Obituaries

Recent obituaries in North Carolina


The obituaries in the North Carolina Area reflect the region's diverse population, featuring individuals from a variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Some were pioneers in their fields, while others dedicated their lives to community service or philanthropy. Their stories serve as a reminder of the richness and complexity North Carolina's history and identity.

Jerald "Jerry" Swanger, Sr.

Jerald "Jerry" Swanger, Sr.

Jan 26, 2022

Jefferson City, Tennessee, Jerald David Swanger, Sr., age 83, passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Jefferson City Health and Rehabilitation Center.

A native of Haywood County, he was a son of the late John Edward and Ocie Trantham Swanger.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Dale Lewis Swanger,...

Marilyn Barker Jones

Marilyn Barker Jones

Jan 26, 2022

Canton – Marilyn Barker Jones, 86, passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at her residence.

Marilyn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and had lived in Cruso since 1976.   She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Marie Folmer Weil, husband, William Ashleigh Barker, Sr., and one grandson, Barker Bostian.  Marilyn was a member of St....

Wanda Kilby

Wanda Kilby

Jan 25, 2022

Candler – Wanda Sue Roberts Kilby, 79, passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Pisgah Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center.

Wanda was a native of Haywood County and a daughter of the late John and Gladys Medford Roberts.  “Her children rise up and call her blessed.  Her husband also praises her.”  She was filled with joy...

Earl Allison

Earl Allison

Jan 24, 2022

Earl Howard Allison, 82, of Candler passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 at his residence. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Edith Hudgins Allison; a son-in-law; sister, Elizabeth “Lib” Cook and three brothers, Howard Allison, Bobby Allison & Billy Allison

Earl was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County and was employed as...

Thomasine Miller

Thomasine Miller

Jan 24, 2022

Thomasine Watts Miller, 90, passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center (JF Keever).

Thomasine was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Aulton B. and Arletha Sutton Watts.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Lee Miller, who...

Jessie Ledford

Jessie Ledford

Jan 24, 2022

Canton – Jessie Sharp Ledford, 79, passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Jessie was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Wesley and Edna Garnes Sharp; In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Bertha Sharp Blaylock and husband,...

Ruth Moore

Ruth Moore

Jan 24, 2022

Clyde – Ruth Marie Jones Moore, 89, passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Ruth was a native of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Chancy and Flora Jane Wines Jones.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Moore, who died in 1998;...

Doris Kerley

Doris Kerley

Jan 24, 2022

Canton, Doris Kathryn Nichols Kerley, age 91, passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022, at Autumn Care.

A native of Haywood County, she was a daughter of the late Clayton and Elsie Moore Nichols.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester H. Reece and Harry Kerley; sons, Eddie and Wayne...

Nancy Schwark

Nancy Schwark

Jan 23, 2022

Clyde, Nancy Jo Dowless Schwark, age 77, passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at Asheville Specialty Hospital.

Born in July, 1944 at the Carlisle Barracks Army Hospital in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Nancy Rebok Dowless.  Nancy traveled around the world as an Army daughter.  She attended Southwest Texas State...

Marion Choate

Marion Choate

Jan 22, 2022

Waynesville, Marion Ellis Howell Choate, 92, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022.

A native of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Grady and Winnie Kinsland Howell. Along with her parents, Marion is preceded in death by her son, William “Hamp”ton Choate, Jr. and two brothers, Vinson Howell and Gene Howell. Bige with her...

Readie Donaldson

Readie Donaldson

Jan 22, 2022

Clyde – Readie Crane Donaldson, 89, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Haywood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Readie was a native of Georgia and a daughter of the late Pete and Mae Smith Crane.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Horace Donaldson, who died in 1991; two...

Sheila Hall

Sheila Hall

Jan 21, 2022

Asheville – Sheila Langford Hall, 89, passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022 of natural causes.

Sheila was a native of Buncombe County and a daughter of the late Harold Langford and Ann McClellan.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Hammond Hall, Sr., who died in 2013; one son,...

Ellen Kilgannon

Ellen Kilgannon

Jan 20, 2022

Bryson City, Ellen Kilgannon, age 61, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at a friend’s home, surrounded by love, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

A native of New Jersey and a Swain County resident since 1988, she was a daughter of the late William and Lorraine Rey Kilgannon.  In addition to her parents, she...

Lee Payne

Lee Payne

Jan 18, 2022

Spring Creek, Curnal Lee Payne, age 70, passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Mission Memorial Campus.

Lee was a lifelong resident of Spring Creek and was a son of the late Isaac and Georgia Greene Payne.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Jaxson Gage Watford; three brothers, James...

Joanne Wooten

Joanne Wooten

Jan 18, 2022

"Mama Jo"

Joanne Rivenbark Wooten, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Haywood Regional Medical Center following a prolonged illness.

As a Navy dependent, Joanne moved frequently early in her life, with most of her youth being spent in Wilmington, North Carolina.  She was the daughter of the late Walter and Hazel...

Joel Dotson

Joel Dotson

Jan 17, 2022

Candler / Blaine, TN – Joel Debord Dotson, 69, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Affectionately known as Jolene to her family, she was a native of Buncombe County but had moved to Tennessee to reside with her son a few months ago.  She was a daughter...

Lillian Metcalf

Lillian Metcalf

Jan 17, 2022

Waynesville, Lillian Wheeler Metcalf, 86, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022.

A native of Madison County, she was a daughter of the late Thara and Vaughtie Allen Wheeler. Lillian was the wife of the late Paul Metcalf, who died in 2012. She is also preceded in death by her sister, Inice W. Smathers and two brothers,...

Dixie Kidwell

Dixie Kidwell

Jan 16, 2022

Dixie Lee Kidwell

Canton – Dixie Lee Kidwell, 69, passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at Mission Memorial Campus.

Dixie was a native of Ohio and a daughter of the late John Leland and Joan Alcorn Kidwell.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Mike, and...

Bruce Briggs

Bruce Briggs

Jan 16, 2022

Waynesville, Bruce Arthur Briggs, 95, passed away on January 16, 2022, in Waynesville, North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy McCracken Briggs, his son, Brian Briggs of Waynesville and daughter, Susan Briggs Parris and her husband, Stan Parris of Boones Mill, Virginia. In addition, he is survived by his beloved grandsons, Bradley Briggs, Briggs Parris...

Sharon "Sherry" Servio

Sharon "Sherry" Servio

Jan 14, 2022

Sherry Servio, 72, slipped peacefully away to be with her Lord at the Four Seasons Hospice Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, North Carolina, of ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease, one year after her diagnosis on January 14, 2022. Sherry was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, January 24, 1949.

Sherry was preceded in death by her father, Eugene Emil Servio (Gene), on...

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