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Essie W. Stewart
GASTONIA — Essie Mae Wells Stewart, 101, formerly of East Perry Street, died Aug. 14, 2000, at Courtland Terrace.
She was a native of the Bethaney Community in York County, S.C., wife of the late David Lester Stewart, daughter of the late John Cicero and Lela Etta Froneberger Wells, lifelong member of the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, member of First ARP Church since 1939, active in many ladies’ circles and other activities, homemaker.
SURVIVORS: Son and daughter-in-law, Robert C. and Flossie C. Stewart, Gastonia; daughter, Dorothea S. Robinson, Gastonia; daughters-in-law, Betty Stewart, Jean W. Stewart, Gastonia; sisters, Edna W. Barry, Kings Mountain, Vida Lee Stewart, York, S.C., Cora W. Long, Florence, S.C.; 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Sons, Campbell L., Lloyd D. and Paul A. Stewart; brothers, Charlie, Miles and Campbell Wells
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Thursday, First A.R.P. Church, Dr. Harry T. Schutte
INTERMENT: Gaston Memorial Park
VISITATION: 7-9 tonight, McLean Funeral Directors and one hour before service at the church
MEMORIALS: Stewart Endowment Foundation, c/o Bon Clarken Assembly, Flat Rock 28731 or First ARP Church, 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia 28052
Carroll R. Bumgardner
DALLAS — Carroll Roosevelt Bumgardner, 66, 224 Elizabeth Lane, died Aug. 14, 2000, at home.
He was a native of Lincoln County, son of the late R.P. and Myrtle Bumgardner, veteran of 82nd Army Airborne Divison, self-employed carpenter and contractor.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Private
ARRANGEMENTS: McLean Funeral Directors, Gastonia
Larry Elliott
LOWELL — Larry "Ronnie" Elliott, 35, 13 Black St., died Aug. 12, 2000, at home.
He was a native of Buncombe County, worked as a truck driver, served in the Army National Guard, graduate of South Point High School, member of Sharon Free Will Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Jodie "Dawn" Morrow Elliott; father and stepmother, Lawrence E. and Joyce Linda Elliott, Union Mills; mother and stepfather, Linda Williams Haggins, Morganton, and Frank Haggins, Gastonia; maternal grandmother, Belle Williams Smith, Banner Elk; sons, Dylan Taft Elliott, Gastonia, Gary Kyle Elliott, the home; daughter, Erin Lee Elliott, Gastonia; stepson, Joey Biddix, the home; stepbrother, Kenny Ray Willett, Hickory; stepsisters, April Cooley, Marci Nealey, Charlotte
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Grandparents, John Edward Williams, Taft and Eva Garrison Elliott
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. today, Sharon Free Will Baptist Church, Rev. Odell Cook
BURIAL: Church cemetery
PALLBEARERS: Eric and Kevin Elliott, Mark Walters, Gary Morrow, Shane Langley, Ernie Burns, Donald Stevens
ARRANGEMENTS: McLean Funeral Directors, Gastonia
Ken Larue
GASTONIA — Ken LaRue, 54, 211 N. Ransom St., died Aug. 14, 2000, at home.
He was a native of Trinidad, Colo., son of the late Alvina Henry Talley and James LaRue Sr., former employee of Ithaca Industries.
SURVIVORS: Sisters, Freda L. Sellers and husband Don, Kings Mountain, Addie Whelling and husband Bob, Memphis, Tenn., Anita Scott and husband Neal, Delville, Ind., Dorothy Mansfield, Yorktown, Ind.; brother, Lenny LaRue and wife Rose, Redding, Calif.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Brother, James LaRue Jr.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 4 p.m. today, Mountain Rest Cemetery, Kings Mountain, Rev. Douglas Ramsey
VISITATION: One hour before service, Harris Funeral Home, Kings Mountain, other times at the home of Don Sellers, 605 Bethlehem Road, Kings Mountain
Samantha E. Calhoun
LINCOLNTON — Samantha Erica Calhoun, infant, 2139 Buffalo Shoals Road, died Aug. 14, 2000, at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
She was a native of Mecklenburg County.
