Ruth Parker Brittain Fulbright
Feb 26, 2026
Ruth Odell Parker Brittain Fulbright, affectionately known as “Memaw,” went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at her residence following a brief illness.
Ruth was born April 7, 1928 in Lincoln County, a daughter of the late Zebulon Greer and Minnie Lee Hartman Parker. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by her...
Rita Ann Horowitz Granoff
Feb 25, 2026
Mrs. Rita Ann Horowitz Granoff, 78, of Granite Falls, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
Rita was born on November 23, 1947 in New York, NY to the late Paul David Horowitz and Laura Libin Horowitz. She was a retired public-school teacher, serving in New York for over 40 years. Rita enjoyed...
Johnny D. Ethridge Sr.
Feb 25, 2026
Johnny D. Ethridge Sr., 76, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at UNC Blue Ridge following a brief illness.
Johnny was born July 6, 1949 in Burke County to the late John Ethridge and Eva M. Lowman. He worked as a truck driver and enjoyed fishing, golfing, and watching westerns and baseball.
In addition to his parents, he is...
Randy Dean Mabrey
Feb 24, 2026
Mr. Randy Dean Mabrey, 64, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Randy was born on March 27, 1961, in Burke County to Olen Ray Mabrey and Jean Rogers Mabrey. He was a member of Burns Memorial Baptist Church and was formerly employed as a fixer in the hosiery...
Virginia Darlous Franklin Helms
Feb 24, 2026
Virginia Darlous Franklin Helms, 83, of Granite Falls, went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 following a period of declining health.
Virginia was born September 26, 1942 in Avery County, a daughter of the later Zeb Scott and Esta Lena Woodie Franklin.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by two sisters, Lila Jean...
Ruby Arlene Carroll Cook
Feb 22, 2026
Mrs. Ruby Arlene Carroll Cook, 90, of Connelly Springs, went to her Heavenly Home, with her loving family by her side, on Sunday February 22, 2026, at her residence after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Cook was born May 30, 1935, in Yancey County, a daughter of the late John and Mary Westall Carroll. She was active in the Connelly...
Wayne Woodrow Whisenant
Feb 22, 2026
Wayne Woodrow Whisenant, 85, of Morganton, peacefully passed at his home on February 22, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones. Wayne was born in Burke County, a son of the late Iverson “Buddy” and Marie Epley Whisenant.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Eric Whisenant, siblings, Betty Jean Taylor, Doris Hurst, Winford Lee Whisenant,...
James Otho Merritt
Feb 21, 2026
James “Jim” Otho Merritt, age 87, of Morganton, North Carolina, peacefully passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at his home after a period of declining health. His presence in the lives of family and friends will be dearly missed, and his memory cherished by all who knew him.
Jim was born on November 22, 1938, in Fort Mill, South Carolina,...
Clara Jo Dunn Goode
Feb 21, 2026
Clara Jo (Dunn) Goode, 98, passed away at her home in Connelly Springs, North Carolina, on February 21, 2026. She is survived by her daughters, J’Mel Goode, Jane Goode and Meg Goode, as well as their respective husbands/significant others, Alan Thompson, David Hobart and Gary Schreck. She was preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) Edward Goode.
Jo was born...
Arle Ransom Spann
Feb 20, 2026
Arle Ransom Spann, 63, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026 at his residence following a period of declining health.
Arle was born September 25, 1962 in Burke County, to the late Dwight Spann and Rebecca Sellers Spann. He was a member of Berea Baptist Church and worked in the textile industry. Arle could work on anything that...
Bilford Moses
Feb 19, 2026
Bilford Moses, 83, of Connelly Springs, NC, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 19, 2026.. Born in Burke County, NC, on April 1, 1942, he was the son of the late Robert E. Moses and Mary Mace Moses. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Lee Moses, and...
Charles Alonzo Shook
Feb 16, 2026
Charles Alonzo Shook, 90, of Valdese passed away peacefully at Trinity Village on Monday, February 16, 2026; after a prolonged battle with dementia.
Charles was born on March 20, 1935 in Catawba County to the late Junius Shook and Lillian Bostain Shook. Before graduation from high school he became a proud Eagle Scout. After graduation Charles enlisted in the United States...
Landy Lee Whitener
Feb 12, 2026
Mr. Landy Lee Whitener, 64, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at his residence, following a period of declining health.
Landy was born on September 2, 1961 in Catawba County to the late Glen Hoover and Peggy Sigmon. He loved to be on a riverbank emersed in nature and was an artistic woodworker, who made magic with his...
Ruby Robinson Hoyle
Feb 11, 2026
Mrs. Ruby Lois Robinson Hoyle, 87, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Grace Ridge Retirement Center, following a period of declining health.
Ruby was born on November 27, 1938, in Burke County to the late Leonard Brooks Robinson Sr. and Hazel Bonning Robinson. She was a longtime member, and a former choir director, of North Laurel Baptist...
Gary Wayne Harwell
Feb 9, 2026
Mr. Gary Wayne Harwell, 77, of Hickory, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026 at Catawba Valley Medical Center, following a brief illness.
Gary was born on July 29, 1948 in Catawba County, NC to the late Ray Herman Harwell and Wilma Collins Harwell. He was a retired truck manager for Hickory Springs and a longtime member of Mount Hebron Baptist...
William Lawrence Ford
Feb 9, 2026
William Lawrence "Bill" Ford, 91, of Morganton, passed away on Monday February 9, 2026, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a brief illness.
Mr. Ford was born October 11, 1934 in Burke County, a son of the late Frank C. and Claudia Franklin Ford. He retired as a foreman from Drexel Heritage Furniture Co. After retirement he stayed busy running a tractor,...
Linda Faye Hoilman Robinson
Feb 9, 2026
Linda Faye Hoilman Robinson, 61, of Valdese, North Carolina, passed away on February 9, 2026.
Linda was born February 24, 1964 in Yancey County to the late Millard Hoilman and Blondie Grindstaff Hoilman.
Linda was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her family was the center of her world, and everything she did came from a place of love and...
Kenneth Ragan Carter
Feb 8, 2026
Mr. Kenneth Ragan Carter, 79, of Morganton passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026 at UNC Health Blue Ridge in Morganton following a brief period of declining health.
Kenneth was born, October 20. 1946 in Burke County to the late Kenneth William Carter and Edith Clark Carter. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam with the...
Linda Faye Childers Huffman
Feb 8, 2026
Linda Faye Childers Huffman, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday February 8, 2026, at her residence after a period of declining health.
Linda Huffman was born October 5, 1944, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Clarence and Faye Lail Childers. She retired as a CNA in the Healthcare industry and she loved helping with the Samaritan Purse...
Barbara Louise Thomas Ledford
Feb 7, 2026
Barbara Louise Thomas Ledford, 84, of Morganton, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at UNC Blue Ridge following a period of declining health.
Barbara was born October 15, 1941 in Rutherford County to the late James Thomas and Jessie Nix Thomas. She was devoted to her faith and an active member of Bible Missionary Baptist Church, cherishing time spent with...
