Ruth Bost Edson

WOODLEAF — Ruth Bost Edson, 89, Woodleaf, died Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at The Laurels of Salisbury.

Summersett Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

Rev. John G. Gaston

The Rev. John G. Gaston, 84, 1505 N. Long St., died Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at his home.

He was the pastor at Shady Grove Baptist Church,East Spencer, and First Baptist Church, Southmont.

Rowan Funeral Service is in charge.

Nancy F. Graham

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Nancy Foley Graham, 63, Hodges Farm Road, a former Salisbury resident, died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.

Born Jan. 5, 1938, in Henry County, Mrs. Graham was a daughter of the late Aaron and Minnie Hollandsworth Foley.

She was a member of Collinsville Baptist Church and was employed in the Wal-Mart deli for five years.

A daughter, Brenda Lee Foley, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband of 48 years, the Rev. Thomas Eugene Graham, a former pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Salisbury; other daughters Amy Burton, Martinsville, and Rebecca “Becky” Gotass, Pine,Colo.; son Sam Graham, Fredericksburg; sister Barbara Hopkins, Bassett; brothers Gene, Tommy, David, Wallace and Winfred Foley; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Collinsville Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Tracy Freeman. Burial, Grassy Creek Baptist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Collins Funeral Home, Bassett.

Thomas W. Griffin

Thomas Wayne Griffin, 65, Salisbury, died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at his home.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

Mavin Ketchie

SPENCER — Marvin Ketchie, 93, Spencer, died Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at Magnolia Gardens.

Lyerly Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

William ‘Bill’ Linker

ROCKWELL —William “Bill”Henry Linker, 86, 1555 Cannon St., died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem.

Born Sept. 11, 1915, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Linker was a son of the late Henry Joshua and Annie Gray Linker. He served in the Merchant Marines and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Several years ago, he retired from Cannon Mills no. 7 in Salisbury.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ethel Scott Linker; his second wife, Jessie Collins Linker; and a daughter, Mary Ann Linker.

Survivors include other daughter Alice Luerain Shulenberger,Rockwell; sisters Margie Roseman, Rockwell, Lena Sisk, Cleveland, and Vergie Bame, Salisbury; brothers Lewis Linker, Charlotte, and John Linker, Concord; and four grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by Dr. Benny Vickery, the Rev. Ricky Brown and the Rev. Charles Carver. Burial, Brookhill Memorial Gardens.

Visitation: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of son Henry Lee Linker, 1640 Cannon St.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.ladysfuneralhome.com/obituaries.htm .

Dorothy B. Middleton

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Tuesday for Dorothy Bost Middleton, 74, Kannapolis, who died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, after six months of declining health.

Born Nov. 5, 1926, in Rowan County, Mrs. Middleton was a daughter of the late Charlie Banks Bost and Mattie Harris Bost Gardner.

She was employed with CannonMills plant 1 and as a tax consultant with an area income tax service. She was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church.

Her husband, Dwight C. Middleton, died April 8, 1998.

Survivors include sons Charles Michael Middleton, Charlotte, and Dwight C. Middleton Jr., Atlanta, Ga.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Carolina Memorial Park, conducted by the Rev. Ronnie W. Parker.

Visitation: None.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Memorial United Methodist Church, 1100 W. C St., Kannapolis, NC 28081; and Samaritan’s Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.

Carol M. Morgan

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Tuesday for Carol McGinnis Morgan, 69, Kannapolis, who died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at her home.

Born April 28, 1932, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Morgan was a daughter of the late Leroy and Betty Lee McGinnis

She was a member of New Testament Independent Baptist Church. In 1973 she retired due to ill health from Cannon Mills Co. plant 1 wash cloth department.

Survivors include husband Troy W. Morgan; son Dennis Morgan, Kannapolis; brother Elgin M. McGinnis, Statesville; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday, New Testament Independent Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Bobby Utley.

Visitation:6-8 tonight, Whitley’s Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at 405 Town St., Landis.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Idella Owens Morris

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Tuesday for Idella Owens Morris, 77, 250 Northdale Ave., who died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at Best ofCare Nursing Home.

Born Dec. 24, 1923, in Wilkes County, Mrs. Morris, was the daughter of the late Chalie Owens and was educated in the Wilkes County schools. She worked as a spinner at Cannon Mills and was a member of Mount Zion United Church of Christ.

Her husband, Luther W. Morris, died in July 1995; a daughter, Shirley Jacobs, died in April 2001; and a son, Lloyd “Buck” Morris, also preceded her in death.

