Gatha L. Almond

LOCUST — Gatha Lambert Almond, 90, 24699 Millingport Road, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at her home. Her daughter, Leola Furr, is an Albemarle resident.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Running Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Stanfield. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. At other times, the family will be at the home on Millingport Road.

Ronnie C. Bailey

BRONX, N.Y. — Ronnie C. Bailey, 47, 3990 Bronx Blvd., died Oct. 24, 2001 at his home.

Born April 6, 1954, in East Spencer, N.C., Mr. Bailey was a son of Frances Bailey, Salisbury, N.C. He was a 1972 graduate of North Rowan High School, a National Merit Scholar and recipient of National Awards for Excellence. He also graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston.

He had been a field engineer, electronic technician and system analyst and was last employed at USBPaine Webber in Stanford, Conn.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1974-77 and was a former member of Southern City AMEZion Church, East Spencer, N.C.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by wife Sherylyn Marie Bailey and daughter Mauri Bailey, Staton Island.

The funeral was held in Bronx, N.Y., and burial was in Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, N.Y.

Curtis Ray Ballard

CHINA GROVE — Curtis Ray Ballard, 72, 4335 First St., died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Born Sept. 11, 1929, in Rowan County, Mr. Ballard was a son of the late Robert Myers Edmiston and Ruth Cavin Edmiston. He retired from Wil-Mat Corp., Charlotte, and had also been self-employed as owner of Curt’s Kwick Stop on N.C. Highway 152 and Deal Road.

He was a member of Bethpage United Methodist Church, Kannapolis, where he had been church treasurer, an usher and trustee board member. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War, and had been involved in reunions of the 120th Infantry Division.

Survivors include wife Jackie Stamey Ballard; daughter Sherry B. Culler, Kannapolis; sister Becky Davis, Hickory; brother Robert Edmiston, China Grove; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Bethpage United Methodist Church, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Randy Foster. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis. The rest of the time, the family will be at the home on First Street.

Memorials: Bethpage United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 109 Fellowship Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Helen Shore Bean

MOCKSVILLE — Helen Shore Bean, 73, Fulton Street, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at her home.

Born Nov. 28, 1927, in Davie County, Mrs. Bean was a daughter of the late Henry and Beatrice Ellenburg Shore. She graduated from Cooleemee High School in 1945 and retired from H&RBlock after 10 years of service. She also was the former owner and operator of Cooleemee Fabric Store. She was a member of Cooleemee First Baptist Church.

Her husband, Charles F. Bean, died Feb. 18, 2000.

Survivors include daughter Bunny B. Shepherd, Gold Hill; brothers Jack Shore, Waldo, Ark., and Doyle Shore, Magnolia, Ark.; sisters Colene Williams, Salisbury, Nellie Adams, Rockwell, and Cynthia West, Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Eaton Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. A.G. Parker. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park, Salisbury.

Visitation: 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Forsyth County Hospice &Palliative Care Center, 1100-C S. Stratford Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103; or donor’s choice.

Christine H. Berridge

KANNAPOLIS — Christine Carol Hamlow Berridge, 35, 8665 Dogwood Drive, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) after three years of declining health.

Born July 18, 1966, Mrs. Berridge was a daughter of Anthony Cinardo, Bell Flower, Calif., and the late Joyceline Corbin Cinardo. She was a dental hygienist until she retired due to disability in 1988. She was a Baptist and a homemaker.

Survivors, in addition to her father, include husband Frank Berridge; son Joshua John Berridge, of the home; and brothers Ron Martin, El Cajon, Calif., and Terry Martin, Los Angeles, Calif.

Services: Memorial, 1 p.m. Saturday, Grace Baptist Church.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the home on Dogwood Drive.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Humane Society of Cabarrus County Inc., 3220 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Concord, NC 28025; and Humane Society of Rowan County, 112 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Willie Carol Brinkley

LEXINGTON — Willie Carol Fritts Brinkley, 92, Lexington, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at Lexington Memorial Hospital.

Services: Memorial, 2 p.m. Saturday, Ebenezer United Methodist Church.

Visitation: At the church after the service.

Piedmont Funeral Home is in charge.

Charles Joe Christy

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Saturday for Charles Joe Christy, 72, 520 E. 20th St., who died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Aug. 4, 1929, in Rowan County, Mr. Christy was a son of the late Joe and Daphne McLain Christy. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in the Korean War.

He retired from Cannon Mills Co. Plant 1 wash cloth department and had also worked part-time at Bakers Creek Park. He was a member of Enochville Church of God.

