Rutherford Weekly

Page 16 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, May 24-May 30, 2018 O B I T U A R I E S O B I T U A R I E S MELINDA COUCH LAMBERT Melinda Couch Lambert, age 52, of Forest City, passed away May 12, 2018. Born November 16, 1965 in Cleveland County, she was the daughter of the late Bobby Gene Couch and Mary Edith Piercy Couch. She graduated from the NC School for the Deaf (NCSD), class of 1985. Melinda worked as a seam- stress for Absorba Industries for fifteen years and also as a housekeeper in the Labor and Delivery Department at High Point Regional Hospital. She was a past member of High Shoal Baptist Church and loved going to the beach, working on crafts and word search puzzles. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Allen Derek Couch. Those left to cherish her memory include one son, Jerome Lambert of Thomasville; two grandchil- dren; brother, Bill Couch and wife, Dawn of Ellenboro; three sisters, Bobbie Jones and husband, Jr. of Forest City; Treddie Kennison and fian- cé, Jason Pruett of Ellenboro, Leyeth Millwood and husband, Buck of Cliffside. She is also survived by special friends, Kelly McMillan Woodlard and Carl "Bubbie" Herron, Jr. both of Greensboro, Patrisia Griffith of Shelby, and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service was conducted at High Shoal Baptist Church. Rev Eugene Passmore officiated. Interment was held in the church cemetery. Memorial donations are respectfully requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. FAYE WALKER Faye Walz Walker, 90, of Spindale, passed away May 10, 2018. A native of Prescott, AZ, she was the daughter of the late Max Charles & Mae Griffith Walz. She attended First Wesleyan Church of Forest City & operated a snack bar at NC State for years. Left to cherish her memory is her son, Kurt Ronald Walker of Charlotte; sister, Nora Griffith of Rio Rancho, NM; caregiver Debra Kesterson of Forest City & special friend Anna Marie Prendergast of Fairlawn, NJ & a number of nieces & nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ivy W. Walker. Memorial services were held at First Wesleyan Church,, Forest City. In lieu of flowers, memo- rials may be made to Autism Services of Mecklenburg County, 2211 Executive St, Ste A, Charlotte, NC 28208 or First Wesleyan Church, 700 S Church St, Forest City, NC 28043. Croweʼs Mortuary is assisting the family. ARTHUR RHODES, SR. Arthur Rhodes, Sr., age 71, of Forest City, passed away May 11, 2018. Born July 27, 1946 in Rutherford County, he was a son of the late Dewy James Rhodes & Lallage McEntire Rhodes. He worked for Reeves Brothers/Trelleborg Inc. for years & for J.C. Cowan Industries. He was a member of Danieltown Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Joyce Ballard Rhodes; daughter, Rebecca Rhodes Millette & husband, Brian of Forest City; son, Arthur Lawrence Rhodes, Jr. & fiancé, Lynn Wright of Cliffside; brother, Kenneth Rhodes of Kent, Ohio; sister-in- law, Shirley Silver of Mooresboro. He is also survived by a grandson & his fiancé, of Forest City. The funeral service was con- ducted at Grace Missionary Methodist Church. Rev Danny Bumgarner officiated. Memorial donations are respectfully requested to Harrelson Funeral Home, 1251 U.S. Highway 221A, Forest City, NC 28043 to help defray funeral costs. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. MAXINE GREENE Maxine Greene, age 79, of Forest City, passed away May 14, 2018. Born April 22, 1939 in Spartanburg County, she was a daughter of the late Hollis Smith & Penola Blackwell Smith. Maxine was a graduate of Harris High School, class of 1956 & worked in the floral department of the Kroger Grocery Store in Memphis, Tennessee for 20 years. She also worked for Tanners Corp. Maxine was the designated cook & the bearer of the family recipes. She & her late husband enjoyed traveling the world together. Maxine was a member of Floyd's Creek Baptist Church & will always be known as a kind & compassionate Christian lady. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Wendell Ray Greene; son, Michael Greene; daughter, Lisa Huffstetler; brother, Wendell Smith; 2 half-sisters, Roberta Powell & Louise Williams & half- brother, David Smith. Those left to cherish her memory are 2 sons, Terry Greene & wife, Debra of Corona, California & Chris Greene of Forest City; brother, Cecil Smith & wife, Patsy of Chesnee & sister, Kate Brown of Bonneau, SC & a "sister of the heart", Beverly Henson Hicks of Forest City. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Susan Smith of Chesnee; 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren & a host of nieces & nephews. The funeral service was con- ducted at Floyd's Creek Baptist Church. Rev Travis Smith & Rev Robert Carnell officiated. Interment followed at Broad River Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial donations are respectfully requested to Floyd's Creek Baptist Church, 2004 Chase High Rd., Forest City, NC 28043. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. EUNICE HARRILL Mary Eunice Harrill, age 88 of, Forest City passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018. She was born December 17, 1929 in Rutherford County and was a daughter of the late John L. Martin and Lillie Vernon Weaver Martin. Eunice was a homemaker and a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved her flowers, vegetable garden- ing, sewing and crocheting. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe L. Harrill in 2011 and her son-in-law, Larry Bailey. Survivors include two sons, Ronnie Harrill and wife Gail of Forest City, Randy Harrill and wife Sandy of Rutherfordton, two daugh- ters, Rita Bailey, and Lynn Cole and husband Steve all of Forest City, brother, Charles Martin of Harris, NC, and sister, Inez Martin of Forest City. There are also nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Sandy Mush Baptist Church. Rev Carroll Page and Rev Stephen Matheny officiated. Interment fol- lowed in the Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Sandy Mush Baptist Church; 676 US Highway 221A, Forest City, NC 28043. The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements. DANNIE E. MCDANIEL Dannie E. McDaniel, age 66, of Shelby, passed away, May 10, 2018. Born July 21, 1951 in Rutherford County, he was a son of the late Robert Lee McDaniel & Ruby Ervin McDaniel. Dannie worked for Cone Mills for most of his life. He was an avid fisherman & also enjoyed bowling. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 30 years, Barbara Jones McDaniel & a second wife, Beatrice Adams McDaniel & a brother, Albert McDaniel. Those left to cherish his memory include 2 sisters, Martha "Polly" Piercy of Mooresboro & Mary Morgan of SC; 2 brothers, Rufus McDaniel & wife, Wanda of Cliffside & Robert McDaniel of Mooresboro; step-son, Doug Piercey & fiancé, Sandy Ledford of Shelby; step-grand- child, Lisandra Piercey & a spe- cial family friend, David Ayers & wife, Nok of Mooresboro. In honor of Dannie's life, a gathering of family & friends was conducted at Harrelson Funeral Home. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. WENDELL PAUL RADFORD JR. Wendell Paul Radford Jr., 56 passed away on April 27, 2018. Left to cherish his mem- ory is a son Chad Radford, a daughter Beth Keeter, 3 sisters Carol Radford, Sandra Radford & Angela Humphries, a brother Christopher Paul Radford & five grandchildren. No services will be held. Croweʼs Mortuary is assisting the family. ALFRED "FRED" WILLIS Alfred "Fred" Willis of Ellenboro, born January 14, 1966, age 52, passed away May 13, 2018. Alfred loved his job, he was a brick mason for over 30 years. He loved fishing, shooting guns, going four-wheeling, drinking Bud Light & talking with people. He was proceeded in death by his father & mother. Alfred Monroe Willis Sr. & Dorothy "Dot" Terry of Mooresboro, & one brother Lee Willis of Shelby. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Lisa Willis of Ellenboro, a brother Tim Willis of Shelby, & 3 sisters: Patsy Pack of Ellenboro, Frances Grooms, & Candy Willis both from Shelby. He had 6 children & 8 grandchildren, whom he loved dearly: 2 sons; Bobby Willis of Shelby, Matthew & Alisha Willis of Mooresboro. 4 daughters; Jessica & Shane Davis of Bostic, Melissa & Eric Toney of Bostic, Jennifer Allen of Soiux Falls, SD, Amanda & Micheal Hughes of Ellenboro. A receiving of friends and family was held at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Bostic. Eggers Funeral Home of Cliffside is served the Family. JOANN BRIGHT HODGE Joann Bright Hodge, age 80, of Ellenboro, passed away, May 19, 2018. Born October 15, 1937 in Rutherford County, she was a daughter of the late Charles Avery Bright & Donia Guffey Bright. Joann was a member of High Shoals Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Hodge Jr.; & 2 sons, Ricky Van Hodge & Tony Jeffery Hodge. Those left to cherish her memory include 1 son, Eddie Hodge & wife Betty; 1 daughter, Cathy Kiser & fiancé David Evans; & 1 brother, Charles Bright Jr., 7 grandchildren, & 4 great-grand- children. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. Rutherford Weekly offers the printing of obituaries in our paper as a community service and free of charge. The obituary may include a picture if the image is of print quality. We request that the obituary is limited to 150 words and we will edit the obituaries due to space. The obituary will include preceded family members, surviving family members, funeral service information, memorials, and the name of the funeral home serving the family. The obituaries will not include names of grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, or pets. We only accept obituaries from licensed funeral homes. Please have your funeral home send us your loved ones' obituaries to events@rutherfordweekly.com ©Community First Media Community First Media It is obvious, as a society, we cope with death and dy- ing differently than we did thirty or forty years ago. In the seventies and eighties, it was rare to fi nd someone who did not want any type of funeral service. Now the "no service" request is being made more often. The rise in cremation is another indicator that the body of the deceased is not as important as it used to be. So, why is our death culture changing? One of the major reasons for this cultural shift is our nation's shift away from Christian tra- ditions. People are shying away from religious based services, which would include a service with the body present, an earth burial and at minimum a memorial service. According to Pew Research Center, only thirty-six percent of young millennials are associated with any type of religious group and that number is shrinking each year. Those wanting a "non-religious" ser- vice is becoming more frequent. Another factor for the move in our death cul- ture is our changing attitude toward life and the living. As a secularized society we do not value life as we once did. A country that can murder al- most a million unborn babies per year and over sixty million babies since 1973 is a nation who has lost its belief in the sanctity of life. Experts say that the practice of euthanasia and mercy killing is right around the corner. Therefore, the end of a life can be overlooked by those who minimize living. It is sad, but there seems to be no turning the clock back when it comes to our changing death culture. The only hope is that a future generation will wake up one day and see the need to honor life and death once again. Until then, we must do all we can to hold to the tradition of making each life and each death count. We must determined- ly embrace the conviction that each of us are all the handywork of a wise Creator God (Psalms 139:14 – 16). Life and Death really does matter. LANNY FUNCHESS -FUNERAL DIRECTOR- Points To Ponder THE DEATH CULTURE "Quality Service with Compassionate Care" Harrelson Funeral & Cremation Services 1251 U.S. Hwy 221-A, Forest City, NC 828-657-6383 www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com Products and Services We Offer ~ Cemetery Monuments ~ Bronze Plaques ~ Granite Signs ~ Cremation Products ~ Pet Markers ~ Cleaning & Restoration 1113 POLKVILLE ROAD • SHELBY, NC R IVERHIL L MONUMENT CO. Monuments of Distinction 704-481-1198 www.riverhillmonuments.com Family Owned & Operated Since 1957

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