SURVIVORS: Parents, Linda Tunmire and Shannon Calhoun, Lincolnton; maternal grandparents, Paul and Winifred Johnson, Monroe; paternal grandparents, Tom and Kim Houck, Cherryville; maternal great-grandmother, Jennie Mae Johnson, Monroe; paternal great-grandmother, Vickie Armstrong, Bloomington, Ill.; paternal stepgrandfather, Nghia Nguyen, Cherryville; uncles, Gary Johnson, Mount Holly, Sonny and Brian Nguyen, Cherryville; aunts, Teresa Crawford, Cramerton, Tiffaney and Ashley Nguyen, Cherryville
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 10 a.m. Thursday, City Memorial Cemetery, Cherryville, Rev. Perry Holleman
ARRANGEMENTS: Carpenter’s Funeral Home, Cherryville
Rosie L.S. Lunsford
GASTONIA — Rosie Lee Sherrill Lunsford, 79, 1750 Robinwood Road, died Aug. 14, 2000, at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
She was a native of Gaston County, wife of the late J. Van Lunsford, daughter of the late Herbert and Hattie Kimbrell Sherrill, retired from Guilford Mills, Greensboro, member of Ridge Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: Daughter and son-in-law, Joyce Lunsford and David Derreberry, Gastonia; sons and daughters-in-law, Blair and Patsy Lunsford, Larry and Olene Lunsford, Gastonia; sisters, Mary S. Webb, Dallas, Lillie Wilson, Atlanta, Pearl Hawking, Gastonia; grandchildren, Angela Russell, Shane, Terry, Bobby, Robin, Scott and Cassie Lunsford, Dana Potter, Selena Derreberry; 10 great-grandchildren
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Son, Henry G. Lunsford; brothers, Jim and Will Sherrill
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Thursday, Ward Funeral Home, Rev. Chester Waters
BURIAL: Armstrong Cemetery
VISITATION: 7-8:30 tonight, funeral home, condolences may also be e-mailed via the funeral home Web site, www.wardfuneral.com
MEMORIALS: Ridge Baptist Church Building Fund, 3818 Old York Road, Gastonia 28056
Ellen Wiley Biggers
YORK, S.C. — Ellen Wiley Biggers, 69, 22 Wright Ave., died Aug. 14, 2000, at Piedmont Medical Center, Rock Hill, S.C.
She was a native of Elberton, Ga., daughter of the late William Ralph Wiley Sr., homemaker, member of First Baptist Church, York.
SURVIVORS: Sons, Wayne Biggers, Charleston, S.C., Brad Biggers, Rock Hill, Thad and Wiley Biggers, Kansas City, Kan., Ed Biggers, Chesapeake Bay, Md.; mother, Gladys Horton Wiley, York; brother, W.R. "Bill" Wiley Jr., Chester, S.C.; five grandchildren
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Thursday, First Baptist Church, York, Rev. Randy Gardener
BURIAL: Wiley Mausoleum at Lakeview Memory Gardens, York
VISITATION: 7-9 tonight, Bratton Funeral Home, York
MEMORIALS: American Diabetes Association
Jean L. Weathers
CRAMERTON — Jean Catherine Leeper Weathers, 53, 316 Mayflower St., died Aug. 13, 2000, at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.
She was a native of Mecklenburg County, daughter of the late Jimmy Leeper, secretary for Gaston-Lincoln Mental Health for 16 years, member of McAdenville Wesleyan Church.
SURVIVORS: Husband, Mitchell T. Weathers; son, Kenneth Weathers, Cramerton; mother, Eva Hamrick Leeper, Gastonia; sister, Leslie Leeper, Gastonia; brothers, James Leeper, Asheville, David Leeper, Bessemer City
FUNERAL: Held Tuesday, Ward Funeral Home, Gastonia, Rev. Steve Beam
BURIAL: Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia
PALLBEARERS: Jim and Rudy Weathers, Greg Rumfelt, Max Bost, Jerry and Calvin Helton
Harmon O’Dell Williams, Jr.
