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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Sept. 24, 2014

Ramona Teller Humphrey (April 27, 1937 – Sept. 22, 2014)

Ramona Theresa Teller Humphrey, 77, of Banner Elk, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home, with her family at her side, on Sept. 22, 2014.

Humphrey
Humphrey

Ramona was born in Faith and was the daughter of the late Daniel Woolsley Teller and Theresa Grundman Nolan Teller. She was born to the late Myrtle Carrie LaFollette and Lewis David Alexander Peeler, and named Camilla Ann Peeler. Her mother passed when she was an infant, and she was adopted by the Tellers. She graduated from Greensboro High School in 1955 and completed the one-year secretarial program at Women’s College (WC), now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

On Nov. 22, 1956, she married the love of her life, Vann Hilliard Humphrey, Jr. They were married 52 years, before they were separated by his death in February 2009. They made their home in Raleigh and later in retirement, in Salisbury. After Vann’s death, Ramona moved to Banner Elk to be near her daughters.

Ramona was a homemaker and life-long student, attending Meredith College and Catawba College during many of her adult years. She had an unquenchable thirst for continual learning. Ramona had very developed creative talents. She was a decorator, including interior and exterior design, and earned her Master Gardener certification. She was a painter and artist, and while in Banner Elk, enjoyed exploring her talents with oil painting. She and her husband shared a deep appreciation and love for classical music, and in particular, for opera. Ramona mastered the folk guitar and piano. She was a member of the folk music group, the Cradlerockers, in the 1970’s, and performed with them at the 1972 Democratic Convention, in Raleigh. She was a soloist, on occasion, at her church in Raleigh.
Ramona and Vann led an adventurous life and filled their children’s lives with many fond camping memories. Their most precious place on earth was Hanging Rock State Park. Years of family camping cultured a love for the out of doors and for God’s beauty in nature in each of them. Vann and Ramona camped, canoed, traipsed across the US in a tiny 4’ x 6’ tent, and bicycled.

Ramona was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk. She is survived by her three children, Karen Humphrey Starnes of Winston-Salem, Marsha Humphrey McManus and her husband, Dave, of Banner Elk, and Thomas Daniel Humphrey of Wilmington, and her five grandchildren, Alan Christopher Starnes and his wife, Ali, Thomas Daniel Humphrey, Jr., Andrea Christine Starnes, Anna Marie Canterbury and James Woodrow Canterbury. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vann Hilliard Humphrey, Jr., and her birth siblings, Mildred Elizabeth Peeler, Alma Augusta Peeler, Clara Nell Peeler, Doris Louise Peeler, Lewis David Alexander Peeler, Jr., Evelyn Eugenia Peeler, Celia Clarice Peeler, Marcell LaMott Peeler, and Thelma Lorraine Peeler (adopted and named Barbara Lee Rosser).
Viewing: The family will receive friends at the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland on Sept. 23 between 6 to 8 p.m.

Service: A service to celebrate the gift of Ramona’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at First Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk with Rev. Roland Mullinix officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall after the service.

Interment: She will be laid to rest in a family plot beside her husband and father at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Salisbury on Thursday, Sept. 25 at noon.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the American Cancer Society in honor of Ramona’s life of charity, love and goodwill.

Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family and viewed at www.rsfh.net.

Wayne Frederick Greene (Oct. 19, 1948 – Sept. 21, 2014)

Green
Greenee

The Rev. Dr. Wayne Frederick Greene, 65, of 2283 Sunnymeade Road, Rustburg, went home to be with his Lord Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, at Lynchburg General Hospital. He was the husband of the late Rebecca Ann Collins Greene.

He was born Oct. 19, 1948, in Avery County, a son of the late Fornie S. Greene and Ruby Caldwell Greene. He was the founder and the pastor of Clearview Baptist Church.

He is survived by two sisters, Judy Steadman and her husband, Jerrell, of Lynchburg and Gail Brown and her husband, Louis, of Rustburg; a host of very special nieces and nephews; a longtime friend, co-founder and assistant pastor of Clearview Baptist Church, the Rev. Terry Cook; and a special longtime friend, the Rev. Zane Kramer, also youth pastor J.D. Critcher.

A brother, Billy Joe Greene, preceded him in death.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at Clearview Baptist Church by the Rev. Terry Cook, the Rev. Gary Greene, the Rev. Zane Kramer, the Rev. Jeff Worley, the Rev. Carlton Duck, the Rev. Noah Fry and the Rev. Don Collins with interment to follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Clearview Baptist Church and other times at the residence of Judy Steadman, 2461 Lone Jack Road, Lynchburg.

The family would like to thank devoted friend and caretaker, Doris Vest.

The family suggests that those wishing to make memorials consider Clearview Baptist Church, PO Box 386, Rustburg, VA 24588.

Finch & Finch Funeral and Cremation Service, Altavista, is in charge of arrangements.

Please visit the online tribute by clicking to www.finchandfinchfuneralservice.com to share a memory or send a condolence to the family.

Renee Eve Miller D. Sept. 18, 2014

Renee Eve Miller, 83, of Beech Mountain, and Haines City, Fla., passed away on Sept. 18, 2014, at her summer home on Beech Mountain.

Services for Mrs. Miller will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grandparents’ Club of Grandfather Home For Children. Please contact Abigail Ward at A.Lord@grandfatherhome.org for further information.