Obituaries

Brenda Gail Spicer

Brenda Gail Spicer

Mar 16, 2025

Mrs. Brenda Gail Spicer, age 79, of Elkin, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Novant Medical Center. Mrs. Spicer was born September 27, 1945, in Wilkes County to Conley and Virginia Parsons Milam.

Mrs. Spicer, a dedicated Bank teller at First Union and a devout member of Knobbs Baptist Church, was a woman of many passions. She found joy in...

Melissa Luffman Cheek

Melissa Luffman Cheek

Mar 16, 2025

Mrs. Melissa Luffman Cheek, age 61 of Thurmond, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. She was born in Wilkes County to John Donie and Virginia Mae Wood Luffman.

Melissa was a vibrant soul who worked for PVH in Jonesville. Her love for gardening, flowers, antiques, thrifting, crafting, and jewelry was infectious. She found joy in her...

James Curtis Rhodes

James Curtis Rhodes

Mar 15, 2025

James Curtis Rhodes, 68, of Elkin, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Novant Health in Winston-Salem. Curtis was born in Wilkes County on August 3, 1958, to Paul Eugene Rhodes and Alma Brown Rhodes.

He loved fishing, playing golf, and helping friends and neighbors with projects in his shed; he had many talents and shared them by helping others.

Curtis...

Carolyn Jones Poteat

Carolyn Jones Poteat

Mar 14, 2025

Carolyn Jones Poteat, age 73, of Ronda, passed away Friday, March 14, 2025, at Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson.

Carolyn was born December 22, 1951, in Surry County to Monty Alonzo and Lucy Jane Pierce Jones. She was a member of Maple Springs Baptist. Carolyn was a loving wife; she loved to cook, watch the birds, and work in her flowers...

Talmadge Wayne Tuttle

Talmadge Wayne Tuttle

Mar 11, 2025

Talmadge Wayne Tuttle, age 74, of Elkin passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at his residence.

Wayne, a man of the outdoors, was born September 29, 1950, in Stokes County to Talmadge and Virginia Fulk Tuttle. His love for golf, fishing, and deer hunting was only matched by his passion for gardening and grilling.

In addition to his parents Wayne was preceded...

Ida Louise West

Ida Louise West

Mar 11, 2025

Louise Parks West, age 101, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Rose Glen Manor in North Wilkesboro, NC. Born December 25, 1923, in Wilkes County, North Carolina, to Edward Eugene Parks and Pearl Byrd Parks, Louise led a life of hard work and attention to duty.

Along with her husband, Walter, she was a tobacco and chicken farmer and enjoyed...

Freddie Tara Vanhoy

Freddie Tara Vanhoy

Mar 7, 2025

Freddie Tara Vanhoy, age 70, of State Road, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025 at Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson.

Freddie was born January 23, 1955, in Surry County to Willie and Ruby Lyons Vanhoy. He was a member of State Road Pentecostal Holiness Church for over 40 years and retired from Duke Power after 34 years of service.

Freddie loved the...

William Edward Green

William Edward Green

Mar 5, 2025

William Edward Green, 92, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, March 5, 2025, at his home in the Clingman Community.

Edward was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather & great-grandfather and was loved by his family very much. He was self-employed as a farmer, merchant for approximately 30 years and owner of William E. Green Family Tours for approximately...

William "Bill" Baxter Rhyne

William "Bill" Baxter Rhyne

Mar 2, 2025

Mr. William “Bill” Baxter Rhyne, age 94, of Pinnacle, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. He was born on November 25, 1930, in Yadkin County to Glenn and Sarah Mae Martin Rhyne.

Mr. Rhyne enjoyed serving his community as a volunteer member of Elkin Rescue Squad for many years and was honored...

Angie Hawkins Call

Angie Hawkins Call

2025

Angie Hawkins Call, age 81 passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025 at her residence in Jonesville. Angie was born March, 20th, 1943 in Elkin to Soloman Ray and Charmie Combs Hawkins. 

 Angie worked as a housekeeper at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center for 20 years. Angie was a member of Ronda Baptist Tabernacle. 

 Angie was preceded in death by her parents, Soloman Ray...

