Obituaries

Dec 14, 2020

Maj. Kenneth E. Metzger, USAF (Ret.), 85, of Jonesville, died Monday, December 14, 2020 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home from complications of Alzheimer's.  Ken was born November 3, 1935 in Long Beach, CA to Strother W. Metzger and Kate Flowers Metzger.

Ken was born into a career Navy family and, during his childhood, lived in...

Dec 9, 2020

Mr. Lee Roy “Bud” Combs, age 92, of Elkin passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mr. Combs was born November 7, 1928 in Surry County to Earlie and Eva Burcham Combs.

Mr. Combs was the oldest member of Friendship Baptist Church where he was the longest serving deacon. He also served as church...

Dec 9, 2020

Mrs. Anne Pardue Harpe, age 74, of Ronda passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mrs. Harpe was born May 13, 1946 in Wilkes County to Major and Pauline Smith Pardue.

Mrs. Harpe was a member of Bethel Baptist Church of Ronda and retired legal secretary for attorneys Richard Randleman and...

Dec 7, 2020

Mrs. Carol Walls Thompson, age 83, formerly of Ronda passed away Monday, December 7, 2020 at her home in Fayetteville. Mrs. Thompson was born June 9, 1937 in Wilkes County to Ossie and Ruth Sale Walls.

Mrs. Thompson was a member of Maple Springs United Methodist Church and The Red Hat Society. She retired from Wilkes County...

Dec 4, 2020

Mr. Jimmy Ray Wilhelm, age 85, of State Road passed away Friday, December 4, 2020 at Pruitt Health of Elkin. Mr. Wilhelm was born November 19, 1935 in Yadkin County to William Edward and Olivia White Wilhelm.

Mr. Wilhelm was a member of Island Ford Baptist Church and retired from Chatham Manufacturing.

To our family,...

Dec 2, 2020

Ms. Judy Alice Hall, age 54, of Lenoir passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Caldwell Memorial Hospital. She was born March 6, 1966 in Wilkes County. Ms. Hall was the daughter of the late Bob Hall and Judy Billings.

Ms. Hall was a member of Welcome Home Baptist Church and house manager with Com-Serv, serving the...

Nov 30, 2020

Mrs. Walsie Cockerham Johnson Tharpe, age 91, of Traphill passed away Monday, November 30, 2020 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Tharpe was born November 7, 1929 in Wilkes County to Martin and Margaret Phipps Cockerham.

Mrs. Tharpe was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and a past member of Little Stone Mountain Baptist Church. She retired...

Nov 24, 2020

Mrs. Dorothy Martin Simmons, age 85, of State Road passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Chatham Nursing and Rehabilitation. Mrs. Simmons was born February 16, 1935 in Wilkes County to Hubert and Sarah Jane Luffman Martin.

Mrs. Simmons was a member of Mountain Park Baptist Church and retired from the Elkin Public Library. She was a...

Nov 23, 2020

Mr. David Meredith Steele, Sr., age 82, of State Road passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 at Pruitt Health of Elkin. Mr. Steele was born August 15, 1938 in Surry County to Kenny and Alma Cockerham Steele.

Mr. Steele was a member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church and retired from Chatham Manufacturing. He was a loving husband,...

Nov 22, 2020

Mrs. Dorothy Marie Pepper, age 80, of Ronda passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020 at her home. Mrs. Pepper was born June 21, 1940 in Avery County to Arbie and Dollie Clark Carpenter.

Mrs. Pepper graduated from Crossnore High School and was a homemaker. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

In addition to...

Nov 20, 2020

Mr. Yoyo Ray Warren, age 66, of Thurmond passed away Friday, November 20, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Mr. Warren was born August 9, 1954 in Surry County to Buell and Agnes Ingool Warren.

Mr. Warren attended Roaring River Methodist Church and was retired from Phillips Van Heusen in Jonesville.

Yoyo was preceded...

Nov 17, 2020

Mr. Willie Lee Carter, age 86, of State Road passed away Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mr. Carter was born October 14, 1934 in Surry County to Watson M. and Stella Carter.

Mr. Carter attended Fall Creek Baptist Church where he sang in the choir. He retired from Chatham Manufacturing; and was an avid...

Nov 17, 2020

Mr. Johnny Wade Foster, Jr., age 48, of Ronda passed away Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mr. Foster was born July 20, 1972 in Wilkes County to Johnny W. and Margie Waddell Foster, Sr.

Mr. Foster was a member of Ronda Church of God.

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

Nov 16, 2020

Mrs. Louella Modeal McCann Johnson, age 79, of Roaring River passed away Monday, November 16, 2020 at her home. Mrs. Johnson was born May 7, 1940 in Indiana to Albert Johnson and Julia Thompson McCann.

Mrs. Johnson was an active member of White Rock United Methodist Church where she served as church treasurer for many years. She...

Nov 16, 2020

Mr. Joseph “Jody” Bratton Simpson III, age 59, of Elkin passed away Monday, November 16, 2020 at his home. Mr. Simpson was born February 16, 1961 in Surry County to Joseph Bratton and Frances Abercrombie Simpson, Jr.

Mr. Simpson was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include: his wife Amy Joe Hardy-Simpson of the...

Nov 15, 2020

Mr. Tommy Ray Welborn, age 75, of Ronda passed away Sunday, November 15, 2020 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mr. Welborn was born August 18, 1945 in Surry County to Otis and Alma Mae Blevins Welborn.

Mr. Welborn was a veteran of the United States Army National Guard and member of Dennyville Baptist Church, where...

Nov 13, 2020

For God so loved the world, the he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but may have everlasting life. John 3:16

Mrs. Mary Lee Pruitt Wagoner, age 92, passed away Friday, November 13, 2020 at The Oaks at Forsyth in Winston-Salem. Mrs. Wagoner was born February 10, 1928 in Surry...

Nov 11, 2020

Mr. Gregor Henry Schmidt, age 80, of Elkin passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mr. Schmidt was born November 19, 1939 in Brooklyn, NY to Henry Gregor and Muriel Elizabeth Van Vorst Schmidt.

Mr. Schmidt was a United States Marine Corp. veteran, serving during the Korean War era. He retired...

Nov 9, 2020

Mr. Alan Randolf Steele, age 61, of State Road passed away Monday, November 9, 2020 at Columbus Regional Healthcare System. Mr. Steele was born May 20, 1959 in Surry County to David and Texie Cheek Steele.

Mr. Steele was a United States Navy veteran.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by sons, Eric...

Nov 9, 2020

On November 9, 2020, Annette (Wendi) Clay became one of God’s angels.  Her passing was caused by COVID-19.  Annette was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 26, 1958 to Gary and Louise Honeycutt.  She spent her early childhood in Raleigh and the remainder of her life in eastern North Carolina.  She spent most of her career with the...