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Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Jan. 22, 2015

Elizabeth Mae Courtney (Oct. 7, 1928 – Jan. 18, 2015) 

Courtney
Courtney

Elizabeth Mae Courtney, 86, of 495 Betsy Dr., Todd, passed away Sunday afternoon, Jan. 18, 2015, at Watauga Medical Center.

Mrs. Courtney was born Oct. 7, 1928 in Corning, Arkansas, a daughter of the late John Jackson Alexander and Rosie Cagle Alexander. She was a homemaker and a long time member and Sunday School Teacher at Faith Tabernacle Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

My mother, known as “Liz” to her friends and Neighbors, was a caring and loving “Mom” and friend. She was raised in an orphanage after suffering polio as a 4-year-old child. She still managed to rear six children with one good hand. God gives each one of us a special gift in life. Her gift was a giving spirit. She cared for her neighbors taking them food and offering prayers. She didn’t know she was poor but she shared what she had and God blessed her for it.

The last couple of years, even though she was not able to cook, she still found a way to give. She loved to embroider and made beautiful pillow cases to give almost anyone who crossed her path.

A special thanks to our friends Celeste and Krazy Cat for their frequent visits. Also to Linda, “The Catfish Lady”.

Mrs. Courtney is survived by two daughters, Jacqueline Roberts and husband Jim of Todd, and Barbara Guignon and her companion, Gary Grier of St. Charles, Missouri; two sons, Kevin Courtney and wife Shonda of Fisk, Missouri, and James Leach of Missouri, and one sister, Mary Toombs of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert Eugene Courtney; one daughter, Robin Leach; one son, David Leach, and several brothers and sisters.

Funeral services for Elizabeth Mae Courtney will be conducted Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at noon, at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Reverend Kevin Courtney. Burial will follow in Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday morning, from 11 to 12 a.m., at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donors choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the Courtney family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service and Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, are in charge of the arrangements.

Louise Presnell Cornett (Aug. 20, 1927 – Jan. 15, 2015) 

Cornett
Cornett

Louise Presnell Cornett, 87, of Boone, passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living in Boone.

Mrs. Cornett was born Aug. 20, 1927 in Stokesbury, West Virginia, a daughter of the late Link and Annie Belle Younce Presnell. She was a retired garment inspector for Shadowline, Inc. in Boone. Mrs. Cornett was a long-time member of Mountain Dale Baptist Church and a current member of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church.

Mrs. Cornett is survived by three daughters, Linda C. Wolfferts of Banner Elk, Kathy Deas and husband John of Boone, and Shelia Perry and husband Nathan of Boone; one son, Larry Albert Cornett and wife Lockwood of Vilas; one sister, Ruth Cornett and husband Clint of Vilas; two granddaughters, Vickie Watson of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Amy Wolfferts of Banner Elk; one grandson, Jeff Wolfferts of Vilas, and two step-grandchildren, Tony Cook of Vilas and Beverly Herald and husband Tony of Bonita Springs, Florida. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Grady Cornett; one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Cornett , and one sister, Pauline Ward.

Funeral services for Louise Presnell Cornett will be conducted Sunday afternoon, Jan. 18, 2015, at 3 p.m., at Mountain Dale Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Officiating will be Pastor Eric Cornett and Pastor Wynn Greer. Burial will follow in Mountain Dale Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., at the church, prior to the service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Rock of Ages Prison Ministries, in care of Mountain Dale Baptist Church, 2308 Mountain Dale Road, Vilas, North Carolina, 28692, or to Mount Lebanon Baptist Church Missions Fund, in care of Dale Hayes, 3207 NC Highway 105 South, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to the Cornett family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Leon Stacks, III (Oct. 3, 1954 – Jan. 15, 2015) 

Stacks III
Stacks III

Leon Stacks, III, 60, of Clarence Newton Road, Blowing Rock, passed away Thursday evening, Jan. 15, 2015.

Leon was born Oct. 3, 1954 in Mecklenburg County, a son of the late Leon Stacks, Jr. and Virginia Smith Stacks.

