Search Archived Marriage Records
JAMES E. BYERS
OCT. 9, 1915 - JUNE 10, 1999
FOREST CITY -- James Edward Byers, 83, died at his home on Morgan Street in Forest City on Thursday morning, June 10, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was the son of the late Burwell Blanton Byers and Arrie Dottie Byers of Shelby. He attended Appalachian State University and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1938. That same year he pioneered the use of propane gas in western North Carolina by founding North State Gas Company, known for years as B.B. Byers and Sons. His business career was interrupted by three years service in the military during World War II. The operation of his successful business in Forest City and Shelby always was in accordance with his uncompromising ethics.
Mr. Byers was married in 1943 to Louise Jones of Shelby, beginning 56 happy years as a devoted husband and proud father of five sons. He served a term as Rutherford County Commissioner, and was interested in all local and state government. Fluent in the Spanish language, he served as translator for medical missions to South America. He was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Forest City, and was always an effective advocate for fairness in human relations and civil rights.
Mr. Byers was preceded in death by one sister, Pauline Byers Deviney, and by his two brothers, William Henry Byers and Ralph Thomas Byers, who lost their lives as pilots for the Army Air Corps during World War II.
In addition to his wife, Louise, Mr. Byers is survived by his five sons: Thomas Burwell Byers and wife, Cathy of Asheville, William Jones Byers, Bruce Elliott Byers and wife, Toni, Stuart Judson Byers and wife, Cindy, and Burwell Blanton Byers and wife, Jeannie, all of Green Hill in Rutherford County. The 16 grandchildren are: Hannah, Etta, Rachel, James Edward, David, Benjamin, William, Zachary, Elliott, Samuel, Alexander, Judson, Caleb, John, Henry, and Thomas Byers. He is also survived by one sister, Ruth Byers Jenkins of Raleigh; and three nephews: Jim Jenkins of Raleigh, Charles Deviney of Spindale, and Thomas Henry Byers of Bellingham, Washington.
A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 12, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Main Street, Forest City, after a private burial. The family will receive friends and family at the church after the memorial service.
JAMES RALPH BROWN
RALEIGH -- James Ralph Brown, 79, of 2300 Dorety Place, died Thursday, June 10, 1999 at Raleigh Community Hospital. Ralph worked a delivery route with Pine State.
Funeral service 11 a.m. Saturday, June 12, 1999 at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service Chapel, Knightdale. Burial, Restlawn Memorial Gardens.
Surviving: wife, Ida Collins Brown; sons, Don Richard Brown of Long Beach, James Brown of Wilson, Kirby Williams of King, Eppie C. Brown of Castalia, Jerry W. Brown of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughter, Jamie B. Gettis of Clayton; 12 brothers and sisters; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.
Family will receive relatives and friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, 1999 at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service and Crematory, 944 Old Knight Road, Knightdale, NC 27545; and other times at the home.
RUBY THOMPSON DEAN
RALEIGH -- Ruby Thompson Dean, 71 years of age went home to be with her Lord on June 10, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. at Rex Hospital.
Mrs. Dean was born in Garner on February 12, 1928. She retired from the NC Dept of Motor Vehicles.
Mrs. Dean was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Raleigh for 37 years. She was also a member of the 30th Infantry Old Hickory Division Women's Auxiliary.
Mrs. Dean was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe to the 30th Infantry Division Reunions with her husband of 53 years, Raymond Lee Dean, Sr., who survives her. She enjoyed her flowers, cooking, but most of all doing for her family and friends.
Mrs. Dean is also survived by her son Raymond Lee "Billy" Dean, Jr. and wife Judy of Fuquay-Varina; her daughter, Jennifer Dean Stirling and husband George of Raleigh; and her son, Steven Ray Dean of Raleigh.
Other survivors are her sisters, Flora Daniels and Lucille Nobling of Raleigh; brother Paul Thompson of Garner; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 11, 1999 at Montlawn Funeral Home in Raleigh and other times at the home of George and Jennifer Stirling. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 12, 1999 at the Montlawn Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor David Payne officiating. Burial will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park.
Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church, 5029 Old Stage Rd., Raleigh, NC 27603 or to American Diabetes. Association, 434 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601.
ANDREW A. DRAUGHON JR.
ZEBULON -- Andrew A. "Andy" Draughon Jr., 46, of Roswell, GA died June 6, 1999, Sunday. Memorial 7 p.m. Monday, June 14, 1999 at Family Funeral Care Chapel, Zebulon, NC. Burial, private. He was born in Durham , NC and was a X-ray Technologist.
