Shelia Regina Cowan, 26, 1024 W. Monroe St., died Thursday (June 1, 2000) at her home.

Born Jan. 13, 1974, in Cabarrus County, Ms., Cowan was a daughter of Marilyn Carter Pharr, of the home, and Joseph “Joe” Pharr and Wiley Joe Wells, of Salisbury. She attended Salisbury High School and was last employed at Wendy’s Restaurant.

Survivors, in addition to her parents, include son Romeilo Isaiah Cowan, of the home; brothers Michael Joe Wells and Mario Boston, both of Salisbury; sisters Tara Pharr, Lolitha Brown and Draine Wells, all of Salisbury; and paternal grandmother Ruth Helen Pharr, East Spencer.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.

Dorothy Ailene Ford

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Saturday for Dorothy Ailene Williams Burroughs Ford, 73, 416 E. 21st St., who died Wednesday (May 31, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Aug. 8, 1926, in Union County, Mrs. Ford was a daughter of the late John C. and Wilma McCoy Williams. Formerly employed with Cannon Mills, she retired from Fiber Industries and later worked for Service Distributing Co. for a number of years. She was a member of Rodgers Park United Church of Christ.

Survivors include husband Dewitt J. Ford; daughter Linda B. Ritchie, Kannapolis; son Roger D. Burroughs, Kannapolis; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Rodgers Park United Church of Christ, conducted by the Rev. Dr. J. Donald McManus. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Lady’s Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home of Roger Burroughs, 2307 Centergrove Road.

Memorials: American Diabetes Association, 3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 125, Raleigh,N.C. 27604-1043; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 928, Concord, N.C. 28025.

Vivian Wilson Goodlett

EAST SPENCER — Vivian Inez Wilson Goodlett, 74, 202 Robins Circle, died Thursday (June 1, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Born March 24, 1926, in Rowan County, Mrs. Goodlett was a daughter of the late Elmore and Mary Miller Wilson. A graduate of Dunbar High School, she attended Livingstone College, Salisbury, and received her licensed practical nurse certification from Rowan Technical Institute, now Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury.

Last employed at Hefner VAMedical Center, Salisbury, as a licensed practical nurse, she was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Willing Workers Missionary Circle and the Senior Choir. She was also a member of the Senior Citizens Club in East Spencer and the North Carolina Nursing Association.

Survivors include son Harold Goodlett, East Spencer; daughters Betty Goodlett Clark and Patricia Goodlett Minter, both of Salisbury; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. Monday, Shady Grove Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. John G. Gaston. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 12:30 p.m. Monday at the church.

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

Beulah Moretz Howell

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Saturday for Beulah Moretz Howell, 93, formerly of 403 Westview St., who died Thursday (June 1, 2000) at Big Elm Nursing Center after six years of declining health.

Born Nov. 16, 1906, in Watauga County, Mrs. Howell was a daughter of the late Edward Franklin and Nelia Faw Moretz. She retired in 1985 from Cannon Mills Plant 1, sewing room.

She was a member of Rodgers Park United Church of Christ. In her earlier years, she was a member of the former St. David’s Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, where she taught Sunday school for many years.

Her husband, Willett M. Howell, died in 1953.

Survivors include daughters Clara Howell Goodman and Dura Mae Howell Thomas, both of Kannapolis; sisters Edna Artz, Kannapolis, and Carrie Kluttz, Salisbury; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Donald McManus and the Rev. Chester Byerly. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of Dura Mae Thomas, 403 E. 24th St.

Memorials: Rodgers Park United Church of Christ, 704 E. 22nd St., Kannapolis, N.C. 28083.

Annie L. Laxton

LEXINGTON — Annie Little Laxton, 83, Goodluck Drive, died Wednesday (May 31, 2000) at Lexington Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

Born June 12, 1916, in Guilford County, Mrs. Laxton was a daughter of John Leroy and Hattie McCorkle Little. Formerly employed at Parkdale Mills, she was a member of Mount Carmel Freewill Baptist Church.

Her husband, Fornie “Pop” Moore Laxton, died June 24, 1979.

Survivors include sons Jack and Bobby Laxton, both of Albemarle, Ernie Paul and Larry Laxton, both of Lexington, Jerry Laxton, Spencer, and Carl Laxton, Rockingham; daughter Joyce Perdue, Lexington; 16 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Davidson Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Clyde Akers and the Rev. Max Shoaf. Burial, Mount Carmel Freewill Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home on Goodluck Drive.

Memorials: American Diabetes Association, North Carolina Affiliate, 3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 125, Raleigh, N.C. 27604.

Larry Donnell McGee

The funeral will be Sunday for Larry Donnell McGee, 47, 955 E. 144th St., Cleveland, Ohio, a Rowan County, native, died Monday (May 29, 2000) at his home after several years of declining health.

Born Sept. 14, 1952, Mr. McGee was a son of the late Arthur and Bernice Foster McGee. Educated in the Salisbury city schools, he had retired from Abex Corporation due to disability.

Survivors include sons Melvin Godfrey, Larry McGee Jr. and Anthony Jackson, all of Salisbury; daughter Jemese Hoover, Salisbury; brothers Clarence McGee, Cleveland,Ohio, and Allen McGee, Salisbury; sisters Linda Drain and Doris Barnes, both of Salisbury; and 10 grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Tower of Power Holy Church, conducted by the Rev.William D. Turner. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery.

Visitation: The body may be viewed at Rowan Funeral service. The family will be at the home of Allen McGee, 320 Freedom Drive, Westwood Development.

Dr. Carroll John Painter

Dr. Carroll John Painter, 52, a well-known obstetrician and gynecologist in Salisbury since 1981, died Wednesday (May 31, 2000) at his home from a massive heart attack.

Born April 20, 1948, in Lincoln County, Dr. Painter was a son of the late John Ephraim and Pearl Jane Painter. He was a 1966 graduate of Lincolnton High School and a 1970 graduate of North Carolina State University.

After a year of teaching high school and graduate studies, he entered Bowman Gray School of Medicine, where he graduated in 1975. He completed his internship and residency in Chattanooga, Tenn., specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. He was a member of The Fellowship in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

For two years he served in the U.S. Army in Nuremberg, Germany, where he reached the rank of major.

He was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, serving as an usher, and worked on the Habitat for Humanity House.

Survivors include wife Donna Weinhold Painter; daughters Sara Katherine Painter, Richmond, Va., and Ashley Michelle and Jenny Nicole Painter, both of Salisbury; son Michael John Painter, Salisbury; stepsons John Sedberry, Wilmington, and Jody Sedberry, of the home; stepdaughter Marianna Stout, of the home; brother the Rev. William C. Painter, Lincolnton; sisters Elsie J. Painter, A. Faye Painter and Elizabeth Painter Herman, all of Lincolnton, and Yvonne Propst, Newton.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Carl Sachtleben. Cremains will be placed in the church columbarium after the service.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Summersett Funeral Home.

Memorials: Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County, 203 S. Laurel St., Lincolnton, N.C. 28092; or Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County, P.O. Box 3356, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-3356.

John Stringer

CLEVELAND — John Stringer, 77, 4470 Foster Road, died Friday (June 2, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

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

Alton R. Sexton

DENTON — Alton R. Sexton, 75, 2108 Canaan Church Road, died at his home Wednesday, (May 31 2000). His late brother, Joel Sexton, who died April 20, 2000, was a Salisbury resident.

Services: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Briggs Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Burial, Canaan United Methodist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.