Obituaries

Aug 25, 2022

Mr. Randy Dean Harris, age 64, of Elkin passed away at his home unexpectedly Thursday, August 25, 2022. He was born October 1, 1957 in Surry County to Grady Harris and Florence Cathaline Cheek Harris.

He attended Community Fellowship Church, and was previously employed with Lydall in Hamptonville. He was a veteran of the US Army.

Aug 21, 2022

Nancy Ann Carter Knighton, a resident of Melbourne, FL passed away at the age of 82 on Sunday, August 21, 2022 at Hibiscus Court, Melbourne, FL.  Nancy was born on July 23, 1940 to Bryan and Tessie Carter in Wilkes County, NC.  She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 12 and was a...

Aug 17, 2022

Mrs. Kathleen Darnell Collins, age 86, of Elkin passed away Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Collins was born August 6, 1936 in Surry County to Paul Darnell and Lexie Carter Darnell.

Mrs. Collins was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where she worked with the children’s ministry for many years, served...

Aug 15, 2022

Mrs. Joan Lyles Sexton, age 75, of Thurmond passed away Monday, August 15, 2022 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mrs. Sexton was born January 15, 1947 in Surry County to Charlie Lyles and Virgie Mae Isaacs Lyles.

Mrs. Sexton attended Charity Hill Baptist Church and sang in the Charity Hill Gospel Quartet for many years....

Aug 14, 2022

Mr. Charles Thomas “Tommy” Wheeler III, age 73 of Elkin, passed away Sunday, August 14, 2022 at his home following a long illness. Tommy was born August 6, 1949 in Wake County to Charles Thomas Wheeler, Jr. and Sarah Marie Holt Wheeler.

Tommy was a member of Elkin Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and...

Aug 14, 2022

Mr. Richard Jacob Bowen, age 42, of State Road unexpectedly passed away Sunday, August 14, 2022 at his home. Jacob was born August 24, 1979 in Forsyth County to Stephen Edward Bowen and Diane Robertson Bowen.

Jacob was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, graduate of Appalachian State University with a Psychology degree, and a social...

Aug 11, 2022

Mrs. Jane Drum Swaim, age 73, of Ronda passed away Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Clemmons Village One. Mrs. Swaim was born June 8, 1949 in Wilkes County to JC and Pearl Combs Drum.

Mrs. Swaim was a member of First Light Church and retired from Yadkin County Schools.

In addition to her parents, she...

Aug 8, 2022

Mr. John Daniel “J.D.” Billings, age 73, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 8, 2022 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Mr. Billings was born July 28, 1949 in Wilkes County to Ralph and Lura Absher Billings.

Mr. Billings was a dedicated christian and member of Maple Springs Baptist Church of Ronda. He retired from Lowes Distribution...

Aug 7, 2022

Mrs. Maxine Tompkins Carter, age 69, of Elkin passed away Sunday, August 7, 2022 at SECU Hospice Center in Yadkinville. Mrs. Carter was born August 21, 1952 in Alleghany County to Porter and Thelma Carrico Thompkins.

Mrs. Carter retired from Coca-Cola. She was a loving mother, sister, and grandmother.

In addition to her parents, she...

Aug 6, 2022

Mrs. Alma Marlene Blackburn Norman, age 90, passed away Saturday, August 6, 2022 at her home. Mrs. Norman was born on July 21, 1932 in Wilkes County to Lee and Beulah Wood Blackburn.

Mrs. Norman was a member of Shoaly Branch Baptist Church and retired from Pleasant Ridge Child Development Center. She enjoyed gardening, canning and spending...

Aug 6, 2022

Mr. Nathaniel Columbus Luffman, age 94, passed away Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. Mr. Luffman was born June 15, 1928 in Wilkes County to Noah and Rosey Luffman

Mr. Luffman was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and retired from Chatham Manufacturing with 48 years of service. He...

Aug 4, 2022

Mrs. Martha Jean Pearson Martin, age 80, of Ronda passed away Thursday, August 4, 2022 at her home. Mrs. Martin was born March 7, 1942 in Wilkes County to Joseph Lawrence Pearson and Gladys Elizabeth Fortner Pearson.

Mrs. Martin was a member of Fall Creek Baptist Church, graduate of Elkin High School Class of 1960, and Cabarrus...

Aug 4, 2022

Mr. Ignatious Rufus Niemic, age 75, passed away Thursday, August 5, 2022 at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mr. Niemiec was born December 29, 1946 in Philadelphia, PA to Rudolph Niemiec and Nannie Dodson Niemic.

Mr. Niemiec was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and retired with 44 years of service from Chatham Manufacturing,...

Aug 3, 2022

Mr. William “Bill” Kent Hooper, age 82, of Ronda passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Mr. Hooper was born January 9, 1940 in Surry County to Rev. Cecil M. Hooper and Lucille Murphy Hooper.

Bill was a member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Sunday school teacher, and choir member. He retired...

Aug 2, 2022

Ms. Deborah “Debbie” Lynne Holloway, age 64, passed from this life on August 2 at her parents’ home in Elkin after a courageous battle with cancer. Debbie was born October 2, 1957, in Chapel Hill to James Howard Holloway and Gayle Jolly Holloway.

Debbie was a member of First Baptist Church of Elkin and a 1975 graduate...

Jul 29, 2022

Mrs. Oleen Norman Tharpe, age 102, passed away Friday, July 29, 2022 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.  Mrs. Tharpe was born July 6, 1920 in Surry County to Foley M. Norman and Jessie Alexander Norman. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Ronda. Mrs. Tharpe graduated from The Women’s College at UNC (now UNC-G) with a degree...

Jul 28, 2022

Mrs. Lois June Luffman Hayes, age 86, passed away July 28, 2022 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mrs. Hayes was born February 6, 1936 in Surry County to Austin Edward Luffman and Thelma Elizabeth Mooney Luffman.

Mrs. Hayes was of the Baptist faith and was a retired seamstress at Industry For The Blind.

...

Jul 27, 2022

Juanita Curry McNew died Wednesday, July 27, 2022. She was 70 years old.

Juanita was born February 9, 1952, and lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina, with her father and mother, George and Thelma Curry of Roaring River, and her brothers Gil, Bryant, and Dwight Curry and sisters Elaine and Lydia Curry. She attended Berea College and...

Jul 25, 2022

Mr. Lester Sherman Billings, age 69, of Jonesville passed away Monday, July 25, 2022 at his home. Mr. Billings was born August 30, 1952 in Wilkes County to Sherman Billings and Sarah “Sally” Smoot Billings.

Mr. Billings was of the Baptist Faith and retired from Chatham Manufacturing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded...

Jul 20, 2022

Mr. William Lester Billings, age 84, of Traphill passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at his home. Mr. Billings was born August 20, 1937 in Wilkes County to William McCoy Billings and Foye Estelle Bray Billings.

Mr. Billings was a member of Billings Hill Baptist Church and a lifelong automotive dealer.

In addition to his...