Obituary Information

The Sylva Herald prints obituaries free of charge as a service to readers.

When possible, obituaries should be sent to the Herald from the funeral home. Information received will be placed in our standard obituary format.

We publish names of the deceased's spouse, parents, grandparents, siblings and children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Obituaries - 02/08/01

John Beck

John Quentin Beck, 80, of Cherokee's Yellow Hill community, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2001, in a Buncombe County hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. The Rev. Steven Phillippi officiated. Burial was in the veterans section of Yellow Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by Steve Youngdeer Post, American Legion.

A native of Swain County, he was a son of the late Samuel and Sarah Sneed Beck. He retired from the Bureau of lndian Affairs with more than 40 years of service. He was also a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Surviving are his wife, Ruth Youngblood Beck; one daughter, Betty Frady of Waynesville; two sons, John L. Beck of Cherokee and Thomas Edward Beck of Sylva; one sister, Wilma Lambert of Cherokee; one brother, Timothy Beck of Cherokee: three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Bessie Broome

Bessie Brown Broome, 67, of Dodgen Ridge Road, Tuckasegee, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, in Mission-St. Joseph Health System after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Johnny Norris officiated. Burial was in Upper Sols Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Travis Fox, Stacy Tuck, Paul Hoxit, Don Hoxit and Romaine Caldwell.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Sols Creek Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Claude Estes and Bertie Ashe Brown.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Broome, who died in 1999; two sisters, Dessie Harris and Dora Dillard; and two brothers, Johnnie Brown and Carmell Brown.

Surviving are two daughters, Rita Prince of Tuckasegee and Pam Wilson of Sylva: two sons, Stanley and Randy Broome, both of Tuckasegee; three sisters, Pauline Broome, Dot Nicholson and Maude Prince, all of Tuckasegee; and two brothers, Marshall Brown and Vaughn Brown, both of Tuckasegee; six grandsons; and four great-granddaughters.

Jewell Conner

Jewell Sosebee Conner, 77, of Sylva, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Eddie Stillwell officiated. Burial was at Hooper Cemetery, Speedwell. Pallbearers were Johnny Bryson, Christopher Farmer, Justin Jumper, John Bryson, Nick Phillips and Tim Phillips.

A native of Habersham County, Ga., she had lived in Jackson County for the past 20 years. She was the daughter of the late Chester Otis and Alma Elrod Sosebee.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Avery Coy Sosebee.

Surviving are her husband, L. C. Conner; two sons, James P. Phillips Jr. of Marietta, Ga., and William R. Phillips of Columbus, Ga.; one sister, Irene Palmer of Noreross, Ga.; one brother, Charles Keeneth Sosebee of Walhalla, S.C.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Ailene Conlan

Ailene Darling Conlan, 90, of Miami Shores, Fla., and Balsam, died Jan. 20, 2001.

Funeral services were held in Miami Shores, Fla.

She was a past member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sylva.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank L. Conlan.

Surviving are one daughter, Martha C. Ernst of Miami Shores, Fla.; one son, R. Lowell Conlan Jr. of Blowing Rock; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Bessie Littlejohn

Bessie George Littlejohn, 83, of Cherokee's Painttown community, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001, at Cherokee Indian Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Rock Springs Baptist Church. The Revs. Bobby Watts, James "Bo" Parris and Denny Crowe will officiate. Burial will be at the Littlejohn Family Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church, Qualla Arts and Crafts and worked for the Cherokee Historical Society. She was a daughter of the late Ellijah and Nicey Wilnoty George.

She was preceded in death by four sisters, Nancy Jumper, Cornellia Catt, Agnes Tooni and Lydia Lossiah.

Surviving are her husband, George Littlejohn; one daughter, Sue Ellen Littlejohn of Cherokee; two brothers, Joe George and Davis George, both of Cherokee; and one granddaughter. The family was to have received friends beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the church. Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.