The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland
Herbert Hoover Pritchard
November 19, 1928 ~ March 22, 2026
Herbert Hoover Pritchard, age 97, Boone, passed away Sunday evening, March 22, 2026 at his home. Born November 19,1928 in Avery County, he was one of 11 children born to Willard and Emma Pritchard.
Herb’s life was a testimony to his strong Christian faith and his dedication to sharing his love of Christ with others. He was a preacher’s kid and grew up to become a Church of God pastor leading three churches (Blowing Rock, Lewiston, ID and Pineola). At age 95, he published two books with the hopes of spreading the gospel. One of the highlights of his later years was his book signing held at Chick Fil-A in Boone. Herb was a Master Piano Technician and rebuilder for 70 years. He owned a local piano shop in Boone and tuned pianos for singer Brenda Lee, and numerous concert pianists at App State.
Herb loved the outdoors and took every opportunity to float fish and fly fish in trout streams. He traveled extensively out West visiting as many National Parks as possible while he was able to travel.
Mr. Pritchard is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Pritchard; daughter, Libbie Johnson; sons, Michael, Phillip, Terry (Holly) and Max (Crystal) Pritchard; two step-children, Laura (Dale) and Mack (Holly) Tugman. He is survived by nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren and many close friends.
Celebration of Life services for Herbert Pritchard will be conducted Saturday afternoon, March 28, 2026 at 2:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Ronnie Pyatte. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2:30, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes.
Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Medi Home Health & Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 10OB, Boone, NC 28607.
Online condolence may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Pritchard family.
Earl Dean Hamm
October 24, 1968 ~ March 23, 2026
Earl Dean Hamm Jr. passed away on March 23, 2026, at Ashe Memorial Hospital, at the age of 57.
Born on October 24, 1968, to Earl Dean Hamm Sr. and Nancy Canter Dollar, Earl grew up to be a devoted family man, with his grandchildren becoming the light of his life. He was known for his hardworking nature and his love of collecting what others might call “junk” though Earl might think it was good stuff worth holding onto. Whether hauling things off or bringing them home, he had a knack for finding value where others didn’t and never passed up the chance to tinker, trade, or lend a helping hand.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Novella Hamm.
Earl is survived by his loving wife, Speedie Stanley; his mother, Nancy Dollar Canter; stepfather, Marvin Canter; brother, Ben Canter (Missy); niece, Tiffany Canter; stepsister, Kathy Canter; grandchildren, Nevada May, Carrie May, and Shelton Price; great-grandchildren, Lakelynn May, Zane Jones, and Carson Jones; a great-grandchild on the way, Hudson Barker; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to honor and remember Earl’s life.
Online condolences may be made to www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Hamm family.
John Walter Moody
May 30, 1938 ~ March 23, 2026
John Walter Moody, age 87, of Cardinal Lane, Boone, passed away Monday afternoon, March 23,2026 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Born May 30, 1938 in Watauga County, he was a son of Ivan Grant and Alma Hollars Moody.
John served in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman in Vallejo, CA. Prior to that, he served on the ice breaker ship, the USS Staton Island. Before retiring from Appalachian State University, John was employed by Blue Ridge Shoe Company.
He was a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Sunday school teacher. Johns’ favorite hobby was cars. He became a car expert by reading books and magazines, learning all he could on the subject.
More than anything, John loved his Lord, family and friends and his church family at Mt. Vernon.
He is survived by wife, Faye West Moody of 67 years and his daughter, Jackie Moody Blowen of Colleyville, Texas, and was preceded in death by an infant son, Dennis LeRoy Moody.
Also surviving are his brothers and sisters, Betty Moody Coffey, Paul Moody and wife Margaret West Moody and Ruby Moody Walters, all of Blowing Rock, and was preceded in death by his sister, Anne Moody Elrod. Numerous nephews and nieces also survive.
Funeral services for John Moody will be conducted Saturday morning, March 28th at 11 o’clock at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Bud Russell. The family will receive friends from 10 until 11 o’clock, prior to services, at the church. Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion Post #190. Graveside services will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.
Flowers are appreciated or the family suggests memorials to Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 3505 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.
Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Moody family.
Curtis Gwynn Watson
February 11, 1961 – March 27, 2026
Curtis Gwynn Watson age 65 of Boone passed away March 27, 2026.
He was born February 11, 1961, in Watauga County. A son of the late Clemon and Beulah Brown Watson.
He is survived by two sisters, Sandra Hicks and husband Paul of Marion, North Carolina and Stacie Segars and husband Shane of Blairsville, Georgia: one niece Avery Segars and one nephew Tristan Segars both of Blairsville, Georgia.
In addition to his father and mother he was preceded by one brother Jimmy Watson and one niece Jessica Hicks.
A graveside service will be conducted 2:00 PM Friday April 3, 2026, at Browns Chapel Cemetery. Reverend Robert “Bobby” Hicks will officiate.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Browns Chapel Cemetery c/o Wiley Brown 1107 Browns Chapel Road Boone, North Carolina 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptofuneralnc.com
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service in charge of the arrangements
Hartridge Davis Walker
March 27, 2026
Hartridge Davis Walker passed away peacefully at the age of 70 with family by his side on Friday, March 27, 2026.
Davis was born in Greenwood, SC and later moved to Brunswick, GA and graduated from Glynn Academy High School in 1974.
Davis has been employed with The Wilcox Family since moving to Boone, NC in 1981 where he met many friends who also became his family.
He was preceded in death by his father Howard Walker, Sr. and his longtime companion Connie Starnes who he missed every day.
