Joel Worth Sexton, 83, 1825 Panther Creek Road, died Thursday (April 20. 2000)at Rowan Regional Medical Center after six weeks of serious illness.

Born Dec. 1, 1916, in Davidson County, Mr. Sexton was a son of the late William Lindsay and Sarah Nettie Kindley Sexton. Retired from PPG Industries, he was a member of Gospel Way Church.

Survivors include wife Chloia Parrish Sexton; sons Joel W. Sexton Jr., Thomasville, and Larry Sexton, Denton; daughter Gloria S. Stiller, Rockwell; brothers Alton Sexton, Denton, and Hobert Sexton, Asheboro; sisters Willena Russell, Asheboro, Paula Durham, Summerfield, and Earlene Way, Greensboro; and four grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Briggs Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, Denton, conducted by the Rev. Jay Hulin and the Rev. Ray Swaney. Burial, Mountain View Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Denton.

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

James A. Wilhelm

LANGLEY, S.C. —James A. Wilhelm, 57, formerly of Salisbury, N.C., died Thursday (April 20, 2000) at the VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., after five years of declining health and three weeks of serious illness.

Born Feb. 20, 1943, in Eric, Pa., Mr. Wilhelm was the son of Nellie Hasea of Langley. A retired truck driver, he was formerly employed with Montgomery Tanklines. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include son Paul Wilhelm, Aiken; daughters Rhonda Blackman, Columbus, Ga., Jennifer W. Fugate, Aiken, Miriah W. Mahala and Ashley C. Wilhelm, both of Spencer, and Amanda E. Wilhelm, North Wilkesboro; and three grandchildren.

There will be no visitation. The body was cremated.

Poteat Funeral Home, North Augusta, S.C., is in charge.

Harold W. Ames

Harold W. Ames, 72, 655 Lippard Road, died Monday (March 20, 2000) at F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, N.Y., where he had a summer home. He suffered a heart attack after four months of illness.

Born June 22, 1927, in Batavia, N.Y., he was a son of the late John and Florance Ames. A graduate of the Batavia schools, he had retired after 30 years as owner of Ames Used Cars in New York. For the last 20 years he had collected and sold antiques.

Past president of the Leukemia Society of Rochester, N.Y., Mr. Ames attended First Church of Christian Science in Salisbury and Canandaigua, N.Y. He was a member of the American Legion and the Elks Club in New York.

A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he was a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force for Presidents Reagan and Bush and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

Survivors include wife June N. Ames; daughter Carol F. Ames, Salisbury; and a grandson.

Burial was at Mount Albion Cemetery, Albion, N.Y.

Memorials: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5500 Main St., Williamsville, N.Y. 14221.

Annie Ruth Pruitt Goodlett

MOCKSVILLE — Annie Ruth Pruitt Goodlett, 69, 626 Boxwood Church Road, died Friday (April 21, 2000) at her residence after a year of declining health and a month of serious illness.

Noble &Kelsey Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

Viola Gatton

KANNAPOLIS —Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Wayne Peterson

LEXINGTON —Wayne Allen Peterson, 50, 241 Tyler Drive, Cloquet, Minn., died Wednesday (April 20, 2000)at St. Luke’s Hospital in Minnesota.

Born March 3, 1950, in Johnson City, Tenn. Mr. Peterson was a son of Doris Alwanda Williams Pellerin, Minnesota, and the late Noah Peterson. He was a member of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include stepfather Fred Pellerin, Minnesota; sisters Shirley Ann Peterson, Carolyn Lowrance, Bobbie Sue Henson and Sandy Zudonyi, all of Lexington; and brothers Danny “Pig” and Scott Peterson, also of Lexington.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Larry Peterson. Burial, Forest Hill Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of sister Bobbie Sue Henson, 1010 Fairview Drive.

Piedmont Funeral Home in charge.

Blanche L. Ritchie

Blanche L. Ritchie, 83, Salisbury, died Friday (April 21, 2000) at Autumn Care.