James Eugene Athey

James “Jay” Eugene Athey, 78, Salisbury, died Thursday (July 13, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after 10 months of declining health.

Born June 17, 1922, in Davie County, he was a son of the late Samuel and Laura Gales Athey. Educated in the Rowan County schools, he had retired in 1986 from Isenhour Brick & Tile Co. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Graham Athey, whom he married Aug. 23, 1941; sons Gary, Carl, Dennis and Jimmy Athey, all of Salisbury; daughters Sandra Ramseur, Cornelius, and Brenda Shue, Gold Hill; brothers Virgle and Hubert Athey, both of Salisbury; sisters Madeline Goodman and Polly Bowers, both of Salisbury, and Virginia Holt, Cooleemee; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Salem Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Clarence Sifford and the Rev. Carroll Robinson. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Lyerly Funeral Home. The family will be at the residence at other times.

Memorials: Salem Lutheran Church, Cemetery Fund, 5080 Sherrills Ford Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28147.

Virginia Bolden

ROCKWELL — Virginia Grace Bolden, 13, formerly of Rockwell, died Friday (July 14, 2000) at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, Texas.

Miss Bolden was the daughter of Kenneth Daryl and Rose Reid Bolden of El Paso.

Powles Funeral Home is in charge.

J.B. Everhart

LEXINGTON — Jacob Bruce Everhart, 73, 1829 Hill-Everhart Road, died Thursday (July 13, 2000) at Lexington Memorial Hospital.

Born Jan. 6, 1927, in Davidson County, he was a son of the late Albert Hill and Emma Lee Conrad Everhart. A U.S. Navy veteran, he had retired from Everhart’s Used Cars.

Mr. Everhart attended Trinity United Methodist Church. He was a member of Lexington Hardstarters, a camping club.

Survivors include his wife, Janice Martin Everhart; daughter Gloria Craver, Fort Mill, S.C.; son Lee Scott Woodall, Lexington; sister Rachael Potts, Lexington; brothers Valentine, Henry and Albert Everhart, all of Lexington; and three grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Trinity United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. John Taylor. Burial, First Baptist Church, Welcome.

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

Memorials: Trinity United Methodist Church, 902 S. Main St., Lexington, N.C. 27292; or American Diabetes Association, 3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 125, Raleigh, N.C. 27604.

Janice Lucille Leach

MOCKSVILLE — Janice Lucille Leach, 52, died Thursday (July 13, 2000) at Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem, after a period of illness.

A native of Davie County, Mrs. Leach was the daughter of Alice Lee Patterson of Mocksville. She was a member of St. John AME Zion Church.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, John Leach; son John F. Leach Jr., Winston Salem; and a grandchild.

Services: 3:30 p.m. Monday, St. John AME Zion Church, conducted by the Rev. R.W. Myers. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 3-3:30 p.m. Monday at the church.

Graham Funeral Directors in charge.

Memorials: Cancer Services of Winston-Salem, 107 W. Dale Ave., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101.

Joseph Frank Overcash Jr.

MOORESVILLE — Joseph Frank Overcash Jr., 83, Statesville Highway, died Friday (July 14, 2000) at the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury.

Born Aug. 22, 1916, in Iredell County, Mr. Overcash was a son of the late Joseph Frank and Ninna Collins Overcash. A retired farmer, he was the fifth generation to operate the Overcash Angus Farm.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he received the Purple Heart after being wounded on the island of Saipan. He was a member of Vanderburg United Methodist Church.

A daughter, Cynthia O. Fortenberry, preceded him in death.

Survivors include wife Odessa Williams Overcash; sons Dennis and Allen Overcash, both of Mooresville; daughters Jeanette Overcash, Mooresville, Sylvia O. Nelson, Winterville, and Wanda Sheets, China Grove; brothers John, Price, Virgil and Jack Overcash, all of Mooresville; sisters Edith O. Chappel, Roanoke Rapids, Estelle O. Monteith, Gilbert, Ariz., Patty O. Echerd, Taylorsville, and Shelby O. Alexander, Charlotte; and 12 grandchildren.

Services: 4 p.m. Sunday, Vanderburg United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. W. Gerald Davis. Burial, Vanderburg Blue Door Cemetery.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.

Memorials: Vanderburg United Methodist Church, 1809 Charlotte Highway, Mooresville, N.C. 28115; or Hefner VA Medical Center, Voluntary Services, 1601 Brenner Ave., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Rufus Izelle Saunders

ESTILL, S.C. — The funeral for Rufus Izelle Saunders will be today at the Hampton School District 2 auditorium.

Born Dec. 16, 1957, Mr. Saunders was a son of the late Doris Saunders and Thomas McDaniel. He was reared by the late Matthew and Mamie Hills and educated in the schools of Rowan County, N.C.

Mr. Saunders received degrees from Payne College and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Beginning in 1986, he served churches in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. He was ordained in 1999 and became co-pastor of Mount Mariah Worship Center.

Survivors include his wife, Maude Saunders; son Derick Muhammad, Rock Hill; daughters Audrey Scott, Springfield, Ga., and Consuelo A. Hopkins and Renee Hugh, both of Atlanta; sisters Francis Soroski, Pat Hill and Cheryl Douglas, all of Salisbury, N.C., Brenda Patterson and Lisa Patterson, both of Long Island, N.Y., Annie Barker, Durham, N.C., Ella Mae Duren, East Spencer, N.C., and Barbara Evans, Lexington, N.C.; brothers Luther Hill, Rochester, N.Y., Gene Hill, Larry Dalton and Thomas McDaniel Jr., all of Salisbury, N.C., Mark McDaniel, Durham, N.C., Henry Webb, Atlanta, Steve Patterson, Lexington, N.C., and Earl Patterson, Long Island, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. today, conducted by Matthew Gordon. Burial, St. John Holy Church. Martin Community Funeral Home is in charge.

Lucille Kennedy Thomas

CHINA GROVE — Lucille Kennedy Thomas, 85, formerly of China Grove, died Thursday (July 13, 2000) at Plantation Estates in Matthews.

Born May 1, 1915, in Tattnall County, Ga., Mrs. Thomas was a daughter of the late Alex S. and Jean Bazemore Kennedy. A graduate of Reidsville (Ga.) High School, she was a secretary at L.B. Thomas Furniture Co. for 20 years.

A member of First Baptist Church in China Grove, she served as choir director and soprano soloist for 35 years. She was an active member of the Ladies’ Circle.

She was also a member of the Pierian Book Club.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, L.B. Thomas; daughter Brenda T. Monteith, Charlotte; brother Lucius Kennedy, Orange Park, Fla.; sister Clara Riggs, Manassas, Ga.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, First Baptist Church, China Grove, conducted by the Rev. Ed Daniel and the Rev. Bobby Seagrove. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Plantation Estates, Matthews.

Visitation: 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove.

Memorials: First Baptist Church, Building Fund, 302 Patterson St., China Grove, N.C. 28023.