Steve Blackburn

Steve Blackburn

Feb 27, 2025

Joel Steven Blackburn, age 83 of Elkin, passed away Thursday, February 27th, 2025.

Steve was a Godly man and a member of Elkin Valley Baptist Church. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed walking at the Elkin & Alleghany Rail Trail. Steve was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Steve is...

Gay Ross Faw

Gay Ross Faw

Feb 26, 2025

Gay Ross Faw, age 72, of Wilkesboro, passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Born on May 18, 1952, to Posey Alexander Ross and Reba Ross in Wilkes County, Gay lived a life filled with love, kindness, and devotion.

She was a dedicated secretary for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and took great pride in her work. Gay was known for...

Vernon Lewis O'Toole

Vernon Lewis O'Toole

Feb 24, 2025

Vernon Lewis O’Toole, age 77 passed away Monday February 24, 2025 at Hugh Chatham Health. Vernon was born October 25, 1947 in Logansport, Indiana to Russel Orville and Catherine Patricia Schillinger O’Toole. 

Vernon retired from The Tribune as advertising sales manager after 38 years of service. After his retirement he served as a funeral assistant at Elkin Funeral Service for 10...

Mary Ellyn Humiston

Mary Ellyn Humiston

Feb 24, 2025

Mrs. Mary Ellyn Palmer Humiston, age 64, passed away Monday, February 24, 2025 at her residence. Mary Ellyn was born September 17, 1960 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Wallace Franklin Palmer, Jr. and Carolyn Lavonia Butterfield Palmer.

Mrs. Humiston was a member of Elkin Presbyterian Church.

Mary Ellyn was a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in Physical Therapy, practicing...

Deona Kimmer Matthews

Deona Kimmer Matthews

Feb 21, 2025

Deona Kimmer Matthews, age 66 of Dobson passed away Friday, February 21, 2025 at Hugh Chatham Health in Elkin.

Deona was born July 6, 1958, in Honolulu, Hawaii to Donald M. and Wanda Hethcox Kimmer.

In addition to her parents Deona was preceded in death by her brother, Martin Lance Kimmer and her sister-in-law, Christine Kimmer.

Survivors include her son, Joshua Matthews and...

Michael Brian Sayles

Michael Brian Sayles

Feb 16, 2025

Mr. Michael Brian Sayles, a cherished son, brother, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 16, 2025, leaving a legacy of love, laughter, and artistry. Born on March 21, 1959, to Brian Sayles and Mary Rose, Michael's life was a tapestry of creative passion and heartfelt connections. Michael was an extraordinary artist whose talent knew no bounds. He...

Larry David Harting

Larry David Harting

Feb 15, 2025

Mr. Larry David Harting, age 75, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. Mr. Harting was born in Dayton, Washington, to Orvell and Juanita Estela Hubbs Harting.

Larry was a self-employed truck driver and a U.S. Army veteran. He enjoyed reality TV and was a homebody who enjoyed spending time with his friends and cat, Brat.

He was...

William Marion Golden

William Marion Golden

Feb 13, 2025

William Marion Golden, age 78, of State Road, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Atrium Health Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. He was born October 18, 1946, in Pell City, Alabama, to Orville and Grace Kershaw Golden. 

William was ordained as a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene and was Quartermaster of the Mark Garner VFW. He retired from the...

Jeffrey Clyde Brown

Jeffrey Clyde Brown

Feb 13, 2025

Jeffrey Clyde Brown, age 60, of Elkin, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Atrium Health Pineville in Charlotte. He was born August 7, 1964, in Wilkes County to Clyde Ira and Dorothy “Judy” Settle Brown. Jeff attended Community Fellowship Church and cherished his family, faith in Jesus, and love for Christian music, football, and fishing.

He was preceded in death...

Turk Bates

Turk Bates

Feb 11, 2025

Tommie Hilmi Akbas, known as “Turk Bates” age 67, of State Road passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at Cone Health-Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro.

Turk was born January 5, 1958 in Surry County to Kamil Akbas and Corina Bates Akbas. Turk loved oldies music and car shows. He also loved to race muscle cars at the drag strip and hanging...