Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite

Obituaries - 11/25/99

Forest Hills board member Jim Pearce is dead at age 51
Jim Pearce

Jim Pearce

 James William Pearce, 51, of Forest Hills, died Tuesday, Nov. 16. Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Cullowhee United Methodist Church. Dr. Frank Padgett officiated. Burial was in Cullowhee United Methodist Church Cemetery. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, in Winthrop University Chapel in Rock Hill, S.C.

A community leader who helped lead the successful effort to incorporate the Village of Forest Hills, Pearce was elected to and served on the first Village Council. He was vice chair of the village's planning board.

Pearce was an associate professor of management in Western Carolina University's College of Business and had been a member of the faculty since 1991. He served two years as director of WCU's graduate programs in business with overall responsibility for the masters of business administration and masters in project management programs.
At WCU, he taught courses in production and operations management, strategic management, logistics and contracts for project management, and quantitative methods.

He earned his bachelor's degree in engineering from N.C. State University in 1970, a law degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1973, and a doctorate in operations management from Georgia State University's College of Business in 1992.

Prior to joining the faculty at WCU, he taught for three years at Georgia State University and for two years at Winthrop University.

Pearce served in the U.S. Army as commanding officer in the 3649th Heavy Equipment Maintenance Co. of the Ordnance Corps and was a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He began his professional career as an associate attorney with Belser, Belser, Baker, Barwick, Toal and Bender in Columbia, S.C., in 1974. From 1975-77, he served as assistant city attorney for the city of Columbia, S.C.

For 11 years, 1977-88, he was in private practice with Pearce and Simpson, Attorneys, in Rock Hill, S.C., specializing in civil litigation, commercial and residential real estate, and real estate development matters.

In addition to his university duties, Pearce founded and was president of two companies, the Law Management Group Inc. and Strategy-Online Inc. He was published extensively in academic and professional journals with more than 60 publications to his credit.

He was the recipient of the George Manners Award and Outstanding Teaching Award at Georgia State University, held membership in Beta Gamma Sigma national business honorary, and was in the National Register of Who's Who in Executives in Business. He was a finalist for the Jay I. Kneedler Professor of Excellence Award at WCU in 1993.

Throughout his life, he was involved in many civic and community organizations, including leadership roles with YMCAs, Chambers of Commerce, the United Way, and Boy Scouts of America. Born in Winston-Salem, he was the son of Ruth Cranford Pearce of Winston-Salem and the late LeGrande Pearce.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife, Carol Hughes Pearce; one son, William "Will" LeGrande Pearce; and one brother, W.T. Pearce of Fairborn, Ohio.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Cullowhee United Methodist Church, Jim Pearce Fund, P.O. Box 1267, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723.

Bertha Buchanan

Bertha Mae Crawford Buchanan, 71, of Sylva, died Thursday, Nov. 18, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Melton-Riddle Chapel. The Revs. Wallace Tallent and Gene Hawkins officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a homemaker and member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. She was the daughter of the late Avery and Icey Norman Crawford. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse F. Buchanan, who died in 1974.

Survivors include four sons, Keith Crawford of Chattanooga, Tenn., Randy S. Crawford and Johnny A. Crawford, both of Sylva, and Coleman Buchanan of Franklin; two sisters, Annie Cogdill of Sylva and Nancy Jane Gibson of Franklin; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials be made to the Gideons International, 80 W. Sylva Shopping Area, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Lewis, former school board member, dies at 61
Mack Lewis

Mack Lewis

Mack Lewis

Mack "Bud" Lewis, 61, of Sylva'a Little Savannah Community, died Friday, Nov.19, at his residence after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at Scotts Creek Baptist Church, of which he was a member and deacon. The Revs. Rich Peoples, Judson Rotan and Eddie Stillwell officiated. Burial was in Stillwell Cemetery with military honors.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was former owner and operator of Bud's Exxon in Sylva, a former board member of the Jackson County Board of Education, serving two terms, and a member of the Sylva Fire Department for 21 years.
At the time of his death, he was a carpenter with Fred Houston Construction Co. He was a member of the National Guard with 12 years of service. He was a son of Georgia Deitz Lewis of Sylva and the late Harley L. Lewis, who died in 1997. He was preceded in death by one son, Benjamen Lessing Lewis.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife, Susan Lessing Lewis; three daughters, Ida Kidd of Graham, Theresa Junaluska of Sylva and Rebecca Royal of Burlington; five sisters, Alva Houston of Cullowhee, Frances Hall, Mary Sue Lewis, Jo Ann Rhinehart, and Gail Cagle, all of Sylva; one brother, Johnny Lewis of Sylva; and seven grandchildren. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Hospice, 132 Sylva Plaza, Sylva, NC 28779; Scotts Creek Baptist Church Youth, 97 Steeple Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779; or to Stillwell Cemetery Fund, c/o Carolyn Lewis, One Horse Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Walter Wall

Walter Lee Wall, 78, of Hobson Drive, Mocksville, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury after several months of declining health.

A memorial graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, in National Cemetery in Salisbury. The Rev. Charles Stewart officiated. Military rites were conducted by the 11th District Memorial Honor Guard, Veterans of Foreign War.

A native of Davie County, he was a son of the late Charlie Lemuel and Lula Lanier Wall. He was a retired warehouseman with the VA Medical Center in Salisbury with 33 years of service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army/Air Force and was a Purple Heart recipient of World War II. He was preceded in death by one sister, Frankie Bowles, and three brothers, Clarence Wall, Bob Wall and Fred Wall.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Shirley Baker Wall; one daughter, Jeanne Melvin of Concord; one son, Richard Lee Wall of Sylva; two sisters, Evelyn Boger and Frances McClamrock, both of Mocksville; two brothers, Tom Wall and Roy Wall, both of Mocksville; and two granddaughters. Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Research, 3420 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28215.

Lillie Brown

Lillie Mae Ashe Brown of Arlington, Wash., died Monday, Oct. 25, from complications of a stroke. Funeral services were held Oct. 27 in Darrington, Wash. Burial was in Darrington Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of Estus and Hattie Ashe. In 1947 she moved to Darrington, Wash., and lived there until 1976, moving to Arlington, Wash., where she lived until her death. She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church in Darrington, Wash. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie C. Brown; and two brothers, Walter Ashe and Spuregon Ashe.

Surviving are one daughter, Peggy Hyatt of Marysville, Wash.; one son, Wayne C. Brown of Darrington, Wash.; three sisters, Naoima Waldrop and Mildred Hooper, both of Brevard, and Vickie Rose of Simi Valley, Calif.; one brother, Burlas Ashe of Penrose; four grandchildren; and five great-grandsons.

Memorials may be made to Darrington Funeral Luncheon Fund or First Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Peggy S. Hyatt, 5005 98th Pl. NE, Marysville, Wash. 98270.

Melissa Hall

Melissa Hall, 29, of Cashiers, died Saturday, Nov. 21, at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville after a brief illness. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Back to Archive: 11-25-99.