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HENRY BELL JOHNSON
Henry Bell Johnson, 78, of Siler City died Sunday (02-07-2010) at Siler City Care & Rehabilitation.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday (02-11-2010) at Evans Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church with Rev. Kenneth Swann officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. Johnson was a native of Chatham County, a WW II veteran, a retired employee of ParGas Company and Hickory Mountain Farms.
Survivors include his wife, Billie Margaret Johnson; daughters, Patricia J. Glover, Trina Wiley, both of Siler City; sons, Henry Vann Johnson of Chapel Hill, Robie Johnson of Siler City, Clifford Johnson of Thomasville; sisters, Dorothy Crutchfield, Yvonne Johnson, Barbara Green, all of Siler City, Carolyn Stroud of Johnsonville, Helen Alston of High Point; brothers, Grady Johnson of Graham, Joe Daniel Johnson of Snow Camp, Leon Johnson of Siler City, Cedell Johnson of Pittsboro, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The family received visitors at the home of Robie Johnson, 520 Old Plank Road, Siler City.
Farrar Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
EDNA LILLIAN WETZEL GESSNER
Mrs. Edna Lillian Wetzel Gessner, 93, went to be with her Lord and Saviour on February 6, 2010 from her home on Woolly Worm Dr. in Pittsboro.
A native of Montgomery, PA, Mrs. Gessner was born to Joseph Albert Adam Wetzel and Anna Balsam Wetzel on February 28, 1916. She retired from Whitner’s Department Store in Reading, PA where she was a clerk in the Silver department. She was a member of the Siler City Gospel Hall.
Mrs. Gessner is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Jo Dickens Gessner of Pittsboro; a sister, Dorothy W. Strouss of Livonia, MI; grandchildren, Matt Gessner and wife Rebekah, Becky Hill and husband Nathan; and four great-grandchildren, Katherine and Madeline Gessner, Madison and Reagan Hill.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Elwood Gessner and a great-granddaughter, Jennifer Gessner.
The service to celebrate Mrs. Gessner’s life was conducted by Pastor Charles Carter and Pastor Ron Randolph at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, Griffin Chapel, in Pittsboro. Interment followed in Chatham Memorial Park in Siler City. Friends visited with the family from 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Hickory Cove Bible Camp, 170 Ferguson Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681.
Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne funeral service, Griffin Chapel, of Pittsboro.
CHRISTY BOWLES DOWD
Christy Bowles Dowd, 55, of 1781 Alston Bridge Road, Siler City died Saturday, February 6, 2010 at her residence.
Mrs. Dowd was born September 20, 1954, the daughter of Ronald E. and Elizabeth Shorter Bowles, Jr.
Mrs. Dowd was a native of Prince Edward County, VA but had lived most of her life in Chatham County. She was a member of the Farmville Presbyterian Church. She was a graduate of Prince Edward Academy and Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA. She had been employed for 30 years as an Exceptional Children's Education Teacher of Chatham County, where she served as departmental chair person. Christy was awarded the teacher of excellence award in 2005.
She is survived by her husband, Clyde "Buddy" A. Dowd, Jr.; two sons, Phillip Dowd of the home, Ryan Dowd of Raleigh; parents, Ronald and Elizabeth Bowles of Farmville, VA; two brothers, Phillip C. Bowles of Hanover, VA, David L. Bowles and wife, Lori of Carpenteria, CA; father-in-law, Clyde A. Dowd, Sr. and wife, Margaret of Siler City; nephew, Dalton L. Bowles; two nieces, Jessica and Caitlynn Bowles; and one great-nephew, Brayden.
The family received friends Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, 230 North Second Avenue, Siler City. The funeral was held Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Rives Chapel Baptist Church, 4338 Rives Chapel Church Road, Siler City with Rev. J. R. Bouldin and John Phillips officiating.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
A special memorial fund will be set up for exceptional children in memory of Christy Dowd for Chatham County Schools, c/o Diane Campbell, 1982 Epps Clark Road, Siler City, NC 27344
TIMOTHY “TIM” BRUCE MORGAN
Timothy “Tim” Bruce Morgan, 57, died of liver failure at his home in Pittsboro on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, surrounded by his partner, Samantha Birchard; his former wife and enduring friend, Katie Haywood; his longtime buddy, Don Basnight; and his dog, Tasha.
Born on July 23, 1952, in Atlantic City, NJ, Tim was the adopted son of the late Fred Bruce and Ruth McNamee Morgan. Much of his youth was spent with his family in Amherst, MA, where his father worked as a professor of religion at Amherst College. Tim received his secondary education at Williston Academy, and while there he befriended and studied with renowned illustrator and wood-block engraver Barry Moser. He went on to graduate from Harvard University in 1975 with an A.B. degree in English. Tim was an avid and accomplished squash player and played in Harvard’s varsity league.
Following graduation, Tim moved to Ossabaw Island off the coast of Savannah, GA, which at the time was privately owned and home of the Ossabaw Island Project, a program designed to provide a creative retreat for artists and academics. There he worked as a boat operator and general jack-of-all-trades. Following sale of the island to the state of Georgia in the late 1970s, Tim moved to Aiken, SC, where he began his own house-painting business.
In 1988, Tim moved to Chapel Hill to be with his future wife, whom he had met in her hometown of Aiken. Tim and Katie were married in Pittsboro in 1995 and moved to Hillsborough in 1997. Following their divorce in 2004, Tim returned to Pittsboro, where in 2009 he met Samantha, with whom he resided until his death.
