ALBEMARLE — Willie Ray Andrews, 77, 1233 Columbus St., died Tuesday (May 1, 2001) at Britthaven of Piedmont.

Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Hartsell Funeral Home chapel. Burial, Plyler Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of sister Helen Furr, 1300 Columbus St., Albemarle.

Lillian B. Banks

Lillian B. Banks, formerly of 1111 Laurel St., died Saturday (April 28, 2001) in White Oak.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Otto ‘O.J.’ Brinkley Jr.

The funeral will be Thursday for Otto Jacob “O.J.” Brinkley Jr., 77, Salisbury, who died Monday (April 30, 2001) at his home.

Born July 16, 1923, in Forsyth County, Mr. Brinkley, a son of the late Otto Jacob and Laura Victoria Edwards Brinkley, was educated in the Rowan County schools. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army’s 439th Engineering Co.

He retired as a shift foreman from North Carolina Finishing Co. after 44 years. A member of Trading Ford Baptist Church, he was active in all phases of the church. He was a deacon, Sunday school superintendent and a member of the Raymond Gobble Sunday school class. He was also involved with North Carolina Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief and the Baptist Men.

Mr. Brinkley volunteered with Meals On Wheels, Miller Ferry Fire Department and Habitat For Humanity.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Flora Alice Brinkley, whom he married April 20, 1946.

Survivors include sons Preston Brinkley, Salisbury, Marvin Brinkley, Belleville, Ill., and Mel Brinkley, Greensboro; daughter Margie Hillard, Albuquerque, N.M.; brothers Richard and Ted Brinkley, both of Salisbury; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, Trading Ford Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mike Motley, pastor, and the Rev. David Blanton, former pastor. The body will be placed in the church at 2:30. Burial, family plot in church cemetery. Military rites by Rowan County Veterans Council.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Lyerly Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home.

Memorials: Baptist Men’s Handy Man Ministries, c/o Trading Ford Baptist Church, 3600 Longs Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28144.

Pete Branham

Larry Joe “Pete” Branham, 37, Webb Road, died Friday (April 27, 2001) at his home.

Born Jan. 30, 1964 in McDowell County, Mr. Branham was a son of Maggie Branham, Panther, W.Va., and the late Burl Branham. He was a security guard at Webb Road Flea Market.

Son Larry Joe Branham Jr. preceded him in death.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include companion of 18 years Jessica Marie DePriest; daughters Mandy E. Branham and Jacqueline Nicole DePriest, both of Salisbury; brothers Joey Gene, James and Robert Branham and Burl Branham Jr., all of Lexington, David Junior Branham,Linwood, Bill and Ceil Branham, both of Panther, W.Va.; and sisters Tellia Justice, Southmont, and Barbara Hurley, Panther, W.Va.

Services: Memorial, 3 p.m. Thursday, Gleaners Holiness Church, conducted by the Rev. Carroll L. Posey.

Visitation: After the memorial service at the home of David Junior Branham,Village South Estate, Linwood.

Davidson Funeral Home is in charge.

Donald Lewis Corry

Donald Lewis Corry, 46, Salisbury, died Tuesday (May 1, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.

Lorene Ownby Elsen

NEW LONDON — Lorene Ownby Elsen, 78, 6428 Berridge Drive, Wilmington, formerly of New London, died Monday (April 30, 2001) at Mariner Health Care, Wilmington.

Born Sept. 1, 1922, in Sevierville, Tenn., Mrs. Elsen was a daughter of the late Pink and Lela Chance Ownby. She was a homemaker and was a member of New London First Baptist Church. She was also a member of Albemarle Chapter 71, Order of Eastern Star and was a mother advisor for Rainbow Girls.

Her husband, John Donald “J.D.” Elsen, died in 1997.

Survivors include daughter Nancy E. Flynn, Wilmington; brother David Ownby, Cumberland, Va.; one granddaughter; and one great-grandson.

Services: 2 p.m.Thursday, Stanly Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Jason Lee. Burial, Fairview Memorial Park, Albemarle.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.

Beverly Ross

CHINA GROVE — Beverly Ross, 54, 714 S. Franklin St., died Tuesday (May 1, 2001) at her home.

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

James ‘Jim’ Sellers

LEXINGTON — James Howard “Jim” Sellers, 86, Golden Age Nursing Home, formerly of Burkhart Road, died Monday (April 30, 2001) at Lexington Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health.

Services: 3 p.m. Friday, Second Reformed United Church of Christ. Burial, Lexington City Cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Davidson Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home.

Memorials: Second Reformed United Church of Christ, Building Fund, 330 N. Church St., Lexington, NC 27292; or Friends In Need Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 777, Southmont, NC 27351.

