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Minnie Baker Messer
GASTONIA Minnie Baker Messer, 95, formerly of 204 Oakland St., died Jan. 25, 2000, at Sunbridge of Lowell.
She was a native of Danbridge, Tenn., daughter of the late Alfred and Florence Morris Baker, mother of the late Paul E. Jr. and Lloyd W. Messer, grandmother of the late Scott Wayne Messer, retired textile employee, member of Freewill Baptist Church, Lowell.
SURVIVORS: Daughters, Geraldine M. Gunter, York, S.C., Ruby M. Godfrey, Fayetteville; sister, Blanche Funderburke, Lowell; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Thursday, Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia, Revs. Ted Dixon, Craig Jenkins
BURIAL: Gaston Memorial Park
VISITATION: 7-9 tonight, funeral home
PALLBEARERS: Robert and Phillip Gibson, Jeremy Jenkins, Ricky Breedlove, Keith and Lee Ledford
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Neil Barker, Brian Fletcher
JAMES E. RANKIN SR.
MOUNT HOLLY James "Ed" Edgar Rankin Sr., 88, 200 Lanier St., died Jan. 25, 2000, at The Rehabilitation and Health Center of Gastonia.
He was a native of Lincoln County, son of the late Sidney D. and Anna Killian Rankin, retired police officer from Mount Holly after 22 years of service, Army veteran of World War II serving in Guadal Canal, Solomon Islands and Fiji, recipient of the Presidential Citation.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Mary Ferguson Rankin; son and daughter-in-law, James E. Jr. and Lynette Rankin, Charlotte; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Roy Abernathy, Lucia; sisters, Mary Rhyne, Mount Holly, Louise Girand, St. Petersburg, Fla.; grandchildren, Mary Ellen Burleson, Roy Abernathy II; step-granddaughter, Debbie Burnette; great-grandchildren, Justin Skidmore, DeAnn Burleson, Christopher and Eric Smith
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 3 p.m. Thursday, Pineview Cemetery, Mount Holly, Revs. Fred Murphy, Joel Rogers
VISITATION: 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Carother Funeral Home, Mount Holly
CHARLES P. HUTCHINS
BLACKSBURG, S.C. Charles Paul Hutchins, 45, 410 S. Chester St., died Jan. 24, 2000, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartanburg, S.C.
He was a native of Kings Mountain, brother of the late Terry Hutchins, employee of Dixie Lawn Service.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Sherry Cody Hutchins; daughters, Angela Jean Kennedy, Crystal Charlene Hutchins, Gaffney, S.C., Summer Nicole Hutchins, Amber Pauline Hutchins, Stormie Danielle Hutchins, Blacksburg; father and step-mother, Charles and Louise Hutchins, Marion; mother and step-father, Edna Mae Leigh and Dennis Scates, Blacksburg; brother, George Randall Hutchins, Bessemer City; grandchildren, Dallas Kennedy, Shadie Ramsey
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 1 p.m. Thursday, Clingman Memorial Gardens, Revs. Gary Bell, Rennie Campbell
VISITATION: The home
PALLBEARERS: George Randall Hutchins, Bradley Whiteside, Todd "Sak" White, Winfred "Duke" Elliott, Todd "Fruitloop" Cunningham, Ricky Breedlove
ARRANGEMENTS: White Columns Funeral Service, Blacksburg
Mattie Grindle Woody
GASTONIA Mattie Mae Grindle Woody, 81, 37 Ranlo Ave., died Jan. 28, 2000, at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
She was a native of Lumpkin Co., Ga., daughter of the late William Albert and Fannie Fields Grindle, sister of the late Arnold and Roscoe Grindle and Callie Grindle Jones, retired from Rex Plant No. 2, last charter member of Ranlo Church of God of Pophecy, active in church as lay minister, Sunday school teacher and other aspects.
SURVIVORS: Husband of 63 years, Charlie E. Woody; son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Shirley Woody, Gastonia; special son, Sonny Allman, OFallon, Ill.; daughter and son-in-law, Elda Sue and Gerald Beaver, Gastonia; brothers, Luther and J.C. Grindle, Gastonia, Leroy Grindle, Dallas, Ernest Grindle, Durham; grandchildren, James and Todd Beaver, Jane Kimbro, Gastonia, Teresa Chitwood, Bessemer City, Donna Huss, Ranlo, Patricia Sellers, Kings Mountain, Shawn Stacy, Cornelius; great-grandchildren, Amanda and Nicole Huss, Brittiany Sellers, Heather, Brandon and Alyssa Beaver
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Ranlo Church of God of Prophecy, Ranlo, Revs. Marlin Morton, Joe Gardin
BURIAL: Westview Gardens, Bessemer City
VISITATION: 7-8:30 tonight, Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, Bessemer City, other times at the home of Richard and Shirley Woody, 205 Tremont Terrace, Bessemer City
PALLBEARERS: Nephews
MEMORIALS: Ranlo Church of God of Prophecy, 406 Rhyne Circle, Ranlo 28054
Henry E. Hughes
GASTONIA Henry Elmore Hughes, 80, 1622 Lakefield Circle, died Jan. 28, 2000, at Brian Center.
He was a native of Rutherford County, son of the late Clarence and Victorian Elmore Hughes, brother of the late Charles Hughes and Sara Taylor, member of First United Methodist Church, manager of Webb Theater for several years, ticket taker for United Artist Litchfield Theater, worked for Gainesville Drive-In Theater, Gainesville, Fla., graduated from Gastonia High School, attended Lenoir-Rhyne College.
