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 - 03/28/02

Dennis Driver

Dennis Driver, 40, of Cherokee's Birdtown community, died Friday March, 22, 2002, in a Buncombe County hospital.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at Bethabara Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Mitchell Smiley and Richard "Duke" Pickup officiated. Burial was in Driver Family Cemetery.

A native of Swain County, he was a son of the late Spencer and Lucy Sequoyah Driver. He was active in Big Cove Community Affairs, working with the youth.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Rex and Ken Driver, and two sisters, Rosilee Montelongo and Joyce Teesateskie.

Surviving are his wife, Jeanne Crowe Driver; two daughters, Lou Pheasant and Toni Kekahabah, both of Cherokee; one son, Steve Kekahabah of Cherokee; one stepdaughter, Amy Crowe of Cherokee; three sisters, Dorothy West and Donna Teesateskie, both of Cherokee, and Bessie Smoker of Robbinsville; four brothers, Eric Driver, Abe Driver and John Swayney of Cherokee and Lloyd Mooney Swayney of Maryville, Tenn.; and one grandson.

Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Allison Henson

Allison "Betty" Henson of Sylva's Addie community, died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at Mission-St. Joseph's Health System after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Monday, March 25, at St. John's Episcopal Church. Father Henry Burton officiated. Burial was in Addie Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jody Henson, Gary Henson, John Charbeneau, Doug Scott, Steve Murphy and Dale Henry.

A native of Ecorse, Mich., she had lived in Jackson County since 1985. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where she was active in the ECW Group. She was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the last surviving child of Howard Charles and Lenore Feilding Foley.

Surviving are her husband of 55 years, Burl "Joe" Henson; four daughters, Betty Jo Henson Murphy of Palmetto, Fla., Gayle Charbeneau of Portage, Mich., Jean Scott of Dalton, Ga., and Julie Vanhusan of Fort Walter Beach, Fla.; two sons, Jody M. Henson of Reno, Nev., and Gary Thomas Henson of Rockwood, Mich.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the ECW Group, c/o St. John's Episcopal Church, 18 Jackson St., Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Madge Webb

Madge Frady Webb, 78, of Sylva's Pumpkintown community, died Saturday, March 23, 2002, at her residence after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Monday, March 25, at Zion Hill Baptist Church. The Rev. Benny Bagwell officiated. Burial was at the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Bruce Rish, Larry Rish, Bobby Rogers, Bobby Webb, David Pressley and Gary Ashe.

A native of Macon County, she had lived most of her life in Jackson County. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church and a daughter of the late George and Maggie Teems Frady.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elvin C. Webb, who died in 1965; one daughter, Judy Bird; and one grandson.

Surviving are one daughter, Shirley Guffey of Sylva; one son, Ronnie Webb of Sylva; one sister, Pauline Rogers of Otto; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Zion Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o Mary Wilson, Sylva, N.C. 28779. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

George Lambert Jr.

George Hugh Lambert Jr., 64, of Cherokee, died unexpectedly Thursday, March 21, 2002, at his residence in Birdtown community.

Funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 24, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Ben Tapp officiated.

A native of Swain County and a lifelong resident of Cherokee, he was a U.S. Army veteran and worked as a hard-rock miner and furniture maker.

He was preceded in death by his father, George Hugh Lambert Sr., who died in 1967.

Surviving are his mother, Edna Lambert of Cherokee; two sons, Robin and George Allen Lambert, both of Cherokee; three sisters, Linda Lambert and Janie Lambert Welch, both of Cherokee, and Mary Etta Lambert of Sylva; one brother, Henry Lambert of Cherokee; and three grandchildren. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Barbara Leypoldt

Barbara Feidelson Leypoldt, 71, of Maryville, Tenn., died Saturday, March 23, 2002, at her home.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Highland Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Ann Owens Brunger will officiate.

A former resident of Sylva, she was a member of Highland Presbyterian Church and the Southeastern Rhododendron Society.

Surviving are two daughters, Diane McAfee of Atlanta and Elizabeth Faircloth of Maryville, Tenn.; one son, Carl Scholl of Miami; and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Highland Presbyterian Church, 721 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, Tenn., 37801; or your local hospice group.

McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Odell Dunlap

Odell Dunlap, 80, of Whittier, died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Whittier United Methodist Church, of which he was a member and past Sunday school superintendent. The Rev. Hal Finney and Dr. Ben Bushyhead officiated. Burial was in Swain Memorial Park.

A native of Swain County, he was the son of the late Robert and Elsie Enloe Dunlap. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Air Corps. He was a truck driver, having worked for Cope Trucking and Fredrickson Trucking for 42 years, and retired from Fredrickson Trucking as terminal manager.

He was the husband of the late Kathryn Craig Dunlap, who died in 1990. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Ruble Dunlap.