Surviving: sons, Andrew Taylor Draughon of Pittsboro; brothers, Tim Draughon; one stepdaughter, Ashley Ackerman of Roswell, GA; ex-wives, Susan Draughon of Pittsboro, NC, Donna Ackerman of Roswell, GA.
Memorials may be made to Hematology/Onocology Department of Scottish Rite Childrens Medical Center, 1680 Tullie Circle, Atlanta, GA 30329, Attention: Dianne Lee.
The family will receive friends at Family Funeral Care following the memorial service Monday evening.
ROLAND "BUD" FIELDS JR.
LaGRANGE -- Roland "Bud" Fields Jr., 79, of 117 Bud Fields Road, died Wednesday at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
He was born in Lenoir County to the late Roland and Lala Newsome Fields. He served with the US Army during World War II and was a retired farmer.
Graveside service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. from Fairview Cemetery, with Rev. Bryce Rouse officiating.
He is survived by his wife, Aline Sutton Fields; two sons, and a daughter-in-law, Glenn and Nancy Fields of LaGrange, Dwayne Fields of LaGrange; daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Phil Medlin of Raleigh; sister, Dorothy Allen of Wilmington; brother and sister-in-law, Norwood and Ann Fields of Pine Knoll Shores; three grandchildren, Chad Smith, Breyl Brinkley and Suzanne Fields; one great-grandchild, Layla Brinkley.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Seven Springs Fire Department, P.O. Box 116, Seven Springs, NC 28578; or the Seven Springs Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 105, Seven Springs, NC 28578.
The family will receive friends Friday from 7-9 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home and at other times they will be at the home.
IRMA E. GUPTON
LOUISBURG -- Irma E. Gupton, 88, of Louisburg, died Tuesday, June 8, 1999 in Britthaven of Louisburg. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Nathan Sawyer. Burial will follow in the Gupton Family Cemetery.
Ms. Gupton was a life-long member of Mt. Zion, serving as a Sunday School Teacher for 60 years and as organist for 26 years.
She is survived by her nephew, O. Bruce Gupton of Virginia and by numerous cousins from the Gupton and Smith families, including Joseph, Richard and Wilton Smith.
The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Friday at Lancaster Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made in her memory to: Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 109 Laurel Mill-Centerville Rd., Louisburg, NC 27549.
FRANK WAITE HALE
CHAPEL HILL -- A memorial service for Frank W. Hale, who died on May 14, 1999, will be held on Sunday, June 13, 1999 at 2 p.m. at Unity Center for Peace, 8800 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill, NC.
CAROLE ANITA BOOKER HALE
RALEIGH -- Carole Anita Booker Hale, 31, died Tuesday, June 8, 1999. Carole was born in Wake County.
Surviving are her husband, Brian; son, Justin Ray Hale; daughter, Belinda Lynn Williams; mother, Karen Anne Booker; brother, Stephen Bryan Booker; sister, Catherine Ann Buescher; grandfather, Carl E. Booker Jr.; aunt, Leslie Jane Wise and a host of wonderful extended family and friends.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, June 12, 11 a.m. in Montlawn Memorial Park.
Friends may visit Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home, 600 St. Mary's Street.
A loving wife, a wonderful mother, and a great friend.
She will be missed.
JEANNE VINSON MASTEN
WINSTON-SALEM -- Mrs. Jeanne Vinson Masten, 50, of 724 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC died suddenly on June 9, 1999 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mrs. Masten was born in Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina on May 6, 1949, the daughter of the late Mr. James Thomas Vinson, Jr. and Elizabeth Bunn Vinson. She was a graduate of Goldsboro High School and attended Campbell University. She married Dr. John W. Masten on November 21, 1972 while he was attending dental school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. A homemaker and community volunteer while raising her son Matthew, Mrs. Masten more recently enjoyed a banking career with Centura Bank and BB&T. Mrs. Masten was a long-time member of Centenary United Methodist Church and a former member of the Westwood Garden Club and the Sorosis Club. She was preceded in death by her father and mother and mother-in-law, Mrs. Peggy W. Masten.
