Obituaries - 02/10/00

Ezra Stovall

Ezra Smith Stovall, 86, of Allen Henson Circle, Sylva, died Friday, Feb. 4, in Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at First United Methodist Church. The Revs. Joe Fulk and Terry Hammill officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers were the Adult Bible Class and the Methodist Menšs Club.

A native of Buncombe County, she was a resident of Jackson County since 1946. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Sylva Women's Garden Club, volunteer for the American Cancer Society and charter member of the first "REACH to Recovery" in Jackson County.

She was the 1988 recipient of the Quality of Life Award, 1996 recipient of the Life Membership Award and 1999 recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Award and named honorary chairperson for the Relay for Life. She was a charter member of the 1959 Gray Ladies of America Red Cross, volunteering with Harris Regional Hospital for 40 years serving on the Home Health Board, Chaplaincy Board, and served six years as the chairperson of the hospital volunteers.

In 1986, she was awarded the Clara Burton Award recognizing her for all phases of work within the Red Cross. In 1981, she was presented the Human Service Award by the governor of North Carolina. That same year she was named Jackson County Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.

Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Raymon Stovall; one son, John David Stovall of Asheville; two daughters, Lynda Brown of Greenville, S.C., and Janis "Jan" Stovall of Takoma Park, Md.; one brother, Woodrow Smith of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to Sylva First United Methodist Church, Jackson County, American Red Cross Chapter and/or the American Cancer Society for the REACH to Recovery Programs in WNC.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

James Littrell

James Fuller Littrell, 84, of Arlington, Wash., died Friday, Jan. 7, in Arlington.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Purdy & Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home.

Surviving are his wife, Beulah Littrell; three sons, James Littrell of Maryville, Wash., John Littrell of Seattle, Wash., and Larry Littrell of Gold Bar, Wash.; four daughters, Janie Donovan of Portland, Ore., Penny Littrell of Jacksonville, Fla., Patty Porter of Seattle, Wash., and Joanne Harmon of Jacksonville, Fla.; and two half-sisters, Edith Nations of Arlington, Wash., and Evenel Baulware of Buffalo, S.C.

Elizabeth Matthews

Elizabeth L. Matthews, 78, of Sanford, formerly of Webster, died Thursday, Jan. 20, in Sanford.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at Maley Funeral Home Chapel in Covington, Tenn.

A native of Selma, Ala., she lived in Webster from 1977-1990. She retired from Western Carolina University with the Center for Improving Mountain Living. She was a member of WCU Educational Office Personnel and Cullowhee United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Matthews. Surviving are four daughters, Denise Tinsley of Sylva, Vicki Clark of Houston, Lynda Davison of Covington, Tenn., and Donna Matthews of Sanford; one son, Steve Alexander of Sanford; one sister, Quida Love of Gainsville, Fla.; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Memorials may be made to ARF, P.O. Box 1966, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Charles Bryson Jr.

Charles Bryson Jr. of Oxon Hill, Md., died Sunday, Jan. 30. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Fort Myer Chapel. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, he was a son of the late Charlie and Susie Rogers Bryson. He was a retired technical sergeant with the U.S. Air Force. He was a master plumber/pipefitter and was retired from Amtrak.

Surviving are his wife, Edith Marylene Bryson; one daughter, Angela Reneí Greene; four sons, James Tyrone Davis, Charles Bryson III, Gary Wayne Bryson Sr. and Marvin David Bryson; two sisters, Rubye Fleming and Hazel Bryson; and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to UNCF-The United Negro College Fund.

Pope Funeral Home, 5538 Marlboro Pike in Forestville, Md., is in charge of arrangements.

Minnie Queen

Minnie Ruth Freeman Queen, 65, of Johns Creek Road, Cullowhee, died Friday, Feb. 4, in Harris Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

A memorial service was held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Mike Farmer and Eddie Stillwell officiated. A private burial will be at a later date.

A native of Franklinton, she had lived in Jackson County for the past 33 years. She was a retired LPN with Skagit Valley Hospital, a member of Johns Creek Baptist Church, and a daughter of the late John Wesley and Minnie Mae Hill Freeman.

Surviving are her husband, Talmadge Queen; three daughters, Janet Norman of Balsam, Jo Ann Stillwell of Waynesville and Diana VanEtten of Cullowhee; three sisters, Bertha Duke of Wake Forest, Annie Bowers of Franklinton and Ruby Pearce of Wake Forest; three brothers, A.H. Freeman, J.W. Freeman and Joe Freeman, all of Durham; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the MMS or American Cancer Society.

Frank Crawford

Frank Patrick Crawford, 91, of King Street, Sylva, died Monday, Jan. 31, at Skyland Care Center of an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at First United Methodist Church of Sylva. The Rev. Joe Fulk officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native of Clay County and a resident of Jackson County, he was a graduate of Hayesville High School and attended Young Harris College, Michigan State University, and graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor of science degree.

