Nathaniel Ray Gibson Jr.

SPENCER — The funeral will be Saturday for Nathaniel Ray Gibson Jr., 17, 1026 N. Salisbury Ave., who died Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2001).

Born June 5, 1983, in Rowan County, the youth was the son of Nathaniel and Deborah Ellis Gibson of the home. He had attended North Rowan High School and was last employed as a cook by Kentucky Fried Chicken, Salisbury.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include sisters Felician and LaVonda Gibson, both of East Spencer; maternal grandparents Leroy and Elfrances Ellis, Salisbury; and paternal grandparents Edward and Mildred Gibson, Salisbury.

Services: 3 p.m. Saturday, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. John G. Gaston. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery.

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

Wilford ‘Don’ Jones

Wilford “Don” Donald Jones, 79, North Carolina Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks, formerly of East Colonial Drive, died Wednesday (Jan. 17, 2001) at Trinity Oaks.

Born July 18, 1921, in New Castle, Pa., Mr. Jones was a son of the late Ernest MacDonald and Allie Brown Jones. He graduated from Mount Jackson High School in Pennsylvania and received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a master’s degree from Poly Tech Institute.

Retired from National Starch in 1986, he was a member of the Chemical Society.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he taught the Mr. and Mrs. Sunday School Class and sang in the choir. A bridge player, he volunteered with Dial Help and Rowan Helping Ministries.

His wife, Willavene “Billie” Jones, died Jan. 1, 2001.

Survivors include sons Melvin D. Jones, Surf City, N.J., and Kenneth W. Jones, Spring City, Pa.; daughters Katherine J. Fazler, Moneta, Va., and Janet J. Nifong, Clayton; sister Delaphine McFate, Warren, Pa.; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, First United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Thomas Griffis. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-8 p.m. Friday, Summersett Funeral Home, and 1:30-2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Linda Kaye ‘Sheena’ Miller

The funeral will be Friday for Linda Kaye “Sheena”Miller, 48, 216 Henderson St., who died Saturday (Jan. 13, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Born March 10, 1952, Ms. Miller was a daughter of Sonnie Boy Miller and Jessie Mae Bell. She was an evangelist for 25 years.

Survivors include husband Charles Setzer, Charlotte; daughter Bonnie Rice, of the home; son Nathaniel Setzer, of the home; sisters Sadie E. Mobley, Charlotte, Martha A. Carson, Mooresville, and Sarah Forrest, Concord; brothers the Rev. John W. Miller, Mount Pleasant, Samuel E. Miller and Sonnie B. Miller Jr., both of Salisbury; and four grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Friday, Victory in Jesus Christian Ministries Church, Concord, conducted by the Rev. Douglas Cook and the Rev. Carolyn Spellman. Burial, Rutherford Memorial Park.

Visitation: 2-3 p.m. at the church. Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Charlie ‘Bill’ Sells Jr.

The funeral will be Friday for Charlie Glenn “Bill” Sells Jr., 73, Salisbury, who died Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after two months of declining health.

Born Sept. 29, 1927, in Rowan County, Mr. Sells, a son of the late Daisy Irene Kluttz Sells Younce, was educated at Granite Quarry School.

He retired as a truck driver with Roadway Express after 33 years. He was recognized for his safe driving and earned the Roadway Safe Driving Award for 26 years of safe driving. He also drove a school bus for two years.

He was a member of Christiana Lutheran Church and Local Teamsters Union 391, Kernersville.

His wife, Phyllis Marie Sells, died Nov. 18, 2000.

Survivors include daughter Jaclyn Christine Sells of the home and sister Naomi Cates, Salisbury.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, Christiana Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Carl M. Haynes. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell.

Ronald Eugene Thompson

ALBEMARLE — Ronald Eugene Thompson, 42, 1306 Old Charlotte Road, died Wednesday (Jan. 17, 2001).

Born Sept. 24, 1958, in Stanly County, Mr. Thompson was the son of J.E. and Peggy Napier Thompson of Albemarle. He graduated from Nathan Beford Forrest High School, Jacksonville, Fla., in 1976. He was an artist and floral designer.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include brother Douglas E. and Eric S. Thompson, both of Charlotte; and sister Michele Thompson, Albemarle.

Services: Memorial, 7 p.m. Friday, Stanly Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. David Alexander. The body will be cremated.

Visitation: At the funeral home after the service. At other times the family will be at the home of his parents, J.E. and Peggy Napier Thompson, 1306 Old Charlotte Road.

Memorials: Hospice of Stanly County, 960 N. First St., Albemarle, NC 28001.

Brownie Powell Williams

MOCKSVILLE — Brownie Bell Powell Williams, 93, Fairfield Road, died Wednesday (Jan. 17, 2000)at her home.

Eaton Funeral Home is in charge.

Ben Ross Yost

STATESVILLE — Ben Ross Yost, 73, 804 Kerley Court, died Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2001) at Iredell Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health.

Born July 20, 1927, in Rimer Town, Cabarrus County, Mr. Yost was a son of the late Pleasant James and Lily Florence Bost Yost. He was a 1945 graduate of Rockwell High School and attended a watch-making school in Spencer.

After his training, he joined Brownlee Jewelry Store,Charlotte, as a watchmaker. He operated Yost Firestone Store on Broad Street from 1960 until 1974, when he left to manage the X-Cell Tire Co. in Salisbury. After retiring from there in 1989, he worked part-time for Auto Equipment Inc., Statesville.

A member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, he was a former member of the Jaycees and Moose Lodge.

Survivors include wife Anne Griffin Yost, whom he married June 14, 1952; sons Steven Ross Yost, Rockwell, and David Griffin Yost, Statesville; brothers Hobert Yost, Kannapolis, and James Yost, Rockwell; sisters Estelle Brady, Rockwell, and Bettie Shipton, Wilmington; and four grandchildren.

Services: Memorial, 4 p.m. Friday, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jack Knoespel.

Visitation: In the church parlor after the service.

Nicholson Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 825 Wesley Drive, Statesville, NC 28677; or American Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 493, Statesville, NC 28687.