KANNAPOLIS —Nellie “Nell” Williams Purvis, 79, formerly of East 10th St., died Saturday (Dec. 2, 2000)at Avante at Concord.

Born May 26, 1921, in Iredell County, Mrs. Purvis was a daughter of the late James Irvin and Carrie Forrest Williams. She was a retired beautician and also served a number of years in the U.S. Military. She was a member of North Kannapolis Baptist Church.

Mrs. Purvis was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Blakney Purvis, who died in July 1981.

She is survived by a brother Fred Williams, Mooresville.

Services:Graveside, 2 p.m. U.S. National Cemetery, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Coy Privette and the Rev. Richard Keasler.

Visitation: The body can be viewed from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Lady’s Funeral Home.

John David Bolick

John David Bolick, 74, 220 Goodnight Farm Road, died Saturday (Dec. 2, 2000)at his residence.

Born Oct. 30, 1926, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Bolick was a son of the late Harrison McKinley and Florida Anderson Bolick. Educated in Rowan County schools, he was a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II and the Korean War, and retired as a senior chief petty officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command,Navy Public Works Center, San Francisco, Calif. He was also a farmer.

A member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, he was a member of Masonic Lodge 626, Chula Vista, Calif.; National Association of Atomic Veterans; Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 228, Charlotte; and Board of Directors of Rowan County Farm Bureau.

Survivors include wife Rose Richter Bolick, whom he married Oct. 5, 1947; daughters Beverly Terry and Barbara Bolick, both of Salisbury, and Becky Franklin, Ogden, Utah; brother Ray Bolick, Mount Ulla; and four grandchildren.

Services:2 p.m. Wednesday, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Milbert Kurtz. Burial, church cemetery, with graveside rites conducted by the Rowan County Veterans Council.

Visitation: 6:30-8 tonight, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home , China Grove. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Memorials:Rowan Regional Home Health & Hospice, 825 A West Henderson St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 11020 Highway 801, Mount Ulla, NC 28125.

William Shaw Charles

William Shaw Charles, a retired Lt. Col. of the U.S. Army, 83, of Spencer, died Monday (Dec. 4, 2000)at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Patricia Ann Plott Fink

KANNAPOLIS —Patricia Ann Plott Fink, 61, 705 Forrest Ave., died Monday (Dec. 4, 2000)at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, after five years of declining health and two months of serious illness.

Born Jan. 22, 1939, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Fink was a daughter of the late Thomas Watson and Grace Matilda Rabon Plott. She was employed in earlier years as office manager for the former Colonial Frozen Foods, Kannapolis and was later a homemaker. She was a member of Earle Street Church of God, Kannapolis, where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was a lifetime resident of the area and a 1957 graduate of Landis High School.

Mrs. Fink was preceded in death by a son, Dennis Lane Fink, who died in 1986.

Survivors include husband Mebane “Red” Fink; brothers Eddie and Jimmy Plott, both of Kannapolis, and Joe Plott, China Grove; sisters Margaret James, Jeanette Martin, Reba and Nancy Christy, all of Kannapolis.

Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Earle Street Church of God, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. David Shoemake. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

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

Memorials:Earle Street Church of God, 2600 Earl St., Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Sarah Whitaker Gregory

MOCKSVILLE —Sarah Juanita Whitaker Gregory, 69, of Claude Ratledge Road, died Sunday (Dec. 3, 2000)at Davis Medical Center, Statesville.

Born Oct. 13, 1931, in Iredell County, Mrs. Gregory was a daughter of the late Maude Whitaker Ratledge. Ahomemaker, she was a member of Zion United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Gregory, who died in 1988.

Survivors include stepbrother Jerry Ratledge, Mocksville; and stepsisters Mary Reavis and Bonnie Mayhew, both of Mocksville.

Services:Graveside, 3 p.m. Wednesday, Zion United Methodist Church cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Billy Jarrett.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Davie Funeral Service chapel.

Memorials:Zion United Methodist Church, Cemetery Fund, c/o Ray Cleary, 1535 Sheffield Road, Mocksville, NC 27028.

Ernest ‘Frankie’ James Jr.

