Obituaries - 06/15/00

Jack Alexander

Jack Hamilton Alexander, 68, of 149 Coldstream Drive, Spartanburg, S.C., died Saturday, June 10, at his home.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, at the Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. The Revs. Randy Hahn and Paul Crosby officiated. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

A native of Sylva, he was a son of Lois Henry Alexander of Sylva and the late Leon Jack Alexander. He was a graduate of Western Carolina University and was employed with Barclay's American for more than 30 years before his retirement. He was also associated with Gilbert Auto Sales. He was a member of First Baptist Church North Spartanburg and had served in the U.S. Army.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Burgess Alexander.

Surviving are his wife, Joye Edwards Gilbert Alexander of the home; one son, Gregory W. Alexander of Hendersonville; two daughters, Rhonda A Perry of Spartanburg and Karen A. Crosby of Inman, S.C.; one stepdaughter, Laura G. Fowler of Inman; three stepsons, William D. Gilbert of Inman, Dale M. Gilbert of Spartanburg, and Jonathan E. Ballard of the home; one sister, Doris A. Hoyle of Lilburn, Ga.; one brother, Doyle Alexander of Sylva; and 10 grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Library Fund of the First Baptist Church North Spartanburg School, 8740 Asheville Highway, Spartanburg, S.C. 29307.

Louie Parker

Louie Alden Parker Sr., 59, of Lyman, Wash., died Saturday, May 27, at his home. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 1, at Lemley Chapel, Sedro, Woolley, Wash. Burial was at Lyman Cemetery.

A native of the Caney Fork community of Cullowhee, he was a son of the late Homes and Etta Henry Parker. He had lived in Lyman since 1952. A former mayor of Lyman, he served several terms. He worked as a mechanic for Vern Sims Ford for many years.

He was a union leader and past president of the Lyman Machinists Union. While mayor, he served on the Skagit Council of Governments and at one time ran for Skagit county commissioner. In 1970, he was named Rookie of the Year at Skagit Speedway.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, William H. Parker, Vernon Parker and Junior Parker.

Surviving are one daughter, Anita Louise Parker of Sylva; one son, Louie Alden Parker Jr. of Lakeland, Fla.; four sisters, Fannie Lloyd of Knoxville, Md., Dorothy Wood of Lyman, Marie Price of Bayview, Wash., and Bonnie Bishop of Sylva; two brothers, John M. Parker and Ray A. Parker, both of Lyman; and two granddaughters.

Memorials may be made to the Lyman Cemetery Fund.

Harry Thomas

Harry Lavon Thomas, 70, of 194 Holston Village Road, Waynesville, died Sunday, June 11, at the VA Medical Center in Asheville.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at St. Andrewąs Episcopal Church in Canton, of which he was a member. Father Clem Gunn and Deacon Russell Smith will officiate. Burial will be at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, with military graveside rites conducted by the Waynesville VFW Post 5202 and American Legion Haywood Post 47.

A native of Swain County, he lived in Waynesville for the past 18 years. He was a son of the late Harry and Della Byrd Thomas. He was a retired employee of Contel/GTE telephone in Sylva having worked for 28 1/2 years. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving at the end of World War II and in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

Surviving are his wife, Peggy Byrd Thomas of Waynesville; one daughter, Sandra Lynn Thomas; three stepsons, Anthony Brown of Cleveland, Robert Brown of Wartland, Wisc., and David Brown of Asheville; one brother, Joe Thomas of Bryson City; two sisters, Betty Lou Grant of Bryson City and Maryann Burgess of Eustis, Fla.; and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrew's Church, 99 Academy St, Canton, N.C. 29816 or Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 262 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, N.C. 28721.

Kenneth Morgan

Kenneth Edward Morgan, 60, of Crescent City, Calif., died Tuesday, June 6.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 9 at Redwoods Family Church. Burial was at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

A native of Sylva, he was a 52-year resident of Del Norte County, Calif. He was self employed in the trucking industry and furniture sales. He was a member of the Redwoods Family Church and was involved with the local school, community and JCs. He was once the voice of Paul Bunyon at the Trees of Mystery.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lew and Mary Morgan; two brothers, Robert and Jimmy Morgan and one granddaughter.

Surviving are his wife, Needa Morgan of Crescent City; two daughters, Kim Barnett of Fort Bragg, Calif. and Kathy Borders of Crescent City; three sons, Kirk Morgan of Camas, Wash., and Keith and Jimmy Morgan, both of Crescent City; one sister, Jane Broadbent of Crescent City; one brother, Roy Morgan of Crescent City; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Memorials may be made to Redwoods Family Church Mission Fund, P.O. Box 958, Crescent City, Calif. 95531.

