Obituaries - 02/03/00

Lloyd Johnson

Lloyd B. Johnson, 90, of Cherokee's Soco community, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Cherokee Indian Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. James "Bo" Jackson officiated. Burial was in the Johnson Family Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Will and Sarah Vanassi Johnson and husband of the late Rachel B. Johnson.

He was preceded in death by one son, Lloyd "Pete" Johnson; and one daughter, Alta Johnson. Surviving are one son, Harold Bradley; three daughters, Jean Arch, Bertha Chiltoskie and Sally Allison, all of Cherokee; 29 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Julia Boyd

Julia King Boyd, 92, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center in Sylva.

Funeral services were held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in Prince George, Winyah Episcopal Church in Georgetown, S.C. The Rev. Tommy H. Tipton officiated. Burial was in the churchyard, under the direction of the Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home.

A native of Georgetown, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Richard Thomas King and Ellen Julia Meggett King. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Florence and was active in the Episcopal Church Women. She graduated from the College of Charleston in 1928 and taught school in Georgetown and Florence.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles William Boyd. Surviving are two daughters, Ellen Boyd Haris of High Point and Marion Boyd Harrison of Sylva; three sisters, Eleanor K. Wilson of McLean, Va., Elizabeth M. King of Summerville, S.C., and Margaret K. Harvey of Georgetown, S.C.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to the Episcopal Church Home for Children, York, S.C. 29745; or St. John's Episcopal Church, 22 S. Dargan St., Florence, S.C. 29506; the College of Charleston; or to the charity of one's choice.

Ritch Debnam

Ritch Debnam, 38, of Morganton, died Thursday, Jan. 27, at his residence following an extended illness.

Memorial services were held at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, at Morganton's First Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Bland and Kelly Sasser officiated.

A native of El Paso, Texas, he was a son of Rachel Pernell Debnam Fleming of Raleigh and the late Walter Jacob Debnam. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Morganton. A former Sylva resident, he worked with Apple Realty in Dillsboro and Coldwell Bankers of Newton Real Estate. He was a member of the Burke Home Builder's Association and a member of the Burke County Board of Realtors. He was a coach with the Morganton Youth Soccer League and was active in many other local school and civic activities.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife, Jennifer Evans Debnam; three daughters, Candace Debnam, Rachael Debnam and Summer Debnam, all of the home; three brothers, Jack Debnam of Cullowhee and Mike Debnam and Dean Debnam, both of Raleigh; three sisters, Vickie Debnam and Kimberly Debnam, both of Raleigh, and Candice Debnam of Garner; two stepsisters, Lisa Blaylock and Amy Fleming, both of Warrenton; and a great-grandmother, Louise Fleming of Warrenton.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Burke County, P.O. Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690; or to First Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer 459, Morganton, N.C. 28680.

William Fugate

William "Ned" Fugate, 86, of Chattooga Woods Road, Cashiers, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at the Cashiers Church of God. The Revs. Robert Harrison, David Gunter and Johnny Norris officiated. Burial was in the Upper Zachary Cemetery. Family members served as pallbearers.

A native of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Paul W. and Mattie Hyatt Fugate. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the VFW Post 10685. He served in the 216th Armed Engineers and First Division Combat Battalion, serving in many campaigns including Rhineland, Radennes, Central Europe, Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy and Northern France. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He received eight bronze service stars, a distinguished unit badge, and good conduct medal. He was a retired stone mason of 45 years and attended the Cashiers Church of God.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jonsie Mae Allen Fugate, who died in 1953; one sister, Thelma Reid; and one brother, Ralph Fugate.

Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Azilea Moffitt Fugate; three sons, Terry Fugate, Kelvin Fugate and Tracy Fugate, all of Cashiers; one sister, Wilean Bishop of Cedar Mountain; and four grandchildren.

Carrie Buchanan

Carrie Sutton Buchanan, 100, of Sylva's Savannah community, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, in Skyland Care Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Dan Stiles and Bill Sutton officiated. Burial was in Old Savannah Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late William A. and Lula Allison Sutton. She was a member of Wesleyanna United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom L. Buchanan, who died in 1983, and one son, Jack Buchanan, who died in 1987.

Surviving are three daughters, Helen Morgan of Winston-Salem, Lula Alexander Kloss of Franklin and Nancy Carolyn Buchanan of Sylva; five sons, Joe Buchanan, Don Buchanan, Bill R. Buchanan and Dan Buchanan, all of Sylva, and Tommy Buchanan of Brevard; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Old Savannah Cemetery Fund, c/o Doug Hall, 41 Hill Top Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779; or to one's favorite charity.

