KANNAPOLIS — Mildred Lear Graham, 71, 805 Peachtree Drive, died Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001)at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Nov. 13, 1929, in Danielsville, Ga., Mrs. Graham was a daughter of the late King David and Bertie Mae Carithers Fortson. She was a homemaker.

Her first husband, Mayro Bruce Lear, died March 17, 1993.

Survivors include husband Joe Hubert Graham; daughters Mary Campbell and Grace Oliver, both of Kannapolis; son Marvin Lear, Kannapolis; stepdaughters Helen Woodward, Kannapolis, and Jo Boone, Wilmington; stepsons Frank Lear, Chesterfield,S.C., and Herman and David Graham, both of Flint, Mich.; sisters Edna Murphy, Louisiana, and Sarah Adams, Danielsville, Ga.; brothers Bethune Fortson and King “Junior” Fortson, both of Kannapolis; nine grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.

Services: 4 p.m. Saturday, Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Charles “Chuck” Overcash. Burial, Greenlawn Cemetery, China Grove.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of son Marvin Lear, 1104 Sunset Drive.

Myron B. Karriker

MOORESVILLE — Myron B. Karriker, 98, 890 Deal Road, died Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at Genesis ElderCare of Mooresville.

Born March 8, 1902, in Rowan County, Mr. Karriker was a son of the late William L. and Laura Ritchie Karriker. He was educated in the Rowan County schools. A retired farmer, he was a lifelong member of Concordia Lutheran Church.

Survivors include sister Bernice K. Waller, Moores-ville.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Concordia Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Wayne Sipe. Burial in church cemetery.

Visitation: 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorials: Concordia Lutheran Church, 185 Concordia Church Road, China Grove, NC 28023.

Pearlene Byrd Kepley

LEXINGTON — Pearlene Iola Byrd Kepley, 72, Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation, Salisbury, formerly of Lexington, died Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Born Aug. 21, 1928, in Lexington, Mrs. Kepley, a daughter of the late Oliver and Hattie Byrd, was educated in the Davidson County schools. A homemaker, she was a Baptist.

Her husband, James Lloyd Kepley, died in March 1981.

Survivors include sons Gerald Kepley, Salisbury, and Alan Kepley, Lexington; daughters Martha Kepley, Lexington, and Mary Hardister, Denton; brother James Byrd, Portland,Ore.; sisters Mary Swing and Lillie Newell, both of Lexington; and 10 grandchildren.

Services: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home Chapel, China Grove, conducted by the Rev. Larry Beaver. Burial, Forest Hill Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of son Gerald Kepley, 345 Alan Circle, Salisbury.

Nell Smith Kerr

MOORESVILLE — Nell Smith Kerr, 87, formerly of West Stewart Avenue, died Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2001) at Britthaven Nursing Home, Chapel Hill.

Born April 24, 1913, in Iredell County, Mrs. Kerr was a daughter of the late Richard Lee and Dolin Sherrill Smith. She was a member of Mooresville ARP Church, where she was in the choir, a Sunday school teacher and member of Mary Emma Kennedy Circle.

Her husband,Kent Stevenson Kerr, died May 16, 1992.

Survivors include children Larry S. Kerr, North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Kent S. Kerr Jr., Cary, Kaye K. Eagle, Troutman, and Faye K. Rose, Valerico,Fla.; sisters Helen Connell,Greenville, Tenn., and Rachel McLaughlin, Moores-ville; brother Flynn Smith, Anderson, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Saturday, Mooresville ARP Church, conducted by the Rev. Gerald R. Hallman. Burial, Willow Valley Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.

Memorials: Mooresville ARP Church, 659 Carpenter Ave., Mooresville, NC 28115.

Hezekiah K. Krider

The funeral will be Sunday for Hezekiah K. Krider, 103, 865 Luther Barger Road, who died Tuesday (Feb. 13, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, New Zion Baptist Church, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Paul Jones. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home.

Fred Lewis Mowery

Fred Lewis Mowery, 83, 175 Gwynn St., died Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at his home after a number of years of declining health.

Born Oct. 15, 1917, in Rowan County, Mr. Mowery was a son of the late James Henry and Clara Livengood Mowery. He was educated in the Rowan County schools. A veteran, he received two Bronze Stars for his service in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater.

