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.

Read More . . .

Obituaries - 04/12/01

Doris Mashburn

Doris Turpin Mashburn, 78, formerly of Sylva, died March 25, 2001, in a hospital in Aberdeen, Wash.

Funeral services were held in Darrington, Wash., where she was buried alongside her late husband, Bob Mashburn.

The couple ran shoe repair shops for years before moving to Oak Ridge, Tenn. Then in 1961, they moved to Washington state, where they owned several shoe shops.

She was the daughter of John and Pearl Turpin.

Surviving are four of her five children, Lila Raabe of Kent, Wash., John R. Mashburn of Everett, Wash., Ronald L. Mashburn of West Richland, Wash., and Rachael Qualey of Grayland, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family can be contacted by writing Rachael Qualey, P.O. Box 489, Grayland, Wash., 98547.

Sarah Evans

Sarah "Lucille" Evans, 85, of High Point, died Friday, April 5, 2001, at Forsyth Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 9, in Westchester Baptist Church. The Rev. Eric Peacock officiated. Burial was in Floral Garden Park Cemetery.

A native of Webster, she was the daughter of the late Houston and Rixie Ensley Ashe. A graduate of Webster High School, she was a retired children's caretaker. Earlier in her life, she worked for RJR in Winston-Salem. She was an active member of Westchester Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Nick Evans; and two daughters, Peggy Jean and Betty Sue Evans.

Surviving are two sons, Mark Evans of Conyers, Ga., and James Evans of High Point; one brother, William Ashe of Hendersonville; three grandchildren; and two step grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Westchester Baptist Church, 135 Westchester Drive, High Point, N.C. 27260.

Sechrest Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Katherine Flanagan

Mary Katherine Grindstaff Flanagan, 86, of Conway, S.C., died Thursday, March 22, 2001, at Kingston Nursing Center.

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. The Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston officiated.

A native of Andrews and former resident of Sylva, she was a daughter of the late Graham and Inez Cathey Grindstaff. She was a graduate of Sylva High School and Keene (N.H.) State College. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Conway, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Surviving are her husband Robert Flanagan; and a sister, Frances Smart of Colville, Wash.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 508, Conway, S.C. 29528.

James McGee

James E. "Jim" McGee, 79, died March 22, 2001, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Easter Monday, April 16, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Sylva. A native of Belton, S.C., he was a summer resident of Sylva's East Fork community for many years. He was enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II, serving in the European Theatre and received many campaign medals and the Purple Heart. He was president of Florida Electronic Supply in Melbourne, Fla.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Kathleen "Kitty" McGee of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.; a daughter, Kim Blair; a brother, Bob McGee of Melbourne, Fla.; and two grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church Memorial Garden Fund in his name.

Hayward Shelton

Hayward M. Shelton, 74, of 50 Old Highway 19, Columbus, died Wednesday, April 4, 2001, in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center in Spartanburg, S.C.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, in McFarland Funeral Chapel in Tryon. The Rev. Billy Salyers officiated. Burial was in Polk Memorial Gardens in Columbus with military rites by Polk County Memorial Burial Squad.

Born on Wolfe Mountain, he was the son of the late David Mitchell and Onia Shelton. He was the husband of Lobelia Sophie Phillips Shelton, who died in 1999.

After graduating from high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. He became a private in the U.S. Army, serving in World War II from 1945 to 1947 stationed in the Hawaiian Islands.

He served in law enforcement for 18 years, serving as Polk County sheriff from 1966 to 1974. He was recognized in the publication "Personalities of the South" 1970 edition. He was a member of the National Sheriff's Association and the N.C. Sheriff's Association. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 250 in Tryon and the Polk County Democratic Party.

After retiring, he owned and operated Lynn Motor Sales. He formed the gospel band, the Sheltons, and produced several tapes. He was a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Lynn.

He was preceded in death by one son, Steven B. Shelton; and one daughter, Kathy Lynn Shelton. Surviving are one brother, Newman Shelton of Ellijay, Ga.; one sister, Reba Harris of Rosman; and one granddaughter.

Memorials may be made to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Special Fund, P.O. Box 69, Columbus, N.C. 28722.

Irene Leddy

Irene Leddy, 48, of Reno, Nev., died Tuesday, March 20, 2001. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Long Branch Baptist Church.

