Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite Melton Riddle Funeral Home

Obituaries - 06/08/00

Thelma Berryhill

Thelma Lee Wolfe Berryhill, 84, of Stockbridge, Ga., died Saturday, June 3, at Christian Ministries Hospice in Griffin, Ga.

A graveside service was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at Evergreen Cemetery in Charlotte.

A native of Spartanburg, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Roy Monroe Wolfe and Ottie Mae Dillingham Wolfe. Widowed by the late Arron Lee Berryhill, she was a homemaker and a member of Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. She was also a former volunteer for the American Red Cross.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Wolfe, Jr.; one sister, Lula Whitlock; and one granddaughter.

Surviving are her two sons, Douglas Lee Berryhill of Stockbridge, Ga., and Robert W. Berryhill Sr. of Oakland, Calif.; five sisters, Ethel Caudle of Overland Park, Kan., Vernal McGhinn of Lumberton, Flora McClure of Orange, Texas, Cirrie Kendall of New London, and Peggy Morgan of Sylva; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1615 E. Fifth Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28204; or to the American Lung Association, 5315 Greenbrook Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28205.


Connie Miller

Connie Lee Cole Miller, 49, of Whittier, died Monday, June 5, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) in the chapel of Bill Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman will officiate. Burial will be in Union Hill Cemetery.

A native of Burke County and a lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of lrene Cole of Whittier and the late Ted Cole. She was a member of Living Waters Lutheran Church of Cherokee.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William F. Miller.

Surviving are one daughter, Jessica Miller of the home; five sisters, Londa Cook of Travelers Rest. S.C., Nancy Salias of Greenville, S.C., Janie McMillian and Della Rae Sizemore of Bryson City and Ellen Rogers of Whittier; and two brothers, Nelson Cole of Travelers Rest, S.C., and Perry Cole of Bryson City.

The family was to have received friends 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at the funeral home.


Kathleen Welch

Kathleen Parker Welch, 77, of Cherokee, died Saturday, June 3, in a Buncombe County hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. The Rev. James "Bo" Parris officiated. Burial was in Tow String Cemetery. Cherokee Fire Department members served as pallbearers.

A native of Macon County, she was a daughter of the late Ben and Flora Lambert Parker. She was a member of Bethabara Baptist Church.

Surviving are one daughter, Janice Owle of Cherokee; two sons, James Welch of Jacksonville, Fla., and John Welch of Cherokee; two sisters, Christine Buchanan of Canton and Elba Crain of Cherokee; four brothers, Gerard, Caroll, Don and Tom Parker, all of Cherokee; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.


William Fisher

William Hilliard "Tood" Fisher, 87, of 30 Green Oak Road, Asheville, died Saturday, June 3.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in Newbridge Baptist Church. The Revs. Clark Henderson and Keith Edwards officiated. Burial was in West Memorial Park with Masonic rites conducted by the Blackmer Masonic Lodge.

A native of Madison County, he was a resident of Buncombe County for most of his life. He was owner and operator of Fisher¹s Electrical Repair until his retirement in 1977.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a 50-year member of Blackmer Masonic Lodge 170. He was a member and deacon of Newbridge Baptist Church and son of the late William Henry and Sophinia Capps Fisher.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Julia Corn Fisher; one daughter, Martha Fisher Jenkins of Morganton; one son, James Henry "Jim" Fisher of Cullowhee; four grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.

West Funeral Home in Weaverville was in charge of arrangements.


Samuel Beck

Samuel Foch Beck, 82, of Cherokee, died Sunday, June 4.

Funeral services were held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at Franklin First United Methodist Church. The Revs. Harold Strader and Dr. Jeff Patterson officiated. Burial will be today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. at Beck Family Cemetery in Cherokee with graveside rites conducted by Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143. Pallbearers will be Bill Beck, Jim Beck, Jack Beck, Buff Maney, Sam Beck and Joey Beck.

Son of the late Sarah Sneed and Sam Beck, he started traveling extensively in his teens while playing with some of the top dance bands of the 1930s, including his own. During World War II, he participated in all the invasions of the Third Marine Division. While recuperating from wounds, he became a member of the ³Presidents Own² Marine Band.

After his discharge, he returned home and graduated from Western Carolina Teachers College, with degrees in music education and economics. He started several school bands and church choirs. He also became a successful businessman with a cafeteria and motel in Cherokee and cattle farm in Franklin. At his farm he practiced innovative concepts of conservation and opened it up for study.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Paul Beck.

Surviving are his wife, Frances Kingery Luce Beck; three sons, Sam Beck of Hayesville, Robert of Cherokee and Steven Beck of Franklin; two brothers, Quentin and Tim Beck of Cherokee; and one sister, Wilma Lambert of Cherokee.

Memorials may be made to WCU Music Department, Coulter Building, Room 253, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723.

Back to Archive: 06/08/00.