Obituary Information

When possible, obituaries should be submitted to The Herald from the funeral home in charge of arrangements. Information received will be printed in our standard obituary format. As is the case with all information submitted to The Herald, we reserve the right to edit obituary information to fit our standard format.

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Obituaries - 02/27/03

Jim Simpson, former Webster mayor, dies

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Webster Cemetery with a celebration of life service at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Sylva. The Rev. Bill Serjak officiated.

A native of Charlotte, he was a son of the late Joseph B. Simpson and Jamie Arnold Simpson. Mayor of Webster for 12 years, he was active in First Presbyterian Church of Sylva, where he served as an elder, deacon and chairman of the building committee and superintendent.

He was a member of Sylva Rotary Club, in which he held all offices during his 34-year tenure.

After graduating from Duke University, he served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Wurzburg, Germany. He returned home to Charlotte and worked for Ford Motor Co. before moving his family to Webster in 1969. He was a Sylva businessman for 34 years.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph B. Simpson and Zachary Arnold Simpson.

Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Margaret Inman Simpson; two daughters, Grace Simpson of Sylva and Margaret Simpson Vestal of Asheville; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Sylva, P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, N.C. 28779 or the charity of one's choice.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Cogdill

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Ray Sharpe, Carl Chastain and Roy Kilby officiated. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Waynesville. Pallbearers were Billy Green, Jim Grasty, Doug Steinel, Willard Cogdill, Lee Kilby, David Beck, Gordon Pruett and Wayne Woody.

Prior to her illness, she worked at Skyland Textile and Buster Brown in Sylva, Weight Watchers and Barber's Orchard in Waynesville, and at Highland Equipment Co. in Asheville. She attended Waynesville Township High School.

Surviving are her husband of 47 1/2 years, Ronald Clifford Cogdill; two daughters, Debbie Cogdill Pruett of Asheville and Angela Cogdill Woody of Canton; and one grandson.

Memorials may be made to Red Bank Baptist Church Building Fund or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 925, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Reva Reneau

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Steven Phillippi officiated. Burial was in Drama Cemetery in Cherokee.

A native of Swain County, she was a partner and corporate executive with Newfound Lodge Limited in Cherokee. She was a daughter of the late Candler and Lelia Cooper Queen.

She was preceded in death by one stepson, Eddie Reneau.

Surviving are her husband, Hobert Reneau; one stepson, Tim Reneau of Columbia, S.C.; one stepdaughter, Robin Reneau Jenkins of Franklin; one sister, Lois Farthing of Cherokee; and four stepgrandchildren.

An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

William Patterson

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Clifford Parker and David Souderes officiated. Burial was in Parris Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Army and Waynesville VFW Post 5202.

A native of Jackson County, he lived in Gastonia for 35 years and the past three years back in Jackson County. He was an electrician, a U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam and member of Waynesville VFW Post 5202. He was a son of the late Frank M. and Rachel Jones Patterson.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Myrtle Hensley.

Surviving are his wife of 30 years, Betty Patterson; one daughter, Wanda Sue McCurry of Dillsboro; one son, Lloyd Peterson Sr. of Sylva; two sisters, Rhonda Jo Mann of Franklin and Jackie Dillard of Sylva; one brother, Tommy Patterson of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to Sylva Dialysis Center, 655 Asheville Highway, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Joan Bridges

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Wilmot Baptist Church. The Rev. Johnny Ray Davis officiated. Burial was in Bumgarner Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was the office manager at Precision Truss Co., daughter of the late Charlie and Malissia Brooks Bumgarner and a member of Wilmot Baptist Church, where she was a former Sunday school teacher.

She was preceded in death by four brothers.

Surviving are her husband of 44 years, Harold Edward Bridges; three daughters, Sonya Jenkins, Susan Gilmer and Sherry Danner, all of Whittier; one son, James Bridges of Whittier; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Breast Cancer Foundation, Jackson County Chapter, P.O. Box 925, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangments.

