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Ulysses Smith Jr.
GAFFNEY, S.C. — Bishop Ulysses Smith Jr., 58, of 122 Carver St., Gaffney, S.C., died Saturday, June 17, 2006, at Dorn Medical Center in Columbia, S.C.
FUNERAL: Thursday at 2 p.m. at Malcolm Brown Auditorium at Shelby High School; the body will be placed in the auditorium one hour before the service
BURIAL: Webb Memorial Lawns
VISITATION: The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 to 9 at Faith Harvest Church, Shelby
PERSONAL HISTORY: Bishop Smith was born March 25, 1948, to Rosa Lee Smith of Shelby and the late Ulysses Smith Sr.. A native of Cleveland County, he presided as minister at New Life House of Refuge in Taylors, S.C., and was an ordained bishop. He earned a mechanical engineering degree from Cleveland Community College. Bishop Smith never met a stranger. He loved everyone and was always known for taking people into his home to care for them. He was known as “Uncle Brother” to many of his nieces and nephews and was a father figure to many.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: His father; his first wife, Etta Thompson Smith; a sister, Eloise Mintz; paternal grandparents, Hezekiah and Phebbie Smith; and maternal grandparents, Eliphus and Bessie Woods
SURVIVORS: His wife, Falonda Celestie Smith; his mother, Rosa Lee Smith of Shelby; four sons, Chad Smith of Gaffney, Brian Smith and wife, Angie of Tampa Fla., Bernard Smith and wife, Jonica, of Gaffney and Ulysses Smith III of the home; three daughters, Charlotte Smith of Durham, Kendra Sullivan of Gaffney and Patrica Sullivan of the home; ten grandchildren; three brothers, Alfred Smith and wife, Margie, of Gastonia, Victor Smith and Bruce Smith and wife, Andrena, all of Shelby; four sisters, Judy Thompson and husband, Richard, Sandra Ponder and husband, Eddie, Joyce Smith and Lisa Jordon, all of Shelby; two nephews and one niece who were raised as brothers and sisters, Tracy Mintz and wife, Nikki, of Shelby, Sean Mintz and wife, Sandy, of Charlotte and Dana Shade and husband, Keith, of Shelby; three additional brothers-in-law; an additional sister-in-law; six aunts; two uncles; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
OFFICIATING CLERGY: Bishop Randy Borders
EULOGY: Apostle James Dawkins
FUNERAL HOME: Enloe Mortuary
Vergie Thompson
Died June 18, 2006
SHELBY — Ms. Vergie Lee Mary Thompson, 89, died Sunday, June 18, 2006, at White Oak Manor in Shelby.
FUNERAL: Wednesday at 2 p.m. at S.T. Enloe Memorial Chapel
BURIAL: Webb Memorial Lawns
VISITATION: The family will receive friends Wednesday 30 minutes before the service at Enloe Mortuary and other times at the home of a niece, Bonita Smith, 1318 Newton St, Shelby.
PERSONAL HISTORY: Ms. Thompson, a native of Cleveland County, was a daughter of the late Broadus and Lillie Thompson. She was a former member of Shiloh Baptist Church. She was a very quiet, down-to-earth person who had a beautiful sense of humor and was loved by everyone.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Her parents; two sisters, Evelyn T. Barron and Ernestine T. Kilgore; one niece; and two nephews
SURVIVORS: A sister, Marian T. Tolliver of Washington, D.C.; two nieces, Bonita Smith of Shelby and Evelyn Hampton of Badin; three nephews, Jerry Tolliver of Washington, D.C., Ronald Kilgore of Winston-Salem and Duane Muhammed “Ricky Barron” of Hickory
OFFICIATING CLERGY: James L. Smith
FUNERAL HOME: Enloe Mortuary
Tommie McSwain
Died June 15, 2006
Simpsonville, S.C. — Mr. Tommie Neill McSwain, 65, of 403 Weaver Lane, Simpsonville, S.C., died Thursday, June 15, 2006, at Regency Hospital, Greenville, S.C.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Lafayette St. United Methodist Church, Shelby and Saturday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Forest City
VISITATION: The family will receive friends Wednesday and Saturday after the services.