He was a boilermaker for Southern Railway at Spencer Shops for 24 years and later owned and operated Fred Motor Co. for 30 years. A member of Enon Baptist Church, he was in the Boots Hellard Sunday School class. He was also a member of Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Post 342.

Survivors include wife Marian Swicegood Mowery, whom he married Feb. 21, 1940; son Fred L. Mowery Jr., Salisbury; daughter Margaret M. Kirby, Salisbury; sisters Marie M. Lanning, Lexington, Bessie M. McClamrock, Woodleaf, and Ruth M. Ridenhour, Salisbury; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Enon Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Wayne Trexler. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park. Military rites by Rowan Veterans Council.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Summersett Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home on 175 Gwynn St.

Memorials: Enon Baptist Church, 1875 Enon Church Road, Salisbury, NC 28147; or Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Willie Mae B. Rymer

CHINA GROVE — Willie Mae Burton Rymer, 88, formerly of Old Beatty Ford Road, died Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at Transitional Health Services, Kannapolis.

Born Nov. 6, 1912, in Madison County,Ga., Mrs. Rymer was a son of the late Albert and Leona King Burton. She retired from Cannon Mills Co. sheet department and was a member of Centerview Baptist Church, Kannapolis.

Her husband, Wade C. Rymer, preceded her in death.

Survivors include sister Hazel Lindsay,Kannapolis; and brother Roper Burton, Salisbury.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Willie Rash. Interment, West Lawn Memorial Mausoleum.

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

Memorials: Centerview Baptist Church, 415 Walter St., Kannapolis, NC 28083.

William Howard Story

KANNAPOLIS — William Howard Story, 92, 116 Newell Ave., died Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at his home.

Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Rondall E. Studevent

STATESVILLE — Rondall Eugene Studevent, 52, Statesville, died Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2001) at Davis Hospital.

He is the son of Emma Studevent, Mocksville.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include sons Reginald and Ricky Studevent, both of Statesville; brother William Studevent Jr., Mocksville; and three grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday,Graham Funeral Home Chapel, Mocksville, conducted by the Rev. Walter Tidline. Burial, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 2 p.m. Sunday.

Blanche Harbin Vail

Blanche Harbin Vail, 78, Salisbury, died Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2001),

Born Jan. 14, 1923, in Harmony, Mrs. Vail was a daughter of the late Robert and Lilly Taylor Harbin. She retired from Charlotte Community Hospital where she was an administrative assistant. A longtime former member of Northside Baptist Church, she was a member of Gospel Light Baptist Church.

Her husband, Wilbur Vail, died Oct. 5, 2000.

Survivors include son Don Vail, Mooresville; daughters Ann Vail Tucker, Brevard, Joani Vail Ramsey, Charlotte, and Debbie Vail Hansley, Concord; brother Bill Harbin; sisters Rachel Pettyjohn and Hazel Watts; 12 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Northside Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Barry Shearer. Burial, Forest Lawn West, Charlotte.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.

McEwen Funeral and Cremation Service, Derita Chapel, Charlotte, in charge.

Memorials: Hospice of Iredell County, P.O. Box 822, Statesville, NC 28677; or American Lung Association, 5315 Greenbrook Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205.

Eva Mae Way

GEORGETOWN, S.C. — Eva Mae Way, 70, Georgetown, a former Salisbury, N.C., resident, died Monday (Feb. 12, 2001) at Georgetown Memorial Hospital.

A native of Georgetown, Mrs. Way was born May 1, 1930, to the late Nathaniel and Louise Rutledge. She was a member of Bethel AME Church. Retired, she was a nurse. After moving to Salisbury, N.C., she was employed by Hefner VA Medical Center, and was a member of Lilly Chapel Holiness Church.

Survivors include sons Charles Deas, Georgetown, and Roosevelt Way, New York City; daughters Henrietta Miller and Rosa Brunson, both of Salisbury; sisters Louise Rutledge, Yonkers, N.Y., and Daisy Green, Baltimore,Md.; brothers Simon and James Rutledge, New York City, and Nathaniel Rutledge, Georgetown; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Bethel AME Church, conducted by Dr. William Swinton Jr.