Leon is survived by his daughter, Kara McCutchen and husband Mac of Boone; one granddaughter, Isabella Metts of Boone; his brother, David Stacks and wife Anne of Augusta, Georgia, and two nephews, Matthew Stacks and Daniel Stacks.

The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon, Jan. 24, 2015, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service.

The family respectfully requests no flowers.

Online condolences may be sent to the Stacks family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Luke Greenwood (Oct. 10, 1974 – Jan. 15, 2015)

Luke Greenwood, age 40, of Boone passed away on Jan. 15, 2015.

Greenwood
Greenwood

He was born Oct. 10, 1974 in Miami, Fl.

Luke was an IT Information Security Specialist for Boone Drug.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Collins Benfield.

Luke was a very loving, caring, leading and compassionate father, husband and son who has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Tonya Greenwood of the home; son, Tyce Greenwood also of the home; mothers, Jane Benfield Greenwood of Altamont; grandmother, Alma Benfield of Altamont; mother and father-in-law, Gale and Beth Cunningham of Tilton, IL; father, Dr. Kenneth K. Greenwood of Johnson City, TN.; many beloved cousins and extended family.

Funeral services for Luke Roger Greenwood will be conducted on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Dr. Larry Phillips officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Future Education of Tyce Alexander Greenwood Fund at 245 Woodhaven Lane Boone, NC 28607.

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

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Greenwood family.

Mrs. Ann W. Graham (Feb. 5, 1914 – Jan. 13, 2015) 

Ann Warner Graham, 100, died Jan. 13, 2015 at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Boone, where she had been a resident for three years.

Graham
Graham

A service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Whiteville, N.C. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. The family will greet friends at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary and the service will be conducted at 2 p.m. by the Reverend Kerry Peeler.

Burial will follow at the Whiteville Memorial Cemetery. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at First Presbyterian Churhc in Boone, NC. The family will greet friends at 10 a.m. Service will follow at 11 a.m. A light lunch will be served at the conclusion of the service for friends and family in the church gathering space.

Ann was born to John Prince Warner Sr. and Catherine Jackson Warner on Feb. 5, 1914, in Scotland County, N.C. In 1924, the family moved from Bladen County to Whiteville in Columbus County. In 1932 she graduated from Whiteville High School. She married Russell Graham of Lake Waccamaw in 1933. They lived and worked in that community until 1960 when they moved to Whiteville. Their only daughter, Peggy, was born in 1934 and grew up at the lake.

Ann held jobs at the U.S. Post Office and at the Council Tool Company store at Wananish. Upon moving to Whiteville she worked in the record room at Columbus County Hospital. She also worked in the optometry lab of Dr. Robert Sweeley and as receptionist to optometrist Dr. Sam Whitehead, succeeding her mother who retired at the age of 91. Ann retired in 1999 at the age of 85. She was one of the first volunteers at the main hospital campus of the Columbus Regional Healthcare System, working as a receptionist.

Ann was a long-time member of Lake Waccamaw United Methodist Church and was active in the Lake Waccamaw Womans Club. After moving to Whiteville, she was active in Westminster Presbyterian Church, her home church since she was 11 years old. She was active in womens work and honored with Life Membership in Presbyterian Women. Along with her mother and sister, she enjoyed visiting with friends and frequenting Eds Grill and the fountain at Columbus Drug Store.

She celebrated her 100th birthday in Feb. 2014 at a gathering in Boone attended by more than 100 family and friends. She was named Centenarian of the Year in Watauga County by the Adult Services Coalition in May of 2014.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband Russell in 1982, brother J.P. Warner Jr., sister Catherine Warner and son-in-law Ray Buckner.

Her memory will be cherished by her daughter, Peggy Graham Buckner of Boone and Lincolnton, grandsons Ty Buckner of Greensboro, N.C., John Buckner (Jeannie) of Davidson, N.C., Will Buckner (Patty) of Vilas, N.C., and six great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, who took such loving care of Ann. Thanks go as well to The Caregivers Ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Boone for their love and support.

Memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Whiteville or the charity of ones choice.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes of Boone is serving the Graham family.