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 - 04/04/02

Bessie Powell

Bessie Powell, 89, of Sols Creek Road, Tuckasegee, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, in Mountain Trace Nursing Center after a period of declining health. Graveside services were held at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Cathy Cemetery. A native of Pennsylvania, she lived in Jackson County since 1983 and was the daughter of the late Samual Scott and Mary Gardner Hall. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Kathleen Holt

Kathleen Lowrance Holt, 84, of Stardance Ridge, Sylva, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at her residence after a period of declining health. Funeral services were held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 29, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Ed Beddingfield and Jack Hinson officiated. Burial was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at Prospect Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mooresville. Pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons. A native of Iredell County, she had lived in Jackson County since 1982. She retired from IBM, was a member of Sylva First Baptist Church and was the last surviving child of the late William Wallace and Mary Louise Sloop Lowrance. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Holt. Surviving are two daughters, Elaine Holt Brown and Donna Holt Savage, both of Cullowhee; one son, Robert "Bob" Lawrence Holt of Webster; and eight grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice, 68 Hospital Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779; Prospect Cemetery in Mooresville; or one's favorite charity.

Birdie Hall

Birdie Buchanan Hall, 91, of Sylva, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center after a period of declining health. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 29, at Old Savannah Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Clifford Parker and David Souderes officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Rusty Stewman, Chris Greene, Jeremy Moore, Josh Hall, Brian Estes and Justin Hall. She was a native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, where she and her husband owned Park Edge Country Store in Sylva for many years. She was a daughter of the late Pole and Lula Green Buchanan. She was preceded in death by two sons, William Howard and Carl Clinton Hall; one sister, Daisy Shepard; and one brother, Carl Buchanan. Surviving are her husband of 76 years, Ebb Hall; two daughters, Geneva Estes of Sylva and Gladys Ester of Fletcher; one son, Weldon Hall of Sylva; one sister, Julia Beck of Sylva; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Pew Bible Placement Fund at Old Savannah Baptist Church. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of the 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 Buncombe County and daughter of the late John and Carolyn Davidson Porter, she was the widow of John H. Wilson Jr., a native of Sylva. Surviving are two sons, John Wilson of Kings Mountain and Stephen Wilson of Statesville; and two granddaughters. Memorials may be made to Shelby Presbyterian Church. Clay-Barnette Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

David Busyhead

David Allen Bushyhead II, 26, of Waynesville, formerly of Cherokee, died unexpectedly Thursday, March 27, 2002, at his residence. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at Waterfalls Baptist Church. The Rev. Forman Bradley officiated. Burial was in Birdtown's Welch Bradley Cemetery. Pallbearers were David Blanton, Deweese Bushyhead, Kirby Bradley, Josh Bradley, Mike Lambert and Harold "Bumper" Smith. A native of Cherokee, he was supervisor of maintenance for Ghost Town. He attended Southwestern Community College and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church. He was a son of David Allen Bushyhead of Cherokee and Regina Bradley Crowe of Canton. He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Dweese and Edith Bradley; paternal grandparents, Robert and Ruth Bushyhead; and one brother, David Bushyhead Jr. Surviving, in addition to his parents, are one son, Nicodemus Bushyhead; two daughters, Kayleigh Bushyhead and Cheyenne "Ruth" Bushyhead, both of Cherokee; two brothers, Deweese Bushyhead and Steven Armachain, both of Cherokee; one sister, Edith Hobbs of Canton; and stepfather, Jeffery Crowe of Canton. Moody Funeral Home assisted the family. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Thomas Dillard

Thomas Woodrow "Woody" Dillard, 88, of Candler, died Friday, March 29, 2002, in Concord. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Saint George's Episcopal Church, 1 School Road, West Asheville. Father Harry Woogon will preside. The family will receive friends in the church parish hall following the service. Born in Jackson County's Willets community, he was the son of the late Emory Lee and Mae Godfrey Dillard. Known as "Bear" to many, he attended Sylva High School and Western Carolina Teacher's College, where he was a member of the first football team to be named the Catamounts. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving first aboard the U.S.S. Jet and then the U.S.S. Rockingham in the Pacific Theater. Upon retiring in 1989, he operated a residential construction and custom cabinetry business. He was an active communicant at St. George's for 40 years where he served terms as senior warden and junior warden. He also served the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina as a member of the architecture committee. He was preceded in death by one brother, Harrison Dillard; and one sister, Elizabeth Babson. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Ruth Dahlgard Dillard; one son, Thomas Dillard Jr. of Concord; one daughter, Susan Dillard of Candler; one sister, Ruby Hayes of Asheville; one brother, Lee Dillard of Waynesville; and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. George's Episcopal Church, 1 School Road, Asheville, N.C. 28806; or the American Heart Association, Region I, 53 Market St., Asheville, N.C. 28801.