Tim enjoyed the creativity involved in carpentry and home restoration, taking pleasure in making things beautiful, which he did brilliantly in his capacity as sole proprietor of Morgan Restoration. His work is marked by fine craftsmanship, imagination, and a distinctive flair for the whimsical.
Tim’s other interests included flying (he received his pilot’s license in 2001), driving his Alfa Romeo convertible, and taking long walks along the shores of Jordan Lake with his long-abiding companion and perhaps his greatest love, his dog, Tasha.
Other survivors include his sisters, Rebecca Morgan of Plymouth, MA, and Jill Morgan Marshall of White Hill, Nova Scotia.
Arrangements are by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas. A memorial service is being planned for early spring.
TREVA MAE JEFFRIES
Treva Mae Jeffries of Siler City died Wednesday, (01-27-2010) at the Chatham Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Farrar Funeral Home.
ESTHER MELVIN SMITH BLEDSOE
Esther Melvin Smith Bledsoe of Ramseur, died Friday, (01-29-2010) at her home.
Memorial services are pending.
Survivors include daughters, Donna Gibson of Ramseur, M. Carol Garner of Bennett; sons, Darrell Smith of Greensboro, Danny Smith of Bear Creek, Rodney Smith of Bennett; siblings, Mary Pierce, Betty Brown, Joe Melvin all of Greensboro; 17 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to UNC Hospice, P O Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
ED BERRY
Mr. Edgar F. “Ed” Berry, 77, of Fearrington Village died Saturday (12-19-09).
The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, (02-06-2010) at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill.
Direct memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne funeral service & Cremation, Griffin Chapel.
BARBARA COOPER FESEL
Mrs. Barbara Cooper Fesel, 63, of Durham died Wednesday, (01-27-2010) at Duke University Hospital.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, (02-04-2010) at Salisbury National Cemetery with Rev. Bob Wachs presiding.
A native of West Chester, PA, born April 26, 1946 to Marshall Myron Cooper and Geneva Postles Cooper. She was a retired realtor, and had served as property manager of Walnut Grove and Sheffield Manor complexes. She was also a volunteer for the Rape Crisis Center in Pittsboro.
Survivors include her daughters, Jennifer Fox of Pittsboro, Cindy Love of Durham; step-sons, Roy Fesel of Pittsboro, Robert Fesel of New Jersey; step-daughters, Robin Luker of Siler City, Ruth Cotten of Pittsboro and Renee Fesel of PA; and several grandchildren.
Friends visited with the family on Wednesday from 6 – 8 pm at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, Griffin Chapel in Pittsboro.
MILLARD CLYDE MARTINDALE
Millard Clyde Martindale, 90, of Siler City died Saturday, (01-30-2010) at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro.
The funeral will be Thursday, (02-04-2010) at 2 p.m. at Rives Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. J. R. Bouldin and Rev. Luther Lemons officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. Martindale was born August 7, 1919, the son of Jessie and Maude Ridgen Martindale. He was a native of Chatham County, a retired superintendent with Seaboard Coastline Railroad in Richmond, Virginia and a Navy veteran of WW II. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby R. Martindale, a son, Bobby J. Martindale, and a granddaughter, Nikki Martindale.
Survivors include sons, Gary Martindale of Richmond, VA, Richard Martindale of Siler City; daughter, Vivian M. Barker of Ruthers Glenn, VA; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
The family received friends Wednesday, (02-03-2010) from 4-6 p.m. at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home.
MALIA NAYSA BROWN
Infant Malia Naysa Brown of Siler City died Friday (01-22-2010) at Women’s Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday (02-06-2010) at Jordan Grove AME Zion Church with Rev. Gloria Moore officiating.
Surviving is the mother, Lakeisha Monique Brown; father, Bobby Brown; sister, McKenzie Shade Brown; and maternal grandparents, Rudy Johnson and Sylvia Johnson.
The family will be receiving visitors at 852 Brower Road in Siler City.
VIRGINIA MAE WRENN CROSS
Virginia Mae Wrenn Cross died Wednesday, January 27, 2010 in Siler City after an extended illness. She was born February 7, 1921, to Mary Irene Loflin and Forrest James Wrenn, Sr. A native of Southmont in Davidson County, Mrs. Cross was an educator who completed a 52-year career as a third grade school teacher in Chatham County Schools.
After graduating from Meredith College in 1941, she began her career at Moncure School, where she lived in the teacherage. In 1943 she moved to Paul Braxton Elementary School, and in 1977, she continued at Siler City Elementary School until her retirement in June, 1993. Even in retirement, she continued to serve as a reading volunteer.
In 2007 the Chatham County Board of Education paid tribute to her dedicated service and the esteem with which she was held in the community by naming Siler City's new elementary school the Virginia Cross School.
Mrs. Cross was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa teaching sorority. For decades she served as secretary for the primary and junior departments in the Sunday School of First Baptist Church where she was a member.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, F. J. Wrenn, Jr., Charles A. Wrenn, and her husband, William I. G. Cross. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Barbara Wrenn of Wilmington; nephews, F. J. Wrenn, III of Graham, William Thomas Wrenn and wife, Martha of Dunn; and niece, Nancy Wrenn Smith and husband, Rick of Wilmington.
The funeral was held at First Baptist Church, 314 North Second Avenue, Siler City, on Wednesday, February 3, at 11 a.m., led by Pastor Tony Capehart. The family received friends immediately following that service.
There was a public viewing at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home on Sunday, January 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church.
