Donald Abernathy
The Rev. Donald Ray Abernathy, 54, 5881 Iroquois Drive, Walls,Miss., died Sunday (Dec. 23, 2001) at the VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., after three months of illness. He was a former Rowan County resident.
Born Jan. 23, 1947, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Abernathy was a son of the late Oscar Monroe Abernathy Jr. and Helen Grant Abernathy. He earned two Purple Hearts for his service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam.
He was the pastor of Longcrest Baptist Church, Memphis,Tenn., for 18 years. Also employed as a bus driver for the DeSoto County Schools, he earlier was employed as a school teacher and an auctioneer.
He was a member of the Landis DAV and American Legion Post 146 in Landis. He was a past master and member of Eureka Masonic Lodge 283, China Grove.
Survivors include wife Ramona Mathis Abernathy; son Sam Abernathy, of the home; brothers Dorland Monroe and Arthur Mac Abernathy, both of Landis; and sister Genera Langford, Pisgah Forest.
Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Landis Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Billy Honeycutt and the Rev. Curtis Parker. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.
Visitation: The body will be brought from Forest Hill South Funeral Home, Memphis,Tenn., to Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, where visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday.
Memorials: Longcrest Baptist Church, 1305 Longcrest Road, Memphis,Tenn. 38109.
Eva H. Anderson
STATESVILLE — Eva Lee Harris Anderson, 85, 185 Country Hill Lane, died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at Davis Regional Medical Center.
She was born March 12, 2001, in Wilkes County to the late John and Viena Harris.Retired from Country Kitchen and Quality Catering, she was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church.
On Dec. 24, 1932, she married Clyde Anderson, who died in 1985.
Survivors include sons Herman E. Anderson, Union Grove, and William Clyde Anderson, Statesville; daughters Vercie Lanning, Wilma Laws, Christine Vite and Margie Sigmon, all of Statesville; Lessie Prevette, Cleveland, and Mildred Miller, Mocksville; sisters Ann Seat, Winston-Salem, and Grace Johnson, Greensboro; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home, conducted by Dr. Leath Johnson and the Rev. Darrell Cox. Burial, Iredell Memorial Gardens.
Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at their respective homes.
Condolences may be sent by e-mail to www.legacy.com.
Larry Benfield
MOUNT ULLA — Herman Larry Benfield, 62, Sloop Road, died Wednesday (Dec. 26, 2001) at Iredell Memorial Hospital, Statesville.
Born Aug. 22, 1939, in Rowan County, Mr. Benfield, a son of the late Neriah McCubbins and Alda Horton Benfield, was a graduate of Mount Ulla High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A retired English teacher, he was employed at Oakland High School, Murfreesboro, Tenn., for 30 years. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1999.
An Air National Guard veteran, he was a member of Knox Chapel United Methodist Church, Cleveland.
Survivors include brothers Kenneth and Ervin Benfield, both of Mount Ulla; and sister Mary Dennis, Hickory.
Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Knox Chapel United Methodist Church, Cleveland, conducted by the Rev. Paul Burke. Burial, church cemetery.
Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville.
Memorials: Iredell Home Health Care, P.O. Box 5789, Statesville, NC 28687.
Jessie Swift Cherry
Jessie Lee Swift Cherry, 63, 419 E. Liberty St., died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at her home after a period of declining health.
Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.
Virginia Holt Eanes
Virginia Holt Eanes, 77, Salisbury, died Friday (Dec. 28, 2001) at the home of Linda Pepper.
Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.
Pauline Floyd
LEXINGTON — Sarah Pauline Towe Floyd, 73, 500 Cow Palace Road, died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at Lexington Memorial Hospital after eight years of declining health.
Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Davidson Funeral Home chapel. Burial, Forest Hill Memorial Park.
Visitation: 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home on Cow Palace Road.
Ralph James Hall
CLEVELAND — The funeral will be Monday for Ralph James Hall, 68, 705 E. Main St., who died Monday (Dec. 24, 2001) at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation, Salisbury.
In addition to survivors listed in an earlier obituary, he is survived by son Kevin Hall, Bronx, N.Y., and sister Roxanne Hall, Cleveland.
Services: Noon Monday, Third Creek AME Zion Church, conducted by the Rev.David Rankin, pastor, South Iredell AME Zion Church, Troutman. Burial, National Cemetery at Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury. Military rites by Rowan County Veterans Council.
