James Nelson Bell
SPENCER — The funeral will be Saturday for James Nelson Bell, 80, 511 Third St., who died Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2002) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, after three days of serious illness.
Born Dec. 23, 1921, in Franklin, Mr. Bell, a son of the late Delmar Bell and Ellen Lytle Bell Gay, attended the Rowan County schools.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Retired from Cone Mills, he was a member of Boxwood Baptist Church, Mocksville.
Survivors include fiancee Dorothy Poag Tenor, of the home; and cousins reared in the home Mamie Lytle and Mary Barrow, both of New York City.
Services: 4 p.m., Saturday, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. B.J. Melton. Burial, 11 a.m., Monday, National Cemetery, Brenner Avenue, Salisbury. Military rites by Rowan Veterans Council.
Visitation: 3:30 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home.
Truley Whitley Burris
OAKBORO — Truley Odessa Whitley Burris, 86, 16704 Frog Pond Road, mother of Jean B. Speight, Albemarle, and Craven Burris, Mount Pleasant, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at N.C. Lutheran Nursing Homes Inc.
Services: 2 p.m., Saturday, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Burial, church cemetery.
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Saturday at the church. At other times, the family will be at the home of daughter Jean Speight, 17251 St. Martin Road. Prior to Saturday’s service, the body may be viewed at HartsellFuneral Home, Albemarle.
Lanas T. Cooke
CONCORD — Lanas Tucker Rodgers Cooke, 215 Goodman Circle, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at NorthEast Medical Center.
Lady’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, is in charge.
Inez A. Compton
KANNAPOLIS — Inez A. Compton, 87, Caremoor Retirement Center, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.
Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.
Nannie M. Crockett
The funeral will be Sunday for Nannie Massey Crockett, 97, 304 Grim St., who died Sunday (Jan. 27, 2002) at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation.
Born Sept. 15, 1904, in Rock Hill, S.C., Mrs. Crockett, a daughter of the late George and Rachel Harper Massey, was educated in the Rock Hill, S.C., schools.
A domestic worker, she was a member of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Services: 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, conducted by the Rev. Murray L. Edwards. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery.
Visitation: 2-2:30 p.m., Sunday at the church. At other times, the family will be at the home of nephew Melvin Massey, 910 W. Horah St, Salisbury.
Rowan Funeral Service is in charge.
Walter T. Elium Jr.
The funeral will be Saturday for Walter Trantham Elium Jr., 80, formerly of Dunn’s Mountain Road, who died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at W.G. “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center after a period of declining health.
Born Oct. 14, 1921, in Rowan County, Mr. Elium, a son of the late W.T. and Mary Ida Miller Elium, was educated in the Rowan County schools.
During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army’s 807 Tank Destroyer. Retired from Southern Railway, he was a member of Maranatha Bible Church.
Survivors include wife Edna Hartman Elium, whom he married Dec. 8, 1940; sons Walter Darrell and Randall “Randy” Dale Elium, both of Salisbury; daughter Debbie Suggs, Salisbury; brother Floyd Elium, Winston-Salem; sister Alma Digh, Salisbury; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m., Saturday, Maranatha Bible Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert Freitas, pastor, and the Rev. Donnie Lovette, Matthews. Entombment, Rowan Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum. Military rites by Rowan County Veterans Council.
Visitation: 7-8:30, tonight, Lyerly Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at their respective homes.
Memorials: Dunn’s Mountain Baptist Church, 525 Dunn’s Mountain Church Road, Salisbury, NC 28146; or Maranatha Bible Church, Building Fund, 2320 Statesville Blvd., Salisbury, NC 28147.
Kelly Lee Gaither Jr.
MOCKSVILLE — Kelly Lee “June Bug” Gaither Jr., 49, Duke Whittaker Road, died Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2002) at his home.
Born Aug. 13, 1952, in Rowan County, Mr. Gaither was a son of Ruth Chaffin Gaither, of the home, and the late Kelly L. Gaither.
Survivors, in addition to his mother, include brothers Curtis Gaither, Harmony, and Ronald “Mooney” Gaither; sisters Brenda Gaither Crowe, Mocksville, and Kathy Gaither, Yadkinville.
Services: 11 a.m., Saturday, Eaton Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Franklin Myers. Burial, Ijames Baptist Church cemetery.
Visitation: 10-11 a.m., Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials: Ijames Baptist Church, Cemetery Fund, c/o Joe V. Gobble, 911 Sheffield Road, Mocksville, NC 27028.
David M. Hambright
CLEVELAND — David Madison Hambright, 30, Cleveland, died Sunday (Jan. 27, 2002).
Born Oct. 24, 1971, in Rowan County, Mr. Hambright was a son of the late Linda Gilbert Brown. He was employed by Freightliner.
Survivors include wife Michele Alexander Hambright; children Madison and Hanna Hambright, both of the home; stepfather Richard Brown, Cleveland; and brother Randy Hambright, Cleveland.
Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.
Memorials: Michele Alexander Hambright Family, c/o BB&T, 231 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC 28115.
Lillian Ballard Kistler
MOORESVILLE — Lillian Ballard Kistler, 102, Linwood Road, died Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2002) at Huntersville Oaks.
Services: 11 a.m., Saturday, Coddle Creek ARP Church. Burial, church cemetery.
Visitation: 7-8 tonight, Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.
