Joseph A. Ayers

BEL AIR, Md. — Joseph A. Ayers, 71, Bel Air, died Wednesday (Sept. 27, 2000) at his home.

Born in Galax, Va., Mr. Ayers was a son of the late Chester B. and Anis Jennings Ayers. Retired from the U.S. Government, he did animal research. He was a member of Ararat Lodge 44 AF & AM Masons.

A son, Keith W. Ayers, preceded him in death.

Survivors include wife Jeanette Mozley Ayers; son Brian Ayers, Bel Air, Md.; brothers L.F. Ayers, Burlington, and Burton Ayers, Baltimore, Md.; sisters Ruth Maners and Loretta Ayers, both of Rockwell, N.C.

Funeral services were held Sept. 29 in Abingdon.

McComas Funeral Home was in charge.

Anna Linn Bostian

CHINA GROVE —Anna Linn Bostian, 71, formerly of Miller Road, died Sunday (Oct. 1, 2000) at Brian CenterHealth and Rehabilitation, Salisbury.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, is in charge.

Linda Stirewalt Breese

ROCKWELL — The funeral will be Wednesday for Linda Faye Stirewalt Breese, 58, 5357 Old Beatty Ford Road, who died Saturday (Sept. 30, 2000)at New Hanover Medical Center, Wilmington.

Born Dec. 27, 1941, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Breese was a daughter of Ruth Easley Stirewalt, Rockwell, and the late Ralph Oscar Stirewalt. She was a graduate of Landis High School and Rowan Technical College, now Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

She had worked as a nurse at Hefner VAMedical Center, Salisbury, and was most recently employed at Wal-Mart in Southport. She was a lifelong member of Phaniels Baptist Church.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include husband Thomas A. Breese, Oak Island; stepsons Thomas Breese Jr., Johnson City, Tenn., and Curtis Breese, Raleigh; daughter Deborah W. Sager, Kannapolis; stepdaughter Lizanne Breese, Johnson City, Tenn.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday,Phaniels Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Michael Taylor. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove.

Memorials: Phaniels Baptist Church, Memorial Fund, 2685 Phaniels Baptist Church Road, Rockwell, NC 28138; or donor’s choice.

Clyde Junior Brewer

MOCKSVILLE — Clyde Junior Brewer, 68, 202 Edgewood Circle, died Saturday (Sept. 30, 2000) at his home.

Born April 27, 1932, in Davidson County, Mr. Brewer was a son of the late Clyde Oliver and Nannie Mae Loflin Brewer. Employed in agricultural retail all of his life, he had retired as a salesman from Bartlett Milling Co, Statesville, after 10 years.

Survivors include wife Mary G. Brewer; sons Charles Brewer, Mocksville, Garry Wayne Brewer, Cooleemee, and Randy Brewer, Rockwell; brothers Richard and Harlie Brewer; sisters Julia Smith and Ruby Snead; half brothers Kenneth, Harold, Ronnie and Danny Brewer; half sisters Pansy Byerly, Martha Stinson and Debbie Beane; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Eaton Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Charles Stewart and M. Robert Creason. Burial, Rose Cemetery.

Visitation:7-9 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: American Cancer Society, 1900 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Roger Phillip Ellenburg

Roger Phillip Ellenburg, 27, Salisbury, died Sunday (Oct. 1, 2000)at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

Marie Johnson Ford

Marie Johnson Ford, 81, 416 S. Clay St., died Sunday (Oct. 1, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Rowan Funeral Home is in charge.

Helen Sechler Freeman

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Tuesday for Helen Sechler Freeman, 1501 Debbie St., who died Saturday (Sept. 30, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, after six months of declining health and eight weeks of serious illness.

Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Freeman, a daughter of the late Herman C. and Annie Rice Sechler, worked at Cannon Mills, Plant 1 sewing room for many years. She retired from Brothers Time, Inc., Mooresville, where she worked from 1972-1996.

A lifelong member of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, she was formerly active with the choir and in circle work. She was a volunteer with the former Cabarrus Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the Mr. and Mrs. Club at the YMCA.

Her husband,Harvey S. Freeman, died July 19, 1987.

Survivors include son Dean Freeman, Mooresville; sister Evelyn Brothers, Kannapolis; one granddaughter; and one great-grandson.

Services: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Doug Kearney and the Rev. Hoke Ritchie.Private entombment at Carolina Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum.

Visitation: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the church parlor. At other times the family will be at the home on Debbie Street.

Memorials: Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, 101 Vance St., Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Colleen W. Irvin

KANNAPOLIS — Colleen Wilhelm Irvin, 72, 2327 Ellerbe Drive, died Saturday (Sept. 30, 2000) at her home.

Born Oct. 26, 1927, in Iredell County, Mrs. Irvin was a daughter of Estelle Honeycutt Wilhelm, Kannapolis, and the late Kenneth Alexander Wilhelm. She retired from R.F. Shinn Contractors, Concord, and was an Avon representative for many years.

She was an honor graduate of J.W. Cannon High School. A member of First Assembly of God in Concord for 35 years. Through the years she was a member of the choir, taught Sunday school and, most recently, served on the bereavement committee.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include daughters Debi Hinson, Atlanta, Ga., and Jan Alexander, Concord; sons Bill Irvin Jr. and Jim Irvin, both of China Grove, and Mike Irvin, Kannapolis; sister Faye W. Booe, Concord; brother Voyte Wayne Wilhelm, Kannapolis; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, First Assembly Worship Center, Concord, conducted by the Rev. Tom Whidden and the Rev. Dr. Tom Snipes. Burial,Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Lady’s Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home on Ellerbe Drive.

Memorials: First Assembly Worship Center, 150 Highway 601 Bypass North, Concord, NC 28027; or First Assembly Christian School, 154 Highway 601 Bypass North,Concord, NC 28027.

Holland E. ‘Buddy’ Moore

Holland E. “Buddy” Moore, 52, Salisbury, died Saturday (Sept. 30, 2000)at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.

Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell, is in charge.

Jewel Cashatt Ridge

Jewel Cashatt Ridge, 76, Hidden Creek Circle, died Sunday (Oct. 1, 2000) at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, from complications of surgery.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Gerald E. Swicegood

STATESVILLE —Gerald Eugene Swicegood 56, 176 Sharon Ridge Lane, died Saturday (Sept. 30, 2000) at his home.

Born Nov. 3, 1943, in IredellCounty, Mr. Swicegood was a son of Paul Swicegood, Salisbury, and the late Ethel Moss Swicegood. Retired from Payola Yarns, he was a Baptist.

A son, Steven Grant Swicegood, and a grandson, preceded him in death.

Survivors in addition to his father, include wife Linda Allison Swicegood, whom he married June 21, 1963; sons Timothy Eugene and Reginald Swicegood, both of Harmony; daughter Brenda Hudson, Massachusetts; brothers Randall Swicegood, Statesville, and Jimmy Swicegood, Cleveland; sisters Patt Heard, Salisbury, and Judy Phillips, Statesville; and four grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Tuesday, Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Eugene Bennett. Entombment, Iredell Memorial Gardens.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: American Cancer Society, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 211, Charlotte, NC 28202.