ROCKWELL — The funeral will be Saturday for Opie Cecil Bowden, 57, who died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) at his residence from an apparent heart attack.

Born Aug. 27, 1942, in Nash County, Mr. Bowden was a son of Blanche Edwards Perry of Rocky Mount and the late Joseph B. Bowden. He was educated in the Nash County schools.

A truck driver for Werner Enterprises, he was a former Green Beret with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg.

His wife, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Lynch Bowden, died Oct. 27, 1999.

Survivors include son Brent Bowden, Rockwell; daughter Crystal Bowden, of the home; brother Wilbur Bowden, Nashville, N.C.; sister Evelyn Medford, Nashville, N.C.; and a granddaughter.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Donald Godfrey, pastor of Dunns Mountain Baptist Church. Burial, church cemetery, with military graveside rites by Rowan County Veterans Council.

Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. today, Powles Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the residence.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Medical Center Foundation, Diabetes Fund, 118 E. Council St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

William Stanley Breedlove

GOLD HILL — William Stanley Breedlove, 66, Gold Hill, died Friday (April 14, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell, is in charge.

Jessie Ellison Cowan

EAST SPENCER —Jessie Ellison Cowan, 86, formerly of 704 E. Broad St., died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at Autumn Care, Salisbury, after a period of declining health.

Born Feb. 8, 1914, in Winnsboro, S.C., Mrs. Cowan was a daughter of the late Ada Alston and Joe Ellison. Educated in the public schools of Winnsboro, she was a homemaker and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Salisbury.

Her husband, Monroe Cowan, died Jan. 1. She was also preceded in death by a son, Harry James Davis.

Survivors include sons Robert Lewis Davis, Union Mills, and Earl Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y.; daughters Dorothy Blackwell and Gloria Barringer, both of Salisbury, Naomi Austin and Elizabeth Truesdale, both of Bronx, N.Y., and Jean Carroll Harriston, Queens, N.Y.; sister Willie Lee Gibbs, New York; 17 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Services:Private graveside, 1 p.m. Monday, National Cemetery, Salisbury, conducted by Timothy Blackwell.

The family will be at the home of daughter Dorothy Blackwell, 280 Hope Hill Road, Salisbury.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Salisbury, in charge.

Thomas Eugene Fisher

Thomas Eugene Fisher, 69, 255 Victoria St., died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at the Hefner VA Medical Center.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Harold Wesley Hartsell

CONCORD — The funeral for Harold Wesley Hartsell, 76, 3113 Parks Lafferty Road, will be today. Mr. Hartsell died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center.

Born Dec. 15, 1923 in Cabarrus County, Mr. Hartsell was a son of the late Robert Lee and Bessie Boger Hartsell. He was an overseer in the spinning room at Fieldcrest Cannon, where he was employed 45 years.

A member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, he was a Cabarrus County school board member for 18 years and a member of the trustee board of NorthEast Medical Center.

A son, Mickey York Hartsell, died in 1986.

Survivors include wife Martha Safrit Hartsell; daughter Jeanette Eaves, Midland; sons Wesley Hartsell, Salisbury, and Robert Lee Hartsell, Concord; sister Rosalyn Greene, Concord; brother John Sharpe Hartsell, Concord; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. today, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jesse Clubb. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorials: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, c/o treasurer, 3113 Parks Lafferty Road, Concord, N.C. 28027, or donor’s choice.

Hartsell Funeral Home, Concord, in charge.

James Grover Hartsell

CHINA GROVE — James Grover Hartsell, 81, 1525 Highway 153, died Friday (April 14, 2000) at his home.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, is in charge.

Betha Hinson Hatley

STANFIELD —

Born Jan. 1, 1912, in Stanly County, Mrs. Hatley was a daughter of the late Mary Jane Lambert and Rufus James Hinson. Retired from Collins and Aikman, Concord, she was a sample sewer. She was a member of Meadow Creek Primitive Baptist Church.

Her husband, Fred Lee Hatley, died in 1978.

She is survived by a daughter, Virginia Mae Hatley, of the home; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Meadow Creek Primitive Baptist Church, conducted by the Elder Rom Kerley. Burial, Running Creek Primitive Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation:7-9 p.m. tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Memorials:Ridgecrest Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Dexter Eudy, 24905 Millingport Road, Stanfield, N.C. 28163.

Blanche Heilig

ROCKWELL — Blanche Y. Heilig, 93, formerly of Old Beatty Ford Road, died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at the Salisbury Lutheran Home.

