Obituaries

Dec 20, 2020

Marilyn Legrande Parris Henry, age 84 of Sylva NC, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020.   She was born on October 19, 1936 in Jackson County, to the late Glenn and Alma (nee Foster) Parris.

She was a member of East Sylva Baptist Church and a resident at Skyland Care Center. She was Vice President of the Residence Council and a member...

Dec 20, 2020

Nancy S. Danner, of Sylva, left for her heavenly home on Sunday, December 20, 2020. At work and traveling, she never knew  a stranger and enjoyed life to the fullest. Upon retiring from the Jackson Savings Bank, she embarked on enjoying her family and traveling. She also worked tirelessly for various committees at East Sylva Baptist Church. Nancy was the daughter...

Dec 20, 2020

Dec 19, 2020

Charles Guy Wilson, 80, of Sylva, passed away unexpectedly Saturday December 19, 2020 at Morning Star Assisted Living Center. A native of Jackson County, he was born April 16, 1940 to the late Lawrence and Bessie Ashe Wilson. He was also preceded in death by his brothers; Bobby Ray Wilson, Billy Wilson, Herbert Wilson and Howard Wilson, his sisters; Janice...

Dec 19, 2020

On Saturday, December 19, 2020, Ira Gerald Jones, Sr. went home to be with the Lord. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Jones, his parents, Ira Glenn and Viola Bradley Jones, and a younger brother, Billy Ray Jones.

Gerald was a lifelong resident of the Barkers Creek Community and loved the mountains in which he was born and...

Dec 19, 2020

Mrs. Dorcas E. Brown, age 98, of Sylva, passed away December 19, 2020. Dorcas was born in Dillsboro to the late Samuel Carl Ballew and Ella Mason Ballew, and she was preceded in death by her husband, John D. Brown and her six sisters. A loving and generous mother and grandmother, she is survived by her daughter, Ella Worley, of Tuckasegee;...

Dec 16, 2020

Randall Ellard “Red” Murff, age 101, of Sylva, passed away December 16,

2020. Jackson County’s oldest and most decorated war veteran, Randall

was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Army Air Corps as a

Bombardier/Navigator flying 67 missions. He and his wife retired to North

Carolina from Jackson, MS where he had a long career in auto and truck

sales. Randall was an active member...

Dec 16, 2020

Rose Mary Walther, age 99, of Whittier, NC passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Harold and Neva Arnett. 

She is survived by three daughters; Roberta Warren, Rosalie (Steve) Miller, and Roxanne (George) Donaldson and one son; Roger (Gayle) Robey. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

No services are planned...

Dec 13, 2020

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Hamilton, age 86, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2020 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Jones “Ham” Hamilton, and son, Stephen Allison “Steve” Ensley.

Betty is survived by two daughters and their spouses, Dinah and Marcus Collins, Shelly and Stewart Terry; daughter-in-law, Ellen Ensley; four...

Dec 10, 2020

Evelyn Lavinia Bumgarner Childers, age 91 of Salem SC, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, December 10, 2020.   She was born on September 3, 1929, in Six Mile SC, to the late George “Clarence” and Eliza “Lavinia” Mann Bumgarner.

Although Evelyn was born and passed away in South Carolina, she lived most of her life in Jackson County NC.  She...

Dec 10, 2020

Robert Alan Wright, age 85, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, passed away on December 10, 2020 in Sylva, NC. 

He was the son of the late Edwin Alan Wright. 

Additional obituary information will be published as it becomes available. 

Appalachian Funeral Services of Sylva, NC is serving the family. 

Dec 10, 2020

William Albert Hartline, age 49 of Whittier, NC. passed away suddenly on Thursday, December 10, 2020.   He was born on February 20, 1971 in Pinellas County FL, to the late Jerry and Mary (Bagby) Hartline.

He worked as a construction builder for many years, most recently at Western Builders.  He loved coaching and competing in wrestling and earned entry in the...

Dec 10, 2020

Larry Gray McDonald, age 78, passed away quietly and peacefully on December 10, 2020 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Larry was born on September 22, 1942 to Herman George Burlingame and Marquita Mead in Lansing, MI. Larry moved to Plant City, Florida during childhood, where he spent his spent his school age years with his mother and adoptive father, W....

Dec 10, 2020

Joshua Matthew Stevenson, age 48, of Sylva, passed away December 10, 2020.  A loving husband and father, Josh was a devout Christian and avid motorcycle enthusiast. He worked as a sales agent at Franklin Ford. Josh is survived by his wife of over 17 years, Cathy Stevenson; daughters, Madeline Faith Stevenson (age 16), Abigale Grace Stevenson (age 12), Olivia Hope Stevenson (age 6);...

Dec 9, 2020

Darlous Deitz Buchanan, 75, of the Savannah Community in Sylva, NC passed peacefully away on December 9, 2020. Darlous was a devoted wife of 49 years to Early L. Buchanan and the beloved daughter of Jesse and Ollie Deitz, all of whom preceded Darlous in death. Darlous is survived by one daughter, Donna (Daren) Carley and special nephew, Mike (Billie)...

Dec 5, 2020

Lettie Jane Roper, age 47 of Sylva, NC. passed away Saturday, December 5, 2020.   She was born on June 13, 1973, in Sylva, to Grady Paul and Barbara Ann (Queen) Lewis.

Lettie worked as a CNA and loved helping people.  She enjoyed the outdoors, bird watching and animals.  She loved to laugh and smile while enjoying time spent with her family. 

Lettie...

Dec 5, 2020

Larry Allan Phillips, 78, went to be with his Lord and Savior December 5, 2020 after a brief illness.  He was the son of Marion and Margaret Phillips of Las Cruces, NM.  Larry was preceded in death by his sister, June Phillips Butler, and his daughter, Kelli Kristine Cota.  He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan Phillips;...

Dec 3, 2020

Dorothy W. Hooper, age 91, of Tuckasegee, passed away December 3, 2020 after a period of declining health. Dot was born in Tuckasegee to Alvin and Fern Watson and lived most of her life in the valley she loved so much. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother to her family and enjoyed the summer time working in her flowers....

Dec 2, 2020

Jane Bennett Bridgers-Carlos, 54, entered the gates of larger life on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. She was born at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, on April 5, 1966, to Sue Ellen and Ben Bridgers and spent her early childhood in Chapel Hill, N.C., before moving to Sylva in 1971. She grew up in St. John's Episcopal Church.

She attended Fairview...

Nov 29, 2020

Carter Lee Harris, age 69 of Sylva, NC. died Sunday, November 29, 2020.   He was born on March 1, 1951 in Fyffe, AL to the late Carter Helton and Emma Lee (nee Hannah) Harris.

He was a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Vietnam.

Private cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Appalachian Funeral Services of Sylva, NC