Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Mary Ellen Monroe Spicer

Mary Ellen Monroe Spicer

Jul 1, 2025

Mary Ellen Monroe Spicer, 80, of Valdese, passed away at home on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Mary was born May 31, 1945 in Burke County, a daughter of the late John Clifton and Eula Buchanan Monroe. She loved crafts, and she won many awards for her excellent crocheted pieces. In her spare time, she could...

Margaret Ann Johnson Berry

Margaret Ann Johnson Berry

Jun 30, 2025

God sent an angel on June 30, 2025, to bring home His faithful servant, Mrs. Margaret Ann Berry, 91, of 1655 Berrytown Street, Valdese. Born on Jan. 21, 1934, to the late Mr. Vono Johnson and Mrs. Margaret Myrtle Fullwood Johnson. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a lifelong member of Mt....

Reba Berry

Reba Berry

Jun 29, 2025

Mrs. Reba Berry, 71, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday June 29, 2025, at Mission Hospital, Asheville, after a period of declining health.

Reba Berry was born August 4, 1953, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Rev. G.C. and Lillie Richard Wray. Reba was a faithful member of High Peak Baptist Church for many years, serving as the church...

Lessie Burleson Shell-Detter

Lessie Burleson Shell-Detter

Jun 29, 2025

Mrs. Lessie Mae Shell-Detter, 92, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday June 29, 2025, at Carolina Caring, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Detter was born July 22, 1932, in Avery County, a daughter of the late Coy and Margie Pauline Winters Burleson. Lessie was a member of the East Valdese Baptist Church and was active in the Over the...

John Peter Rostan, III

John Peter Rostan, III

Jun 28, 2025

John Peter Rostan, III, 81, of Valdese, NC passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at his residence after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

John was born on December 15, 1943 to the late John Peter Rostan, Jr. and Naomi Bounous Rostan in Valdese. He graduated from Davidson College in 1966 and received his MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1968. While...

Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw

Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw

Jun 28, 2025

Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw, 48, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday June 28, 2025 at her residence.

Dana was born March 22, 1977 in Catawba County to Sheila Crowder Ward and the late David Lyn Combs. She enjoyed working as a behavior specialist at Catawba Rosenwald Education Center and was an avid Carolina Tarheel and Dallas Cowboy fan. Dana loved to...

Makenzi D'Shae Hare

Makenzi D'Shae Hare

Jun 28, 2025

Makenzi D’shae Hare, 31, of Hildebran, went to be with the Lord on Saturday June 28, 2025.

Makenzi was born November 22, 1993 in Burke County, a daughter of Frankie and Jan Weaver Hare.

“Kenzi” was very smart and could fix anything electronic. She loved her dog “Zyn” who was like a child to her and her boyfriend, Matt Ayotte.

She was preceded...

David Charles Baker

David Charles Baker

Jun 27, 2025

David Charles Baker, 73, of Morganton, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, June 27, 2025.

David was born October 31, 1951 in Warsaw, New York to the late Raymond Baker and Arlene Wallace Baker. He worked as a physician’s assistant and was an excellent, multi-talented musician. David was a loving, giving, and caring man to all of his family...

Janice Rudisill Scarborough

Janice Rudisill Scarborough

Jun 21, 2025

Mrs. Janice Rudisill Scarborough, 84, of Granite Falls, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Hickory Falls Health & Rehab Nursing Center, following a period of declining health.

Janice was born on June 7, 1941, in Catawba County, to the late Guy Rudisill and Ester Huffman Rudisill. She was an active member over the years of The Eastern Star, The...

Christopher Troy McGalliard

Christopher Troy McGalliard

Jun 20, 2025

Christopher Troy McGalliard, 54, of Hickory, passed away at his residence on Friday, June 20, 2025, following a brief illness.

Christopher was born on October 22, 1970 in Burke County, a son of Grace Banner McGalliard and the late Troy Edward McGalliard. He was loved by everyone.

In addition to his father, he is preceded in passing by two brothers, James David...

