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EAST SPENCER — The Rev. James E. Abernathy, 936 S. Long St., died Saturday (Nov. 13, 1999) at his residence after several years of declining health.

Mitchell & Fair Funeral Service is in charge.

Doris Eola Bird

KANNAPOLIS — Doris Eola Bird, 69, 2210 Carolina Ave., died Tuesday (Nov. 9, 1999) at 8813 Yesteryear Lane, Kannapolis.

Born July 5, 1930, in Lawrence, Mass., she was a daughter of the late Eola Lucy Blake and Amos Charles Bird. She retired from Fram, Inc., Cranston, R.I. and moved to Kannapolis five years ago.

She is survived by several nephews and nieces.

Services: 8 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by the Rev. Jerry Townsend. Burial, Ridgewood Cemetery, Andover, Mass.

Visitation: 7-8 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s.

Memorials: NorthEast Medical Center Foundation, 920 Church St., North Concord, N.C. 28025-9902.

Joe Eddie Davis Sr.

EAST SPENCER — The funeral will be Tuesday for Joe Eddie Davis Sr., 57, 607 Pinetree Drive, who died Friday (Nov. 12, 1999) at Rowan Regional Medical Center after several years of declining health.

Born Oct. 28, 1942, in East Spencer, he was the son of Frank Davis and the late Janie McDuffie Davis. He was a graduate of Dunbar High School and was last employed at Tylinter Inc. of Salisbury.

Mr. Davis was a member of Great Speckled Bird Pentecostal Church, Salisbury.

Survivors include his wife, Johnnie Mae Hipps, Spencer; sons Joe Eddie Davis Jr., Spencer, and Bryant Davis, East Spencer; daughter Natalie Davis, Youngstown, Ohio; stepdaughter Melissa Parker, Spencer; sisters Ruth Lewis, Salisbury, and Jeannie Quattlebaum, East Spencer; and seven grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Tuesday, A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel, Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home, conducted by overseer Priscilla Overstreet. Burial, Oakwood Cemetery.

Visitation: 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, A.R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel. At other times, the family will be at the home of his wife, 1017 Third St., Spencer.

Cecil Robert Hilton

KANNAPOLIS — Cecil Robert Hilton, 61, 226 Gurley St., died Saturday (Nov. 13, 1999) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Sheryl Jean Hensley Jones

SWANSBORO — Sheryl Jean Hensley Jones, 52, 163 Circle Drive, died Thursday (Nov. 12, 1999) Hospice House of Union County, Monroe.

Born May 17, 1947, in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Jones was the daughter of Laura Jean Long and Howard Homer Hensley, both of China Grove. With an associate degree from Haywood College, she was an artist with pottery and paintings and was an ordained minister.

Survivors include her husband, Gregory Jones; son Ted Jones; daughters Crystal Jones Kern, China Grove, Tasha Jones, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Heather Jones, Seattle, Wash.; brothers Doug Hensley, China Grove, and Derrick Hensley, Wheaton, Md.; sisters Laura McNeely, Charlotte; and five grandchildren.

Services:Graveside, 11 a.m. Monday, Carolina Memorial Park, and a memorial service 2 p.m. Monday, To The Praise of His Glory Church, both conducted by the Rev. Carlton George and Barry Taylor.

George “Bill” Merrell Jr.

MOCKSVILLE — The funeral will be Monday morning for George Edgar “Bill” Merrell Jr., 78, Eatons Church Road, who died Friday (Nov. 12, 1999) at Forsyth Medical Center.

Born. Nov. 8, 1921, in Davie County, he was the son of the late George Sr. and Sally Hendrix Merrell. He was the retired owner and operator of Merrell Furniture Co.

Mr. Merrell belonged to Mocksville Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. 134 and the Winston-Salem Shrine Club. He was past president of the Mocksville Lions Club, the William R. Davie Ruritan Club and the 50-Plus Club in the Fork Community. He was a member of Fork Baptist Church, where he served on the deacon board. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

His first wife, Elizabeth Ferebee Merrell, died in 1992.