He served in the U.S. Navy and was a former teacher and coach at Hayesville High School. He was employed with Federal Land Bank, War Food Administration and retired from First Union National Bank.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, treasurer, communion steward, board of trustees member and a charter member of the Methodist Menšs Club. He was a former member of the Rotary Club and publisher of "The Rotarian." He was the son of the late John and Anna Sellers Crawford.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Kathryn Howell Crawford; two daughters, Betsy C. Goldtrap of Fallbrook, Calif., and Deborah C. Kenakin of Durham; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home in Sylva was in charge of arrangements.

Lucy Crawford

Lucy H, Crawford, 85, of Cullowhee's Wayehutta community, died Saturday, Feb. 5, in Ensley Adult Care Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, at Black Mountain Baptist Church, of which she was a member and Sunday school teacher. The Revs. Roger Stewman, Jim Ed Powell and Mike Vanzura officiated. Burial was in Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jeffery Massingale, Danny Waters, Bobby Waters, Bob Henry, Dale Henry and John David Stovall. Honorary pallbearers were Fred Dills and Charles Ingram.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late Dalh and Tina Phillips Henry. She was a retired school teacher having taught at Alarka, Lulada, Wolf Creek, Charleys Creek, Glenville, Beta and retired while at Scotts Creek School.

She was the first ordained woman deacon in Cullowhee Baptist Church. She was active in the Wayehutta Community Development Club and a member of the Retired Teachers Organization. She was a graduate of Western Carolina University.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William R. Crawford, who died in 1990; two sisters, Iva Lee Henson and Marie Painter; and two brothers, Fred J. Henry and Frank Henry.

Surviving are one foster daughter, Audrey Waters of Cullowhee; three foster sons, Robert L. Waters Jr. of Statesville, and Daniel Vance Waters and Michael H. Waters, both of Asheville; one sister, Nora Lee Cogdill of Sylva: one brother, Carl Henry of Maggie Valley; seven foster grandchildren; and three foster great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Wayehutta Community Development Center, c/o Ruby Bennett, 3797 Wayehutta Road, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723; or Ruth and Billy Graham Children Center, Black Mountain, N.C. 28711.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Junior Moncrief

Junior Moncrief, 77, of Sylva's Cope Creek community, died Thursday, Feb. 3, at Harris Regional Hospital.

No services are planned at this time.

A native of Brooks County, Ga., and a resident of Jackson County, he attended Scotts Creek Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army and was a son of the late William Joshua and Alma Susan Boles Moncrief.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters.

Surviving are his wife, Lacerne Clark Moncrief; one son, Thomas William Moncrief of Orlando, Fla.; two daughters, Patsy Lacerne Caroline of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Shawa Marie Moncrief of Sylva; one brother, Gene Moncrief of Orlando, Fla.; two sisters, Martha Smith of Barwich, Ga., and Mary Clark of Pelham, Ga.; and two granddaughters.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

June Wilkes

June Wilkes, 85, of Riverbend Road, Sylva, died Thursday, Feb. 3, in Mountain Trace Nursing Center after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell, Billy Styles and Tim Dillard officiated. Burial was in Fall Cliff Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a son of the late Annie Ardella Wilkes Woodard. He was a member of Speedwell Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys Roberts Wilkes; one daughter, Betty Bryson of Sylva; two sons, Donald Jean Roberts of the home and Delbert Ray Wilkes of Greensboro; one sister, Alice Adams of Sylva; three brothers, Alex Woodard and Alvin Woodard, both of Sylva, and Rass Woodard of High Point; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Robert Caldwell

Robert "Bob" Lawson Caldwell, 85, of Ensley Adult Care, Sylva, formerly of Waynesville, died Saturday, Feb. 5, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The Revs. Charles Dean and Doug Brown officiated. Burial was in Ratcliffe Cove Cemetery. Pallbearers were Guy Dillard, Ken Ashe, Dean Reeves, Jeff Edwards, Doug Edwards and Phillip Leopard. Honorary pallbearers were deacons of Ratcliffe Cove Baptist Church and B.C. Nave.

He was a native of Haywood County and a son of the late William Mason and lnez Dotson Caldwell. He retired from Smith Drug Store after 39 1/2 years of service. He was a member, deacon, trustee and Sunday school teacher at Ratcliffe Cove Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ernest and Jim Caldwell. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Mary Creola Williams Caldwell; one daughter, Vickey Terry Dillard of Sylva: two sons, Robert Kevin of Florence, Ala., and David Nevin of New Town, Conn.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to WestCare EMS, Sylva Plaza, Sylva, N.C. 28779; or Ratcliffe Cove Cemetery Fund, c/o Phyllis Ratcliffe, 75 Keller St., Waynesville, N.C. 28786.

William Buchanan

William Lida Buchanan, 70, of Savannah Drive, Sylva, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Harris Regional Hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Mike Fox and Eddie Stillwell officiated. Burial was in Stewart Cemetery. Nephews were pallbearers.

A native of Jackson County, he was a self-employed painter, an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, and a son of the late William Jackson and Sallie Gregory Buchanan.