Robert Gibson

Robert Lee Gibson, 71, of the Gateway community of Whittier, died Thursday, June 8, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Tow String Baptist Church. The Rev. Raymond Mathews officiated. Burial was at Becks Branch Cemetery.

A native of Graham County, he was a former resident of Washington and of Jackson County. A son of the late John W. and Flora Jane Ammons Gibson, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He was preceded in death by one brother, James Gibson; and one son, John Robert Gibson. Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Virginia Bumgarner Gibson of the home; five sons, Terry and Mike Gibson, both of Cherokee, Ron Gibson of Troutman, Steve Gibson of Charlotte and Billy Gibson of Bryson City; two daughters, Deborah Ashe and Jennifer Waldroup, both of Cherokee; one brother, Mack Gibson of Travelers Rest, S.C.; one sister, Nancy Simmons of Marietta, S.C.; and seven grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ada McCoy

Ada J. McCoy, 81, of N.C. 107, Glenville, died Wednesday, June 7, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 9, at Hamburg Baptist Church. The Revs. J.C. Robinson and Lester Sutton officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Hamburg Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and active in WMU. She was a daughter of the late William Charlie and Ellen Robinson Jennings.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Helen Johnson ; and two brothers, Grant and Glenn Jennings.

Surviving are her husband of 60 years, Emory W. McCoy; one daughter, Bonita Boggs of Glenville; one brother, Gordon Jennings of Glenville; two granddaughters; and two great-grandsons.

Memorials may be made to Hamburg Baptist Church Pew Fund, Highway 107, Glenville, N.C. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Glennie Roberts

Glennie R. Roberts, 90, of the Toot Hollow community of Bryson City died Friday, June 9, in Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. The Rev. John Tagliarini officiated. Burial was in Estes Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she had lived most of her life in Swain County. She was a daughter of the late Victor and Hettie Slagle Rogers and wife of the late Raymond Roberts, who died in 1954. She was a member of Bryson City First Baptist Church.

Surviving are two daughters, Carol R. Bradley of Cherokee and Barbara Davison of Cape Coral, Fla.; three sons, James E. Roberts of Waynesville, Thomas L. Roberts of Monroe and Steven R. Roberts of Whittier; one sister, Ethel Welch of Bryson City; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Lottie Moon Offering, c/o Bryson City First Baptist Church.

Fred Williamson

Fred Williamson, 69, of the Piney Mountain community of Whittier, died Monday, June 12, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Dicks Creek Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell and Sherrill Ammons will officiate. Burial will be in the Elders Family Cemetery with military honors provided by American Legion Post 104 of Sylva.

A Swain County native, he had lived all of his life in Jackson County. He was owner of Williamson Sanitation Service and a son of the late Bill and Margie Hoyle Williamson. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in the Korean conflict.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Willlamson; two sisters, Zelda and Faye Dills; and his childrenąs mother, Cora Helen Gibson Williamson, who died in 1987.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley Mathis Williamson; one daughter, Sandy Gibson of Whittier; one son, Randy Williamson of Sylva; one stepson, Keith Hooper of Sylva; one sister, Reba Cagle of Sylva; three brothers, Ray Williamson of Columbia, S.C., Bobby Williamson of Waynesville, and Roy Williamson of Sylva; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Huskey Jr.

John Huskey Jr., 68, of Whittier, died Wednesday, June 7, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 9, at Bethabara Baptist Church. The Revs. Earl Holden and James ''Bo''Parris officiated. Burial was in Swain Memorial Park.

A native of Swain County, he was a son of the late John W. and Ruth Lambert Huskey and husband of the late Lillie Mae Huskey, who died May 31.

Surviving are two daughters, Joyce Lynne Huskey of Whittier and Paula Arch of Hendersonville; two sons, Johnny F. and Darryl Junior Huskey, both of Whittier; three brothers, Beecher Huskey and Sanford ''Ham''Huskey, both of Bryson City, and Woody Huskey of New York; four sisters, Francis Green, Phillis Eller and Judy Bird, all of Cherokee, and Caroline Harris of Campbellsville, Ky.; and three grandsons.

