Born on May 8, 1916 in Cashiers, Hortense was the daughter of H.A. Pell, Sr. and Adelaide Bradburn Pell. Nothing meant more to her than home and family. On May 2, following a long period of declining health, Hortense went home to her family who had gone before her. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husband Bryson D. Gunter; brothers, H.A. Pell, Jr., Bradburn F.Pell, and Carrol E. Pell; and sisters, Dana Byrd Pell Courtney and Henrietta Pell Parker.
A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, those left to cherish her memory are her daughter,
Wanda G. Bradford (Charles); grandchildren, Christina B. Guthrie (Joshua) and Evan C. Bradford; great-granddaughter, Isabella Guthrie; sister, Eugenia Pell Wright and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at East Sylva Baptist Church at 1:00 on Tuesday, May 5. The
family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the church, beginning at 12:00 noon. The Rev. Charles Dean and Rev. Reed Benson will conduct the service. Pall bearers will be Lonnie Jamison, Kevin Jamison, L. G. Painter, Sherman Freshour, Steve Alexander and James Crisp. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens in Sylva immediately following the service. Appalachian Funeral Services in Sylva is assisting the family.
The family wishes to thank very special caregivers Bronwen LaJoie, Denise Dryden and Grey
LaJoie, as well as the amazing staff at Brooks-Howell Home in Asheville, for the loving support,
patience and excellent care they have tirelessly given to Hortense during the past seventeen months. Additional appreciation is also extended to Care Partners Hospice.
.