Visitation: 11 a.m. Monday at the church.At other times the family will be at the home of sister Ruby H. Sifford, 111 Hall St.
Memorials: Ralph J. Hall Memorial Fund, c/o Third Creek AME Zion Church, P.O. Box 298, Cleveland, NC 27013.
Mitchell & Fair Funeral Service, Salisbury, in charge.
Condolences may be sent online to mitfair@bellsouth.net or
www.mitfair.net .
Neil Alexander Hatley
Neil Alexander Hatley, 81, Salisbury, died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at his home.
Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.
Francis Calvin Heath
The funeral will be Sunday for Francis Calvin Heath, 1131 Crestview Ave., who died Wednesday (Dec. 26, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
A native of Raleigh, Mr. Heath was a son of Jessie Heath. He graduated from Dunbar High School and Echols Embalming School in Philadelphia, Pa.
Retired, he was employed by Fiber Industries, now KoSa. He was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church and J.C.Price American Legion Post 107.
Survivors include wife Lorene H. Houston Heath; son Douglas Monteque Houston, Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Mount Zion Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Nilous Avery II. Burial, 9 a.m. Monday, National Cemetery at Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury. Military rites by Salisbury Rowan Veterans Council.
Visitation: 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.
Pauline Huffstetler
Pauline Huffstetler, 100, Salisbury, died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.
Tommy David Morris
CHINA GROVE — Tommy David Morris, 52, 1055 Highway 153 W., died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at his home.
Born Nov. 18, 1949, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Morris was a son of the late Lewis and Sarah Nash Morris. A 1968 graduate of A.L.Brown High School, he was a former member of the N.C. National Guard.
He was employed for 31 years by Duke Power Co. as a technical director for generator service group. He was a member of Kannapolis Country Club and Kannapolis Moose Lodge.
Survivors include wife Jane Blackwelder Morris; and brother Terry Morris.
Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Charlie Littlejohn. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.
Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home on Highway 153.
Memorials: Jim “Catfish” Hunter ALSFoundation, P.O. Box 47, Hertford, NC 27944.
James C. Porter
James Crawford Porter, 92, 530 Faith Road, died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
Born Sept. 12, 1909, in Stanly County, Mr. Porter was a son of the late James Watson and Ida Bell Efird Porter. He retired in 1973 from Johnson Concrete/Carolina Stalite Co., where he was a superintendent. He was a member of Stallings MemorialBaptist Church.
His wife, Tibertius Everhart Porter, died Oct. 5, 1996.
Survivors include sons Tom and Tony Porter, both of Salisbury; daughter Norma Thompson, Millersville, Md.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services: 4 p.m. Sunday, Summersett Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Robert Heard. Burial, Chestnut Hill Cemetery.
Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home on Faith Road.
Memorials:Stallings Memorial Baptist Church, 817 S. Main St., Salisbury,NC 28144.
Mary Belle Roberts
MOORESVILLE — Mary Belle Roberts, 87, Culp Street, died Wednesday (Dec. 26, 2001) at Summit Place.
Born Jan. 19, 1914, in Rowan County, Miss Roberts was a daughter of the late Henry McCamie and Margaret Walters Roberts. She retired from Mooresville Mills weave room and was a member of Broad Street United Methodist Church.
Survivors include sisters Sarah R. Lee, Mooresville, and Grace R. Howard, Davidson.
Services: Graveside, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Mike Macdonald.Burial, Kannapolis City Cemetery.
Visitation: 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.
Memorials: Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 E. Seventh St.,Charlotte, NC 28204.
Grady L. Roseman
KANNAPOLIS — Grady Lewis Roseman, 69, 162 Eastwood Drive, died Wednesday (Dec. 26, 2001) while on the cruise ship Statendam in the Hawaiian Islands.
Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.
Thelma Shrewsbury
Thelma Loleta Miles Shrewsbury, 89, Salisbury, died Thursday (Dec. 27, 2001) at her home.
Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.
Ruby Ward
MIDLAND — Ruby Maglean Eudy Ward, 65, 2458 Cimarron Circle, died Wednesday (Dec. 26, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.
Services: 11 a.m.Monday, First Baptist Church, Locust. Burial, Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte.
Visitation: 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Hartsell Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at 273 Blackberry Trail, Concord, prior to Monday and at the home after Monday.
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