Agnes Townsend Calhoun (November 8, 1924 - July 24, 2010) Mrs. Agnes Townsend Calhoun, age 85, of Marion, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at her residence. Agnes was born in Avery County, November 8, 1924 to the late Millard and Cora Davis Townsend. She was retired from Belk-Broome Company. Agnes was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church and will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Harvey Frank Calhoun, a brother Ted Townsend and a sister, Alma Crowder. Saddened by this loss are four children: Gail Church and husband Roger of Marion, Phyllis Murphy and husband Doug of Shelby, Frances Baker and husband Paul of Marion, Neal Calhoun and wife Lucy of Marion; two sisters: Mabel Goforth of Sevierville, TN and Elizabeth Woody and husband Frank of Spruce Pine; nine grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and soon to be fourteen; a number of nieces and nephews and a special friend and home health nurse Alice Puett. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Zion Hill Baptist Church with Dr. Tom Walker and Rev. Jimmy Upton officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, July 26, 2010 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Westmoreland Funeral Home. Interment will be in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideon Society, PO Box 1788, Marion, NC 28752.

July 6, 2010 Mrs. Dorothy Bentley Townsend, age 101 of Norwood Hollow Road, Banner Elk and formerly of the Dutch Creek Community died Monday night, July 5, 2010 at Life Care Center of Banner Elk. Mrs. Townsend was born in Avery County May 6, 1909. She was a homemaker and a member of Holy Cross Episcopal Church. She is survived by two daughters; Harriet Storey of Valdese and Margaret Perkins of Purlear, three grandchildren; Cynthia Trtala of Valdese, Timothy Townsend and wife Emma of Valle Crucis, and Eric Storey of Valdese, two great grandchildren; Andrew Trtala and Kassidy Townsend, and one half-sister; Ruth Wilson of Newton. She was preceded in death by her husband; Forrest Hollars Townsend, one son; Thomas Russell Townsend, three sisters; Ollie Bentley, Mary Loudermilk, and Maude Johnson, and one brother; Sherman Bentley. Funeral services for Mrs. Dorothy Bentley Townsend will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. Officiating will be Father John Shields. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family has respectfully requested no food. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 o'clock until 7:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the Townsend family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Townsend family.

Charles Townsend

Mr. Charles Dewey Townsend, 78, of Hudson passed away Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at Frye Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Townsend was born June 15, 1932, in Watauga County, to the late Fred and Ada Mann Townsend.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Senter Townsend; two sons, Ronald and Michael Townsend; a sister, Sue Caldwell; and three brothers, J.C., Lloyd and Earl Townsend.

Mr. Townsend is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law; Butch Townsend of Sawmills, Raymond and Sheila Townsend of Sawmills, Donald and Angie Townsend of Hickory, and James Alexander of California; his daughters and sons-in-law; Debra and Charles Woodard of Lenoir, and Brenda and Ralph Davis of Lenoir; his brothers and sister-in-law, Hugh and Reba Townsend of Granite Falls, and Carroll Townsend of Lenoir; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Maxine and Jack Warren of Hudson, Pat and Johnnie Greene of Hudson, and Teresa Andrews of Hudson; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; he also is survived by numerous other relatives.

Mr. Townsend’s funeral service will be held Saturday, July 3, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Sunrise Baptist Church in Sawmills. Pastors Shawn Davis and Ed Warren will be officiating. Interment will immediately follow the service in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Billy Townsend, Nathan Davis, Jason Woodard, Jamie Woodard, Darren Townsend and Jonathan Greene.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the service at Sunrise Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the Townsend Family at www.evansfuneralservice.com.

Evans Funeral Service & Crematory of Lenoir is serving the Townsend family.


Read more: News-Topic - Friday s Obituaries July 2

Mrs. Ruby Hodges Bentley Posted Date: June 21, 2010
(September 09, 1914 - June 20, 2010)