Della Hooper

Della Hooper, 88, of Beta Circle Drive, Sylva, died Saturday, Jan. 29, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Balsam Grove Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Tommy Holden, Clifford Parker and Clifford Willis officiated. Burial was in Brasstown Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late John Parker and Arizona Parker Blackburn.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Verge Hooper, who died in 1987. Surviving are two sons, Earl Hooper and Griffin Hooper, both of Sylva; three sisters, Sally Stiwinter, Ida Mae Norris and Bertha Moss, all of Glenville; one brother, Howard Blackburn of Glenville; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Brasstown Cemetery Fund, c/o Earl Hooper, 103 Beta Circle Drive, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jacqueline Cucumber

Jacqueline "Jackie" Cucumber, 51, of Cherokee, died Sunday, Jan. 30, at Cherokee Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in the chapel of Bill Moody Funeral Home. The Revs. Ed Kilgore and James "Bo" Parris officiated. Burial was in Drama Cemetery. A native of Sevier County, Tenn., she was a resident of Swain County.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Anne Cucumber. Surviving are her husband Richard of Bryson City, one son, Aaron Bradley of Cherokee; mother, Elizabeth J. Hughes of Bryson City; one sister, Jenny Bean of Sylva; one brother, Eddie Cucumber of Cherokee; and three grandchildren.

Nina Childers

Nina Estes Childers, 87, of Enka, formerly of Sylva's Old Savannah community, died Thursday, Jan. 27, at Oaks at Sweeten Creek.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Revs. Clifford Parker and Roger Stewman officiated. Burial was in Old Savannah Cemetery. Pallbearers were Robert S. Brooks, Jessie C. Estes, David Estes, Grover H. Cabe, Wayne Estes and Toby Moore.

A native of Jackson County, she was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County. She was a member of Old Savannah Baptist Church and a daughter of the late George H. and Delia Ashe Estes.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard L. Childers; one son, Boyd Childers; one brother, Thomas Estes; and one sister, Annie Lee McMahan.

Surviving are two sons, Burton Childers of Enka and Robert Childers of Griffith, Ind.; two daughters, Virginia Smith of Owens Cross Rd, Ala., and Dorothy Anderson of Brevard; three brothers, John C. Estes of Sylva, Claude Estes of Franklin and Dealous Estes of Fletcher; three sisters, Margaret Hall of Fletcher, Effie Brooks of Sylva and Lula Morgan of Fletcher; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Douglas Campbell

Douglas T. Campbell, 60, formerly of Sylva, died Sunday, Jan. 30, in Greer, S.C.

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Ed Beddingfield officiated. Burial was in Keener Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, he was a resident of Taylors, S.C. He attended Sylva High School, Western Carolina University and was an accountant. He served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant for four years and was a former member of First Baptist Church of Sylva. He was a son of the late Charles and Lillian Sutton Campbell.

Surviving are his wife, Judith Ann Hardin Campbell; one daughter, Christine Allison Campbell of San Antonio, Texas; one son, Gregory Taylor Campbell of the home; and one brother, Colin Keith Campbell of Sylva.

Essie Hall

Essie Daniels Hall, 94, formerly of Sylva, died Thursday, Jan. 27, at the Baptist Convalescent Center in Newport, Tenn.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell and Clifford Parker officiated. Burial was in Old Savannah Cemetery.

A native of Cooke County, Tenn., she was a former resident of Newport, Tenn. She was a member of Old Savannah Baptist Church. Daughter of the late Ebb and Lucinda Parks Daniels, she was the wife of the late John Hall.

Surviving are four sisters, Alma Hall, Allene Gray and Eliza Huskey, all of Newport, Tenn., and Euvilla Noel of Virginia.

Lidy Buchanan

Lidy Buchanan of Savannah Drive, Sylva, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Roy Fisher

Roy J. Fisher, 87, of Fisher Creek Road, Sylva, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, in Mission-St. Joseph Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Lloyd Fish and Kennon Stone will officiate. Burial will be in Dills Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he retired from Mead Corp. and was a member of Scotts Creek Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Rufus Wilbert and Minnie Allen Fisher.

Surviving are his wife, Leona Curtis Fisher; one daughter, Jean Erickson of Sylva; four sons, James Fisher of Asheville, Charles C. Fisher, Roy M. Fisher and Carroll Fisher, all of Sylva; two sisters, Eunice Parris of Asheville and Nannie Howell of Canton; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service (from 6 to 7 p.m.) at the funeral home.

Charlie Cope

Charlie Cope, 75, of Merry Cove Road, Sylva died Monday, Jan. 31, at his residence after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Zion Hill Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Keith Ashe, Eddie Stillwell and Wesley Hooper will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he retired from Western Carolina University in the physical plant. He was the son of the late Joseph Ingle and Molly Higdon Cope.

Surviving are his wife, Juanita W. Cope; one daughter, Diane Dillard of Sylva; two grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Memorials may be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Lisa Wilson, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service.

Frank Crawford

Frank Patrick Crawford, 91, of Sylva, died Monday, Jan. 31, at Skyland Care Center in Sylva.

Moody Funeral Home will announce arrangements.