Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Annette Benson Burgess
Black Mountain
Annette Benson Burgess, 59, of Black Mountain, went to be with her Lord on July 17, 2017.
She was born February 25, 1958 in Buncombe County to the late Jimmie and Ruby Benson.
Annette enjoyed crafts, being a vendor at craft shows, making hats and scarves which she donated to cancer centers and churches, and participating in toy rides to assist cancer patients. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville.
Annette is survived by her loving husband of 27 years, Delmar Toby Burgess; sons, Dennis Benson (Cindy) and Jason Cucumber; sister, Wanda Benson; grandchildren, Alana Santiago, Maci Sunaya Robbins, Jordan Lee, Darren Lee, and Kyle Lee; and great-grandson, Mason McNinch.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, with Rev. Allen Rash and Rev. Donnie Walker officiating. The family received friends immediately following the service at the church. Burial was in Mountain View Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the John F. Keever Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff of the John F. Keever Solace Center for their care and support to Annette and her family.
Arrangements are by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.
Ivy Violet Trout
Black Mountain
Ivy Violet Trout, 73, passed away July 16, 2017.
Ivy was originally from Michigan and has resided in Black Mountain for the last two years with her son and family.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Alex Trout. Ivy is survived by her three sons and their families. Services will be held in Michigan.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Mountain Ridge Health & Rehab and Hospice of Rutherford County for their care of Mamma Trout over the last two years. Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals.
Betty Jo Walker
Black Mountain
Betty Jo Walker of Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain, NC joined the Church Triumphant on July 19, 2017.
Betty Jo was born in Robeson County (NC) on March 23, 1931 to T. J. McCormick, Sr. and Annie McCormick. She grew up in Rowland, NC and attended school there and also Dillon (SC) High School where she graduated in 1949. She attended Queens College for two years prior to going to Rhodes College in Memphis where she graduated in 1953 with a BA degree in Sociology.
She continued her education by going to Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA where she earned a Masters of Christian Education degree.
It was while she was in Richmond that she met her husband, Joe Walker, who was a student at Union Theological Seminary. They were married in 1955. During their marriage, Joe was pastor of a church in Selma, NC for 2 years. They went to Edinburgh, Scotland for a year while Joe did graduate work. The couple then went to Maxton, NC, Decatur, AL and to Memphis, TN.
Betty Jo was a very supportive and valued partner in his ministry. Betty Jo was a stay at home Mom until their three daughters were in school. Then Betty Jo went to work for the Department of Social Services in Alabama, a job she loved. When the couple moved to Memphis, Betty Jo went to the University of Tennessee School of Social Work and earned a Master of Science and Social Work degree (MSSW). She held membership in the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She worked as the director of the Social Work Department at William Bowld Hospital, the teaching hospital for the UT Medical Center. She also worked with the UT Dialysis Center.
After moving to Fayetteville, NC in 1984 she worked at Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville. She also worked for the Methodist Home for Children doing in home family therapy for a year.
Upon retirement in 1993, Joe and Betty Jo moved to North Myrtle Beach for eight years. Betty Jo was active in First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach where she served as a deacon and was active in the Women's Circles. She was a Hospice Volunteer for Horry County (SC).
Betty Joe and Joe moved to Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain, NC in 2001 and have loved it. She has served as an elder and deacon in the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and has been a volunteer for Swannanoa Valley Christina Ministry.
Betty Jo and Joe have three wonderful daughters who bring much joy and love into their lives. Debbie Dunn lives in Swannanoa, NC, Jan Walker lives in Murrells Inlet, SC, and Jennifer Haire lives in Fuquay Varina, NC. Betty Jo was a loving mother and a grandmother.
Betty Jo leaves behind a brother, T. J. McCormick, Jr. of Hamer, SC and his wife, Betty, three grandsons,David and Wesley Haire of Fuquay Varina and Clint Dunn of Swannanoa, two nieces, Jean McCormick of Cheraw, SC, Laura Baake of Lubbock, TX and nephews Andrew Acklen of Mobile, AL, John Acklen of Sequoia, WA and Bill McCormick of Columbia, SC.
Throughout her life, Betty Jo brought joy to those around her. She had a steadfast faith in God and love for others. A memorial service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, Black Mountain, NC. Interment will be at the Rowland Cemetery, Rowland, NC on Monday, July 31, at 1 p.m. Memorials may be sent to Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, 201 N. Ridgeway Ave. Black Mountain, NC 28711.