Melbourn Davis Perkins, 96, formerly of 206 Steele St., died Tuesday (April 18, 2000) in Marietta, Ga.

Born in Rowan County, she was a member of First Baptist Church of Marietta and a former member of First Baptist Church of Salisbury. She volunteered her sevices for more than 10 years at IHS of Atlanta at Shoreham Convalescent Center in Marietta.

Her husband, Darrell D. Perkins, died Jan. 6, 1981.

Survivors include son Darrell D. Perkins, Marietta; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 10:30 a.m. Friday, conducted by the Rev. Keith Flippin, First Baptist Church of Salisbury. Burial, Chestnut Hill Cemetery.

Memorials: First Baptist Church of Marietta, Building Fund, 148 Church St. N.E., Marietta, Ga. 30060.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Geneva Abernathy

KANNAPOLIS — Geneva Blackwell Abernathy, 86, 465 Parks Field Drive, died Wednesday (April 19, 2000)at the Brian Center, Mooresville.

Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Ralph G. Akers

LEXINGTON —Ralph George Akers, 67, 501 Foy Ave., died Monday (April 17, 2000)at Golden Age Nursing Home.

Born June 4, 1932, in Grayson County, Va., Mr. Akers was a son of the late Bufford and Lula Crowder Akers. He was a self-employed painter.

Survivors include brothers Paul Akers, Fries, Va., and Jesse Akers, Lexington.

Services: Graveside, 2 today, Nan Patton Cemetery.

Piedmont Funeral Home is in charge.

Dorothy Weant Burgess

CHINA GROVE —Dorothy Sue Weant Burgess, 63, 2215 Highway 152 E., died Tuesday (April 18, 2000)at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Born May 1, 1936, in Rowan County, she was a daughter of Ida Basinger Weant Wise, Morganton, and the late Eddie Washington Weant. Educated in the Rowan County schools she was employed with Sewell Plastics of Charlotte. She was a member of Hope Baptist Church.

Hher husband, R.J. Burgess, died in 1990.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include sons Dale R. and Joseph A. Burgess, both of Charlotte, and Tony L. Burgess, Mint Hill; daughters Wanda B. Luckey, Charlotte, and Brenda B. Lippard, Harrisburg; sister Ruth W. Weaver, Morganton; and eight grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. Friday, Northcrest Chapel, Linn-Honeycutt, China Grove, conducted by the Rev. Paul Pickler, pastor of Mount Hope United Church of Christ. Burial, 2 p.m., National Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Robert ‘Bob’Carter

CHINA GROVE —Robert “Bob”Paschel Carter, 64, 235 Robin Road, died Wednesday (April 19, 2000)at his residence after one year of declining health and five days of serious illness.

Born Feb. 21, 1936, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Carter was a son of the late Lillie Steele and Walter Samuel Carter. He was employed with Fredrickson Motor Lines, Charlotte, for several years and later worked part time with R.W. Braswell Co., Kannapolis. He was a member of Memorial Independent Baptist Church, Landis.

Survivors include wife Sadie Garmon Carter; son Walter Lee Carter, China Grove; brothers Dennis G. Carter, Sierra Vista, Ariz.. and Cecil “Pete” T. Carter, China Grove; sister JoAnn Carter Todd, Concord, Ruth Carter Demos, Charlotte. and Pam Enns, Augusta, Ga.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services: 3 p.m. Friday, Memorial Independent Baptist Church, Landis, conducted by the Rev. Bill Bauguess and the Rev. Stanley Martin. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park.

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

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health &Hospice, 118 E. Council St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

James Edward Collins

MOORESVILLE — James Edward Collins, 81, Sagemore Road, died Tuesday (April 18, 2000)at his residence.

Born Jan. 30, 1919, Mr. Collins was a son of the late Cleveland and Estelle Cooper Collins. A retired plumbing contractor for Collins &Son Plumbing, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Westmoreland Baptist Church, Charlotte.

Survivors include wife Margaret Shoemaker Collins; son Craig Collins, Mooresville; sisters Hester Rice, Athens, Ga., and Ruth Vaughn, Kannapolis; half brothers Robert and Bill Garrett, both of Georgia; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Services: 1 p.m. Friday, Cavin Funeral Home Chapel, Mooresville, conducted by the Rev. Fred Crisp and the Rev. Jerry Cloninger. Burial, Carolina Medical Park, Concord.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, at the funeral home.

Memorials: Hospice of Iredell County, 403 E. Statesville Ave., Mooresville, N.C. 28115.

Mabel Rabon Hartman

Mabel Rabon Hartman, 96, Salisbury, died Wednesday (April 19, 2000)at Camelot Manor, Granite Falls.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Thomas Anderson Hendrix

MOCKSVILLE — Thomas Anderson Hendrix, 83, U.S. Highway 64, died Wednesday (April 19, 2000)at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, Winston-Salem.

Born Sept. 7, 1916, in Davie County, Mr. Hendrix was a son of the late Myrtle Sain and Charlie Hendrix. He had retired from the Hanes Corp. after 50 years with the company.

He was a member of Fork Baptist Church, where he had served as deacon and Sunday school superintendent. He was president of Fork Fire Department for 25 years and a founding member of Fork Civic Club.

Survivors include wife Pauline B. Hendrix; sons Tommy Hendrix, Advance, and Jerry Hendrix, Laurinburg; daughters Barbara Montgomery, Winston-Salem, Betty Cornatzer, Advance, and Glenda Beard, Salisbury; brother Richard Hendrix, Mocksville; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, Fork Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Gordan Jordan, the Rev. Rusty Morrison and the Rev. Reg Alderman. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Eaton Funeral Home.

Memorials: Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103 or Fork Baptist Church, 3140 Highway 64 E. Mocksville, N.C. 27028.

Raymond Harold Milem

CHINA GROVE — Raymond Harold Milem, 79, 1170 Bostian Road, died Tuesday (April 18, 2000)at Five Oaks Nursing Center, Concord.

Born Nov. 24, 1920, in Rowan County, Mr. Milem was a son of the late James H. and Verdie Riggs Milem. Retired from Cannon Mills’ bleachery department, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include wife Margaret Knight Milem; daughters Mrs. Paul (Carolyn)Olson, Chicago, and Mrs. Henry (Patsy) Fidler, Hiddenite; son Raymond Douglas Milem, Landis; stepson Jerry Ball, Hayes; stepdaughters Annie Johnson and Tina Billings, both of Hayes, and Wanda Curtis, Wilkesboro; brothers Ray and Marvin Milem, both of Kannapolis, and Floyd Milem, York, S.C.; sister Dorothy Branham, China Grove; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Friday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Marler Starnes. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, with military graveside rites by DAV Chapter 27.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Memorials: Friendship Freewill Baptist Church, 509 W. 22nd St., Kannapolis, N.C. 28081.

Helen Ballard Wright

GASTONIA — Helen Louise Ballard Wright, 79, 107 S. Patrick St., died Wednesday (April 19, 2000) at Courtland Terrace Nursing Home.

She was the mother of Sherry W. Wall, Salisbury.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, McLean Funeral Directors’ Founders Chapel, conducted by the Rev. M.O. Owens. Burial, Gaston Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence.