Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Zelma Smith Morgan
Swannanoa
Zelma Smith Morgan, 89, of Swannanoa passed away Monday, August 3, 2015.
Mrs. Morgan was born July 26, 1926 to the late Sterling and Lula Berry Smith.
She enjoyed arts and genealogy. Mrs. Morgan attended Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church and volunteered at ABCCM where she was known as the “washcloth lady.”
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Max Morgan; sisters, Gladys Burgin and Dallas Cox; and brothers, Bill, Willard, and Sterling Smith.
She is survived by her daughters, Salyna Morgan and Dottie Crowder; son, Mike Morgan; sister, Gloria Smith Thompson; grandchildren, Melissa and Sara Crowder, Stephanie Morgan, and Kyle Thomas; and great grandchildren, Dylan and Ryan Tweed.
A graveside service was held Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 1 p.m. at Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ABCCM, 30 Cumberland Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 or Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, PO Box 9000, Asheville, NC 28815-9000.
Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
James “Bud” L. Hall
Black Mountain
James “Bud” L. Hall, 94, of Black Mountain passed away Saturday, August 1, 2015.
Mr. Hall was born April 6, 1921 in McDowell County and was a resident of Buncombe County for most of his life. He was the owner of Bud Hall’s Wrecker Service since 1960. Bud was a member of the Moose Lodge and Masonic Lodge of Black Mountain. He was a veteran of the US Army serving during World War II as a military policeman in Germany and France.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Carrie Dalton Hall; wife, Jackie Williams Hall and several brothers and sisters.
Bud is survived by his daughter, Carol J. Banks; sons, Jeff Hall and Jimmy Lee Hall; brother, Clinton Hall; grandchildren, Alex Hall and Garrett McMahan.
The family received friends Friday, August 7, 2015 from 11-1 p.m. at Harwood Home for Funerals. A Celebration of Life Service was held Friday, August 7, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of The Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. Burial immediately followed the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, PO Box 235, Black Mountain, NC 28711, MANNA FoodBank, 627 Swannanoa River Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 or Rusty’s Legacy’s, 139 Lytle Mountain Rd., Marion, NC 28752.
Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
Shirley Kendall
Swannanoa
Shirley Kendall, 68, of Swannanoa passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015.
Shirley was born December 27, 1946 in Buncombe County. She was a lifelong member of Bee Tree Christian Church, and was a registered nurse for over 40 years. Shirley enjoyed gardening, fishing, cooking, sewing, canning, visiting the lake and Ocean Isle Beach, and spending time with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Sybil Baker Vess; and stepfather, Harold Vess.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Craven Kendall; sons, Lee Kendall, and Brian Kendall and his wife, Julie; grandchildren, Bryce, Lauren, Harrison, and Davis; siblings, Thomas Crabtree II and Pamela Leigh; and a large extended family.
The family received friends Wednesday, July 29, 2015 from 12-1 p.m. at Bee Tree Christian Church. A Celebration of Life Service was held at Bee Tree Christian Church with Pastor Mike Siemens officiating. Burial followed at 2 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
Flowers are accepted and appreciated; those desiring to make a memorial contribution in memory of Shirley are encouraged to consider Bee Tree Christian Church, 1185 Bee Tree Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778. Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
Marsha Jean Glenn Stafford
Black Mountain
Marsha Jean Glenn Stafford, born October 4, 1944 in Asheville, NC died July 31, 2015.
She was the daughter of the late June Glenn, Jr. (2006) and Esther Armstrong Glenn (1983). Marsha was also preceded in death by her grandparents, June Glenn, Sr. (1965), Mary Ellen Melton Glenn (1975), Rufus Sampson Armstrong (1964) and Corrie Allison Armstrong (1939); her sister, Emily Armstrong Glenn (2010); and son, Kenneth Edwin Stafford (2000).
Marsha is survived by her children, James H. Stafford, Jr. and wife Joy, Robin Lee Stafford and wife Mollie; grandchildren, Dustin, Tina and Michelle Stafford, Phillip Stafford and wife Amanda, Jessica and Lee Stafford, Nichole and Dalton Payne; great-grandchildren, R.J., James Vaughn, Aleah, Malachi, Chanel and Colton Stafford; and extended family, Rick and Betty Jo Mills, Edith Havlicek, and several cousins and special friends.
She was a lifelong, fifth-generation resident of Black Mountain, NC and a lifelong member of Black Mountain United Methodist Church where she was active in many areas of the church.
Marsha enjoyed genealogy research and was a member of the Old Buncombe Co. Genealogical Soc., Old Tryon Co. NC Genealogical Soc., Genealogy Soc. of Rowan Co. NC, and the New England Historical Genealogical Soc. She belong to the Edward Buncombe Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Unaka Chapter Daughters of the American Colonist in which she held various offices. Marsha was also a member of the NC Society of Mayflower Descendants through Henry Sampson, and Clan McIntosh of NA and Armstrong Clan Soc. She was a longtime patron of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, attending many years with her family.