Survivors include wife Oneida Hendrix Merrell of the home; daughters Mrs. Stephen (Sarah) Merrell Head, Charlotte, and Mrs. Charlie (Vicki) Merrell Davis, High Point; sons George Lindsay Merrell, Mocksville, and Edgar Ferebee Merrell, High Point; stepdaughters Mrs. John Lloyd Stone, Jeffersonville, Ga., and Sarah Lloyd Smith, Concord; sister Wyona Merrell Johnson, Mocksville; five grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Fork Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Rusty Morrison, pastor; Burial, church cemetery. Graveside Masonic rites will be conducted.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Eaton Funeral Home.

Memorials: Building Fund, Fork Baptist Church, 3140 U.S. Highway 64 East, Mocksville, N.C. 27028.

Lee Ollie Morrison

A graveside service will be held Monday for Lee Ollie Morrison, 81, 615 W. Fisher St., who died Friday (Nov. 12, 1999) at Brightmoor Nursing Center after several years of declining health.

Born Dec. 2, 1917, in Hartwell County, Ga., she was the daughter of the late John and Floree Brewer. She attended public schools in Hartwell and was a retired cook and homemaker.

Mrs. Morrison also was a former member of Cedar Spring Baptist Church in Hartwell.

She is survived by two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

The family will be at the home of a Salisbury granddaughter, Glenda Gail Williams, 1128 Forestdale Drive, in the Meadowbrook subdivision.

Services: 11:30 a.m. Monday, Mt. Zion Baptist Church cemetery, Boyden Quarters, Mount Ulla, conducted by the Rev. D.S. Houston.

Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.

John Henry Nail

COOLEEMEE — The funeral will be Monday for John Henry Nail, 85, Gladstone Road, who died Friday (Nov. 12, 1999) at Davie County Hospital after a short illness.

Born Dec. 22, 1913, in Davie County, he was the son of the late Henry Nail and Flora Ferebee. Mr. Nail had worked for Gravely Tractor Co. and previously for Burlington Industries in Cooleemee for more than 40 years. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, where he had served on the deacon and usher boards.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Allen Nail of the home; son Ronnie Nail, Mocksville; daughters Cornelia Lea Nail of the home and Betty McIntyre, Woodleaf; sister Lorena N. Dull, Cooleemee; five grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Services: 2 p.m. Monday, First Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jeff Pennington. Burial, Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Eaton Funeral Home, Mocksville.

Memorials: Roof Fund, First Baptist Church of Cooleemee, care of Sarah Scott, P.O. Box 518, Cooleemee, N.C. 27014.

Madge Johnson Shook

CHINA GROVE — Madge Evelyn Johnson Shook, 72, Brightmoor Nursing Center, and formerly of 105 E. Liberty St., died Friday (Nov. 12, 1999) at the nursing center.

Born Aug. 9, 1927, in Cleveland County, she was the daughter of the late Horace Johnson and Minnie Davis Yoder. She was educated in Cleveland County Schools and was a homemaker.

Mrs. Shook belonged to Memorial Baptist Church. Her husband, James Marion Shook, and a son, Jack Shook, preceded her in death.

Survivors include sons J.R. Shook, China Grove, David Shook, Rockwell, and Phillip Shook, Salisbury; daughters Ann Beaver, Rockwell, and Rachel McGrady, China Grove; brothers Gene Johnson and John Johnson, both of China Grove, and Clarence Johnson of Landis; sisters Carolyn Brindle, Kannapolis, and Alice McGrady, Faith; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2:30 p.m. Monday, Northcrest Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Larry Beaver. Burial, Brookhill Memorial Gardens.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, and at other times at the home of daughter Rachel McGrady, 625 Center View Drive, China Grove.

Annie Little Walker

The funeral will be held Monday for Annie Little Walker, 94, who died Friday (Nov. 12, 1999) at Genesis Eldercare of Salisbury following a period of declining health.

Born May 5, 1905, in Rowan County, she was educated in Rowan County Schools. A retired textile worker, she later worked at Spencer Nurse Care Center. She belonged to Main Street United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.

Her husband, A.F. Walker, preceded her in death. She is survived by nieces and nephews.

Services: Graveside, 2 p.m. Monday, Main Street United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. William Ragsdale. Burial, Chestnut Hill.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service and other times at the home of step-granddaughter Margaret Hilton of Spencer.

Memorials: Main Street United Methodist Church, 1312 N. Main St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.