Dorothy Marie Hembree Benfield
Jan 7, 2026
Dorothy Marie Hembree Benfield, 82, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at Magnolia Lane Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a period of declining health.
Marie was born May 8, 1943 in Spartanburg County, SC, a daughter of the late Wade and Sally Hembree.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by her husband, Thomas Benfield, and...
Michael Fred Lunsford
Jan 4, 2026
Michael Fred Lunsford, 57, of Granite Falls, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Mike was born August 9, 1968 in Burke County to Beulah Sharpe Lunsford and the late Jackie Fred Lunsford. He was a well known carp fisherman and loved hanging out at Lake Charles with Greg and the gang....
Gail Jeanette King Waycaster
Jan 3, 2026
Ms. Gail Jeanette King Waycaster, 74, of Morganton, passed away peacefully at her home at 300 Williams Rd. on January 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, after a period of declining health.
She was born in Buncombe County, NC, on August 31, 1951, a daughter of the late Jay and Harriet King.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in...
Alice Hill Nicely
Jan 2, 2026
Alice Hill Nicely, 83, of Valdese, passed away on Friday January 2, 2026 at her residence after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Nicely was born February 14, 1942, in Albion, N.Y. a daughter of the late Robert Wilson and Meriam Davis Hill. She was a member of the New Beginnings Baptist Church in Morganton and retired after a long career...
Joey Michael Rhoney
Jan 1, 2026
Joey Michael Rhoney, 65, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday January 1, 2026, at Autumn Care Nursing Center, after a period of declining health.
Joey was born November 20, 1960, in Burke County, a son of Glenda Poteat Rhoney and the late Jerry Rhoney. He served his country as a US Air Force veteran and was formally employed as a Behavior...
Woodrow Wilson Smith, II
Jan 1, 2026
Woodrow Wilson Smith, II, 62, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Woodrow was born on July, 12, 1963 in Sarasota, FL, a son of the late Donald Marcus Smith, Sr., and Marilyn Robbins Smith. He loved NASCAR racing, and he was in attendance as often as he could. He...
Daphne Lynnette Abernathy Mozeley
Dec 30, 2025
Daphne Abernathy Mozeley, 42, of Valdese passed away on December 30, 2025 after a 4-year bout with cancer. She took her last breath in this life holding the hands of her closest loved ones and immediately began her new life by taking the hand of Jesus, her savior.
Daphne was born on January 13, 1983 and was a lifelong Burke County...
Terry Lynn Turner
Dec 29, 2025
Terry Lynn Turner, 63, of Hildebran, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025 at Catawba Valley Medical Center following a period of declining health.
Terry was born December 19, 1962 in Burke County to the late Billy Dean Turner and Doris Day Turner. He worked as a plumber and in his spare time loved hunting, fishing, and listening to rock music.
In...
Tina Marie Fox
Dec 28, 2025
Tina Marie Fox, 60, our sweet sister, passed away on December 28, 2025 unexpectedly at her residence.
Tina was born October 22, 1965 in Burke County to the late Hubert Fox and Gladys Lowman Collins. She was a devoted mother who deeply cherished her grandchildren. Always willing to assist others, she was known for her generosity and kindness. She also enjoyed...
Arther Joe Cannon
Dec 28, 2025
Arther Joe Cannon, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at his residence following a period of declining health.
Arther was born March 8, 1944 in Catawba County to the late JC Cannon and Lottie Gilland Cannon. He was passionate about outdoor activities, including riding his four-wheeler, deer hunting, fishing, and camping. Arther also enjoyed watching NASCAR.
In...
Cathy Powell Deal
Dec 28, 2025
Cathy Powell Deal, 74, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday December 28, 2025, at UNC Health Care, Morganton, after a period of declining health.
Cathy was born November 15,1950, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Bill and Ethel Hice Powell. She was a member of East Valdese Baptist Church and retired from UPS with over thirty years of dedicated...
Nola Ann Ruppard
Dec 28, 2025
Nola Ann Ruppard, 67, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday December 28, 2025, at Catawba Valley Medical Center, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Rupard was born May 12, 1958, in Virginia, a daughter of the late Harry Eugene and Dorothy Hundley Downer. Nola was retired as an office nurse in the medical field after many years of service. She...
Alan Kentworth Davidson
Dec 26, 2025
Alan Kentworth Davidson passed away on December 26, 2025, after a long stay at the VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
Alan was born on August 2, 1957, in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Joe Davidson and Jesse Mae Forney. During his childhood, he and his mother, grandmother, and 8 siblings relocated to Morganton, North Carolina, where much of his early...
Mary Starr Perry
Dec 26, 2025
Mary Starr Perry, 61, of Hickory, passed away on Friday December 26, 2025, at UNC Healthcare, Morganton after a period of declining health.
Mary was born April 16,1964 in Mecklenburg County, a daughter of the late Virgil R. Perry, Sr and Erma Lee Helton Perry. She served her country as a member of the US Army and was formally employed with...
Shirlene Deal Spann
Dec 24, 2025
Mrs. Shirlene Deal Spann, 89, of Granite Falls, died on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in her home, following a period of declining health.
Born on November 26, 1936, in Burke County, Shirlene was the first of six children of John A. Deal and Cora Shidal Deal. She retired from the hosiery industry, where she spent many years operating a sewing machine....
Darrell Ray Porter
Dec 23, 2025
Darrell Ray Porter, 73, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Ray was born January 11, 1952 in West Virginia to the late Robert Eph Porter and Ethel Mae Holbrook Porter. He was a faithful and devoted member of Crosslink Church and was passionate about his faith, prayer and...
Yvonne Cook Rohde
Dec 22, 2025
Mrs. Yvonne Cook Rohde, 88, of Hickory, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health.
Yvonne was born on January 6, 1937, in Burke County to the late Edgar Cook and Rethal Price Cook. She was a retired church secretary and a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
In addition to her...
Dennis Van Willis
Dec 21, 2025
Dennis Van Willis, 65, of Morganton, departed this life to his heavenly home on Sunday December 21, 2025 at Carolina Rehab Center of Burke following a period of declining health.
Dennis was born on April 14, 1960 in McDowell County, NC to the late Earl and Mary Lynn Stewart Willis. Dennis was a graduate of Western Carolina University and Appalachian State...
Robert Bentley Bare
Dec 21, 2025
Robert Bentley Bare, 50, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday December 21, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.
Robert was born December 14, 1975, in Burke County, a son of Cecil Bare and the late Doris Bradsdhaw Bare. He was a former truck driver and a friend to everyone he met. Robert knew the bible and loved...
Richard Stephen Brittain
Dec 21, 2025
Richard Stephen Brittain, 79, of Morganton, passed away at his residence on Sunday, December 21, 2025 following a period of declining health.
Richard was born November 9, 1946 in Caldwell County to the late Joe Brittain and Martha Everhardt Brittain. He worked as a healthcare technician at J. Iverson Riddle and loved working on small engines; even teaching classes. Richard never...