Surviving are one daughter, Cathy Dunlap of Whittier; three sons, Jack Dunlap and Bobby Dunlap, both of Whittier, and Kirby Dunlap of Birdtown; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Donations may be made to Whittier United Methodist Church, Whittier, N.C. 28789.

Crisp Funeral Home in Bryson City was in charge of arrangements.

Juanita Wilson

Juanita Porter Wilson, 80, of Cleveland Pines Nursing Center, Shelby, died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at the center.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Shelby Presbyterian Church. Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sunset Cemetery. Dr. Luke Harkey officiated.

She retired from the Shelby City School System after 39 years of teaching in Forest City, Fort Bragg, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Shelby. She was a member of the Shelby Presbyterian Women and Ladies Bible Class.

A native of Sylva and daughter of the late John and Carolyn Davidson Porter, she was the widow of John H. Wilson. Jr.

Surviving are two sons, John Wilson of Kings Mountain and Stephen Wilson of Statesville; several in-laws from Jackson County; and two granddaughters.

Memorials may be made to Shelby Presbyterian Church.

Clay-Barnette Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

J.M. Taylor

J.M. Taylor, 71, of Asheville, died unexpectedly at his residence on Sunday, March 24, 2002.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Bill Bennett officiated. Burial followed with a private family graveside service in Cullowhee's Taylor Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County and a resident of Buncombe County since 1960, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was graduate of Western Carolina University, where he played baseball.

He retired as area appraiser for the N.C. Department of Transportation, was a member of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and former president of the Pisgah Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was a son of the late Henry Logan and Polly Ann Adams Taylor.

Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Juanita Arledge Taylor; one son, Jerry Taylor of Prospect, Ky.; two daughters, Ann Purchell of Arden and Vicki Bradford of Kingston, N.Y.; two brothers, Clifton Taylor of Bryson City and Haven Taylor of Brevard; one sister, Ruby Freeman of Cullowhee; and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the National Wild Turkey Federation, Pisgah Chapter, First Citizens Bank, 768 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, N.C. 28803.

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

Geneva Rogers

Geneva Ensley Rogers, 72, of Plum Street, Sylva, died Monday, March 25, 2002, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at noon today (Thursday) in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. Evangelist Ronnie Akins and the Rev. Jeff Powell will officiate. Burial will be in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, and from 11 a.m. to noon today (Thursday) at the funeral home.

A native of Jackson County, where she lived most of her life, she was a member of New Hope Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Rogers; her mother and stepfather, Aldie and Iva Lee Shuler Smathers; and one brother, Robert "Bob" Ensley.

Surviving are three sons, Larry Akins of Sylva, Ernie Akins of Tuckasegee and Ronnie Akins of Thomasville; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Autumn Care Patient Fund, 360 Old Balsam Road, Waynesville, N.C. 28786.

Charles Mason

Charles Clarence Mason, 63, of Dillsboro, died unexpectedly at his residence Monday, March 25, 2002.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Roy Burnett will officiate. Burial will be at Locust Field Cemetery.

The family was to have receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the funeral home.

A native of Jackson County, he attended the University of North Carolina, where he was a member of the NROTC for four years. Upon graduation in 1960, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy, during which time he attended the Navy's nuclear power school and submarine school. He left the Navy in 1967 but remained active in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of captain in 1982.

He was employed and retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he was the plant superintendent of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, plant manager of Sequoyah Nuclear Plant and deputy manager of the Office of Nuclear Power. He then worked for the Department of Energy Savannah River Operations in Aiken, S.C., as the assistant manager for Nuclear Materials Processing.

In 1994 he retired and returned to Dillsboro, where he was a member of Jarrett Memorial Baptist Church. He was a son of the late James S. and Margaret Cagle Mason.

Surviving are his wife, Peggy Queen Mason; one daughter, Angie Doan of Dandridge, Tenn.; two sons, Chuck Mason and Skip Mason, both of Dayton, Tenn.; two brothers, Jim Mason of Webster and Kenneth Mason of Dacula, Ga.; two sisters, Dot Dishman and Margaret Ann Woods, both of Dillsboro; and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jarrett Memorial Baptist Church, c/o Ray Buchanan, P.O. Box 40, Dillsboro, N.C. 28725.

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

Cora Hall

Cora Hall of Sylva died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Kathleen Holt

Kathleen L. Holt of Sylva died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at her residence.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Bernard Harris

Bernard Alan Harris Jr., 42, of Pensacola, Fla., died unexpectedly Saturday, March 16, 2002, in a Pensacola hospital.

Graveside service were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at Fairview Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Johnny Norris officiated.

A native of Greenfield, Mass., and former resident of Glenville, he was a carpenter.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Deborah Paulin of Lake Toxaway.

Surviving are his wife, Deborah Harris; one son, Kenneth Robinson of Glenville; one daughter, Kimberly Robinson of Glenville; his father, Bernard A. Harris Sr. of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; his mother, Sandra Paulin of Florida.; one sister, Tina Wallace of Florida; and three grandchildren.

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