ROCKWELL — Helen P. Beaver, 88, Rockwell, died Wednesday (Sept. 5, 2001) at Genesis Eldercare of Salisbury after a period of declining health.

Powles Funeral Home is in charge.

Bill Byrd

KANNAPOLIS — William Franklin “Wild Bill” Byrd, 77, 212 S. East Ave., died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born April 27, 1924, in Madison County, Ga., Mr. Byrd was a son of the late George “Red” and Ella Hardiman Byrd. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was a member of West Point Baptist Church.

He retired as a truck driver from Central Motor Lines and later worked in the cotton warehouse and drove a truck at Cannon Mills Plant 1.

An early stock car racing pioneer, he raced around the dirt tracks of the Carolinas under the Cabarrus County Racing Stars (CARS) and NASCAR sanctions. He acquired the nickname “Wild Bill” due to his on-track antics.

Byrd was involved in racing in his later years as a regular at Concord Motorsport Park.

His wife, Ernestine Morris Byrd, died in 1989.

Survivors include half brother Tony Byrd, Kannapolis.

Services: Funeral, 8:30 tonight, Lady’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Marshall Brooks. Graveside, 11 a.m. Thursday, Carolina Memorial Park. Military rites by DAV Chapter 27 of Concord.

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

Memorials: CMP Racers Auxiliary, P.O. Box 1473, Mount Pleasant, NC 28124.

William B. Dublin

GREENSBORO — The funeral will be Wednesday for William Bernard Dublin, 48, Greensboro, who died Tuesday (Aug. 28, 2001) at Moses Cone Hospital.

Born Oct. 31, 1952, in Albany, Ga., Mr. Dublin was a son of the late Marbline Wright and Cleveland Dublin.

Survivors include sisters Eva and Gladys Chambers, both of Salisbury.

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Piedmont Christian Church. Burial, National Cemetery, Salisbury.

Visitation: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Woodward Funeral Home is in charge.

James H. Gandy

The funeral will be Thursday for James H.Gandy, 93, 2201 Statesville Blvd., who died Sunday (Sept. 2, 2001) at Salisbury Gardens.

Born in Chesterfield County, S.C., Mr.Gandy was a son of the late Isaiah and Charlotte Adams Gandy. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later worked in the trucking industry.

He had been a member of Cheraw Masonic Lodge 15 for 53 years and was a member of First Church of God.

His wife, Juanita Moody Gandy, preceded him in death.

Survivors include son J.D. Gandy, Salisbury; sisters Daisy Bryant, Rhorie Preslar, Chessie Lewis, Clara Coleman, and Sadie Coker; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and caregiver Barbara Cornwell.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, First Church of God, Darlington, S.C. Burial with Masonic Rites at Grove Hill Cemetery.

Memorial, 2 p.m. Thursday at Salisbury Gardens.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Belk Funeral Home, Darlington, S.C.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

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

Mary Jane Goodson

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Thursday for Mary Jane Kirkpatrick Goodson, 64, 318 E.Universal St., who died Monday (Sept. 3, 2001) at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Born Jan. 2, 1937, in Charlotte,Mrs.Goodson was a daughter of the late Leroy Houston and Callie Andrews Kirkpatrick. She was a secretary and bookkeeper at Jefferies &Cassie Cotillion and a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, Albemarle.

Survivors include daughters Dena Drye,Concord, Connie Miller, Charlotte, and Deanna Parker, Mint Hill; brother Don Kirkpatrick, Granite Falls; and five grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, Main Street United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. David M. Rorie and the Rev. Eugene Dean. Burial, Fairview Memorial Park, Albemarle.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. At other times the family will be at the home of daughter Dena Drye, 5894 Birchfield Lane, Concord.

Memorials: American Heart Association, c/o Susan Gibson, Bank of Stanly, P.O. Box 338, Albemarle, NC 28001; or Main Street Methodist Church, Family Life Center Fund, 1100 W. Main St., Albemarle, NC 28001.

Ronald W. Kinney

The funeral will be Thursday for Ronald Wilburn Kinney, 63, Salisbury, formerly of Lexington, who died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at his home after 18 months of illness.

Born Feb. 28, 1938, in Davidson County, Mr.Kinney was a son of Edna Gobble Kinney, Lenoir, and the late Wilburn Reid Kinney. He was a 1956 graduate of Lexington High School and served in the U.S. Navy.

Employed in the insurance industry, he retired from Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. in October 1999 due to ill health. He attended Cornerstone Baptist Church, North Kannapolis.

His first wife, Joyce Adkins Kinney, died in 1988.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include wife Rita Jackson Kinney, whom he married June 19, 1993; daughter Penny Smith, Panama City, Fla.; sisters Carolyn Winkler and Joyce White, both of Lenoir; stepsons James Russell Hancock Jr., Salisbury, and Edward Wayne Hancock, Panama City, Fla.; and nine step-grandchildren.

Services: Memorial, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Summersett Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Steve Sexton, pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, North Kannapolis.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury,NC 28144; or Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1700 Plaza Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Pearlie B. Plyler

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Thursday for Pearlie B. Plyler, 88, 6549 Plyler Road, who died Monday (Sept. 3, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Nov. 10, 1912, in Chesterfield County, S.C., Mrs. Plyler was a daughter of the late Duncan Lucas and Carrie Eliza Whitley Brown. She retired after 33 years from Cannon Mills Co. Plant 1 sheet department.

She was a longtime active member of Calvary Baptist Church.

Her husband, W. Leston Plyler, died March 4, 1984.

Survivors include sons William Harold Plyler, Kannapolis, and Hayward L. Plyler, Vero Beach, Fla.; daughters Faye Plyler Freeze and Elaine P. Little, both of Kannapolis; sister Rachel Eubanks,Cheraw, S.C.; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 pm. Thursday, Calvary Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Dale Tanner and the Rev. Marler Starnes. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Whitley’s Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home of son William Harold Plyler, 6545 Plyler Road.

Memorials: Calvary Baptist Church, 703 Buick Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28083.

Mildred B. Sheets

KANNAPOLIS — Mildred Virginia Bodenhamer Sheets, 71, 1511 Buffalo St., died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, after two months of serious illness.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Charlie Spencer Jr.

FAITH — The funeral will be Thursday for Charlie Spencer Jr., 37, 340 Alphous Road, who died Saturday (Sept. 1, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, after a day of illness.

Services: 1 p.m. Thursday, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home chapel, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. D.S. Houston.

Visitation: 12 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Winona R. Tucker

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Thursday for Winona Russell Tucker, 69, 2110 Lane St., who died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Jan. 25, 1932, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Tucker was a daughter of the late William and Bernice Kluttz Russell. A Kannapolis resident for 30 years, she was a homemaker and a member of Lane Street Church of God.

Survivors include husband George T. Tucker; sons the Rev. George E. Tucker, China Grove, and Donald Lee and Richard E. Tucker, both of Salisbury; daughters Pamela T. Kilpatrick, Kannapolis, and Mary T. Long, China Grove; sister Barbara Jean Russell, Spokane, Wash.; brother Bill Joe Wilson, Salisbury; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Lane Street Church of God, conducted by the Rev. Wade Easom. The body will be placed in the church at 9. Burial, National Cemetery, Salisbury.

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

Yesterday's obits