Robert Jones

Robert Melvin Jones, 83, of the Wilmot community of Whittier, died Saturday, June 10, in a Swain County health care facility.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, at Wilmot Baptist Church. The Revs. Johnny Ray Davis and Lanny Nations officiated. Burial was in Bumgarner Cemetery.

A native of Swain County, he lived most of his life in Jackson County. He was a son of the late Coleman and Flora Rogers Jones and the husband of the late Lettie Jones. He was a retired machine operator with Singer Furniture Co., where he worked for 21 years.

He was preceded in death by one son, Melvin Jones; one brother, Roy Jones; and three sisters, Maggie Green, Rixie Littrel and Ila Mills.

Surviving are two daughters , Ruth Green of Wilmot and Tammy Dyer of Bryson City; two sons, Fred Jones of Wilmot and Johnny Jones of Wilmot; two stepchildren, Donna Kirkland of Bryson City and Junior Messer of Whittier; two sisters. Lillie Thompson of Canton and Delcie Styles of Idaho; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Grady Corbin

Grady William Corbin Sr., 67, of Forest Avenue, Franklin, died Monday, June 12, in an Asheville hospital.

Funeral services will be held at. 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Holly Springs Baptist Church. The Rev. Eddie Trull and Lynn Dulakis will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post 7339 and American Legion Post 108 and the Rev. Judson Hall.

Pallbearers will be Norman Seay, Jim Williams, Pete Penland, Vic Teague, Jerry Sutton, John Sprinkle, Ken Stonebraker and Pat Pattillo. Honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Bateman, Fred Goldsmith, Leonard Cook, Walter Hunter, David Silverstein, Raymond Shepherd and Steve Penland.

A native of Macon County, he was a son of the late Dewey Corbin and Minnie Williams Corbin. He graduated from Western Carolina University with a B.S. degree in education, majoring in health and physical education. He was president of the Jaycees from 1961-1962, former president of the Chamber of Commerce, volunteer fireman for 25 years and was a Franklin High School teacher from 1959-1966.

He started as a part-time instructor in adult/continuing education then he became fulltime as director of admissions and was the first director of the Southwestern Community College Macon Center. He served as recruiter for the college end retired as director of admissions in 1993. Upon retirement, he was part time P.E. instructor for SCC. He was a member of Holly Springs Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, facilities chairman and chairman of the cemetery committee. He served as assistant football coach at Franklin High School and a Little League coach, officiated football, basketball and baseball and was Smoky Mountain booking agent.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Wilma Renshaw Corbin; three sons, Grady W. Corbin Jr. of Boiling Springs, Ren Corbin of Atlanta and Mark Corbin of Sylva; one brother, C.D, Corbin Jr. of Franklin; three sisters, Dorothy Seagle and Mildred Williamson, both of Franklin, and Mae Keeter of Salisbury; and eight grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Southwestern Community College, Grady Corbin Scholarship Fund, 447 College Drive, Sylva, N.C. 28779 or the Jennings Cemetery Fund at Holly Springs Baptist Church General Fund, c/o Annie Ruth Cabe, 896 Rabbit Creek Road, Franklin, N.C. 28734.

Abby Maney

Abby Gayle Maney, infant daughter of Richard Maney and Heather Mathis of Broomsage Ridge, Tuckasegee, died Thursday, June 8.

Private graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Surviving are one brother, Michael Frizzell of the home; maternal grandparents, Robert and Audrey Dillard of Tuckasegee, and Dennis and Charlotte Mathis of Lexington, Tenn.; paternal grandparents, Kenny and Sandy Maney of Hazelwood; maternal great-grandparents, Dewey and Mattie Broom of Tuckasegee, and Icelene Mathis Price of Sylva; and paternal great-grandparents, George and Helen Maney of Dillsboro.

She was preceded in death by a paternal grandmother, Robin Jones Maney; and maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Mathis.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Kathleen Jones

Kathleen Fullbright Jones, 86, of Matthews, died Monday, June 12.

A funeral service was held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Harry and Bryant Chapel in the Oaks in Charlotte with the Rev. John Butler officiating. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 2 to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be at Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late Samuel Roscoe and Bertah Painter Fullbright. She was a retired elementary school teacher and was a member of First Baptist Church of Matthews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis Floyd ''Payne''Jones.

Surviving are one son, Danny F. Jones of the home; one foster son, Manley F. Brown of Macon, Ga.; three foster grandchildren; and one foster great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to Broyhill Baptist Children's Home, 111 Sneed Drive, Clyde, N.C. or to Cullowhee Baptist Church Building Fund, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723.