Survivors include his two daughters Priscilla (Bryan) Bratcher and Michel (Kevin) Dunham, four grandchildren Dalton (Olivia) Head, Austin (Jade) Head, Mallory Merrill and Ava Dunham, One great grandson Declan Head, Mother Gloria Davis Walker, brother Howard (Terri) Walker Jr, sister Stepheny Kirton, several nieces and nephews and best friend and in laws Boonie and Jean Miller and their daughter Mickey.
A gathering of friends will be held 11:00 AM Friday April 3, 2026, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service in charge of the arrangements.
Carolyn Jones Braswell
April 1, 1947 – March 23, 2026
Carolyn Jones Braswell, 78, of Newland, NC, passed away early Monday morning March 23rd, 2026 in Elizabethton, TN.
Carolyn was born on April Fool’s Day in the year 1947 in Banner Elk, NC, to Newton & Iva Lee Jones. She attended Crossnore High School. At 16, she married James Burleson. A few years later, they welcomed their daughter Tammy Burleson when they were stationed in Fort Hood, TX. Eventually, after moving closer to home, Carolyn worked with her sister Shirley Crisco at the Pump House in Charlotte, NC. After moving to Quimby, SC she worked for the local housing authority. After moving back to Charlotte, she worked as a switchboard operator for Pritchard Paint & Glass. After the sudden and unexpected death of her husband James, Carolyn remained in Charlotte and began employment at Tody Brown’s & The Thoroughbred Lounge, where she dedicated several years of work. This is also where she met her late husband, William Braswell. She and William remained married until his passing in 2022.
Carolyn was known to be a sassy spitfire who wore her emotions all over her face. Her laugh was infectious, and her attention to detail will be remembered forever. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or important event of loved ones. She kept Hallmark in business for decades. Carolyn’s phone stayed hot with the latest story, opening with “I tried to call you, but I never did get no answer”, and always ended with an “I love you!” Her baking skills were unmatched, and her hosting talents were remarkable. Her presence will be deeply missed by everyone who had the exceptional luck to cross paths with her.
She was a wonderful example of a daughter, sister, mother, nana, and friend.
There will never be another like her.
Carolyn is survived by her daughter Tammy Burleson, grandchildren Danielle (Scott) Carpenter, Shawn (Andrea) Braswell, great grandchildren Everett & Estelle Carpenter, April Little, Ellie & Lucy Braswell, Zach, Lily, Tristan, and Zoey Asso, sisters Judy (VJ) Storie, Nona (Barry) Kirby, Katherine (Sam) Nugent, brother Bernie Burleson.
Carolyn is preceded in death by her father and mother, Newton & Iva Lee Jones, her uncle and aunt Earl & Colleen Pittman, her uncle Roy Jones, her sister Shirley (Nookie) Jones Crisco, her husbands James Burleson, and William (Phillip) Braswell.
A graveside service will be held at Ashley (Johnson) Cemetery off Chestnut Dale Rd in Newland, NC on April 4th, 2026 at NOON.
Afterwards, a celebration of life will be held at The Event Barn, located at
1600 Jonas Ridge Highway, Newland, NC 28657 at 2 PM.
Food & refreshments will be provided.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Avery County Senior Center of Newland, NC.
Judy Ann Johnson
March 22, 1945 – March 23, 2026
Judy Ann Turbyfill Johnson of Newland died on March 23, 2026, peacefully after a long battle with dementia. Judy was born on March 22, 1945, to the late Howard and Louise Turbyfill. She was also proceeded in death by her husband David George Johnson, son-in-law, Adam Harmon, father-in-law, and mother-in-law, George and Mary Johnson. Several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Judy was a member of Emmanual Baptist Church in Newland, NC.
She was a kind and loving Christian woman. She devoted most of her life being a pastor’s wife, and at the Avery Senior Center from which she retired.
She loved her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, mammaw, great mammaw, and mother-in-law. She showed a true example of a Christian to us all. She was soft-spoken and always had a smile on her face.
We are so thankful for the reunion she is having in heaven with Jesus and all her loved ones.
Left behind to cherish her memory is daughter Joy Harmon, two sons, Jeff (Missy) Johnson, Scott (Christy) Johnson. Grandchildren, A.J., Dakota (Emmily), Landon (Kiyana) Harmon, Andy (Kaylee), Alex Johnson, Mackenzie (Jeremy) Coffey, Samantha, Anna Grace, Daniel Johnson. Great Grandchildren Asher, Adriyan, Davis, Calee, Preslee, Everleigh Harmon, Emersyn Coffey. Sister, Phyllis Thomas, two brothers, Gary (Kathie) Turbyfill, Steve (Jody) Turbyfill. A host of nieces of nephews. Shopping buddy and friend Brenda Watson. Also, her sister-in-law, June (Sis) Buchanan, who was her best friend at Cranberry House. They walked hand in hand together and watched tv too.
Funeral services will take place at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2:00 pm with Joe Ingham and Steve Turbyfill officiating. Burial will follow in the John Johnson Cemetery.
The family will gather with friends on Sunday from 1:00 until 2:00 at the church on Sunday.
Pallbearers will be: Dakota Harmon, Landon Harmon, Davis Harmon, Andy Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Scott Vance, Tim Turbyfill, Scott Johnson, Jeff Johnson
A thank you seems so small for all the loving and kind people who have taken beautiful and devoted care of our mom. Mom was surrounded by angels from Hospice and The Cranberry House. Thank you all for giving mom around the clock care. The dancing, singing, dressing her up and making sure she had jewelry on, all the hugs, and I love you’s. You all have been a blessing from God. She loved each and every one of you.
The care of Judy and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland.
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