SURVIVORS: Nieces, Suzanne Rabb, Gastonia, Jenny Lutz, Hickory; nephew, John Hughes, Maryland
FUNERAL: 1 p.m. today, Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia, Rev. J. Houston Matthews
BURIAL: Gaston Memorial Park
VISITATION: Ninety minutes before service, funeral home, other times at the home
MEMORIALS: Music Fund, First United Methodist Church, 190 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia 28052
James E. Belcher Sr.
BELMONT James Edgar Belcher Sr., 68, 104 Fairway Drive, died Jan. 29, 2000, at home.
He was a native of Gaston County, son of the late James Talmadge and Lizzie Mae Hamilton Belcher, member of New Life Family Worship Center, Kings Mountain, where he served on the Board of Counselors, 1958 graduate of Belmont Abbey College, retired after 35 years of service as a district supervisor in the audit department for the N.C. Department of Revenue, staff sergeant in U.S. Army Security Agency during the Korean War.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Nancy Tucker Belcher; son, James E. Belcher Jr., Kings Mountain; one stepson, two stepdaughters, brother, Rev. Jack H. Fox, Shelby; sisters, Becky B. Miller, Gastonia, Nellie F. Jonas, Belmont; grandchildren, Talmadge James and Aaron Belcher, Kings Mountain; eight stepgrandchildren
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Tuesday, McLean Funeral Directors, Gastonia, Rev. Robert Eng
BURIAL: Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia
VISITATION: Ninety minutes before the service, funeral home
MEMORIALS: Hospice of Gaston County, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia 28053 or New Life Family Worship Center, 428 Oak Grove Road, Kings Mountain 28086
ARRANGEMENTS: McLean-Bumgardner Funeral Home
Jerry D. Finley
GASTONIA Jerry Dwayne Finley, 36, 218 N. King St., died Jan. 28, 2000, at Grace Hospital, Morganton.
He was a native of Rock Hill, S.C., son of the late Carolyn Crisp Carpenter, employed by China Grove Textiles, Gastonia.
SURVIVORS: Father, Jerry C. Finley, Gastonia; sisters, Lisa Finley, Gastonia, Anita McCoig, Lincolnton; brother, Robert Eric Finley, Morganton; nephews, Jonathan Johnson, Jeffrey Ledford; nieces, Brittany and Ashley McCoig
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia, Rev. Odell Cook
VISITATION: 5-7 tonight, at the home of Anita McCoig, 1827 Will Schronce Road, Lincolnton
Nellie Blanton Mathis
KINGS MOUNTAIN Nellie Blanton Mathis, 93, 716 Sipes St., died Jan. 29, 2000, at White Oak Manor.
She was a native of Jackson County, wife of the late John Mathis, mother of the late Glent Mathis and Willie Doster, grandmother of the late Jay Doster.
SURVIVORS: Son, Jack Mathis, Belmont; daughters and son-in-law, Dorothy Ross, Kings Mountain, Alma and Bill Sapp, Bessemer City; six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren, five nephews
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Westview Gardens, Bessemer City, Rev. Scott Wilson
VISITATION: 6-8 tonight, Greene Funeral Service, Westside Chapel
PALLBEARERS: Ryan Henry, Michel, Shawn, Steve and Steven Mathis, Billy Sapp
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Eddy Doster, Charles Dye
RHODA B. WISE
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Rhoda Bennett Wise, 82, 2289 LaRosa Lane, LaCosta Village, formerly of Kings Mountain, died Jan. 29, 2000, at Coquina Nursing Home, Ormand Beach, Fla.
She was a native of Cleveland County, wife of the late Woodrow Wise, daughter of the late James and Minnie Jones Bennett, sister of the late Burton Bennett, retired as spinner in the textile industry.
SURVIVORS: Son, James Wise, Daytona Beach; daughter, Peggy McComas, Dallas; sister, Helen Johnson, Clinton, S.C.; grandchildren, Debra Rekiel, Richard, Gerald, Marian and Mike Culp, Cheryl Hewitt; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Brantley, Shawn and Mark Rekiel, Christie, Jeremy and Austin Culp, Jennifer Posey, Ricky, Crystal and Lisa Culp; two great-great grandchildren
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Harris Funeral Home, Kings Mountain, Rev. Ed Thompson
BURIAL: Mountain Rest Cemetery
VISITATION: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, the funeral home
Jerry Nichols
GASTONIA Jerry Nichols, 72, 505 Wilson Farm Road, died Jan. 29, 2000, at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
He was a native of Cleveland County, son of the late Richard and Beatrice McGill Nichols, brother of the late David and Susie Nichols, owner of Nichols Concrete Company, member of Weeping Mary Baptist Church, former member of Scottish Rite Masonic Order, Shriners.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Marian Tate Nichols; son and daughter-in-law, James C. and Denice Nichols, Gastonia; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann Nichols and Larry Smith, Gastonia; mother-in-law, Francine Starr, Gastonia; grandchildren, Nichelle McCaskill, Larrisha Smith, Gastonia, Airman Dennis "D.J." Nichols, Lackland, Texas; great-grandchildren, Nikkiayla, Nikkyana and Nicholas Isaiah McCaskill, Gastonia
FUNERAL: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Weeping Mary Baptist Church, Rev. Timothy Goode
VISITATION: 30 minutes before the service, the church
ARRANGEMENTS: Martins Funeral Home