William Ashe

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Revs. Steve Webb, Ernest Ammons and Oliver Dills officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Junior Hoyle, Mickey Bennett, Glen Ashe, Kenneth Ashe, Tommy Bennett and Eddie Ashe.

A lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a logger by trade, member of the Unity Baptist Church and son of the late George and Mamie Potts Ashe Mills and stepson of Lucious Mills.

He was preceded in death by several infant brothers and sisters.

Surviving are four brothers, Eldon Ashe of Cullowhee, Joel Mills of Spartanburg, S.C., James Mills of Marion and Hebert Mills of Waynesville; and three sisters, Christeen Keener, Geraldine Hoyle and Bessie Ammons, all of Cullowhee.

Evelyn Lowery

Funeral services will be held at Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church on Wyoming Road in Asheville at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1. The Rev. Otis Ware will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion Church Cemetery in Cullowhee.

She was a native of Macon County and lived most of her life in Jackson County. She was a former employee of Western Carolina University and daughter of the late William Jeffery and Lela Parrish Lackey.

She was a member of the Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in Cullowhee and attended Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church while in Asheville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Carl Lowery; and one daughter, Bleaka Howell.

Surviving are two granddaughters; and four great-grandsons.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Moody Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to the Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 25054, Asheville, N.C. 28813.

Estes Myers

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Bethabara Baptist Church. The Rev. Mitchell Smiley officiated. Burial was in Birdtown Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, where he lived the past 22 years, he was a retired carpenter and son of the late Alvin and Nancy Ellen Griffin Myers. He was a member of Bethabara Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Wyatt Myers, who died in 1992; two brothers; and three sisters.

Surviving are three daughters, Jan Hall of Englewood, Fla., Pamela Mallard of Lakeland, Fla., and Dorothy Bradley of Whittier; five sons, Charles Myers of Cherokee, Richard Myers of Gastonia, Terry Myers of Mulburry, Fla., Gerald Myers of Maggie Valley and Lee Myers of Sylva; three sisters, Mildred Smith of Cherokee, Viola Myers of Greenville, S.C., and Laurie Teague of Lankland, Fla.; one brother, Tommy Myers of Greenville; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Edna Pittman

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb . 24, at the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The Revs. Johnny Norris, Hardin Nicholson, Eddie Stillwell and Randy Bolden officiated. Burial was at Green Hill Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late James "Jim" and Eliza Cagle Fisher.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Leighton and B. Jim Fisher.

She retired from the dietary department at Harris Regional Hospital in 1983 after 20 years of employment. She was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

Surviving are one daughter, Susie Cope of Waynesville; two sons, Paige Pittman of Waynesville and Eddie Pittman of Sylva; one brother, Grover Fisher of Sylva; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice, 132 Sylva Plaza, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

An online memorial register is available at Obituaries at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

Dorothy Moss

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Lovedale Baptist Church. The Revs. Mike Farmer and Cecil Frady officiated. Burial was in Lovedale Cemetery.

A native and resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Lovedale Baptist Church and daughter of the late David Sr. and Laura Smith Thomas.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Robert Burch; two brothers, David Thomas Jr. and Clifton Thomas; and two sisters, Mary Thomas and Jessie Kate Thomas.

Surviving are her husband, John Moss; one sister, Helen Cathey of Whittier; and one brother, Fred Thomas of Chico, Calif.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www. pemoody.com.

Thomas Swimmer

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Rock Springs Baptist Church. The Revs. James "Bo" Parris, James Sneed and Bobby Watts officiated. Burial was in Swimmer Family Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Robert Sherrill, Jr., James Sherrill, Christopher Smith, Curtis George, Michael W. Wilnoty, Chris Lee, David Swimmer, Benjamin Swimmer, William Swimmer, James Swimmer, Obadiah Swimmer and Eddie Swimmer.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II, a farmer and a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. He was a son of the late John Wesley and Lucianne Toe Swimmer.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Sherrill Swimmer; three brothers; one sister; three sons; and one daughter.

Surviving are one daughter, Sarah Swimmer Johnson; two sons, Douglas and Dwight Swimmer; five grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.