Survivors include daughters Nancy Morris Harrington, Greensboro, and Louise Morris Deal, China Grove; stepson Bobby R. Morris, Statesville; stepdaughter Brenda M. Williams, Webster, N.Y.; brother Connie Owens, North Wilkesboro; stepbrothers Robert Owens, Midlothian. Va., and Jim Owens, Richmond, Va.; sister Novella Childress, North Wilkesboro; stepsisters Sadie Price, Chesterfield, Va., and Nellie Ruth Stankiewicz and Cora Lee Poore, both of Richmond, Va.; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Mount Zion United Church of Christ, conducted by the Rev. William Campbell. Burial, Greenlawn Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis.

Memorials: Mount Zion UnitedChurch of Christ, 1415 Main St., China Grove, NC 28023; or donor’s choice.

Patty Anne Murray

KANNAPOLIS —Patty Anne Murray, Kannapolis, died Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Larry J. Richardson

CLEVELAND —The funeral will be Tuesday for Larry Jay Richardson, 45, Cleveland, who died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at Davis Regional Medical Center, States-ville, after a month of serious illness.

Born Nov. 17, 1955, in Rowan County, Mr. Richardson was a son of Bobby Glenn and Merle Sue Daniel Richardson, Chapin, S.C. He was educated in the Salisbury city schools and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

Employed with PPG in Lexington for 23 years, he was a member of Trading Ford Baptist Church and the church Sunday school.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include wife Patricia Leonard Richardson, whom he married Dec. 20, 1984; son Shannon Crouse, Galax, Va.; daughter Ashley Crouse, Cleveland; and sister Lisa Michele Hayes, Linwood.

Services: 3 p.m. Tuesday, Trading Ford Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mike Motley. The body will be placed in the church at 2:30. Burial, family plot in church cemetery.

Visitation:7-8:30 tonight, Lyerly Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home.

Memorials: Trading Ford Baptist Church, 3600 Long Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.

Margaret Wands Ryan

SPENCER — The funeral will be Tuesday for Margaret Wands Ryan, 74, Spencer, who died Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at her home.

Born April 1, 1927, in Spencer, Mrs. Ryan was a daughter of the late John and Jessie Harper Wands. She was a 1944 graduate of Spencer High School and attended Appalachian State University.

In 1993, she retired after 28 years as bookkeeper for the Rowan County Schools. A member of Central United Methodist Church and the Women’s Morning Circle, she was also a member of Spencer Historical Society, Spencer Women of the Moose and Spencer Women’s Club. She was a volunteer for Steamfest.

Her husband, Robert Lamont Ryan Sr., died Sept. 29, 1977.

Survivors include son R. Lamont “Monty” Ryan Jr., Salisbury; daughter Janet Carter, Spencer; and two grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Central United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Rodney Hagans, pastor, and the Rev. Bill Curtis, pastor, New Hope United Methodist Church, Winston-Salem. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Members of Spencer High School class of 1944 will be seated as a group. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park, Salisbury.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Summersett Funeral Home, Salisbury. At other times the family will be at 404 Wildwood Drive, Corbin Hills community, Salisbury.

Memorials: Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 203, Spencer, NC 28159; or Humane Society of Rowan County, 112 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

LaFaye S. White

LaFaye Simmons White, 84, Salisbury, died Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation after an extended period of declining health.

Born Jan. 7, 1917, in Loris, S.C., Mrs. White was a daughter of the late Albert Dorus and Ginny Stevens Simmons. She was educated in the Columbus County schools and attended Southeastern Business College in Lumberton.

A bookkeeper for Belks, she worked in Lumberton and Fairmont. She retired as a bookkeeper from Smith Dry Cleaners, Lumberton.

She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star, Fairmont. Also a member of Stallings Memorial Baptist Church, she was in the Homemakers Sunday school class, XYZ Chorus and the Young at Heart Group

Survivors include husband A. Earl White, whom she married Dec. 7, 1935; daughter Nancy W. Jarrell, Salisbury; brother Robert Dorus Simmons, Chesapeake,Va.; sister Letha S. Barnhill, Long Beach; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Summersett Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Robert T. Heard, interim pastor, Stallings Memorial Baptist Church. Entombment,Rowan Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home.

Memorials: Stallings Memorial Baptist Church, Senior Adult Ministry, 817 S. Main St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or First Baptist Church, Senior Adult Ministry, S. Main St., Fairmont, NC 28340.

John Ervin Bame

John Ervin Bame, 74, Salisbury, died Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

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