Mary Susan Houston

Mary Susan Houston

Jun 20, 2025

Mrs. Mary Susan Richards Houston, 81, of Icard, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025, at her residence, following a period of declining health.

Mary was born on September 19, 1943, in Caldwell County to the late Percy Richards and Bessie Tinsbloom Richards. She was a member Bethlehem Baptist Church in Valdese and was formerly employed with Doughton Manufacturing.

In addition to...

Mark Self

Mark Self

Jun 17, 2025

Mark Self, 69, of Hildebran, passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at Frye Regional Medical Center.

Mark was born April 8, 1956 in Graham County to the late Riley Self and Zetta Anderson Self. Mark was a simple man, who enjoyed working outside doing many different hobbies from small engine repair, wood working, or being in his garden. He loved...

Pat Norris Cranford

Pat Norris Cranford

Jun 17, 2025

Pat Norris Cranford, 68, of Drexel, passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at home, following a period of declining health.

Pat was born April 12, 1957 in Burke County, a son of the late Jack Norris and Geraldine Deal Cranford. He was a great father and grandfather, and he was always considerate of others. He liked to sing karaoke, and...

Judy Renee Lowe

Judy Renee Lowe

Jun 17, 2025

Judy Renee Townsend Lowe, 54, of Connelly Springs, passed away at home on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 following a brief illness.

Judy was born March 24, 1971 in Burke County, a daughter of Marilyn Kelly Townsend.

She is preceded in passing by her grandmother, Maxine Townsend.

Those left to cherish her memory include her mother; her husband of thirty-six years, Kenneth Lee Lowe,...

Anthony Bryan Self

Anthony Bryan Self

Jun 16, 2025

Anthony Bryan Self, 49, of Hildebran, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Bryan was born November 2, 1975 in Catawba County to Rita Mathis Self and the late Mark Self. He was a member of Zion Road Baptist Church and worked as a butcher. Bryan’s greatest joy in life was his family. He was...

Harold Yates Berry

Harold Yates Berry

Jun 16, 2025

Mr. Harold Yates Berry, Sr., 91, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday June 16, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Berry was born February 4, 1934, in Burke County, a son of the late Harold Odell Berry and Golda Lou-Emma Childers Berry Kiser. He attended Bollinger’s Chapel United Methodist Church and retired from Alba-Waldensian as...

Mattie Pruett Heavner

Mattie Pruett Heavner

Jun 15, 2025

Mrs. Mattie Lene “Pat” Heavner, 88, of Valdese, passed away at her residence on Sunday June 15, 2025, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Heavner was born October 20, 1936, in Cleveland County, a daughter of the late Lester and Annie Queen Pruett. Pat was a member of East Valdese Baptist Church and retired from the Valdese Doctors Clinic as...

Erna Hildgard Hayes

Erna Hildgard Hayes

Jun 13, 2025

Mrs. Erna Hildgard Hayes, 97, of Morganton, passed away on Friday June 13, 2025, at Carolina Caring Hospice, Newton, NC after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Hayes was born July 6, 1927, in Bremia, Germany, a daughter of the late Ludwig and Erna Rienlter Soboll. Erna was of the Lutheran faith and retired as a seamstress in the Dry-Cleaning industry....

Janet Hildebran Mull

Janet Hildebran Mull

Jun 13, 2025

Janet Hildebran Mull, 85, of George Hildebran, NC, passed away on June 13, 2025, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. She had a sweet, gentle soul and a fearless heart. She was determined not to leave her family, and she fought relentlessly until the end.

Born May 31, 1940, to the late John James and Desolia Jane Hildebran, she...

Luther J. Nichols

Luther J. Nichols

Jun 12, 2025

Luther “Buck” Nichols, 89, of Drexel passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at Amorem Hospice following a period of declining health.

Buck was born December 9, 1935 in Graham County to the late Luther L. Nichols and Florence Wright Nichols. He attended Community Baptist Church of Drexel and retired from Western Youth Institution after 20 years of service with the...

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