Elsie Grace

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Cullowhee Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Burial will be Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A daughter of the late Grover and Ida Mae Moody Moss, she was a homemaker and lifelong member of Julia Halla Chapter 107 Order of Eastern Star in Hollywood, Md., where she was a charter member.

Surviving are one son, Eddie Grace of Milmay, N.J.; three brothers, William Moss of McLean, Va., and John Moss and James Moss, both of Cullowhee; one sister, Ella Mae Morris of Cullowhee; and one granddaughter.

Moody Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements.

An online memorial and guest registry is also available at www.pancoastfuneral home.com.

Maxine Denkert

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pastor Gary Brown and Father James Cahill officiated.

She was born in Bridgeport, Ill., Oct. 23, 1908, the daughter of Charles Edward and Frona Williamson Martin. She was a graduate of St. John's Nursing School in Springfield, Ill., in 1931. She married Arnold R. Denkert on Dec. 29, 1930, and they made their home in Springfield for 30 years. In 1960 they retired to south Florida and lived there until 1972, when they moved to Webster.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

Surviving are one son, Charles M. Denkert of Cullowhee; one daughter, Jane Bauer of Webster; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Donations may be made to Mountain Trace Alzheimer's Unit, 417 Mt. Trace Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779; or Resurrection Lutheran Church, 38 Wayah Street, Franklin, N.C. 28734.

Moody Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Wayne Lauckarn

A native of Fulton, N.Y., he had been a resident of Cherokee for the past three years. He was an employee of the Lowe's Corp. in Alcoa, Tenn.

Surviving are his mother, Lillian I. Lauckarn of Cherokee; two brothers, Robert Edwin Brown of Fulton and Lee Edward Lauckarn of Syracuse, N.Y.; and one sister, Cindy Grant of Cherokee.

Moody Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Howell Crisp

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Grace Baptist Church in Whittier. The Revs. Bennett Crisp and Daniel Walker officiated. Burial was in Union Hill Cemetery.

A native of Whittier, he had lived in Maryland about 40 years. He was a son of the late Hardy and Ollie Lovin Crisp. He was retired from Bethleham Steel Co. in Baltimore, Md.

Surviving are two daughters, Joyce Divver of Laurel, Md., and Shirley Buckley of Fredricksburg, Va.; three sisters, Christine Walker of Whittier, Loleta Crisp of Bryson City and Opal Ball of Hemick, Calif.; three brothers, Orkenith and Bennett Crisp of Whittier, and John Crisp of Bryson City; and five grandchildren.

Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Robin Browne

A native of Massachusetts, she had lived in Jackson County for the past several years. She was a daughter of the late Robert and Georgia Rose Spinks Browne.

Surviving are two daughters, Silva Ann Ball and Swan Brooner; two sons, Robert Clay Rosenthal and Devon Shea Brooner; one sister, Stacy Browne; and two brothers, Robert Browne Jr. and Thomas Spinks.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Opal Wilson

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) at West Fifth Avenue Freewill Baptist Church. The Rev. Richard Cole will officiate. Burial will be in Westview Gardens in Bessemer City. Pallbearers will be Tommy Cope, Donald Ray Owens Jr., Tony Polk, Tommy Rucker, Rodney Wilson, Jerry Withers, Travis Withers and Ricky Woodard.

Daughter of Vernon and Mary Brown Shook, she was a charter member of West Fifth Avenue Freewill Baptist Church. She retired from Burlington Industries' Ranlo plant after 26 years of service.

She was preceded in death by one son, Robert Wayne Wilson; one brother, John Kenneth Shook; and one sister, Ruby Jean Woodard.

Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Alex Wilson Sr.; three sons, Alex Wilson Jr. of Bessemer City, William Allen Wilson of Gastonia and Paul Douglas Wilson of the home; four daughters, Sharon Wilson Withers and Tammy Wilson Rucker, both of Kings Mountain, and Vanessa Wilson Chitwood and Brenda Wilson Owens, both of Gastonia; two sisters, Woodie Shook Talley and Eucella Shook Pressley, both of Tuckasegee; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Greene Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Back to Archive: 02/27/03.