Memorials: Coddle Creek ARP Church, 2297 Coddle Creek Hwy., Mooresville, NC 28115.
William H. Lentz
William Harold Lentz, 85, Salisbury, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Kannapolis, is in charge.
Rev. Otis Leverett Jr.
WINNABOW — The funeral will be Saturday for the Rev. Otis Leverett Jr., 71, 2365 River Road, S.E., Apt. 32, who died Thursday (Jan. 24, 2002) at his home.
Services: 1 p.m., Saturday, First Baptist Church, Lexington, conducted by Glenn Pettiford. Burial, Lexington City Cemetery.
Visitation: 12-1 p.m., Saturday at the church.
Rowan Funeral Service, Salisbury, is in charge.
Victoria E. Mace
Victoria Earnhardt Mace, 28, Salisbury, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, from injuries sustained in an auto accident.
Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell, is in charge.
Harry E. McCora Jr.
Harry Edwin McCora Jr., 52, Salisbury, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.
Born March 4, 1949, in Rowan County, Mr. McCora was a son of the late Betty Beattie Hellelfinger and Harry E. McCora of Salisbury. He was educated in the Rowan County schools and Boyden High School and North Carolina State University.
He was employed at Kimberly-Clarke, Lexington, for 17 years, where he was a production leader until his illness. A member of Franklin Baptist Church, he coached the Ellis Park Pee Wee T-Ball team.
Survivors, in addition to his father, include wife Margaret Wallace McCora, whom he married June 15, 1992; sons Harry E. McCora III, Charlotte, Daniel A. McCora, Monroe, and Brandon A. and Christopher S. McCora, both of the home; daughter Tricia McCora Weast, Indian Island, S.C.; stepmother Linda C. McCora, Salisbury; brothers Patrick W. “Bill” and Thomas Lee McCora, both of Salisbury; sister Shelia McCora Jarrell, Salisbury; and two grandchildren.
Services: 1 p.m. Saturday, Lyerly Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Bobby Seagroves, interim pastor, Franklin Baptist Church. Burial,Rowan Memorial Park.
Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home.
Memorials: V Foundation, 100 Towervier Court, Cary, NC 27513.
Mary Lou Morgan
GOLD HILL — The funeral will be Saturday for Mary Lou Bumgarner Morgan, 79, Gold Hill, who died Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2002) at her home after a period of declining health.
Born April 1, 1922, in Alexander County, Mrs. Morgan was a daughter of the late Carlie Monroe and Margaret Emma Deal Bumgarner. She was educated in the Alexander and Cabarrus county schools.
A homemaker, she was a member of Wyatt’s Grove Baptist Church, Rowan County.
Her husband, Wesley Monroe “W.M.” Morgan, died Sept. 22, 1997.
Survivors include daughter Elaine Morgan Reid, Gold Hill; brothers Maynard Bumgarner, Kannapolis, Ernest Bumgarner, Denton, and Jerry Bumgarner, Arden; and sister Betty Frances Vickers, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Services: 8 p.m., Saturday, Lyerly Funeral Home chapel, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Wade “Tom” Lomax, pastor, Old Country Baptist Church, Salisbury. Private graveside service will be held at Brookhill Memorial Gardens,Rockwell.
Visitation: 7-8 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home.
Memorials: Humane Society of Rowan County Inc., 112 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144.
Martha Reaby Nantz
KANNAPOLIS — Martha Reaby Walter Nantz, 96, formerly of Rainbow Drive, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at Universal Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.
Lady’s Funeral Home is in charge.
Kelsie Pitts Shirley
KANNAPOLIS — Kelsie Pitts Shirley, 95, 1007 Shirley Drive, died Thursday (Jan. 31, 2002) at her home.
Born Jan. 31, 1907, in Banks County, Ga., Mrs. Shirley was a daughter of the late Henry Marshall and Amanda Wilson Pitts. In 1973, she retired from Cannon Mills Co. Plant 1 sewing room after 42 years.
A charter member of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, in her earlier years she was a Sunday school teacher and church secretary.
Her husband, Hoke Smith Shirley, died Feb. 19, 1980; a daughter, Terri Chapman, died in April 1982; and a daughter, Barbara Adell Shirley, died in September 1948.
Survivors include sons R.N. “Bub” and Stan Shirley, both of Kannapolis; daughters Ann S. Sherrill, Kannapolis, and Claudette S. Mattfield, Deer River, Minn.; brothers Henry M. and Clarence L. Pitts, both of Kannapolis; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services: 3 p.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Stan Welch. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park.
Visitation: 1:30-3 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home on Shirley Drive.
Memorials: Blackwelder Park Baptist Church, Building Fund, 2204 Summitt Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081; or Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 900 Klondale Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081.
Beatrice S. Tillman
WINSTON-SALEM — Beatrice S. Tillman, 62, East Devonshire Street, died Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2002) at her home.
A native of Davie County, Mrs. Tillman was a member of Redland Church of Christ.
Survivors include brother Neely Frank Holman, Salisbury; and sisters Eva H. Turner, Statesville, Edmonia H. Hollis, Mocksville, Mary Holman, Jamaica, N.Y., and Nellie Ramseur, Salisbury.
Services: 2 p.m., Monday, Graham Funeral Home chapel, Mocksville, conducted by the Rev. William Latten. Burial, Palmetto Church Cemetery.
Visitation: 1:30 p.m., Monday at the funeral home.
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