Obituary Information

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

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.

We publish names of the deceased's children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We do not include in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews or special friends.

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Obituaries - 03/13/03

Arthur Biddix

Arthur M. Biddix, 64, of High Point, formerly of Sylva, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at High Point Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Clifford Parker officiated. Burial was in Addie Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, he lived the past 23 years in High Point. He retired from Swaim Originals after 22 years. He was the son of the late Lebern and Maggie Woods Biddix.

Surviving are one daughter, Amanda Biddix of High Point; and four sisters.

Wayne Hornbuckle

The Rev. Wayne D. Hornbuckle, 67, of Cherokee's Wrights Creek community, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 4, 2003, in Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Rock Hill Baptist Church. The Rev. Betty Drake, Joe Crowe and Randall Cummings of Oklahoma officiated. Burial was in the family cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County he was pastor of Rock Hill Baptist Church, Goodwill Ambassador for Cherokee and retired from the Cherokee Trader. Son of the late Daniel and Bessie Littlejohn Hornbuckle, he was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving in the Korean Conflict.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Lloyd Hornbuckle, Sequowah Driver and Wilbur Hornbuckle; and one grandson.

Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Mary Queen Hornbuckle; two daughters, Aubrey Taylor and Waneema Hornbuckle, both of Cherokee; two sons, Danny Smith of Tulsa, Okla., and John Bigmeat of Cherokee; two sisters, Annie Sacoba of New Brunswick, Canada, and Mable Frizzell of Cherokee; four brothers, Merle H. Byrd of Erwin, Watty Driver of Tennessee and Will Thomas Littlejohn and Calvin Hornbuckle, both of Cherokee; and five grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

J. B. Buchanan

J.B. "Bopper" Buchanan, 61, of Cope Creek Road, Sylva, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 4, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 7, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Eddie Stillwell officiated.

A native of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Kyle and Eloise Mashburn Buchanan. He was a former employee of Dayco Industries in Hazelwood.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Wilson Buchanan.

Surviving are one son, Kye Buchanan of Sylva; and one sister, Kyeleen Robinson of Sylva.

Garland Green

Garland Silas Green, 87, of Sylva, died Monday, March 10, 2003, at Skyland Care Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell and Delos Brown officiated. Burial was in Greens Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a son of the late Clingman Lewis and Louetta Buchanan Green. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II, and was a carpenter.

Surviving are one brother, Ferry Green of Sylva; and two sisters, Lucy Buchanan of Waynesville and Octie Allison of Sylva.

John Saunooke

John S. Saunooke, 56, of Cherokee's Yellow Hill community, died Thursday, March 6, 2003, in an Asheville hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Acquoni Baptist Chapel. The Rev. Roland Whitaker and Ray Kinsland officated. Burial was in Drama Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he was a son of the late Steve and Josephine Swayney Saunooke. He began working with the Cherokee Rescue Squad in 1976 and with Cherokee Tribal EMS in 1980, retiring in 1999. He was a CPR and First Aid instructor and a NCOEMS state practical examiner. He directed the building of the helipad at the Cherokee Indian Hospital.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Lora Rich; two sons, Jonathan and John Stephen Saunooke; and two brothers, Jessie and Isaac Saunooke.

Surviving are one son, John Saunooke II of Cherokee; three daughters, Ryhda Saunooke, LeTina Saunooke and Sharon Queen, all of Cherokee; three sisters, Annie Owens, Frances Queen and Ruth "Ruddie" Saunooke, all of Cherokee; and four grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Charles Crawford

Charles Berl Crawford, 83, of 111 Charlton Road, Rome, Ga., died Wednesday, March 5, 2003, in a Rome hospital following a short illness.

Graveside funeral and burial services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Sunset Hills Memorial Gardens. The Rev. William Davies officiated.

A native of Sylva, he was born May 19, 1919, son of the late Charlie and Laurie Crawford. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army, and was a Purple Heart recipient.

He had been a resident of Rome since 1956 and retired from Georgia Kraft Co. as a superintendent. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Rome.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Jacobs Crawford, who died in 1996.

Surviving are one daughter, Sondra Chambers of Social Circle, Ga.; one sister, Opal Thomas of Verona, Calif.; two granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or one's favorite charity.

Daniel's Funeral Home of Rome was in charge of arrangements.

Frank Young

Frank Ellis Young, 91, of 1006 Brantley St., Mooresville, died Saturday, March 8, 2003, at his home.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Neill Funeral Home. The Rev. Lawrence Ownbey officiated. Burial was in Glenwood Memorial Park.

He was born Jan. 12, 1912, son of the late James Brantley and Pearl Hildebran Young. He was a retired welder.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Dovie Powell and Joyce Ritchie.

Surviving are his wife, Marion Hughes Young; three sons, James Young of Houston, Roy Young of Sylva and Theodore Young of Hickory; two daughters, Gay Berry of Hildebran and Edna Morefield of Georgia; four sisters, Mamie Miller and Nellie Parnell, both of Hickory, Zula Knight of Icard and Trilba Martin of Hildebran; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Lucinda Littlejohn

Lucinda Ann Littlejohn, 42, of Cherokee's Soco community, died Thursday, March 6, 2003, at her residence.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at the Littlejohn Family Cemetery. The Revs. M.L. Cunningham and Betty Drake officiated.

A native of Swain County, she was a daughter of the late Luke and Lydia Driver Littlejohn.

She was preceded in death by five sisters; and one brother.

Surviving are three daughters, Bernice Taylor, Betty Taylor and Trudy Taylor, all of Cherokee; one son, Howard James Taylor Jr. of Cherokee; two sisters, Koula Littlejohn of Cherokee and Carolyn Pilkington of Bryson City; one brother, McKinley Littlejohn of Petersburg, Va.; paternal grandmother, Nancy Wilnoty of Cherokee; and four grandchildren.

Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jerdie Stephens

Jerdie Mills Stephens, 94, of Cullowhee's Wayehutta community, died Monday, March 10, 2003, at Ensley Adult Care after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held a 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Roger Stewman and Eddie Stillwell will officiate. Burial will be in Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dean Stephens, Charles Ingram, Pete Mills, Leburn Dills and Danny Stephens.

The family was to have received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the funeral home.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she taught adult education in the 1940s and was on the board of directors of Mountain Projects and worked at Brown's Grocery in Cullowhee.

Daughter of the late Rufus and Ellen Henry Mills, she was a member of Black Mountain Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Stephens, who died in 1985; an infant son; two brothers, Charlie and Fred Mills; and two sisters, Myrtle Dills and Beulah Lee.

Surviving are one son, Ted Stephens of Sylva; two sisters, Pearl Jacobs of Sylva and Lequita Christianson of Spokane, Wash.; one grandson; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Wilma B. Cosper, P.O. Box 107, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723.