Helen Plyler Beaver

ROCKWELL —The funeral will be Friday for Helen Plyler Beaver of Rockwell, who died Wednesday (Sept. 5, 2001) at Genesis Eldercare, Salisbury, after a period of declining health.

Born in Stanly County, Mrs. Beaver, a daughter of the late Mark and Cora Ridenhour Plyler, was educated in the Stanly County schools. She was a homemaker.

A member of St. James Lutheran Church, she was active with WELCA, the Alter Guild and the bereavement committee. She was a member of the Young at Heart Club and delivered for Meals on Wheels for several years.

Survivors include her husband, John Beaver, whom she married Sept. 12, 1936; son Johnny Beaver, Cornelius; daughter Norma B. Surratt, Rock Hill, S.C.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Friday, St. James Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Craig Sigmon, pastor, and former pastors the Rev. C.P. Fisher and the Rev. Charles McManus. Burial, church cemetery.

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

Memorials: St. James Lutheran Church, Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 486, Rockwell, NC 28138.

Gilbert N. Bradshaw

HILLSVILLE, Va. — Gilbert Neil Bradshaw, 86, Hillsville, died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at Twin County Regional Hospital, Galax.

Survivors include stepdaughter Jeanette Horton, Hillsville; stepson Clarence Bartlett Jr.,Hillsville; brothers Arnold Ray Bradshaw, Matthews,N.C., and James Hoyle Bradshaw, Salisbury, N.C.; sisters Rachel Gaskey, Salisbury, N.C., and Stella Safrit, Rockwell, N.C.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2:30 today, Hillsville Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. John Murphy. Burial, Gardner Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation was held from 12-12:30 today at the church.

Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is in charge.

Ruth Hopper Corry

EAST SPENCER — The funeral will be Saturday for Ruth Hopper Corry, 89, 502 S. Long St., who died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center,Salisbury.

Services: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Shady Grove Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. John G. Gaston. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 4 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

Ballard N. Harris

SPENCER —Funeral services were held Aug. 31 for Ballard N. Harris, 78, Spencer, who died Tuesday (Aug. 28, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center,Salisbury, after a brief illness. He made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Lee Anna and Guy Hoskins of Spencer.

He retired from Charleston Hardware, Charleston, W.Va.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Anna Lee Harris, and a daughter, Mary Catherine Begley.

Survivors, in addition to his daughter, include brothers Joe Harris,Sidney, Ky., and Floyd Harris, Irrigon, Ore.; five grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

The Rev. David Spence officiated at the service held in Kanawha City, W.Va., at Church of the Good Shepherd. Burial was at Mountain View Cemetery.

Arrangements were handled by Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, W.Va.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Medical Center Foundation, 118 E. Council St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Alphonso Jones

Alphonso “Penny” Jones, 57, 825 N.Green St., died Wednesday (Sept. 5, 2001) at Hefner VA Medical Center.

Rowan Funeral Service is in charge.

John Ellison Morgan

ALBEMARLE — The funeral is today for John Ellison Morgan, 78, 1411 Pennington Road, who died Saturday (Sept. 1, 2001) at Wilkes Regional Medical Center, North Wilkesboro.

Services: Burial with Masonic rites, 2 today, Stanly Gardens of Memory.

Stanly Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, c/o Oasis Temple, P.O. Box 560666 Charlotte, NC 28256.

George W. Sharples

The funeral will be Saturday for George W. Sharples, 88, formerly of 615 Elm St., who died Sunday (Sept. 2, 2001) at King Brook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y., after a period of declining health.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Thomas Clawson. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery.

Visitation:1:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Mildred Sheets

KANNAPOLIS —The funeral will be Friday for Mildred Virginia Sheets, 71, 1511 Buffalo St., who died Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at Presbyterian Hospital,Charlotte, after three months of declining health and five weeks of serious illness.

Born Oct. 21, 1929, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Sheets was a daughter of Mary Lee Litaker Bodenhamer,Kannapolis, and the late William Lester Bodenhamer. She retired in 1992 after 47 years with Cannon Mills Co. Plant 1 sewing department. She was of the Nazarene faith.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include husband Richard N. Sheets; sons James and Gene Bare, both of Kannapolis; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Friday, Whitley’s Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Randy Foster and the Rev. Willis Parrish. Burial,Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home of granddaughter Kathy Hubbard, 4707 Rainbow Drive, Kannapolis.

Memorials: American Cancer Society, 500 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28202.

Yesterday's obits