Obituaries

Apr 27, 2017

Thelma Smith Harbin, 89, of Charlotte, formerly of Carnegie, Pa., passed away Thursday, April 27, 2017 at her residence.  Ms. Harbin was born to the late Abraham and Elizabeth Flory Smith.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward Harbin; Brothers, Fred, Abe, Harry, James, and Clifford Smith; and Sister, Catherine Petrie.  Thelma was a homemaker and...

Apr 27, 2017

Rosemary H. Norris, 70, of Gastonia, passed away April 27, 2017 at her residence.  She was born in Union, S.C. on November 25, 1946 to the late James and Pearl Smith Hunt.  Rosemary was an avid shopper and was known as a “shopaholic.”  She enjoyed traveling, taking tour bus trips, going to the beach and mountains, and loved spoiling her...

Apr 27, 2017

Stanley "Damien Nightmare" Baucom, Jr., 41, of Gastonia passed away April 27, 2017 at his residence.  Damien was born in Gaston County on October 7, 1975 to Janice Glover Baucom and the late Stanley T. Baucom.

Damien was a musician and an artist.  He was the founder of the Metal Band "Nightmare Driven Engine."  He was known as Damien Nightmare...

Apr 26, 2017

JoAnn Watkins, 56, of Mt. Holly, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Woodlawn Haven Assisted Living.  She was born in Jersey City, N.J. on May 3, 1960 to the late Fred and Helen Jacques Watkins.  JoAnn was a 1978 graduate of Toms River High School.  She moved from New Jersey to North Carolina in 2015.  She also attended at...

Apr 26, 2017

Amanda Marie Hernandez, age 36, of Gastonia passed away Wednesday April 26 at her residence. Amanda was born June 14, 1980 in Gaston County to Father Elton Daniel Walker and Mother Peggy Cobb Bynum. She is also preceded in death by grandparents Frank and Betty Cobb and Eunice Walker. Amanda enjoyed the beach and loved the color purple. She was...

Apr 25, 2017

Harrison R. "Buddy" Rose, Jr., 53, of Gastonia passed away April 25, 2017 at Caromont Regional Medical Center.  Buddy was born July 5, 1963 in McDowell County, West Virginia to the late Harrison and Dorothy Burchett Rose.  He was preceded in death by Brothers, William Marvin Ward and James "Jimmy" Rose.  Buddy enjoyed playing video games and keeping up with...

Apr 21, 2017

Rhonda L. Baker, 56, of Bessemer City passed away April 21, 2017 at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia. Ms. Baker was born October 4, 1960 in Gaston County to the late James and Mary Black Medford. Rhonda enjoyed the beach and was an avid animal lover, dancing and cooking. She loved her family especially her grandchildren. Survivors include her...

Apr 20, 2017

Betty Faye Cooper, 82, of Rockingham, NC, formerly of Belmont, NC passed away April 20, 2017 at Pruitt Nursing in Rockingham, NC. Ms. Cooper was born May 19, 1934 in Cleveland County to the late Theodore and Lizzie Quinn Propst. She was also preceded in death by her husband Arthur Cooper, sisters Ruth Johnson, Lois Payne and brothers, Elmer, Gaither and...

Apr 15, 2017

Kathy E. Huffstickler, 66, of Dallas passed away April 15, 2017 at the Robin Johnson House in Dallas. Kathy was born in Gaston County on July 9, 1950 to Roberta Nicholson Huffstickler and the late Ralph Wilson Huffstickler. She is also preceded in death by her partner in life Tommy Leming and brothers Allen and Gary Huffstickler. Kathy loved the...

Apr 11, 2017

Charlotte Lowe Whitesides, 87, of Gastonia passed away April 11, 2017 at the White Oak Manor in Kings Mountain. Ms. Whitesides was born September 22, 1929 in Mecklenburg County to the late Fred Lowe Sr. and Mary Wilkinson Lowe. She is also preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Joseph “Roy” Whitesides, brother Fred Lowe Jr. and sister...

Apr 10, 2017

Gary L. Graham, 62, of Clover, SC passed away on April 10, 2017 at Carolinas Medical Center Main in Charlotte after a short illness. Gary was born in Cabarrus County, NC on January 27, 1955 to the late Warren and Hattie Bennick Graham. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife Theresa Brindle Graham and also his sisters...

Apr 8, 2017

Keri Ann Gibson Messick, 24, of Dallas passed away unexpectedly April 8, 2017. Keri was born February 5, 1993 in Charlotte, NC to mother Cynthia Ann Bridges Hunt. Keri loved the beach and horses. She was loved by her family and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Survivors include her husband, Matthew Messick; Mother Cynthia Bridges Hunt...

Apr 7, 2017

Arlene Locklear Faile, 76, of Lincolnton, went to her Heavenly Home on Friday, April 7, 2017 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Ms. Faile was born in Robinson County, NC on Sept. 8, 1940 to the late Feldon and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Locklear. She was also preceded in death by her husband Clarence Faile. She attended Conover Christian Assembly...

Apr 1, 2017

Benjamin F. “Sunshine” Hilton, 62, of Dallas, NC passed away on April 1, 2017 at the Brian Center in Gastonia. Mr. Hilton, known as “Sunshine” to many was born September 13, 1954 in Charlotte to the late Samuel Emory Hilton and Marie Richardson Hilton. He is also preceded in death by his brother Samuel Hilton. He was an auto mechanic...

Mar 30, 2017

Chester "Junior" Strange, 71, passed away March 30, 2017 at the Robin Johnson House in Dallas.  He was born in Bessemer City on October 17, 1945 to the late Kile and Arngel Bowen Strange.  He was preceded in death by Brothers, Dean Strange and Wayne Strange, and Sister, Ann Strange. 

Junior was a horse trainer in the rodeo industry.  He...

Mar 29, 2017

Christopher D. “Chris” Caskey, Sr., age 35, of Mt. Holly passed away March 29, 2017 at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia. Chris was born in Charlotte on August 9, 1981 to Jeff Caskey and the late Sabrina Ann Barkley Caskey. He was a kind and loving person who will be missed by all who knew him. Chris loved dirt...

Mar 23, 2017

Mar 20, 2017

Mar 15, 2017

Bessie Lee Killman, of Charlotte, entered Heaven’s Gates on Wednesday March 15, 2017 at the age of 91. She was born in Crisfield, Maryland on January 24, 1926, daughter of the late James Sterling Sr and Lillian Armistead Sterling. She was also preceded by 2 sons Stanley Jackson Killman, Jr. and Barry Stephen Killman; 4 brothers, James, Preston, Edwin and...

Mar 12, 2017

Jennifer Lee Barker, age 40, of Gastonia went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the Robin Johnson House in Dallas. Jennifer was born in West Palm Beach, FL. on August 13, 1976 to the late Lee Conia and Frances Horner Conia. She was an active member of Bethlehem Church in Gastonia and was...