Mrs. Ruby Margaret Hodges Bentley, born on September 9, 1914, passed away on June 20, 2010 at the Life Care Center of Banner Elk. She was the oldest of 13 children born to the late Leonard and Rosa Townsend Hodges of Valle Crucis. A native of Watauga County, Ruby lived most of her life in Banner Elk. She was a homemaker and gardener, and was generous in sharing her bounty. In her spare time, she loved to do quilting and craftwork and has shared much of her beautiful handiwork with family and friends. Even after moving to assisted living facilities, she continued to make pretty things and share them with other residents. She was a member of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church while living in Banner Elk but later attended the Chesterfield Church of Christ in Morganton and the Banner Elk Church of Christ in Banner Elk. She is survived by her two children: son Clayton Bentley and wife, Pat, of Banner Elk; daughter Myrtle Bentley Laws and her husband Dennis of Morganton; three sisters, Clara Baird of Palm Harbor, Florida; Anne Baird of Hillsboro, Ohio; Lucille Shook of Newland; five brothers, Dave Hodges of Salisbury, NC; Reece Hodges and Russell Hodges, both of Elizabethton, TN; Herman Hodges of Salisbury; Bob Hodges of Nebo, NC, and, by four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bentley was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, William “Ed” Bentley and an infant son, William Edward Bentley, Jr.; three sisters, Rita Mae Townsend of Banner Elk, Bessie Harrell of Valle Crucis, Ruth Easton of California; and a brother, Charles Hodges of Johnson City, TN. Funeral services for Ruby Hodges Bentley will be conducted Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM at Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Delmar James and Mr. Don Iverson. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 until 7:00 PM, prior to the services, at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services and burial will be conducted Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM at Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Banner Elk, NC.

Homer Lee Townsend
Homer Lee Townsend, age 72, of Lenoir passed away on Saturday June 19, 2010 at Gate Way Nursing Center in Lenoir. Born November 16, 1937 in Avery County, he was the son of the late Johnny and Dovie Naomi Arnett Townsend. Homer was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Lenoir and had worked for Kincaid Furniture. He enjoyed gardening, camping and fishing. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by; two sisters, Dovie Townsend and Edith Arnett. Left to cherish his memories are: his wife, Marie Ramsey Townsend of the home; his son, Danny Townsend of Gateway; his three daughters, Kathy and Gordon Townsend, Gloria Ragalado and Janice and Dwayne Townsend all of Lenoir; one sister, Mabel Ramsey of Banner Elk; ten grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews also survive. The family will receive friends on Monday June 21st from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Services will be conducted on Tuesday June 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at the Banner Elk Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Charles Hindman officiating. Interment will follow in the White Rock Cemetery. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made in memory of Homer to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care at 902 Kirkwood St. NW Lenoir, NC 28645 or www.caldwellhospice.org.

Elmer Clay Greene

BURLINGTON - Elmer Clay Greene, age 79, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 30, 2010, at his home after several months of failing health.

He was born in Watauga County January 24, 1931, to the late Spencer Dewey and Sarah Isabelle Lookabill Greene and was the husband of 60 years to Clara Townsend Greene who survives.

Mr. Greene faithfully attended Ireland St. Chapel for over 60 years. He retired from Kayser-Roth Men's Finishing as a maintenance supervisor and enjoyed hunting in his spare time.

Survivors include his wife of the home; daughters, Sandra Cheryl Davis and husband, J.W. of Graham and Karen Dean and best friend Jimmy Pope of Raleigh; grandchildren, Toby Cates of Graham, Chris Overby and wife, Sandra of Clayton, NC and Glenn Cates and wife, Brandy, of Burlington; great grandchildren, Tanner Cates, Mickey Cates, Kamryn Overby, Mallory Cates and Reagan Overby; and brother, Lloyd Greene and wife, Mildred of Wilson, NC. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Con "Pop" Graves; and sisters, Mary Preas and Hazel Graul as well as an infant sister and brother.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 1, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. John Shields and the burial will follow at Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home and other times at his home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215.

Virginia Ward Byrd, age 83, of Clark's Creek Road, Banner Elk, the Valle Crucis community, died Sunday afternoon, May 23, 2010 at her home. She was born August 11, 1926 in Watauga County to Aud and Lula Henson Ward. Mrs. Byrd was a member of Clark's Creek Baptist Church. She retired as a secretary from New River Light & Power Company. Mrs. Byrd is survived by one daughter, Mary Ellen Culler and husband Allen, and her grandson, Kevin Greene, all of Valle Crucis; one sister, Mary Louise McGuire of Wilkesboro; a number of nieces and nephews; and her special friend and caregiver, Kelly Guy of Valle Crucis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Wade Byrd, and four brothers, Tom, Gilbert, Clint, and Hugh Ward. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, May 26th at 2 o'clock at Clark's Creek Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Bill Warren, Rev. Mike Townsend and Rev. Carter Moretz. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o'clock. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial & Tribute Processing Center, PO Box 2516, Glen Allen, Virginia 23058, to the Watauga County Unit of the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1903, Boone, NC 28607, or to a charity of the donor's choice. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes. At other times, the family will be at the home of Mary Ellen Culler, 2714 Clark's Creek Road in Valle Crucis. Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Byrd family.