Obituaries

OBITUARY: Paul Hughes

Paul Hughes, 81, of the Buladean Community, passed away peacefully Monday, May 11, 2020, at his home surrounded by his loving family. A native of Mitchell County, he was a son of the late Jeter and Norma Hughes.

OBITUARY: Sandra Hise

Sandra Cook Hise, 73, of Beaver Creek Road, Spruce Pine, died Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at her home. Born Feb. 11, 1947, in Mitchell County, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Mae Webb Street.

OBITUARY: Virgil Wayne Sparks

  Virgil Wayne Sparks, 85, of New London, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at the Saturn Healthcare – West Sugar Creek Campus in Charlotte. Wayne, as he was more commonly called, was born April 26, 1935, in Spruce Pine, the son of Milton “Preacher” and Mabel Brinkley Sparks.

OBITUARY: Jim Gouge

  Jim Gouge, 83, of Spruce Pine, died Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine after a two-year battle with various health issues. He was born in Spruce Pine to James Jeffery Gouge Sr. and Georgia Nichols Gouge, both of whom preceded him in death.

OBITUARY: Loretta Edwards

  Loretta Howe Edwards, 88, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2020, at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She lived a long, full life. She will be greatly missed, but we know she has moved to a better place. Loretta was born Oct. 28, 1931, to Jesse and Rosa Howe.

OBITUARY: Troy Cox

Troy Arvin Cox, 81, of Tucson, Arizona, who served honorably in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2020, in Tucson. Troy was born May 20, 1938, in Spruce Pine, to Troy Avery Cox and Nora Lillian Duncan Cox. He was a graduate of Harris High School.

OBITUARY: Carolyn Yelton Pittman

Carolyn Yelton Pittman, 77, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2020, at the Capital Caring Adler Center hospice facility in Aldie, Virginia, following a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of Robert C. Pittman, of Manassas, Virginia.

OBITUARY: Robert ‘Robin’ Parker

Robert “Robin” Parker, 60, of the Crabtree Community, went home to be with the Lord Friday, April 17, 2020, after a brief illness.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late John “J.C.” Parker and Alma Hoilman Parker Pate.

OBITUARY: Georgia Ann Woody Burleson Johnson

Georgia Ann Woody Burleson Johnson went to her Heavenly home Saturday, April 18, 2020. She was born Aug. 27, 1925, in Avery County, and was the daughter of the Rev. Albert and Bessie Woody. She grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and West Virginia during the depression.

OBITUARY: Edna Allen

Edna Allen, 76, of Lenoir, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, April 9, 2020, at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care in Hudson. It is especially hard since no one could go to be with her due to the virus and staying in place during her hospitalization.