DALLAS — Harmon O’Dell Williams, Jr., 216 W. Trade St., died Sept. 16, 2000 at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia.
He was a native of Easley, S.C., son of the late Harmon O’Dell and Grace Mauldin Williams. He worked for A&P food corporation as an assistant manager, member of the Lions Club, served as chief of the volunteer firefighters for Dallas, member of the First United Methodist Church, Dallas, where he served as church school secretary, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and member of the Upper Room Class.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Theresa Shell Williams; daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy Williams and Roy Spivey, Sunset, S.C., Shelly Williams and Jay Wagoner, Charlotte; brother, Charles M. Williams, Easley, S.C.; sisters, Sarah Williams, Easley, Nancy Hammond, Piedmont, S.C.; grandchildren, Melanie Broadwell and husband Alan, Blythewood, S.C, Carrie Theresa Spivey, Greenville, S.C.; great-grandchildren, Nancy Blythe Broadwell, Lane Wagoner Broadwell, Roy Robert Broadwell, Blythewood
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Dallas., Rev. Caroll Flack, Roy D. Spivey
BURIAL: Long Creek Church Cemetery
VISITATION: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Dallas Funeral Home; other times at the home
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: The Upper Room Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church
MEMORIALS: First United Methodist Church, 301 W. Main St., Dallas 28034
Ruth H. Bingham
GASTONIA — Ruth Hughes Bingham, 47, 5815 Crawford Road, died Sept. 17, 2000 at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
She was a native of Baltimore, daughter of the late Glen and Mary DeFasio Hughes.
SURVIVORS: Husband, Roger Dale Bingham, Sr.; son, Roger Dale Bingham, Jr., Deland, Fla.; daughters, Brenda Lee Bingham, Largo, Fla., Morgan Li Ann Bingham, of the home; brother and sister-in-law, John and Linda Hughes, Burnsville; sister, Barbara Guay, Maine; several nieces and nephews
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Brother, Glen Hughes, Jr.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Wednesday, South Gastonia Church of God, Rev. Sammy Barnett
INTERMENT: Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at Gaston Memorial Park
VISITATION: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia
MEMORIALS: Hospice of Gaston County, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia 28054
Lona S. Childs
LINCOLNTON — Lona Self Childs, 92, 2284 West Highway 27, died Sept. 17, 2000.
She was a native of Lincoln County, daughter of the late John Evry and Lucy Etta Heavner Self, wife of the late Richard Lackey and W.H. Childs, Sr. She was a retired supervisor of 42 years with Lincoln County Social Services, member of Messiah United Methodist Church
SURVIVORS: Daughter, Helen Lackey Hoover, Lincolnton; grandson, Bill Hoover, Lincolnton; great-grandchildren, Matthew and Andrea Hoover, Lincolnton.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Church of Our Savior Cemetery, Rev. Ted Goins
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS: Church of Our Savior Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 203, Lincolnton 28093
Lillie R.D. Perry
MOUNT HOLLY — Lillie Rankin Davidson Perry, 90, formerly of Mount Holly, died Sept. 17, 2000 at Brian Center, Gastonia
She was a native of Gaston County, daughter of the late Robert Lee and Alti Bowman Rankin, wife of the late Samuel Olin Davidson and Raymond Perry, Sr. She was a homemaker and attended New Faith Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: Daughters, Malvena Tadlock, Belmont, Gaynelle Ellis, Kannapolis, Othelle Mayfield, Landis, Leona Abernathy and husband Ronald, Gastonia; son, Olin W. Davidson; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Son, Robert Glenn Davidson; brothers, John Laban Rankin, Keith Rankin
FUNERAL: Private
VISITATION: Condolence messages may be sent to
ARRANGEMENTS: Woodlawn Funeral Home
