County where she grew to love nature and music. She graduated with degrees in music from Mars Hill University, where she served as the first female chairperson of the Board of Trustees, and from UNCG, where she graduated with a vocal performance degree. She taught voice at Mitchell Community College where she was the director of the Mitchell Community College Choir. Not only was she a gifted vocalist, blessing many in the Statesville community with her soprano voice, but she was also a gifted watercolor artist, flower arranger, and gourmet cook. She ---

 Hollie Hutchison Lacy, age 68 of Blowing Rock, passed away on October 4, 2022. Holly was born on January 9th, 1954, in Spencer, NC. Her parents were the late Edith Mae Roach and William Douglas Hutchison. Hollie graduated from Halifax County High School. She studied piano at Peabody Conservatory of Music (now part of Johns Hopkins University) in Baltimore and majored in piano and voice at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, where she studied with Allan Porter and earned her B.A. Degree in Music. She acquired her master's degree in Piano Performance from ASU, studying with Dr. Rodney Reynerson. Before earning her master's in music degree she pursued a career in business where she was a regional manager of Walden Books in North Carolina and at the Intimate Bookshop in Chapel Hill, working with her dear friends Wallace and Brenda Kuralt.  She was a wonderful chef, voracious reader and dear friend to many. Ms. Lacy was on staff at Hayes School of Music since 2003 as adjunct professor and was the accompanist for University Singers and Chamber Choir. She taught class-piano, played recitals and accompanied student voice majors and instrumentalists at the Hayes School of Music and at Cannon Music Camp on the campus of Appstate. She was the organist at Blowing Rock Methodist Church. 

Mary Ratchford Bass October 22, 1946 - August 31, 2022,Charlotte, North Carolina - Mary Elizabeth Ratchford Bass was born at Charlotte Memorial Hospital on October 22, 1946, to parents Fred & Margaret Ratchford of Charlotte. After graduating Myers Park High School in 1965 she attended Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC. In the summer of 1965, Mary met Wayne Bass on a double date with friends. They hit it off immediately and by the end of the evening Wayne had Mary's number and so their 57-year love story began................

RONALD WISEMAN HAWKINS, 87, of Bluffton, SC passed away peacefully at his home on January 12, 2022, after a lengthy illness. Born September 2, 1934, in Shelby, North Carolina the son of Vertie Daniel and David Wiseman Hawkins, he grew up in Shelby, graduated from Shelby High School in 1952, and from Gardner Webb University in 1955. He studied finance at the Terry Sanford School of Business at the University of Georgia. 

(.Click Below for Full Obituary)

Linda Forrester Gillespie died Saturday November 6th, 2021 in Naples, Florida. She is survived by husband Curt Gillespie, sister Ann Forrester Rogers and 28 nephews and nieces. Linda was born and raised in Hickory Flat, Georgia and graduated nearby Reinhardt University. She served as court reporter for the North Georgia Circuit Court during her early professional career. (Click Full Obituary below)

 The Reverend Dr. Harold Coulter Warlick peacefully passed away surrounded by family on October 20, 2021.  Hal was born to Mr. Harold C. and Mary Estelle (Mamie) Warlick in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 16, 1946.  The family eventually moved to North Augusta, South Carolina. While attending North Augusta Senior High School, Hal completed a college preparatory course of study, and earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. His speed on the field earned him the nickname “The Sly Fox,” which was later abbreviated to “Fox.” He graduated in 1964 and attended Furman University on a football scholarship.  Furman opened a new world for him.  According to Hal, “Furman transformed me from an individual concerned primarily with athletics to an individual seeking to find and proclaim truth with integrity.”  Hal graduated from Furman in 1968 with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Religion and was shortly thereafter ordained as a Baptist minister in the First Baptist Church of North Augusta.  (Click below for Full  Obituary.)