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 - 06/21/01

Tom Wachacha Sr.

The Rev. Tom Wachacha Sr., 61, of 69 Hilda Queen Road, Soco community, Cherokee, died unexpectedly Saturday, June 16, 2001, in Cherokee Indian Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, at Macedonia Baptist Church. The Revs. James "Bo" Parris, Jim Parks and Ray Kinsland officiated. Burial was in the Wachacha-Taylor Cemetery following the service.

A native and former resident of Graham County, Reverend Wachacha lived in Jackson County for the past 30 years. He was an ordained minister and a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Robbinsville. He was employed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians as a transfer station supervisor and heavy equipment operator. He was the husband of the late Edna Wachacha, who died in 1999, and son of the late Posey and Ida Conseen Wachacha.

In addition to his wife and parents, the Rev. Wachacha was preceded in death by one brother, David Wachacha; and three sisters, Maggie Rattler, Annie Wachacha and Luzene Wachacha. Surviving are two sons, Tom Wachacha Jr. and David L. Wachacha, both of Cherokee; two daughters, Gail Wachacha and Christy Wachacha, both of Cherokee; two brothers, Archie Wachacha and Paul Wachacha, both of Robbinsville; one sister, Eleanora Wachacha, also of Robbinsville; and one granddaughter.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of services. Online obituary and register is available at www.pemoody.com.

Juanita Miller

Juanita Hooper Miller, 88, of 183 Brucemont Circle, Asheville, died Sunday, June 17, 2001.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, in the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home. The Revs. Ted Craddock and Ralph Reed officiated. Burial was at Green Hills Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late Charles Coleman Hooper and the late Laura Cowan Hooper Sutton. She was married to William Carroll Miller, who died in 1979. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Robert C. Miller of Fork Union, Va., and David B. Miller of Asheville; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, N.C. 28813. The memorial register is available at "Funerals Scheduled" at Groce Funeral Home.

Faye Gentry

Faye Belle Gentry, 70, of Woodfin Creek, Balsam, died Wednesday, June 13, 2001, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The Rev. Johnny Swanger officiated. Nephews served as pallbearers.

A native of Transylvania County, she was a daughter of the late Daniel Marcus Gentry Sr. and Nellie Woods Gentry. She attended Balsam Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Arlecia Beaver; and three brothers, Ralph, S.T. and Paul Gentry.

Surviving are one daughter, Shirley Rosetta Gentry of Sylva; three sisters, Vestia Woods of Candler, Vernie Crawford and Roberta Norman, both of Balsam; and two brothers, Robert and Daniel Gentry Jr., both of Sylva.

Herman Medford

Herman James Medford, 68, of Sylva's Dillardtown community, died unexpectedly Sunday, June 17, 2001, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, in the Chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Mike Moore and Sherrill Ammons officiated. Burial was in Locust Field Baptist Church Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Sylva American Legion Post 104 A native of Haywood County, he had lived in Jackson County for the past 22 years. He was a retired cook, having been employed with the Jarrett House. An Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was a member of New Hope Baptist Church. He was a son of the late George Vaughn and Ruth Johnson Medford.

He was preceded in death by two brothers.

Surviving are his wife, Rose Frady Medford; one stepdaughter, Cindy Dunn of Statesville; two stepsons, James Justice of Ellenboro and Lloyd Justice of Statesville; one brother, Johnny Medford of Florence, S.C.; one half-brother, Junior Payne of Canton; and two step-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 925, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Leo Beaugrand Sr.

Leo H. Beaugrand Sr., 77, part-time resident of Cullowhee, died Jan. 19, 2001, in Tampa, Fla.

Funeral services were held Jan. 22 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa. Burial was at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

He was preceded in death by one son, Leo Beaugrand Jr.

Surviving are his wife, Kathleen Beaugrand; two daughters, Cathy-Lee Rouse of Tampa and Karen Mehrzadeh of Valdese; one son, Clyde B. Beaugrand of Jacksonville, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren.