NEWLONDON — J.B. Austin, 75, 32163-A Austin Road, died Friday (Feb. 25, 2000) at Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury.

Born Aug. 2, 1924, in Stanly County, Mr. Austin was a son of the late Walter Lee and Nellie Lowder Austin. A graduate of New London High School, he was a retired welder. He was a member of First Baptist Church and an Army veteran of World War II.

His brother, Richard Daniel Austin, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane Coggin Austin; daughters Rebecca Austin Herlocker and Jan Austin Hobbs, both of New London; brothers Walter Lee Austin and Harold Rayvon Austin, both of New London; sisters Louvine Austin Austin and Ruby Austin Napier, both of New London; and two grandsons.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, graveside, Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. David Alexander, with military rites by the Stanly County Disabled American Veterans Ritual Team.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Stanly Funeral Home, Albemarle. Immediately after the funeral, the family will receive friends at the home on Austin Road.

Walter Raymond Combs

MOCKSVILLE— Walter Raymond Combs, 81, Gladstone Road, died Saturday (Feb. 26, 2000) at Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem.

Born Oct. 20, 1918, in Davie County, Mr. Combs was a son of the late Loyd and Gertha Smith Combs. He retired as a diesel mechanic for Mack Trucks in Charlotte after 25 years of service. Mr. Combs was a member of Mocksville Church of God.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Ruby Little Combs; sons Donald Combs, Huntersville, and Billy Combs, Houston; daughters Margie C. Browning, Huntersville and Carolyn C. Stephens, Houston; brothers Clinton Combs, Winston-Salem and Hoyle Combs, Mocksville; sister Paulene C. Oliphant, Kannapolis; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Mocksville Church of God, conducted by the Rev. Dwight Durham and the Rev. Larry Hollfield. Burial, Forest Lawn West Cemetery, Charlotte.

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

Memorials: Mocksville Church of God, Joey Tuttle, 844 U.S. Hwy 64 E., Mocksville, N.C. 27028.

Helen ‘Carol’ Sisk Hall

KANNAPOLIS — Helen Caroline “Carol” Sisk Hall, 58, 903 Keller Ave., died Saturday (Feb. 26, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center after a week of serious illness.

Born March 5, 1941, in Transylvania County, Mrs. Sisk was a daughter of the late Frank E. and Helen Raines Sisk and was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Charles Hall; sons Mack Frizzell, Rockwell, Terry Frizzell, Pickins, S.C. and Larry Frizzell, Six Mile, S.C.; daughter Alice Marie Cook, China Grove; brother Frank Sisk Jr., Marietta, S.C.; sisters Emily Green, Travelers Rest, S.C. and Callie Bratcher, Crofordville, Fla.; and 11 grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Barbara Clodfelter. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

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

Hoyle Wilson Helms

CONCORD — Hoyle Wilson Helms, 66, 3363 Roberta Road, died Saturday (Feb. 19, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center.

Born April 20, 1933, in Union County, Mr. Helms was the son of the late John Wilson and Mattie Griffin Helms. He was a welder with National Welders, Charlotte, and a Navy veteran of the Korean War.

He is survived by his sister, Catherine Helms Ledbetter, Gibsonville.

Edna ‘Geneva’ Kimrey

BADIN — Edna “Geneva” Baucom Kimrey, 84, 45622 Broadway Road, died Friday (Feb. 25, 2000) at N.C. Lutheran Homes.

Born April 21, 1915, in Anson County, Mrs. Kimrey was a daughter of the late Charlie Ray and Mamie Preslar Baucom. A homemaker, she was a member of Cottonville Baptist Church.

Her husband, Cecil Ray Kimrey, daughter Julia Hough Lowder, and brothers Wilson Baucom, Alton Baucom, Reed Baucom and Wade Baucom preceded her in death.

Survivors include sons Warren Kimrey, Albemarle, and Wayne Kimrey, Jacksonville; brother Max Baucom, Greensboro; sister Esther Carpenter, Peachland; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. today, Hartsell Funeral Home’s Lefler Memorial Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Frank Thompson. Burial, Norview Gardens, Norwood.

Bobby ‘BJ’ Lewis

CHARLOTTE — Bobby “BJ” Lewis, 43, 2114 Longleaf Drive, died Thursday (Feb. 24, 2000) at his residence.

Born Oct. 16, 1956, in Salisbury, Mr. Lewis was a son of William R. Lewis, Salisbury, and the late Helen Lotharp Lewis. A graduate of North Rowan High School, he was last employed with the City of Charlotte. An Army veteran, he was a former member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, East Spencer.

Survivors include his wife, Milo Joy Burney Lewis; sons Jamal Rai Sean Kerlee, Newport News, Va.; brothers Marvin Cook, Linwood, Lee Cook, William Lewis Jr., Randy Lewis and David Lewis, all of Salisbury; and sisters Patricia Miller and Joyce Lewis, both of Salisbury, Diana Croutch, Charlotte, and Janice McGlaion, Philadelphia.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.

Harley Bruce Murph

KANNAPOLIS— Harley Bruce Murph, 61, 517 W. 9th St., died Friday (Feb. 25, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center.

Born Nov. 18, 1938, in Rowan County, Mr. Murph was a son of the late Harley Henry and Ruby Beaver Murph. He was a retired truck driver, Marine Corp veteran and a graduate of A. L. Brown High School.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah Lambert Murph; son Anthony Murph, Kannapolis; daughters Tangela Waller and Cammie Parson, both of Kannapolis; and four grandchildren.

Services: 3:30 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Johnny Canup and the Rev. Rodney Quesenberry. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

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

Odell Sisk

CLEVELAND — Odell Sisk, 55, died Friday (Feb. 25, 2000) at her residence after several years of declining health.

Born July 11, 1944, in Transylvania County, Mr. Sisk was a son of the late Carl Marion and Florence Galloway Sisk. Educated in Montgomery County schools, he was a self-employed paint contractor and Baptist.

He is survived by his wife, Lena Linker Sisk, whom he married Dec. 31, 1992; son Kenneth D. Sisk, Mt. Gilead; daughter Patricia Diane Reavis, Salisbury; stepdaughters Melinda S. Shepherd, Gloucester, Va., and JoAnn S. Davis, Yorktown, Va.; brothers Jack Sisk and Harold Sisk, both of Kannapolis, and Allen Sisk, Salisbury; Mary Louise Gilland, Fort Worth, Texas, and Geraldine Frizzell, Sanford; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Powles Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by Dr. Benny L. Vickery Sr., pastor of First Baptist Church, Rockwell. Burial, Brookhill Memorial Gardens.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Thomas Whitaker Sr.

KANNAPOLIS — Thomas Daniel Whitaker Sr., 81, 522 Bostian Ave., died Saturday (Feb. 26, 2000) at his home.

Born June 11, 1918, in Stanly County, Mr. Whitaker was a son of the late John D. and Eva Ann Burleyson Whitaker. He was retired from Cannon Mills Co. after 35 years of service. A member of Lane Street Church of God, he was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and a life member of American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Shoaf Whitaker; son Thomas Daniel WhitakerJr., Harrisburg; daughter Breanda Kay Hill, Albemarle; sisters Beulah Eury, Mt. Pleasant, and Dorothy Kerns, Lexington; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchildren.

Services: 7 tonight, Lane Street Church of God, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Wade Easom and the Rev. E.L. Turner. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.

Visitation: 6-7 tonight, Lane Street Church of God.

Memorials: Lane Street Church of God, Building Fund, 2711 Lane Street, Kannapolis, N.C. 28083.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Barbara Williams

STANFIELD — Barbara Allman Williams, 64, 12971-A Austin Road, died Friday (Feb. 25, 2000) at Stanly Memorial Hospital.

Born Jan. 13, 1936, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Williams was a daughter of the late Mack Allman and Lela Faggot Allman. She was a retired employee of Cannon Mills’ #7 Weave Room.

Her husband, Lonnie Franklin Williams, died March 20, 1981.

Survivors include daughter Sherry Williams Harris, Stanfield; son Terry Mack Williams, Kannapolis; sisters Maxine Sellers and Myrtle Metcalf, both of Kannapolis; brothers Zeb Allman, China Grove, and G.F. Allman, Kannapolis; and three grandchildren.

Services: 4 p.m. today, Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Joe E. Smith.

Visitation: 2:30-4 p.m. today, Lady’s Funeral Home.