CHINA GROVE — Ernest Franklin “Frankie” James Jr., 44, 140 Knight Farm Road, died Saturday (Dec. 2, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born March 29, 1956, in Cabarrus County, Mr. James was a son of Mary James Baldwin, China Grove, and the late Ernest Franklin James. He was employed with Wagner Machine Shop, Mount Ulla, as a machinist and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include wife Wanda Purser James, Kannapolis; daughter Jessica James, Kannapolis; sons Jackie James, Charlotte, and Jerry James, China Grove; step-daughters Erica Chipman and Amanda Huffman, both of Landis; and four grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Ken McQueen. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of Mary James Baldwin, 4805 Upper Enochville Road, China Grove.

Johnny Newton Lowery

MOCKSVILLE —Johnny Newton Lowery, 92, of Sunset Circle, died Sunday (Dec. 3, 2000) at his residence.

Born Dec. 20, 1907, in Davie County, Mr. Lowery was a son of the late Cyrus Watson and Elvira Richardson Lowery. A 1924 graduate of Cana High School, he was retired from F&H Motors. He was a member of Eatons Baptist Church and men’s Sunday school class.

Mr. Lowery was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Ruby Mae Brackens Lowery, who died June 3, 1990.

Survivors include sons Johnny N. Lowery Jr., Mocksville, and Grover W. Lowery, Madison; daughters Alice L. Zalascek, Spring Lake, Reba L. Lawter, Mocksville, Norma L. Long, Chatsworth, Ga., and Shirley L. Wingler, Mooresville; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services:3 p.m. Wednesday, Eatons Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. David Gilbreath. Burial, church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, David Funeral Home.

Memorials:Eatons Baptist Church, 495 Eatons Road, Mocksville, NC 27028.

Ernest ‘Frankie’ James Jr.

CHINA GROVE — Ernest Franklin “Frankie” James Jr., 44, 140 Knight Farm Road, died Saturday (Dec. 2, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born March 29, 1956, in Cabarrus County, Mr. James was a son of Mary James Baldwin, China Grove, and the late Ernest Franklin James. He was employed with Wagner Machine Shop, Mount Ulla, as a machinist and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include wife Wanda Purser James, Kannapolis; daughter Jessica James, Kannapolis; sons Jackie James, Charlotte, and Jerry James, China Grove; step-daughters Erica Chipman and Amanda Huffman, both of Landis; and four grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Ken McQueen. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of Mary James Baldwin, 4805 Upper Enochville Road, China Grove.

Johnny Newton Lowery

MOCKSVILLE —Johnny Newton Lowery, 92, of Sunset Circle, died Sunday (Dec. 3, 2000) at his residence.

Born Dec. 20, 1907, in Davie County, Mr. Lowery was a son of the late Cyrus Watson and Elvira Richardson Lowery. A 1924 graduate of Cana High School, he was retired from F&H Motors. He was a member of Eatons Baptist Church and men’s Sunday school class.

Mr. Lowery was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Ruby Mae Brackens Lowery, who died June 3, 1990.

Survivors include sons Johnny N. Lowery Jr., Mocksville, and Grover W. Lowery, Madison; daughters Alice L. Zalascek, Spring Lake, Reba L. Lawter, Mocksville, Norma L. Long, Chatsworth, Ga., and Shirley L. Wingler, Mooresville; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services:3 p.m. Wednesday, Eatons Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. David Gilbreath. Burial, church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, David Funeral Home.

Memorials:Eatons Baptist Church, 495 Eatons Road, Mocksville, NC 27028.

Robert Nance

LEXINGTON — Robert Hilden Nance, 82, 314 Westside Drive, died Saturday (Dec. 2, 2000) in Sunbridge of Lexington, after several years of declining health.

Born Aug. 6, 1918, in Davidson County, Mr. Nance was a son of the late Robert Lee and Lonnie Miller Nance. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, with 27 years with the company. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II, and a member of the North Carolina Letter Carriers Association. He was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include wife Vera Mae Neil Nance, of the home; son Robert Nance, Salisbury; daughter Linda Susan Smith, Lexington; sister Vera Cooper, Thomasville; and 10 grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, First United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. John Ferree and the Rev. Jill Alventosa Brown. Burial, Lexington City Cemetery, with military graveside rites by District 11 Memorial Honor Guard.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Davidson Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home.

Bert D. Rufty

Bert D. Rufty, 76, of Winston-Salem, formerly of Salisbury, died Monday (Dec. 4, 2000) at Brian Center, Winston-Salem.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Estelle Thomason Ward

Estelle Thomason Ward, 86, of Salisbury, died Monday (Dec. 4, 2000) at Lutheran Nursing Home at Trinity Oaks.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.