Lady’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, is in charge.

James Lee Hill

The funeral will be Saturday for James Lee Hill, 81, who died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at his residence.

Born Feb. 14, 1919, in Rowan County, Mr. Hill was a son of the late Josephine Isenhour and Joseph Alexander Hill. Educated in the Rowan County schools, he was formerly a foreman with Carolina Stalite.

He was a member of Liberty United Methodist Church, where he had been a trustee for many years. Also a steward of the church, he served as secretary of the church administrative board. He was a member of the Parsonage Committee and the Adult Bible Study Sunday School Class.

Also a farmer, he was a former member of the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors include wife Helen Ketchie Hill, whom he married Sept. 6, 1939; sons James “Tom” Hill, Jerry L. Hill and Ronald William “Bill” Hill, all of Gold Hill; daughter Lunda Hill Clement, Gold Hill; brother Paul J. Hill, Salisbury; sister Esther Bown, Rockwell; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildrn.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Liberty United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mark Helms, pastor, and the Rev. Carl Lane and the Rev. David Guy. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 p.m. today, Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell.

Memorials: Liberty United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 3640 Liberty Road, Gold Hill, N.C. 28071.

Clara Ethel Jones

KANNAPOLIS —Clara Ethel Jones, 84, 505 Ford St., died Thursday (April 13, 2000)at Genesis ElderCare, Salisbury, after seven years of declining health and two weeks of serious illness.

Born Jan. 1, 1916, in Anson County, Mrs. Jones was a daughter of the late Nora Horn and Atlas “Bud” Carpenter. A homemaker, she was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Kannapolis, where she had taught Sunday school and assisted with vacation Bible school.

Her husband, Sam Jones, died in 1993.

Survivors include sons Robert and Ted Jones, both of Kannapolis; brother Zeb Carpenter, Anson County; sisters Orene Carpenter, Edith McSwain and Sylvia Kirkley, all of Kannapolis, and Edna Pope, Marshville; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Calvary Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Tom Tucker. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis.

Memorials: Calvary Baptist Church, 703 Buick Ave., Kannapolis, N.C. 28083.

Kermit ‘Ken’ Mullis

RICHFIELD — Kermit Kendall “Ken” Mullis, 70, 317 E. Church St., died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) in Cornelius.

Born Oct. 15, 1929 in Union County, Mr. Mullis was a son of the late Vergie Deese and Otto Lane Mullis. Self-employed, he was a trader, buyer and seller. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He attended Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church.

Survivors include wife Ruth Estelle Meismer Mullis; sons Wayne Mullis, Greenville, S.C., and Jeff Mullis, Richfield; brothers Don Mullis, Prattville, Ala., Landon Mullis, New London, and Mac Mullis, Albemarle; sisters, Bernice Almond and Nell Thompson, both of Albemarle, and Dolly Howard, Pineville; and six grandchildren.

Services: 4 p.m. Saturday, Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Albemarle, conducted by Elder Richard Almond, the Rev. Marvin Huneycutt and the Rev. Alvin Melton. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. today, Hartsell Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home.

Ollie Thompson Keaton

Ollie Thompson Keaton, 73, 640 Gunn St., Burlington, died Monday (April 10, 2000) at Liberty Commons of Alamance after several months of serious illness.

A graduate of Livingstone College in Salisbury, she taught in the public schools of Surry County.

Services:Graveside, 11 a.m. Saturday, Rest Haven Cemetery, Burlington, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Styles, pastor, First Baptist Church.

Hargett and Bryant Funeral Home, Burlington, in charge.

Catherine Leonard

Catherine Jackson Leonard, 76, 609 S. Shaver St., died Wednesday (April 5, 2000) at Tucker Nursing Facilities, Tucker, Ga., after a serious illness of several weeks.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home. Burial, 10 a.m. Monday, Salisbury National Cemetery.

Visitation: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, funeral home chapel.

Samuel T. Lunsford Jr.

ALBEMARLE — Samuel Thomas “Sammy” Lunsford Jr., 68, 596 Highway 72 Bypass W., died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) at Mercy Hospital, Charlotte.

Born Oct. 14, 1931, in Stanly County, Mr. Lunsford was a son of the late Ruth Lee and Samuel Thomas Lunsford. He was a machine operator at Cannon Mills.