Surviving are one daughter, Karen Shiles of New Jersey; six sisters, Mary Rogers, Maude Bryson, Leila Stiwinter and Alice Fox, all of Cullowhee, Mattie Mason of Sylva and Lucille Webb of Cleveland, Ga.; two brothers, Dee Buchanan of Fort Worth, Texas, and Vero Buchanan of Candler; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Darlene Rogers

Darlene B. Sprecker Rogers, 80, of Sylva's Fisher Creek community, died Thursday, Feb 3, in Harris Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Kenneth Carver and Gene Hawkins officiated. Burial was in Long Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were John Palmer, Tim Thompson, David Thompson, Edwin Wilkey, Roger Brooks and David Dalton.

A native of Junction City, Ks., and formerly of Biscayne Park, Fla. and Unaka, she had lived in Sylva for the past several years. She was a member of Long Branch Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher. She was also a member of Beta-Fisher Community Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert G. Rogers, one brother, Emmett Sprecker; one sister, Maxine Sparks; and one daughter, Gloria B. Thompson.

Surviving are her daughter, Chiquita F. Palmer of Sylva; three grandsons; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Long Branch Baptist Church Youth Program, The Gideon's, Bill Chapman Evangelistic Association, Billy Graham, or onešs church.

Oliver Otter Sr.

Oliver Otter Sr., 70, of Cherokee's Yellowhill community, died Sunday, Feb. 6, in Tsali Care Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, in Yellowhill Baptist Church. The Revs. James "Bo" Parris and James "Red" Bradley officiated. Burial was in Otter Family Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he retired from The Cherokees after 28 years as a craftsman.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Sam Otter, and his sister, Myrtle Jenkins.

Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Nannie Standingdeer Otter; two sons, Kenneth Allen Otter of Cherokee and Oliver Otter Jr. of Jamestown, Tenn.; one daughter, Martha St. Clair of Cherokee; one brother, Henry Otter of Whittier; three sisters, Sally Jackson of Cherokee, Wanda Shelton of Sylva and Freida Jenkins of Bryson City; and two grandsons.

Bill Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Martha Franklin

Martha Louise Moore Franklin, 73, of Dalton Road, Cope Creek community, Sylva, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Mountain Trace Nursing Home.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles Dean officiated. Burial was in Franklin Family Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Claude and Dorothy Beasley Moore.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Elizabeth Parker; and two brothers, Paul and Adam Moore.

Surviving are her husband of 40 years, Charles Benjamin "Ben" Franklin; four sons, Charles Benjamin "Benny" Franklin Jr., Terry Franklin, Anthony "Tony" Franklin and Timothy "Tim" Franklin, all of Sylva; two brothers, Joe Moore and Henry Moore, both of Sylva; two sisters, Lillie Moore and Minnie Moore, both of Sylva; and two grandchildren.

Annie Hoyle

Annie Lizzie Terrell Hoyle, 90, of Bryson City, died Sunday, Feb. 6, at Ensleyšs Adult Care Center in Sylva.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. A private burial will take place in the Thomas Memorial Cemetery at Qualla.

A native of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Joel Keener Terrell and Laura Viola Cooper Terrell and granddaughter of the late Capt. James Wharey Terrell. She attended Qualla Elementary and High School and graduated from Western Carolina Teacher's College with a bachelor of science degree in 1939.

She retired from Bryson City Elementary School in 1965, having taught 36 years in Jackson, Forsyth and Swain counties. She was a member of Bryson City United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years.

She was the widow of Carl Hoyle and was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl Cooper, James Orville and Charles Buren Terrell. Surviving are several nieces and nephews and locally, a sister-in-law, Elise Terrell of Sylva.

Memorials may be made to Bryson City United Methodist Church. Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Russell

Robert Neese Russell, 62, of Hometown Place, Dillsboro, died Saturday, Feb. 5, at his residence after an extended illness.

No services are planned at this time.

A native of Cobb County, Ga., he had lived in Jackson County for the past several years. He was a retired carpenter and a U.S. Marine veteran. He was the son of the late Norman Albert and Mary Elizabeth Neese Russell.

Surviving are one daughter, Cindy Russell of Texas; five sons, Jerry, Randy and Terry Russell, all of North Carolina, Tracy Russell of Georgia and Jeff Russell of Texas; and eight grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Doris Green

Doris S. Green, 69, of Mitchell Road, Sylva, died Monday, Feb. 7, at Harris Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. Mike Firestone will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Bob Bowman, Carroll Buchanan, Bruce Bradley, Mike Lyons, Dennis Miller, Kevin Davies and Eric Moore.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she had worked at Ashley and Skyland Textile. She was a daughter of the late Fred Lewis and Nora Ellen Gibson Sutton.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Lewis. Surviving are her husband, Ray H. Green; two sons, Ricky H. Green of Sylva and Jerry R. Green of the home; four sisters, Ruby Bumgarner, Birdie Buchanan, Ruth Lyons and Rachel Cogdill, all of Sylva; and one brother, J.R. Sutton of Sylva.

The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the funeral home.

Hazel Robinson

Hazel L. Robinson, 66, of Hoover Robinson Road, Dillsboro, died Wednesday, Feb. 9, at her residence.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Clyde Bryson

Clyde Bryson of Addie community died Wednesday, Feb. 9, in Haywood Community Hospital.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.