Obituaries

May 22, 2019

Virginia Shephard age 68 of West Jefferson died Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Shephard was born in Whitetop, VA on Wednesday, January 31, 1951 to Christina and the late Clinton Blevins. In addition to her father she was preceded in death by her husband, Archie Shephard Jr. She enjoyed going to church and was a...

May 18, 2019

Mildred Maxine Severt Miller, age 80 of Sneads Ferry, formerly of Jefferson, died Saturday, May 18, 2019 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.  Mrs. Miller was born October 10, 1938 to the late Clarence and Maude Jenkins Severt.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband, Russell Conard Miller Sr., brother,...

May 18, 2019

Timothy John Rutherford, age 52 of Grassy Creek passed away Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem. Mr. Rutherford was born March 18, 1967 in Ashe County to William Fred and Wanda Jane Testerman Rutherford. He was a kind and generous person and would do anything for anyone. He enjoyed working in plants, his animals,...

May 17, 2019

Robert John Koebernik better known as Bob age 63 of Lansing passed away on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. He was born on Tuesday, February 14, 1956 in Key West, FL to William F. and Helen Smith Koebernik. Mr. Koebernik was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Smith Davis, brother, Billy Koebernik, and sister, Amy...

May 16, 2019

Ivan Ray Smith, age 76 of Warrensville died Thursday, May 16, 2019 at Margate Health and Rehab. Mr. Smith was born April 28, 1943 in Avery County to the late Kermit and Lola Frost Smith.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his brother, Tony Smith.

Ivan was a very likable and...

May 13, 2019

Jesse Dean Miller, better known as J.D., age 68 of Crumpler, North Carolina died Monday morning, May 13, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital.  Mr. Miller was born on Monday, May 15, 1950 in Ashe County to the late Luther and Viola Howell Miller.  Jesse was known as a hard worker and loved being outdoors.  He also enjoyed hunting, working...

May 3, 2019

Denver Reece Greer age 77 of Lansing died Friday, May 3, 2019 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mr. Greer was born in Lansing on Wednesday, April 1, 1942 to the late Roosevelt and Mary Edith Graybeal Greer. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Ray Greer.

Funeral services will be held on...

Apr 25, 2019

Richard Dean Johnson, age 70 of Laurel Springs, died Thursday, April 25, 2019 at his home.  Mr. Johnson was born Thursday, May 13, 1948 in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Thomas William and Nelia Evon Miller Johnson.  Richard served his country in the United States Army.  Richard loved his wife and family greatly.  He enjoyed taking trips...

Apr 24, 2019

Fred William McClure, better known as Red Eye, age 67 of Lansing, died Wednesday, April 24, 2019.  He was born July 29, 1951 in Marion, VA to the late Howard and Georgia Ashley McClure. “Red Eye” loved to ride horses and collect items at auctions.  He was a friend to anyone he met.

Funeral services will be...

Apr 21, 2019

Tommy Author "Bubba" Stanley, age 61 of Creston passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2019 at his home. Mr. Stanley was born on February 11, 1958 in Ashe County to Robert and Virginia Queen Osborne Stanley. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Jamie Stanley; uncles, R.H. Stanley, Charlie "Shade" Stanley, Larry Osborne and J.C....

Apr 20, 2019

Jessie Earl Cockerham, 99, of the Smethport community, went home to be with her Lord early on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at Ashe Memorial Hospital, following a brief illness.

Ms. Cockerham was born on May 6, 1919, at the family farm in what is locally known as “Cockerham Holler,” on Elliott Road in Smethport, to Claud Oliver...

Apr 12, 2019

Donald Franklin Graham age 57 of Chilhowie, VA formerly of Ashe County, died Friday, April 12, 2019. Mr. Graham was born in Jersey City, NJ on January 28, 1962 to the late Kenneth and Ellen Shumate Graham. He was preceded in death by his father and son, Alex Graham. He retired from the postal service as a mail carrier....

Apr 12, 2019

Matthew Michael Alouisa, age 77 of Laurel Springs, died Friday morning, April 12, 2019 at his home.  Mr. Alouisa was born Tuesday, January 20, 1942 in Manhattan, New York to the late Anthony and Margaret Vitello Alouisa.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his brother, Michael Alouisa.  Mr. Alouisa had a passion for ...

Apr 11, 2019

Orville Dean Marsh age 81 of Crumpler died Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Watauga Medical Center. Mr. Marsh was born in Ashe County to the late Edwin Johnson and Lora May Jones Marsh. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Corine Bare and Kay Henderson.  Orville joined the US Army in 1958 and...

Apr 11, 2019

Robert Paul Brackins better known as Bob, age 65 of Warrensville, died Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital.  Mr. Brackins was born Friday, December 4, 1953 in Harford, Maryland to William Carron "Bill" and Charlotte Ruth Comer Brackins.  Mr. Brackins is preceded in death by his mother and one brother, Bill Brackins.  Bob worked at JR's convenience...

Apr 10, 2019

Ms. Elsie F. Townsend, age 87 of Chilhowie, VA passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion, VA. Ms. Townsend was born on December 25, 1931 in Rhoderfield, West Virginia to Hardie Carlton and Lucindy Blevins Townsend. She was preceded in death by her parents. She worked as a caregiver.

She is...

Apr 3, 2019

Mrs. Betty Eugenia Roland Calhoun Dancy, age 85 of Jefferson, died on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Dancy was born on October 2, 1933 in Nottingham, PA to Alvin H. and Eugenia Gore Roland. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill Dancy; first husband and father of her children, Arvil Calhoun;...

Apr 1, 2019

Louise Barker Severt age 86 of West Jefferson died Monday, April 1, 2019 at Watauga Medical Center.  Mrs. Severt was born in Jefferson, North Carolina on Sunday, August 28, 1932 to the late Winfield and Allie Wiles Barker.

Mrs. Severt is survived by her husband of 67 years, Johnnie Dale Severt, one daughter, Belinda Severt Bowlin and...

Apr 1, 2019

John Charles Payne, age 90 of West Jefferson died Monday, April 1, 2019 at his home. Mr. Payne was born in Statesville, North Carolina on Monday, October 1,1928 to the late Coleman "CM" and Hazel Phillips Payne.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by one brother, Max Payne.  John served in the United States...

Mar 29, 2019

Thomas Craig McMillan was born on June 5, 1953 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania and passed away on March 29, 2019 in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Mr. McMillan is survived by his wife, Janett McMillan.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 Saturday morning, April 20, 2019 at Senter Primitive Baptist Church by Rev. Herb Parunak.  Committal...