Andrew Wilson

Andrew M. Wilson, 68, of U.S. 441 South, Sylva, died Monday, April 9, 2001, in Memorial Mission Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Zion Hill Baptist Church. The Revs. Keith Ashe, Eddie Stillwell and Benny Bagwell will officiate. Burial will be in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be deacons of Zion Hill Baptist Church.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he retired as owner and operator of Wilson's Colonial Gas and Tire. Son of the late Calvin A. and Charlotte Johnson Wilson, he was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent and for 33 years was a deacon.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Leo Wilson, Charlie R. "Dock" Wilson and an infant brother; and one sister, Minnie Ridley.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Bonnell Carver Wilson; one daughter, Charlene W. Hooks of Sylva; one son, Danny A. Wilson of Sylva; two sisters, Ruby Bishop of Sylva and Mary Hartness of Gastonia; and two grandsons.

Memorials may be made to the Lewis Rathburn Wellness Center, 121 Sherwood Road, Asheville, N.C. 28803; or Zion Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o Mary Wilson, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sylva, N.C. 28779. The family was to have received friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home.

Sadie Brooks

Sadie Harris Brooks, 89, of Sylva, died Monday, April 9, 2001, at Skyland Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Clifford Parker will officiate. Burial will be at Wolf Mountain Church Cemetery in Tuckasegee.

A native of Jackson County, she was a former resident of Hendersonville. She was a member of Charleys Creek Baptist Church and the daughter of the late Shuford and Dellia Hoxit Harris.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Alex Robinson and Floyd Brooks; one son, Marshall Burrell; four grandchildren; five brothers, Carr Harris, Oscar Harris, Warren Harris, John Harris and Coot Harris; and five sisters, Leva Frady, Laura McCall, Mary Harris, Mandy Harris and Allie Harris.

Surviving are one brother, James "Bill" Moody of Sunset, S.C.; two stepsons, Esley Brooks of Sedro Wooley, Wash., and Lewis Brooks of Darrington, Wash.; three stepdaughters, Betty Nations of Whittier, Amy Hall of Franklin and Stella Buchanan of Sylva; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Clarence Chappell

Clarence Buren Chappell, 85, of Cashiers' Norton community, died Thursday, April 5, 2001, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Cashiers Baptist Church. The Revs. Art Fowler and J.C. Robinson officiated. Burial was in Norton Community Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, where he had lived most of his life, he was the son of the late Clyde H. and Carcie Powell Chappell. He was a retired sheetmetal worker, having been employed by the Oak Ridge Atomic Energy Plant.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Aleta Fisher; and one son, Dwight Chappell.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Ernestine Watson Chappell; four daughters, Sheila Owens and Janie Carnathan, both of Norton community, Reena Taylor of Greenville, S.C., and Jill Growe of Savannah, Ga.; four sons, Luckye Chappell of Pasco, Wash., Clarance Chappell of Lancaster, Calif., Dempsey Chappell of Atlanta and Clint Chappell of Kenai, Alaska; two sisters, Artensa Carson of Albuquerque, N.M., and Jewell Hicks of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; 28 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Edith Alley

Edith Alley, 88, of Sylva, died Friday, April 6, 2001, at a Sylva care center.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Rogers Cemetery. The Rev. Joe Fulk officiated. A graduate of Western Carolina University, she received a master's degree from Gerogetown University and taught in the Alexandria, Va., Washington, D.C., area schools before moving back to Jackson County in the 1970s.

She was a board member of the Hospital Auxiliary, Garden Club member, and member and former president of the 20th Century Club. She was the daughter of the late John and Pauline Hooper Alley. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Tom, Mack and Morris Alley; and four sisters, Jenny and Sally Alley, Helen Lewis and Rubye Bumgarner.

Surviving are five nieces and nephews.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Don Putnam

Don B. Putnam, 64, of Shelby and Glenville, died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at Duke University Medical Center.

A memorial service was held Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Shelby. The Rev. Ed Sessom and Dr. Todd Still officiated.

A native of Shelby, he was the son of the late Spurgeon Britton and Maggie Lee Bridges Putnam.

He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and was employed with Umeta Corp. of America, where he was a member of Society of Automotive Engineers. He was a member of Fallston Masonic Lodge No. 356, the 32nd-degree Scottish Rites and the Oasis Shrine Club. He was also active with the VFW in Glenville, the Jackson County Transportation Committee and Angel Flight.

Surviving are two daughters, Debbie Davidson of Florence, S.C., and Donna London of Jacksonville, Fla.; three brothers, Bobby Putnam, Bill Putnam and Gary Putnam, all of Shelby; and three grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 211, Charlotte, N.C. 28202; or to the Angel Flight of Georgia, 2000 Airport Blvd., Suite 227, Administration Building, Atlanta, Ga. 30341.

Clements Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.