PERSONAL HISTORY: Mr. McSwain was born in Rutherford County to the late Bill and Vernie McSwain. He was an Army veteran.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: His parents; and his father-in-law, Dwight Rollins
SURVIVORS: His wife, Judith Rollins McSwain of Simpsonville, S.C.; a daughter, Jessica McSwain Deyton and husband, Max, of Greer, S.C.; a sister, Martha McSwain Little of Dawsonville, Ga.; two grandchildren, Christian Neill Deyton of Greer and Stephen Deyton of Forest City; and his mother-in-law, Clara Blanton Rollins
MEMORIALS: Blanton Scholarship Fund, c/o Lafayette St. United Methodist Church, 1420 S. Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28152, Cancer Patient Assistance Fund, c/o First United Methodist Church, 341 E. Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 or American Heart Association
FUNERAL HOME: Cleveland Funeral Services
Jessie Baxter
Jan. 9, 1915 – July 3, 2006
Fallston — Ms. Jessie Irene Baxter, 91, died Monday, July 3, 2006, at White Oak Manor in Shelby.
A native of Cleveland County, Ms. Baxter was the daughter of the late Carl Austin Baxter and Emma Jane Grigg Baxter. She served in elementary education for 28 years as an elementary teacher and supervisor of education in Gaston, Cleveland and Columbus counties. Also, she was associate professor at University of North Carolina at Greensboro for five years.
She was a graduate of Fallston High School, received her B.A. from Lenoir-Rhyne College and M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and did additional graduate work at the University of North Carolina, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Hawaii and Michigan State University.
She received a Summer National Defense Education Act Mathematics-Science Institute Fellowship to Duke University, Scandinavian-American Educational Scholarship, National Science Foundation Fellowship to Michigan State and was named official delegate from North Carolina ASCD to World Conference on Education.
Ms. Baxter was a member of the National Education Association, North Carolina Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, North Carolina and Gaston County historical associations, Gaston County Heart Association and a member of Friendship United Methodist Church. Ms. Baxter is a former Gaston County Woman of the Year.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Blaine Baxter and Nixon Carl Baxter; sisters, Blanche Baxter Duval, Ellen Baxter Beam and husband Herman; and brother-in-law, Russell “Red” Mincy.
Ms. Baxter is survived by her sister, Madeline Baxter Mincy of Shelby; brother, Herman Baxter and wife, Bonnie, of Greensboro; brother-in-law, Charles Duval of Shelby; sister-in-law Roberta Baxter of Shelby; nieces, Susan King and husband, Brian, of Hickory, Pat King and husband, Chris, of Charlotte; nephews, Maurice Duval and wife, Barbara, of Mosheim, Tenn., Tim Baxter and wife, Trina, of Hampton, Ga., Mark Duval and wife, Kathy, of Kingsport, Tenn.; five great-nieces and nephews, Tiffany and Tassie Baxter, Jessie Ray King and Lauran and Matthew Duval.
Visitation: The family received friends Wednesday evening at Stamey Funeral Home.
Funeral: Today at 11 a.m. at Stamey Funeral Home Chapel
Burial: Rose Hill Memorial Park
Officiated by the Rev. Terry Bevill
Memorials: Friendship United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 219, Fallston, NC 28042.
Funeral Home: Stamey
Mary Grant
Died July 3, 2006
Union Mills — Mary Elizabeth Radford Grant, 65, of 112 Norbar Trail, died Monday, July 3, 2006, at home.
Visitation: The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 at Harrelson Funeral Home.
Funeral: Friday at 10 a.m. at Caroleen-Henrietta cemetery
Officiated by the Rev. David Jendrey
Funeral Home: Harrelson Funeral Home
Bob Kiger
Died July 3, 2006
SHELBY — Mr. Robert Wayne “Bob” Kiger, 80, of 308 S. Poston St., died Monday, July 3, 2006, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.
A native of Lincoln County, Mr. Kiger was the son of the late Charles Ernest and Agnes Rike Kiger. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy and retired as a pharmacist after 44 years with Cornwell Drug Stores and in retirement worked part time for local pharmacies.
