Obituaries

May 17, 2022

Clarance Jackson (CJ) passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, May 17 at his home in Mooresboro, NC. Although his failing health took him away from us, his strength of character and positive outlook on life made our time spent with him an uplifting experience.

CJ was born October 6, 1930, to the late...

May 13, 2022

Barbara Jean McClellan Russell, 87, of Gastonia, passed away at Robin Johnson Hospice House on Friday, May 13, 2022. She was born November 10, 1934, in Gaston County, to the late Edwin Lewis McClellan and Ethel May Whitley McClellan.

She is preceded in death by Donald Roy Russell; sister Martha Suttlemyre.

Barbara was a graduate...

May 8, 2022

Ann Baker Lethco, 78, of Gastonia, passed away at her residence on May 8, 2022. She was born December 25, 1943, in Gaston County, to the late Walter Baker, Jr. and Lummie Tucker Weathers.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John Bedford Lethco and brother, Walter Baker.

Ann loved spending time with her...

May 6, 2022

Robert Joseph Emery, 85, of Dallas, passed away at his residence on Friday, May 6, 2022. He was born November 16, 1936, in Hartford, Connecticut, to the late Victor Joseph Emery and Marie Englehart Emery.

Bob was a member of the First Wesleyan Church in Bessemer City and was a United States Navy Veteran. He loved the...

May 5, 2022

James David Hughes, 73, of Gastonia, passed away at Peak Resources on May 5, 2022.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Jane “Janie” Cope Hughes.

James was a member of North Gaston Church of God in Dallas.

Left to cherish his memory is his sister-in-law, Jeannette Rodden and several nieces...

May 1, 2022

Ernestine Frost Kincaid, 94, got the call to heaven and went home on May 1, 2022.  She was born May 31, 1927, in Davie County, NC to the late Ernest Henry Frost and Annie Laurie Holton Frost. She was preceded by her husband William Ira Kincaid, Sr who brought her to reside in Bessemer City, NC as his bride...

Apr 28, 2022

Nellie Mae Trapp Maney, “aka Mama Nell”, 91, of Gastonia, passed away at her daughter’s residence on April 28, 2022. She was born May 8, 1930, in Rutherford County, to the late Modie Dove Trapp and Elizabeth Green Trapp.

Nellie is preceded in death by her husband, James Hyman Maney; sisters Eunice Fish and Dorothy DiGirolamo; son-in-law...

Apr 21, 2022

Betty Louise James Croft, 88, of Bessemer City, passed away at Caromont Regional Medical Center on April 21, 2022. She was born February 25, 1934, in Gaston County, to the late Efton Clifton James and Hattie Lee Sneed James.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Albert Jerry Croft; sons, Jerry Glenn Croft, Ricky Alan Croft;...

Apr 15, 2022

Jacob Costner, Jr., 87, of Gastonia, passed away at his residence on April 15, 2022. He was born November 14, 1934, in Gaston County, to the late Jacob Eliza Costner and Evelyn Elmore Kirksey.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Vivian Vernell Costner; siblings, Bertie R Russell, Carl L Costner, and David...

Apr 15, 2022

Kenneth “Mark” Helms, Jr., 68, of Bessemer City, passed away at CaroMont Regional Medical Center on April 15, 2022. He was born January 11, 1954, in Mecklenburg County, to the late Kenneth Marcellous Helms, Sr. and Betty Jean Flowers Helms.

He is preceded in death by stepson, Chris Wolfe; brothers-in-law Jody Dover, Lewis Dover, Tim Auten and...

Apr 13, 2022

Steven Keith Hamby, 61, of Gastonia, passed away at Caromont Regional Medical Center on April 13, 2022. He was born September 18, 1960, in Gaston County, to the late Grady Brance and Melva Lorene Cope Hamby.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Debbie Hamby.

Steve had a long career in textiles and was...

Apr 13, 2022

Jimmy Wayne Welch, 74, of Anderson, SC, passed away at the Richard Campbell Veterans Nursing Home on April 13, 2022. He was born June 24, 1947, in Gaston County, to the late James William and Barbara Allie Elkins Welch.

He is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Savanna Welch.

Jimmy was a...

Apr 12, 2022

Linda Sharon Barnett, 63, of Bessemer City, passed away at CaroMont Regional Medical Center on April 12, 2022. She was born on July 28, 1958, in Hampton, VA, to the late William Dallas and Laura Ellen Ogle Burton. Linda lived her life as an amazing, devoted and loving wife of 44 years, a caring mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin,...

Apr 12, 2022

Charles Arthur McMillan, 66, of Gastonia, passed away at Carolina Caring, Catawba Heights Hospice House, on April 12, 2022. He was born February 5, 1956, in Indianapolis, IN, to the late Henry Hayden and Avis Phillips McMillan.

In addition to his parents, Charles is preceded in death by his father-in-law, JW Hartgrove; brothers-in-law, Darrell Hartgrove...

Apr 11, 2022

Lois Alice Lamberth Pickelsimer, 80, of Bessemer City, passed away at her home on April 11, 2022. She was born August 12, 1941, in Caldwell County, to the late George Dewey and Beulah Green Lamberth.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Ronald Eugene Pickelsimer; sons, Samuel Crowe, and Doug Crowe; daughter-in-law Terri...

Apr 9, 2022

Steve “Lucky” Brooks, Jr., 51, of Bessemer City, passed away at his residence on April 9, 2022. He was born March 1, 1971, in Gaston County.

Left to cherish his memory is wife, Shannon Pentolino Brooks; son, Aaron Brooks (Allison); daughters, Leann Nations (Bobby), Kylie Brooks; mother, Debbie Hannah Brooks; father, Steve Brooks, Sr. (Jan); grandchildren, Kaylen...

Apr 7, 2022

David Michael Spencer, 48, of Kings Mountain, passed away at Testa Family Hospice House on April 7, 2022. He was born March 26, 1974, in Polk County, Florida, to Sandra “Sandy” Jean Chernenko Spencer and the late Ronald Ernest Spencer.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Wendy Lynn Weber Spencer; daughters, Madelyn Lacroix,...

Apr 2, 2022

Finley Garrison Best, Jr., 94, of Charlotte, formerly of Bessemer City, passed away at his residence on April 2, 2022. He was born January 22, 1928, in Gaston County, to the late Finley Garrison Best, Sr. and Minnie Lee Baldwin Best.

Garrison is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Frances Eleanor...

Apr 1, 2022

Pearl Kurtz Socie, 67, of Bessemer City, passed away on April 1, 2022. She was born September 12, 1954, in Onondaga County, NY, to the late Joseph and Virginia Spaulding Kurtz.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Nick Penner; second husband, Ken Socie; siblings, Paul, Stanley, and Shirley Kurtz.

Left to cherish...

Mar 27, 2022

Vivian Frances Chase Hannah, 88, of Kings Mountain, passed away at Robin Johnson House on March 27, 2022. She was born August 5, 1933, in Somerset County, Maine, to the late Vaughn Wesley Chase and Isabel Pansy Holt Chase.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dickey Hannah; son, Richard Fullbright; stepdaughter, Gail Anthony.

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