Frances Allison-Joyce

Frances Gibbs Allison-Joyce, 72, of High Point, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, at the Hospice Home at High Point.

Services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the chapel of Cumby Funeral Home with Mike Pugh and Larry Pugh officiating.

Born April 10, 1937, in Jackson County, she was a daughter of Florence Creasman Gibbs of Sylva and the late Clyde Gibbs. She retired from Wal-Mart of High Point where she worked for 17 years, and was of the Holiness faith.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by first husband of 50 years, Silas Eugene “Gene” Allison in 2005; one sister, Jackie Gibbs; and two brothers, Clyde Gibbs Jr. and Ed Gibbs.

Surviving in addition to her mother, are her second husband, Buford Joyce; one daughter, Vicki Stanley of Archdale; one son, Ricky Allison of Trinity; one stepdaughter, Kay Culler of Lexington; one stepson, Mike Joyce of Wallburg; two sisters, Jeraldine Watson of Cullowhee, and Susie Maney of Cherokee; 13 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr., High Point, NC 27262.

Buford Ward, 74, of Sols Creek Road, Tuckasegee, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the chapel of Melton Funeral Home with the Rev. Dale Roberts officiating.

Burial was in Thomas Cemetery with military rites conducted by the American Legion William E. Dillard Post.

A native of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Grady and Irene Oxner Ward. He was a former employee of Jackson Paper and a U.S. veteran.

Surviving are two daughters, Rebecca Tramper of Cherokee, and Ruth Kidder of Knoxville, Tenn.; one sister, Helen Ward of Whittier; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Mary Elizabeth Shannon Slater, 92, formerly of Whittier, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, in Asheville.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Whittier United Methodist Church.

Eugena Awtrey, 50, of Whittier, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home.

She was a daughter of Dale and Sue Peterson of McDonough, Ga. She was a native of Atlanta, Ga., and had been living in Swain County for the past 10 years.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Mike Awtrey; two sons, Zach Awtrey and Tyler Awtrey; two daughters, Amanda Woods and Taylor Awtrey; two sisters; one brother; and one granddaughter.

An online registry is available at www.crispfuneralhome.org.

Helen Grace Peigler Folsom, 85, of Sylva and Greenville, S.C., died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Wells Funeral Home, Waynesville.

A native of Greenville, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Commodore Thomas and Leila Coon Peigler. She earned her degree in Sociology from Greenville Technical College.

Surviving are two sisters, Amy Peigler Gibbs of Sylva, and Ann Peigler Jones of Sarasota, Fla.

An online registry is available at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

Mazie Thompson Sanford, 90, of Sylva, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center, following a period of declining health.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home with the Rev. Ray Knowles officiating.

Burial was in New Savannah Baptist Church Cemetery.

Betty J. Savage, 81, of Sylva, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.

Services will be held at a later date.

Melton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tanya Anne Ferrin, 34, of Cashiers, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, in Winston-Salem, after suffering an aneurysm.

Services will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Cashiers Baptist Church.

A daughter of Bridget and Carl Ferrin Jr., she was a 1993 graduate of Blue Ridge High School and attended Southwestern Community College for nursing. She was a certified nursing assistant and a front-desk clerk at the Hampton Inn of Cashiers/Sapphire.

Surviving in addition to her parents, are her grandparents, Jack and Pat Dillon; one sister, Theresa Foley; and one brother, C. David Ferrin, III.

Deborah Smeltzer Burslem, 53, of Harold Street, Sylva, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at Mission Hospitals, Asheville.

Services will be held at a later date in Greensboro.

Melton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Finley Powell Bristol Jr., 66, of Asheville, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at First Baptist Church in Asheville with the Rev. Eddie Morgan officiating.

Burial was in Cherokee’s Drama Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 8013.

A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of Rebecca Marlowe Bristol of Marion and the late Finley Powell Bristol Sr. He was an area sales representative for the Sherwin Williams Company, retiring in 2008. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Asheville, Buncombe County Wildlife Club and an Air Force veteran, having served in Vietnam.

Surviving in addition to his mother are his wife of 26 years, Rebecca Cabe Bristol; two daughters, Tami Parton of Asheville, and Alicia Cledaras of Greenville, S.C.; two sons, Jason Bristol of Minneapolis, Minn., and Justin Bristol of Murphy; one brother, Eddie Bristol of Marion; and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Drama Cemetery Fund, First Citizens Bank and Trust, Cherokee, NC 28719.

Melton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.