Survivors include wife Mary Catherine Snuggs Lunsford; sons Tommy Lunsford, Dallas, Ga., Larry and Toby Lunsford , both of Albemarle; brothers Gene Lunsford, Asheboro, and Ray Lunsford, Orange Park., Fla.; three grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren ; and three step-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Congregational Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Doland Talbert. Burial, Stanly Gardens of Memory.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. today, Hartsell Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home.

Ruth Eagle Marshall

Ruth Naomi Eagle Marshall, 83, formerly of Salisbury, died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) at Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem, after two years of declining health and three weeks of serious illness.

Born April 1, 1917, in Rowan County, Mrs. Marshall was a daughter of the late Edna Ridenhour and Eli Franklin Eagle. She was educated in the Rowan County schools.

She was a member of West Innes Street Church of Christ and its senior citizens group. She and her late husband operated Marshall’s Steak House in Granite-Quarry for 22 years.

Her husband, Boyce Perry Marshall, died Dec. 7, 1967. A daughter, Peggy Jean Marshall, died Nov. 11, 1975.

Survivors include son Dr. C. Perry Marshall, Pearl City, Hawaii; daughter Patricia M. Styers, Clemmons; brothers Frank Eagle, Salisbury, Glenn Eagle, Durham, and Bob Eagle, Garner; sisters Elva Swicegood, Salisbury, Dewette Trexler, Spencer, and Rose Hoffman, Charlotte; half brothers Norman Eagle, Dallas, Texas, Steve Eagle, China Grove, and Tony Eagle, Salisbury; half sister Susan Waters, Raleigh; and six grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, James C. Lyerly Chapel, Lyerly Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Tim Pinkston, Albemarle. Entombment, Westlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, China Grove.

Visitation: 1-2 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home.

Memorials: West Innes Street Church of Christ, 2725 W. Innes St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Johnny Howard Mullis

HARRISBURG — Johnny Howard Mullis, 62, 400 Plaza Drive, died Wednesday (April 12, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born July 3, 1937, in Cabarrus County , Mr. Mullis was a son of the late Effie Camilla Goode and Sammy Howard Mullis, both of Salisbury. He was owner/operator of Mullis Truck Leasing.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include wife Sarah Smith Mullis; sons Roger Dale Mullis, Harrisburg, Bobby Ray Mullis, Kannapolis, and Terry Dean Mullis, Concord; daughters Carrie Carriker, Mooresville, April Davis, Harrisburg, and Vanessa Smith, Greenwood, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, New Hope Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Trooper Ferguson. The body will be taken to the church at 2:30. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home, Concord. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Brenda Barnes Saxe

The funeral for Brenda Barnes Saxe, 48, Plano, Texas, will be Saturday. A Rowan County native, Mrs. Saxe died Tuesday (April 11, 2000) at her residence after a lengthy illness.

Born July 22, 1951, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Junie and Mary Sides Barnes.

Survivors include husband Fabyan Saxe III, Charlotte; sons Fabyan Saxe IV and Taylor Saxe, both of Plano, Texas; sisters Tonita Stephenson, Fayetteville, and Bettie J. Simpkins, Raleigh and Hampstead.

Services: Graveside, 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnes Family Cemetery, Churchland.

Visitation: 12:20-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Lyerly Funeral Home.

Memorials: Barnes Family Cemetery Fund, c/o Pattie Brinkle, Central Carolina Bank, Tyro Branch, 4394 S. Highway 150, Lexington, N.C. 27295.

Zula Miller Rabon

Zula Miller Rabon, 87, Salisbury, died Thursday (April 13, 2000) at the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks.

Born March 8, 1913, in Rowan County, Mrs. Rabon was a daughter of the late Martha Lou Trexler and Luther H. Miller. Educated in the Rowan County schools, she was a homemaker and a member of St.Mark’s Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by sons Carl Gregory Rabon Jr., Charles Eugene Rabon and Larry Dale Rabon and a daughter, Bonnie Rabon Lussier.

Survivors include husband Carl Gregory Rabon, whom she married in 1930; sons Harold Dean Rabon, Spencer, Billy Wayne Rabon, Salisbury, and Buddy Nelson Rabon, Rockwell; daughters Mrs. Charles (Frankie) Pethel and Lisa Sapp, both of Rockwell; brothers Charles Miller and Leonard Kasey Miller, both of Salisbury; sisters Pauline Curlee and Aileen Casey, both of Salisbury; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services: Graveside, 2 p.m. Saturday, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Gene Bruce, pastor.

Visitation: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Summersett Funeral Home.