William W. Shoaf

William W. Shoaf, 89, Dover, Del., formerly of Salisbury, died Monday (April 23, 2001) at Green Valley Pavilion in Smyrna, Del., of congestive heart failure.

He was the son of the late Thomas Jesse and Bessie Monroe Shoaf. While growing up in Salisbury, he was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. A graduate of Boyden High School, he was student body president in 1928. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School and attended George Washington University.

Mr. Shoaf was assigned by the U.S. Navy to the Panama Canal Zone as part of the first World War II contingents sent overseas. Later war duty included service in Washington, D.C., on the staff of the chief of naval operations. He also served on the USS Salinas and the USS Barry. He was a reservist during the Bay of Pigs Operation on the USS Arcadia.

Mr. Shoaf had risen to the rank of commander by the end of the war. He then served as commander of a Naval Reserve unit in Washington, D.C.,

As a civilian, he held numerous executive positions with the government and in the private sector, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Overseas Service Corp., Stowe Mills, the Hoover Co., the Bulova Watch Co., RCA, and his own firm, Data Analyses Corp. He retired in 1974 as director of Business Services and Analysis Division, Office of Textiles, at the Department of Commerce.

He was a former member of the Union League Club of Philadelphia and the Army Navy Club of Washington, D.C.

His wife of 62 years, Blanche Vandenburg Shoaf, died Aug. 11, 1996.

Survivors include son William W. Shoaf Jr. and two granddaughters.

Services: Graveside memorial service, Bridgeville Cemetery, Bridgeville, Del., Saturday, 11 a.m.

Arthur H. Slater

ALBEMARLE — Arthur Hewetson Slater, 84, 620 Heathwood Drive, died Saturday (April 21, 2001) at Forrest Oakes Healthcare Center.

Services: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Tabernacle United Methodist Church.

Visitation: 3 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Hartsell Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Stanly County Christian Ministries, 506 S. First St., Albemarle, NC 28001; or Tabernacle United Methodist Church, Youth Program, 132 Church St., Albemarle, NC 28001.

Hubert Reid Smith

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral is today for Hubert Reid Smith, 88, formerly of Locust St., who died Monday (April 30, 2001) at Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory, after a period of declining health.

Born Nov. 25, 1912, in Rowan County, Mr. Smith, a son of the late George A. and Mary Elizabeth Leazer Smith, was educated in the Rowan County schools. He retired from Cannon Mills Plant 1, No. 2 weave room. He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury.

A resident of Shaire Center, Hickory, he had previously resided with daughter Carol Sides in Hickory, Lenoir and Valdese.

His wife, Gertie Schenck Smith, died May 5, 1997.

Survivors, in addition to his daughter, include brother Harold Smith, Salisbury; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 today, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Gene Bruce. Burial, church cemetery.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis, is in charge.

Memorials: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5202 Mooresville Road, Salisbury, NC 28147.

Connie G. Clodfelter

LEXINGTON — Connie May Grubb Clodfelter, 82, Cunningham Brick Yard Road, died Monday (April 30, 2001) at Britthaven of Davidson, Thomasville, after an extended illness.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Mount Zion Wesleyan Church. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Davidson Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home of son Darrell Clodfelter, 1959 Kepley Road.

Katherine D. Crump

ALBEMARLE — Katherine Daniels Crump, 79, 425 Summit Ave., died Monday (April 30, 2001) at Stanly Memorial Hospital.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Union Chapel AME Zion Church. Burial, Cottonwood AME Zion Church cemetery.

Visitation: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Kelsey Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home of sister Sue D. Harris, 319 Leonard Ave, Albemarle.

Margaret S. Talbert

Mary Margaret Shuler Talbert, 90, 215 Lash Drive, formerly of Fairmont Avenue, died Tuesday (May 1, 2001) at The Laurels of Salisbury after a year of declining health.

Born Aug. 7, 1910, in Salisbury, Mrs. Talbert was a daughter of the late Luther B. and Annie Julian Shuler. She was educated in the Salisbury city schools and was a graduate of Boyden High School.

She retired in 1972 as a department manager and buyer for Belk’s Department Store, where she had been employed for 18 years. A member of First Baptist Church, Salisbury, she was active in the Adult Sunday School Class and the Retired Citizens Club.

Her husband, C.E. “Gene” Talbert, died March 22, 1972.

Survivors include son David E. Talbert, Salisbury; daughter Betty Talbert Brock, Salisbury; sister Dot Julian,Salisbury; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, Summersett Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Franklin Myers, pastor, First Baptist Church, Spencer. Burial,Chestnut Hill Cemetery.

Visitation: 1-3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family will be at the home of Betty Talbert Brock, 970 Fairmont Ave., from 7-9 tonight.

Memorials: First Baptist Church, 223 N.Fulton St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or First Baptist Church, 215 Fifth St., Spencer, NC 28159.