Mrs. Masten is survived by her loving husband, John W. Masten, D.D.S.; her son, Matthew V. Masten; father-in-law, Guy M. Masten, Jr. of Winston-Salem, NC; five brothers, James T. Vinson, III, Raleigh, NC, Daniel T. Vinson, Goldsboro, NC, Robin K. Vinson, Raleigh, NC, Henry M. Vinson, Columbia, SC, and Mark R. Vinson, Williamsburg, VA; three sisters, Elizabeth B. Vinson-Underhill, Goldsboro, NC, Sue F. Luse, Phoenix, AZ and Martha A. Vinson, Ph.D., Winston-Salem, NC; six nieces and nine nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 11, 1999 at Vogler's Chapel on Reynolda Road in Winston-Salem, NC, with graveside services immediately following at Forsyth Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday evening, June 10, 1999 at Vogler and Sons Funeral Home on Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC. Memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, or to the charity of the donor's choice.
PAUL B. "P.B." MURPHY JR.
LOUISBURG -- Paul B. "P.B." Murphy Jr., 74, of Louisburg, died Thursday June 10, in Wake Medical Center.
Graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday from the Highland Memory Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Dale Eatmon and the Rev. Stephen Moore.
Surviving: five daughters, Betty M. May, Judy M. Ritch, Joyce Ann Bailey, Edna M. Knight, and Lorrie M. Griffin, all or Louisburg; three sons, Elmas Ray Murphy, Tommy W. Murphy, and Ronnie P. Murphy, all of Louisburg; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday at Lancaster Funeral Home.
JOHNNIE C. PEARCE
CASCADE, VA -- Johnnie C. Pearce, 84, of 4760 Cascade Mill Road, Cascade, VA died June 10, 1999 at Danville Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 6, 1914 in Franklin Co., NC to the late Mallie Pearce and Rhoda Medlin Pearce. He was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church, Danville, and attended Wake Forest University, Wake Forest, NC. Was on the board of Directors at Aqueduct Conference Center, Chapel Hill, NC, retired from Industrial Supply Sales and was a residence of Cascade, VA for the past 33 years and enjoyed farming as a hobby. He was preceded in death by spouse Pauline Tyson Pearce.
Surviving: son, Bryant Pearce of Cascade, VA; daughter, Jessamine Christie of Hallieford, VA; a number of nieces and nephews; a number of cousins; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
Funeral 4 p.m. Sunday at Ascension Lutheran Church, Danville, VA. Pastor Caldwell Day officiating.
Family will receive friends at the son's residence - 217 Loblolly Drive, Cascade, VA.
Arrangements by Swicegood Funeral Home, Inc, Danville, VA.
BEULAH F. THOMPSON
APEX -- Beulah Ferrell Thompson, 96, former resident of the Green Level Community, died Wednesday afternoon at Raleigh Rehab. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday June 12th, at 2:00 p.m. in the Green Level Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Thompson was preceeded in death by her husband, Gordon Thompson; and three sons, Rex, Earl and Vernon Thompson. Surviving are two daughters, Dorothy T. Shepherd and husband, Otho of Cary, and Joy T. Bacon and husband, Ray of Auburn, GA. Also surviving are four grandsons; nine great grandchildren; and four brothers, Clem, Raymond, Bruce, and Carl Ferrell, all of Apex. Memorials may be made to the Green Level Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 8509 Green Level Church Rd., Apex, NC 27502. The family will receive friends on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Apex Funeral Home, 511 W. Williams St. (Hwy 55.) in Apex, and other times at the home of Dot and Otho Shepherd, 205 Adams St. in Cary.
GERALD CAMPBELL WALKER
ROANOKE, VA -- Gerald Campbell Walker, "Shorty", 76, of Roanoke passed away Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, as a result of liver complications. He was born in West Virginia. A United States Army veteran of World War II, he worked for the Charleston Gazette newspaper in Charleston, W.VA. After moving to Roanoke, he was employed with the George Press Dairy, Sealtest distributor and continued to work in Roanoke as a self-employed painting contractor. He was a member of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church for 37 years, a life member of the Roanoke Elks Lodge, and a 50 year member of the American Legion. He was predeceased by his parents, Ida and George Walker, of Mabscott, W.VA. and a sister, Jewell Walker Fitzgerald of Cheyenne, WY.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty Murdock Walker; sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Toni Walker, Dana and Peggy Walker, all of Roanoke; daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Dr. John A. Pearson of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Justin and Paige Pearson, Emily and Nathan Walker, mother-in-law, Lillian Harvey Murdock of Roanoke; sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Bill Baker of Beckley, W.VA; brother and sisters-in-law, Lowell and Betty Walker of Beckley, W.VA, Patty Schulte of Boomer, W.VA.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, 11 a.m. Saturday, with Dr. F. Tupper Garden and the Rev. Tom Stocks officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Oakley's South Chapel.