She retired from the State of North Carolina after 38 years. Marsha worked at WNC Hospital/Black Mountain Center in the hospital lab and then in purchasing. She continued to volunteer there after retirement.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Monday, August 3, 2015 at 3 p.m. at Black Mountain United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Mountain View Memorial Park. The family received friends two hours before the service time at the church.
Memorial donations may be given to Black Mountain United Methodist Church, Roofing Fund or Landscaping Fund, 101 Church St., Black Mountain, NC 28711. Arrangements by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
Elva Lawrence Hunt
Black Mountain
Elva Lawrence Hunt, a resident of Givens Highland Farms retirement community in Black Mountain, NC, died on Aug. 5.
A native of Durham she graduated from Wake Forest College (now University) in 1951 when Wake Forest was still located in the town of Wake Forest, NC.
Following Wake Forest, Elva was a Christian education intern at the Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC working with young children. The next year she entered Yale Divinity School to study religious education. While at Yale she met her husband, Horace. They were married at the end of her first year at YDS.
During the first year that Horace was pastor of a church in Dayton, OH, she served as a released time religious education teacher there.
After the birth of their three children and they were living in Newark, NJ, Elva taught in a nursery school.
She later attended Bank Street College of Education where she received a master's degree in early childhood education. She taught in the Maplewood-South Orange school system for twenty-five years teaching mostly first grade but later fourth and fifth grades also.
After retirement she and Horace moved to Asheville, NC., and later to Black Mountain.
In addition to her husband Horace, Elva is survived by her daughters Amy Hunt of the Cayman Islands, and Suzanne Hunt of Cairo, Egypt, as well as her son, Kenneth Hunt and his wife Samantha of Cambridge, VT. Her grandchildren include Tristan von Kirchenheim of Grand Cayman, Lillian Hunt of Essex Junction, VT and Aila Hunt of Cambridge along with two step-grandchildren, Lane and Reed Stygles. Elva is also survived by her two brothers: James Lawrence and his partner Steve West of Raleigh, and Jerry Lawrence of Richmond, VA. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Lettie Lawrence of Durham, NC.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in Elva's memory to the Employees Appreciation Fund, Given Highland Residents Corp., 200 Tabernacle Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
Ruth Penland
Swannanoa
Ruth Penland, 97 of Swannanoa passed away Thursday, August 6, 2015.
Mrs. Penland was born November 26, 1917 in Haywood County to the late Manos and Margaret “Maggie” Medford. Ruth was loved by her family and friends. She was very active in Swannanoa Valley Presbyterian Church in which she was a member, playing the piano and organ, and she wrote poetry and songs.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by 8 brothers and sisters.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 73 years, Oliver C. Penland; daughter, Olivia McGuinn (Charles) of Asheville; sons, Richard Penland of Belmont, and Jerry Penland (Beverly) of Swannanoa; 4 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 1 p.m. at Swannanoa Valley Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ed Olson officiating.
The family received friends from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Burial followed at 2 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Swannanoa Valley Presbyterian Church, PCA, PO Box 637, Swannanoa, NC 28778.
Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
Mack Hughes Childress
Asheville
Mack Hughes Childress, 81, of Asheville passed away August 7, 2015.
Mr. Childress was born January 9, 1934 in Mecklenburg County to the late Mack Herron and Rose Hall Childress. He was a resident of Buncombe County in his later life. Mack served in the US Army in Korea.
Mack is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Mary Chandler Childress; sons, James Childress and Mitch Childress; stepsons, Jimmy Miller and Michael Miller; stepdaughters, Janelle Moore and Melinda Gaddy; sisters, June Earnest and Ann Patterson; 13 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Monday, August 10, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals with Rev. Tommy Crowe officiating.
Burial followed in Mountain View Memorial Park.
The family received friends one hour prior to the service time at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. Arrangements are by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor
Alex White
Swannanoa
Alex White, 23, of Swannanoa passed away Sunday, August 9, 2015 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Alex was born December 31, 1991 in Buncombe County to Randy and Susan White. He played rugby at Western Carolina University.
Alex enjoyed the outdoors and attending concerts. He also enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
Alex is preceded in death by his grandfather, Dr. George T. White.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Christen Davidson (Ben); nephews, Porter and Reid Davidson; grandparents, Ken and Gail Sapp and Joan Kelley; aunts and uncles, Tony and Kathi Sapp, Mitch Sapp, and Tom White; and cousins, John Luke and James Michael Sapp, and Steven and Julie White.
Services will be private. Arrangements are by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomefor