Rutherford Weekly

Page 20 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, March 26-April 1, 2015 WILMA LOUISE WHITESIDE CRAIN Mrs. Wilma Louise Whiteside Crain, age 69, of Rutherfordton went to her Heavenly Home on Saturday, March 14, 2015. In addition to her many roles as a pastor's wife, Wilma worked as a seamstress for Tanner Company for a number of years, & was a bus driver for the Rutherford County School System. She is survived by her husband Rev. Jack Crain, pastor of Shingle Hollow Congregational Holiness Church; daughter Thesa Crain Beatenbough & husband Barry of Canon, GA & their children Leigh & Laura; daughter Phebe Crain Martin & husband Herbie of Rutherfordton & their children Molly & Maggie; daughter Melinda Crain Bates & husband Junior of Forest City &their children Justin, Tripp, & Chris Bates; son Jack Roger Crain, Jr. & wife Emily of Rutherfordton & their children Aniston & Marquez. She was preced- ed in death by her mother, Vera Louise Whiteside, of Rutherfordton. Funeral services were held at Shingle Hollow Congregational Holiness Church with Rev. Jonathan Randall & Rev. Stephen Phillips officiat- ing. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to SHCHC Fellowship Hall Building Fund; 2466 Cove Road Rutherfordton, NC, 28139. Crowe's Mortuary and Crematory is assisting the family. GRACIE MCGINNIS WILLINGHAM Gracie McGinnis Willingham, 99, of Gaffney, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2015. A native of Rutherford County, she was born on June 21, 1915, a daughter of the late C.T. McGinnis & Mary Susan Holland McGinnis. She graduat- ed from Asheville Normal & Teachers College & retired as a teacher from Ellenboro Elementary School. She taught first grade in 7 schools in North & South Carolina. She was a member of State Line Baptist Church. In addition to her par- ents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Elford Clyde Willingham, Jr.; her brother, Broadus McGinnis; her sisters, Effie Mosteller, Jannie Blanton & Mary Esther Wyatt. She is survived by her son, Terry Willingham & wife Shirley of Gaffney, SC; 1 granddaughter, Catherine Davis & husband Enrique of Simpsonville, SC; her grandsons, David Willingham of Gaffney, SC & John Willingham of Chesnee, SC; great granddaughter, Diane & husband Greg; great grandson, Steven; great- great grandchildren, Brianna, Izzy & Logan; special niece, Beth Klepper of Pacolet, SC. Funeral services were held at The A.C. McKinney Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Joey Cantrell, Rev. Kris Showen, Rev. Ray Heffner & Rev. John Godfrey officiating. Burial followed in the State Line Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to Meals on Wheels, 403 West Montgomery Street, Gaffney, SC 29341. M c K i n n e y - L a n d r e t h & Carroll Funeral and Cremation Service is serv- ing the Willingham family. DONALD BAYNARD Donald Baynard, age 54, of Columbus passed away Thursday, March 19, 2015. Survived by his wife Lisa Baynard of the home, daughters Samantha Moss of Green Creek, Candace Rhodes, Amber Jolley & Megan Baynard all of Columbus; mother Jessie Bowen of Forest City & brother Harold Baynard of Rutherfordton. Memorial services were held at Crowe's Funeral Chapel with Rev. Toney Priester. Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the family. VIRGINIA BIGGERSTAFF FORBES Virginia Forbes, of Ellenboro, departed this earthly home for her Heavenly home to spend eternity on Saturday, March 14, 2015. She was born in Avondale, on December 21, 1916 to the late William P. & Mamie Jones Biggerstaff. She graduat- ed from Lattimore High School in Lattimore in 1932 as Valedictorian. She attended Abingdon Business College in Virginia & continued her studies at Kings Business College, Shelby, graduat- ing with honors. She mar- ried Manley P. Forbes, July 25, 1936. Her career was extensive having worked at Cone Mills Corporation- Cliffside Plant as Office Clerk for 30+ years. She joined Bethel Baptist Church, Ellenboro in 1942. She was the church secretary at Bethel for 21 years. She was predeceased by her father, mother & her husband, Manley, son, Joe, grandson, Keith, & sisters, Pattie Lee Doty & Margaret Lail. She leaves to cherish her memories, two sons, Bob & wife Joyce, Jack & wife Sharon; grand- children, Ronnie Forbes, Tanya Crabtree & Lauren Forbes; one great grand- child, Dillon Gettys, & three great grandchildren, as well as several niec- es & nephews. Funeral services were held at Bethel Baptist Church of Ellenboro with the Rev. Michael Sepaugh, Rev. Dr. Wayne Blackwood & Rev. Scott Huffman offi- ciating. Burial followed in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. The fami- ly would like to express deep appreciation to Martha Simpson and Renee Randall. Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150 or Bethel Baptist Church, PO Box 633, Ellenboro, NC 28040. M c K i n n e y - L a n d r e t h & Carroll Funeral and Cremation Service is serv- ing the Forbes family. GARLAND "JOE" TESSNAIR G a r l a n d " J o e " Tessnair, 63, of Spindale, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015. A native of Rutherford County, he was the son of the late Vester & Nadine Greene Tessnair. Garland is sur- vived by his wife, Karen Keeter Tessnair of the home; daughters, Elaine Nicole Tessnair of Forest City, Ashley Tessnair, Elizabeth Tessnair & Billie Tessnair all of the home; brothers William Tessnair, Thurman Tessnair & Gary Tessnair; sisters Dorothy Yelton, Juanita Bunnell, & Lora Turner. Memorial services were held at Crowe's Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Crowe's Mortuary and Crematory is assisting the family. CHARLES "DAN" WALL Charles "Dan" Wall, age 76, of Forest City, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015. Born November 20, 1938 in York County, SC, he was the son of the late Charles Gordon Wall & Zelma Michael Wall. He was a graduate of Cool Springs High School, class of 1956 & attended Gardner-Webb University. Dan was a veteran of the U.S. Army & worked for Bell South for 30 years before his retirement. He was a faithful member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Survivors include his loving wife of 37 years, Nancy Smith Wall; 2 sons, Mike Wall & wife, Marsha of Shiloh Community & Charles Wall & wife, Leslie of Bostic; step-son, Bo Roberson & wife Christy of Cliffside; step-daughter, Heather White & husband, Brian also of Cliffside; 1 sister, Marianne W. Denney of Clover, SC. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 1 nephew & 2 grand-nephews. Funeral services were conducted at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with Reverend Bob Philbeck officiating. Interment followed in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery with military honors being accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Building Fund, 397 Mt. Pleasant Road, Forest City, NC 28043 or to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. CARSON LEE MCKINNEY Carson Lee McKinney, 70, of Ellenboro, passed away Monday, March 16, 2015. A native of McDowell County, he was the son of the late Earl Carson McKinney & Dorothy Rhom Arrowood. Carson was retired from the fur- niture industry & attend- ed Macedonia Baptist Church. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Betty Hartman McKinney; daughters Billie Thurman & husband Lee of Ellenboro & Dorothy Ann McKinney Gladden & fiancé Glen Bumgarner of Valdese; 7 grandchil- dren; 5 great grandchil- dren; sisters Lois Baker of Lexington & Freddie Ann Conner of Union Mills. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step father, W.J. Arrowood. Funeral services were held at Crowe's Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Crowe's Mortuary and Crematory is assisting the family. EMMA IRENE BUCKNER Emma Irene Buckner, age 83, of, Forest City, passed away Monday, March 16, 2015. Born October 13, 1941 in Rutherford County, she was a daughter of the late Marion D.M. Buckner & Mattie Bradburn Buckner. Emma worked for Roses Department Store in Marion for 17 years and as a CNA for Edgewood & Hillcrest Nursing Homes. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by 1 sister, Sarah McFarland & 3 broth- ers, Kirmeth Buckner, Jack Buckner & Howard Buckner. Survivors include 2 nephews, David McFarland & wife, Edith of Shiloh Community & Todd Buckner & wife, Melanie of Marion; 4 nieces, Donna Proctor of Marion, Patricia Hyatt of Ardmore, AL, Cathy Dugger & hus- band, Ron of Athens, AL & Vanessa Inman of Marion. Funeral services were conducted at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Danny McFarland officiating. A private interment followed at Eternal Hills Memorial Park. Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. ©Community First Media Community First Media C.S. Lewis in his book, "A Grief Observed", wrote, "Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape." Lewis was describing his journey through the grieving process after losing his wife to cancer. In an earlier article, I pointed out that there perhaps is never a time that God is closer than at the time of death. The Bible tells us that the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning (Eccl. 7:4). The difference from those who go on from losing a loved one and those who do not, is that at the end of the "long valley" some fi nd hope and others don't. One of the blessings in being a Christian is that God promises us that we will see our loved ones again if they have accepted his plan of redemption. As a seventeen year old young man, I was faced with my mortality and my sin and at that moment I trusted Christ as my Savior. According to God's Word, I will see my Christian grandparents and family members once again. This is the hope that brings the peace to a heart that is hurting. One of the greatest gifts we can give our families is not a big inheritance or a famous legacy, but the calm assurance that at the moment we die, we will be in God's presence. Yes, death brings much pain, but not knowing whether we will see our loved one again hurts even more and leads to hopelessness. Let me encourage you to examine your life and prepare for the inevitable. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) LANNY FUNCHESS -FUNERAL DIRECTOR- Points To Ponder GOD AND DEATH (PART TWO) "Quality Service with Compassionate Care" Harrelson Funeral & Cremation Services 1251 U.S. Hwy 221-A, Forest City, NC 828-657-6383 www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com

• Cover