Survivors include wife Nancy Plott Christy; sons Rick Coker and Wayne, Todd and Tommy Christy, all of Kannapolis; daughter Tonya Christy Anderson, Kannapolis; sisters Eloise Watts,Kannapolis, and Marcelle Elder, China Grove; and five grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Enochville Church of God, conducted by the Rev. David Shoemake. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park,China Grove.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Whitley’s Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home on East 20th Street.

R. Lee Collins

R. Lee Collins, 80, 408 Leach Road, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at his home.

Born July 14, 1921, in Statesville, Mr. Collins was a son of the late Collie C. Clark Collins and Alvah David Collins. He was educated in Iredell County schools and worked at White Farms for 22 years. He also worked at Taylor-Clay Brick Co. and was a member of the First Baptist Church, China Grove.

His wife, Betty Troutman Collins, died Oct. 7. 1992.

Survivors include son Steven A. Collins, Concord; daughter Ann Collins Tareen, Salisbury; brothers Parks A. and James D. Collins, both of Statesville; sisters Louise Tucker and Sarah Hoover, both of Statesville, and Hazel Lail, Troutman; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, First Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Steve Wilson. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove. An online memorial has been opened for Mr. Collins at www.americanmemorials.com .

Memorials: First Baptist Church, P.O. Box, 99, China Grove, N.C. 28023.

Lacie Adams Davis

LANDIS — Lacie Adams Davis, 94, 407 S. Beaver St., died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born May 5, 1907, in Alexander County, Mrs. Davis was a daughter of the late John Anderson Adams and Cora Adams McCombs. She was retired from Cannon Mills Co. sewing room and was a member of Grace Covenant Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fonzo Milton Davis, and a son, Claude Davis.

Survivors include daughters Betty Robinson, Landis, Marion Davis, St. Augustine, Fla., Gladys Alexander, Kernersville, and Eleanor Sigmon, Camden, Del.; sister Ruby Foster, Kannapolis; brother James W. Adams, Texas, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Andrea Redard. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.

Visitation: Following the service at the funeral home.

Memorials: First United Methodist Church, 209 E. Mill St., Landis, NC 28088.

Doris Byrd Faggart

ALBEMARLE — Doris Elizabeth Byrd Faggart, 75, 903 Bost St., died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center,Concord.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, West Albemarle Baptist Church. Burial, Fairview Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home of daughter Susan Bailey, 941 McArthur Road, Albemarle.

Raymond Lee Fink

CONCORD — Raymond Lee Fink, 48, 2657 Saddlewood Circle, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.

Born Nov. 14, 2001, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Fink, a son of the late Earl Raymond Fink and Ola Fink Seckler, was a 1971 graduate of A.L. Brown High School, Kannapolis.

He was a body shop manager with Beasly-Cross Chevrolet and had previously been employed with B&R Body Shop, Charlotte. He was a member of Piedmont British Motor Club and was an assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 173 at Harrisburg Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include wife Lynne Vincoli Fink; son Spencer Fink, of the home; daughter Lauren Fink, of the home; brother James Fink, Kannapolis; and sister Virginia Watson, Salisbury.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. John Smyth and the Rev. Darren Yow. Burial,Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: Boy Scout Troop 173, Harrisburg Presbyterian Church, 4815 N.C. Hwy. 49 S., Harrisburg, NC 28075.

Mary Bates Gaines

Mary Jones Bates Gaines, 87, 313 S. Clay St., died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at 1615 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer.

Rowan Funeral Service is in charge.

The family will be at the home of her daughter-in-law Annie Bates, 1615 S. Salisbury Ave.,Spencer.

Mazalee C. Galloway

GOLD HILL — Mazalee Chapman Galloway, 95, Gold Hill, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born May 14, 1906, in Darlington County, S.C., Mrs. Galloway, a daughter of the late Charlie and Nora Belch Chapman, was educated in the Hartsville, S.C., schools.

Retired after 40 years from Cannon Mills Plant 1, No. 4 weave room, she was a member of First Baptist Church of Gold Hill.

Her husband, Toy Edward “T.E.” Galloway, died March 8, 1991, and a son, Jerry Jackson Galloway, died Dec. 24, 1961.

Survivors include sons Jesse Edward Galloway, Monroe, Bernard and Darrell Galloway, both of Rockwell, Lester and Earl Galloway, both of Richfield, and Allen Galloway, Hartsville, S.C.; daughters Opelia G. Morgan and Helen G. Brady, both of Gold Hill, Lavada G. Doby, Misenheimer, Gaynell G. Funderburke, Kannapolis, and EdithG. Almond, Albemarle; sisters Amie Mae Lewis and Willie Ghones, both of Hartsville, S.C.; 59 grandchildren; 85 great-grandchildren; and 30 great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Powles Funeral Home chapel, Rockwell, conducted by the Rev. Toney Parsons, pastor, First Baptist Church,Gold Hill. Burial, Gold Hill Cemetery.

Visitation:6-8 tonight at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home of Lavada Doby, Graystone Inn, Misenheimer.

Memorials: First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 288, Gold Hill, NC 28071.

Tommy Lance Kirk

CHINA GROVE — Tommy Lance Kirk, 51, 46 Rose Ave., died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Aug. 11, 1950, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Kirk was a son of Lilly Faye Johnson Kirk, Hilltop Rest Home, Lexington, and Earl Jennings Kirk, China Grove. He was a graduate of South Rowan High School, a former employee of Tuscarora Mills and a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Landis.

Survivors include sons Tommy Dale Kirk, Kannapolis, and Brian Scott Kirk, Salisbury; brother Earl Edward Kirk, Columbus, Ga.; sister Deborah Laverne Kirk Curlee, Salisbury; and one grandchild.

Services: Memorial, 4 p.m. Saturday, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Landis, conducted by the Rev. Hazel Rollins. The body is being cremated.

Visitation: None. Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, is in charge.

Memorials: Cornerstone Baptist Youth Fund, 500 E. Ryder Ave., Landis, NC 28088; or Lutheran Chapel Church, P.O. Box 152, China Grove, NC 28023.

James ‘Hal’ Link

BLOWING ROCK — James H. “Hal” Link, 66, 291 Alpine Road, formerly of Salisbury, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at Watauga Medical Center, Boone.

Born March 29, 1935, in Winston-Salem, Mr. Link was a son of the late Julius Clyde and Zora Koontz Link. A graduate of Boyden High School in Salisbury, he received an undergraduate degree in music from Murray State University and a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami in Florida.

He taught band and orchestra in public schools for 38 years. In addition, he was string bass instructor and director of the string orchestra at Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University.

He was a member of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church.

He was preceded in death by a son, Brent Link.

Survivors include wife Libby Helms Link; daughter Sandra Link Freeze, Montgomery, Ala.; brother Bob Link, Hamilton, Ohio; and two grandchildren.

Services: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Larry Lyon. Burial, Woodlawn Cemetery, Blowing Rock.

Visitation: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the church. Hampton Funeral Service, Boone, is in charge.

Memorials: Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1218 Main St., Blowing Rock, NC 28605.

Jeannine S. Ritchie

The funeral will be Saturday for Betty Jeannine Sims Ritchie, 62, 1300 Briarwood Terrace, who died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, after a month of serious illness.

Born April 14, 1939, in Coal County, Okla., Mrs. Ritchie was a daughter of Hazel Mae Hefley Sims, Dallas,Texas, and the late Weldon Robert Sims. She was educated in the Oklahoma and Texas schools.

She was a homemaker and a member of NeelRoad Baptist Church, Ladies Sunday School Class and several church committees. She was financial secretary for the church for 20 years.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband,William V. “Bill” Ritchie, whom she married Nov. 30, 1962; sons Darrell Glenn Pruett, Salisbury, and William Michael Ritchie, Mocksville; daughter Kimberly Denise Ritchie Brooks, Salisbury; and six grandchildren.

Services: 8 p.m. Saturday, Neel Road Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jerry F. Wilkes, pastor. Burial, 2 p.m. Sunday at Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the church. At other times, the family will be at the home on Briarwood Terrace.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Brenner Children’s Hospital, Adolescent Unit 7N, North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC 27157; or Neel Road Baptist Church, Building Fund, 135 Neel Road, Salisbury,NC 28144.

James R. Scercy

KANNAPOLIS — James R. Scercy, 74, 606 Hudson St., died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Curtis W. Thomas

POLKTON — Curtis Wilson Thomas, 75, Polkton, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at Stanly Memorial Hospital, Albemarle. He retired as a warehouse worker from Service Distributing Co., Albemarle.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Saturday, Rocky Mount Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. At other times, the family will be at the home of sister Ruth Snyder, State Road 1603, Thomas Road, Polkton.

Memorials: Rocky Mount Baptist Church, Cemetery Fund, c/o Edison Martin, Route 2, Polkton, NC 28135.

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