Elmer Allman

KANNAPOLIS — Elmer William Allman, 75, 331 Allman Farm Road, died Wednesday (Dec. 19, 2001) at his home.

Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

James ‘Fellow’ Birst

The funeral will be Friday for James Arthur “Fellow” Birst, 52, 221 Guffy St., who died Saturday (Dec. 15, 2001) at his home.

Born Sept. 19, 1949, in Rowan County, Mr. Birst, a son of Leathia Birst Barber, Salisbury, and the late James Beatty, was a graduate of Price High School and attended Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he served during the Vietnam War. He was formerly employed as a pipe fitter at Colonial Steele Co.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include wife Bow Manatrong Birst; son James A. Birst Jr., Salisbury; daughters Carlotta Birst, of the home, and Tiffany B. Neely, Woodleaf; brothers Dr. John Krider, Rufus Birst and J.W. Cowan, all of Salisbury; sisters Josephinee C. Morgan, Ida Bell Knox and Gladys Caldwell, all of Salisbury; and four grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. Friday, Mitchell &Fair Funeral Service chapel, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Murray L. Edwards, pastor, Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church. Burial, National Cemetery, Salisbury.

Visitation: 12:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home on Guffy Street and at the home of Leathia Birst Barber, 740 Harris Road.

Condolences may be sent online to mitfair@bellsouth.net  or www.mitfair.net .

Ethel Hunsucker Bost

CONCORD — Ethel Viola Hunsucker Bost, 87, 350 Gurley Drive N.W., died Monday (Dec. 17, 2001) at Five Oaks Nursing Center.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, Hartsell Funeral Home chapel. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Hospice of Cabarrus County, P.O. Box 1235, Concord, NC 28026-1235.

Thomas R. Eller

Thomas R. Eller, 78, Salisbury, died Wednesday (Dec. 19, 2001)at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

John Frank Graham I

The funeral will be Friday for John Frank Graham I, 66, 133 Harper Ave., who died Thursday (Dec. 13, 2001) at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, Ohio.

Services: Graveside, 10 a.m. Friday, New Hope AME Zion Church cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Retoy Gaston.

Visitation: None.

Mitchell & Fair Funeral Services is in charge.

Condolences may be sent online to www.mitfair.net  or by e-mail at mitfair@bellsouth.net .

Opal Roberts Lipe

CHINA GROVE — Opal Roberts Lipe, 83, China Grove, died Tuesday (Dec. 18, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Born Sept. 23, 1918, in Guilford County, Mrs. Lipe, a daughter of the late Allen and Della Martin Roberts, was educated in the Guilford County schools.

She retired from Dixie Yarn. A member of South China Grove Baptist Church, she was in charge of bereavement meals and was a member of the Willing Workers Sunday School Cass and the Senior Citizens group.

Her husband, David Lipe, died in 1973.

Survivors include daughters Shirley Lipe, Evelyn Waldrop and Nancy Corriher, all of China Grove; brother Edward Roberts, Greensboro; sisters Marian Robinson and Barbara Hendrix, both of Greensboro; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, South China Grove Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Derald Adams. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove. At other times, the family will be at the home.

Memorials: South China Grove Baptist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 163, China Grove, NC 28023.

Lula Furr Morton

ALBEMARLE — Lula Agnes Furr Morton, 79, 20788 Old Aquadale Road, died Tuesday (Dec. 18, 2001) at her home.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Hartsell Funeral Home chapel. Burial, Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home on Old Aquadale Road.

Crawford W. Porter

CONCORD — Crawford Watson Porter, 78, 3325 Poplar Tent Road, died Tuesday (Dec. 18, 2001) at his home.

Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Hartsell Funeral Home, Concord. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis. Military rites by DAV Chapter 27.

Visitation: 6-7:30 tonight at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home on Poplar Tent Road.

Memorials: McGill Baptist Church, Building Fund, 202 McGill Ave. N.W., Concord, NC 28027.

Albert L. Renn

Albert L. Renn, 73, Salisbury, died Wednesday (Dec. 19, 2001) at his home.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

William M. Starnes

William Marshall Starnes, 47, Kannapolis, died Monday (Dec. 17, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Feb. 1954, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Starnes was a son of the late Andy Taft and Carrie Mae Starnes. He was educated in the Kannapolis schools and was a former employee of Cannon Mills Plant 1 No. 6 weave room.

Survivors include sons William Keyes and Barry Starnes; brothers Baxter Junior Starnes, Concord, David Starnes, Lexington, Kenneth and Johnny Starnes, both of Kannapolis, and Richard Starnes, Advance; and sisters Janice Dixon, China Grove, Belinda Dunlap and Gracie McRorie, both of Kannapolis, and Rebecca Treadway, Concord.

The family held a private memorial service.

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