Charmie Cooper

Charmie Chester Cooper, 84, of East Main Street, Sylva, died Saturday, March 30, 2002, in Harris Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 1, at East Sylva Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Charles Dean and Clifford Parker officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons. A native of Pardee, Va., she lived most of her life in Jackson County. She was a member and former chairman of the Gray Ladies. She was a daughter of the late Bill and Etta Legg Chester. She was preceded in death by her husband, Scott Dennis Cooper, who died in 1996; three sisters, Hazel Tyler, Edith Davis and Joyce Garrett; and one brother, Harold Chester. Surviving are one daughter, June Stephens of Sylva; three sons, Jerry Cooper, Scotty Cooper and Mike Cooper, all of Sylva; one sister, Dorothy Allman of Webster; two brothers, Morris Chester of Asheville and Lawrence Chester of Sylva; 12 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the East Sylva Baptist Church, 61 Faith Ave., Sylva, N.C. 28779. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Evelyn Gibson

Evelyn Jones Gibson, 91, of Dillsboro, died Saturday, March 30, 2002, in a Franklin hospital. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Monday, April 1, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Sherrill Ammons officiated. Burial was in Barkers Creek Cemetery. A native of Jackson County, she was a member of the Locust Field Baptist Church in Dillsboro. She was a daughter of the late John and Callie Gunter Jones and wife of the late Jude Gibson. She was preceded in death by one sister, Nicie Jones; one brother, Homer Jones; and a half brother, Hoie Jones. Surviving are two half brothers, Grady and Bennett Jones of Bryson City; and three half sisters, Bonnie Baines of Bryson City, Media Jones of Micaville and Gladys Oliver of Redding, Calif. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Samuel Arwood

Samuel "Sam" A. Arwood, 65, of Sylva, died Saturday, March 30, 2002, in Harris Regional Hospital. Funeral services were held at 5 p.m. Monday, April 1, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. Bob Rigdon officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a former Merchant Marine and a former U.S. Marshal. He was a retired barber and former owner of the Sylva Barber Shop. He was the son of the late Samuel David and Mazie Davis Arwood. Surviving are one daughter, Lisa Arwood Gunton of Spartanburg, S.C.; and one sister, Violet Lowman of Newton. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Amos Harris

Amos Harris, 89, of Andrews, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at Andrews District Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health. Funeral services were held Thursday, March 28, at First Baptist Church in Andrews, where he was a member. The Rev. Cullen Chesser officiated. Burial was at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Murphy. Pallbearers were Lawrence Hyde, Golman Roper, Bruce Pickett, Truett Gray, Virgil Gibson and Jack Mintz. A native of Sylva, he was a son of the late Wes and Florence Harris. He was employed by Nantahala Power and Light Co., where he retired after 36 years of service as shift foreman at the Nantahala Powerhouse. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Mavis Dills Harris; one son, Bill Harris of Andrews; two brothers, Homer Harris of Sylva and James Harris of Andrews; three sisters, Elva Ridley and Hattie Deitz, both of Sylva, and Jean Middleton of Denver; one granddaughter; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 427, Andrews, N.C. 28901. Ivie Funeral Home of Andrews was in charge of arrangements.

James Jennings

James Gordon Jennings, 85, of Glenville, died Sunday, March 31, 2002, at his residence. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Hamburg Baptist Church. The Revs. J.C. Robinson, Matthew Ledbetter and Robert Christopher officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. A retired farmer and son of the late William Charley and Ellen Robinson Jennings, he was a member and former deacon of Hamburg Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Margaret Young Jennings; three daughters, Vivian Cleaveland of Sylva, Joyce Henson of Franklin and Bernice Rice of Glenville; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Blue Ridge School Athletic Fund, 95 Bobcat Drive, Cashiers, N.C. 28717. Moody-Connolly Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Bonnie Nix

Bonnie Nix, 97, of U.S. 441 North, Whittier, died Thursday, March 28, 2002, at her residence after a period of declining health. A native of Hall County, Ga., he was the daughter of the late D.C. and Ollie Stargell Boggs. Moody Funeral Home assisted with local arrangements.

Oliva Pfann-kuchen

Oliva Pfann-kuchen, 92, of Short Ridge Lane, Clyde, died Friday, March 29, 2002, at her residence after a period of declining health. A service will be held at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) at Lauderdale Memorial Gardens. Pastor Myron Vogt of Christ Lutheran Church will officiate. A native of New York City and former resident of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., for 30 years, she was employed as a telephone operator and daycare worker. She also taught Sunday school. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph John Pfann-kuchen. Surviving are one daughter, Cheryl Szathmary of the home. Moody Funeral Home assisted with local arrangements. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Lillie Moore

Lillie Mae Moore, 78, of Floral Drive, Sylva, died Sunday, March 31, 2002, at Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Roger Stewman and Charles Dean officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Ben Rigdon, Shawn Rigdon, Cody Moore, Terry Hooper, Benny Franklin and Mike Stephens. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she worked at Skyland Care Center. She was the daughter of the late Claude James and Dorothy Ann Beasley Moore. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Parker and Martha Franklin; and three brothers, Adam, Paul and James Moore. Surviving are two sisters, Ferbie Parker of Washington and Minnie Moore of Sylva; and two brothers, Henry Moore and Joe Moore, both of Sylva.

LaVonda Harris

LaVonda Savage Harris, 57, of Lennox Park Drive, Hendersonville, died Sunday, March 31, 2002, in Four Seasons Hospice Elizabeth House in Hendersonville. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Old Savannah Baptist Church. The Revs. David Souderes and Billy Campbell officiated. Burial was in Old Savannah Cemetery. A native of Macon County and a former resident of Jackson County, she lived most of her life in Henderson County. She was a nurse's aide at Margaret Pardee Hospital and daughter of the late Woodrow Wilson and Berta Mae Wilson Savage. Surviving are three sons, Patrick Harris of Smithfield, Charles Justin Harris and Morgan Daniel Harris of Hendersonville; and one granddaughter. Memorials may be made to Old Savannah Cemetery, c/o Doug Hall, 41 Hall Town Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.