He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church, where he was a member of Hoey Bible Class, Chancel Choir and Joyful Noisemakers. He was a member of Shelby Rotary Club for 54 years, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, American Legion, Cleveland County Board of Health, former President of the Cleveland County Pharmaceutical Association, Cleveland County Choral Society, N.C. Academy of Pharmacy, Shelby Elks Lodge, former president of Shelby Rescue Squad, Randolph County Genealogical Society, Forsyth County Genealogical Society, Pennsylvania Chapter of Palatines to America, former member of Shelby Jaycees, UNC Alumni Association and “The Four Bits,” a beach-music group.
Bob will be terribly missed and was loved by all! Always had a joke to tell!
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death a brother, Charles Ernest “Red” Kiger Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Doris Hankins Kiger; daughters, Kristi Kiger and Deb Kovalycsik, both of Morganton, and Bob’s faithful, furry daughter, Prissi the cat; sister, Barbara McNeill of Lincolnton; no grandchildren but three granddogs, Savannah, Murphy and Koti; nieces and nephews, Bill Kiger, Bud Kiger, Susan Bridges, Mac McNeill and Sparkle Sparks.
Visitation: The family will have a reception in the fellowship hall after the funeral for family and friends.
Funeral: Today at 2 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church
Burial: Private burial will be held later in Sunset cemetery.
Honorary Pallbearers: Hoey Bible Class and Shelby Rotary Club
Officiated by Drs. John Boggs and Joe Reeves
Memorials: Central United Methodist Church, 200 E. Marion St., Shelby, NC 28150 or Cleveland County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2432, Shelby, NC 28151
Funeral Home: Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home
Vada Abernathy
Died July 5, 2006
KINGS MOUNTAIN — Vada Pruitt Abernathy, 88, of 504 Cherokee St., died Wednesday, July 05, 2006, at White Oak Manor, Kings Mountain.
Visitation: The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 at Harris Funeral Home.
Funeral: Friday at 2 p.m. at Ollie Harris Memorial Chapel
Burial: Mountain Rest cemetery
Officiated by The Rev. Michael Daughrity
Funeral Home: Harris
Arvil Marcum
April 18, 1949 - July 3, 2006
VALE — Mr. Arvil Eugene Marcum, 57, of 132-17 Gantt Road, died Monday, July 3, 2006, at home.
Mr. Marcum was born on Logan County, W.Va., to the late Andrew Wayne Marcum and Helen Vance Marcum. He was a forklift mechanic at Walt’s Lumber Co.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Eugene Marcum.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Christine Lee Heyza Marcum; a son, Jonathon Marcum of Vale; a daughter, Kellie Marcum of Hamlin, W.Va.; one brother; three sisters; and five grandchildren.
Visitation: The family will receive friends after the service.
Funeral: Graveside today at 11 at Rose Hill Memorial Park
Officiated by the Rev. Tim Elmore
Memorials: Stamey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 639, Fallston, NC 28042 to assist with funeral expense
Funeral Home: Stamey
Edna Blanton
Aug. 21, 1932 - July 3, 2006
SHELBY — Mrs. Edna Ann Barnette Blanton, 73, of 1101 N. Morgan St., died Monday, July 3, 2006, at Century Care.
She was born in Cleveland County, to the late Festas Orlando Barnette and Vernie Octavia Newton Barnette. She was a homemaker and widow of Rayford Lewis Blanton.
In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Kitty Haynes; a brother, Wilbur Barnette; a sister, Helen Head; and two great-granddaughters, Breanna Byers and Treasure Huffstetler.
Mrs. Blanton is survived by sons, Kenneth Blanton and wife, Terri, of Shelby, Ray Blanton Jr. and wife, Debi, of Sarasota, Fla., Danny Blanton of Virginia, Randy Blanton of Morganton and Albert Blanton of Grover; daughters, Tina Reeves of Shelby and Karen Haynes and husband, Quin, of Belwood; sisters, Alma Blanton of Conover and Margaret Franklin of Shelby; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral: Friday at 11 a.m. at Sunset cemetery
Funeral Home: Stamey
Donald Beck
Died July 5, 2006
SHELBY — Mr. Donald “Don” E. Beck, 64, of 2408 Bramblewood Drive, died Wednesday, July 05, 2006, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.
Funeral: Arrangements are incomplete
Funeral Home: Cleveland Funeral Services
