All Obituaries

Mr. Shirley Lee Little, 97, of Statesville, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, January 15, 2020, surrounded by his family. Mr. Little was born August 2, 1922 in Iredell County and was the son of the late Roy P. Little, Sr. and Brita Moose Little. He was a graduate of Celeste-Henkel School and served in the 104th Infantry Division of the US Army during WWII in France and Germany. On September 28, 1946, he married the late Gladys Anna Hoke Little, who passed away on June 3, 2008. Following...

Karen Kernene Cox, 76, of Statesville, passed away, Monday, January 13, 2020 at Maple Leaf Health Care. Karen was born May 16, 1943 in Chicago, IL and was the daughter of the late Lefty and Julia Burgess Kernene. She attended schools in Westville, IL and was retired from Ford Industries. She loved to give to others, cats and was a wonderful friend to many. She is survived by a daughter, Cinnamon Cox of Florida; grandson, Gary Henderson and numerous special friends. In addition to her...

Percy Kenneth Travis, age 85, our beloved husband, father, and friend passed into his eternal life with Christ Jesus on Sunday, January 12, 2020. Percy was born on February 10, 1934, in Newton, NC to Gordon Long and Sadie Harbin Travis. He graduated from Statesville High School in 1954. Percy married Phyllis Stradley on January 17, 1959. Percy and Phyllis have two children - Patricia “Trish” Travis Loudermilt (Keith) and Philip (Tracy) Travis. Percy spent most of his working...

Sue Woodside Ruffin, 98, formerly of Statesville, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Transitions of Wake County. Sue was born November 25, 1921 in Iredell County and was the daughter of the late Otis Lathan Woodside and Mamie Lee Vickery Woodside. She was a graduate of Scotts High School and Lees McRae College with a degree in Medical Records. She served in the US Coast Guard (SPAR) from 1941-1945 during World War II. Later she worked for UNC Memorial Hospital; HUD and was a State...

Linda Kay Barker Eldridge, 75, of Alisa Viejo, CA, formerly of Statesville, passed away, January 10, 2020 at the Gordon Hospice House. She was born August 24, 1944, the second child of five Children to the late Louise and Zeb Barker of Statesville. Linda was a 1962 graduate of Harmony High School, where she was a member of the Varsity Cheerleading squad. Linda attended Greensboro College transferring to UNC Greensboro where she graduated in 1968 receiving her Bachelor of Music degree in...

PFC Jacob Jordan Valenzuela, 23, passed away unexpectedly January 5, 2020 in El Paso, TX where he was currently stationed at Fort Bliss.    Jacob was born September 9, 1996 to Diana Byrnes and David Valenzuela Jr.  Jacob grew up and graduated High School in Riverside, CA and was serving in the US Army.  Jacob was a beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend to all he knew. Jacob is survived by his mother and step dad Keith and Diana Byrnes of...

Mrs. Chloa Lippard Willis, 106, of Statesville, passed away, Sunday, January 5, 2020 at the Gordon Hospice House. Mrs. Willis was born August 6. 1913 in Iredell County and was the daughter of the late Alexander Brown Lippard and Lillie Snow Lippard. She was a graduate of Scotts High School and was first married to the late Carroll Breman Bollinger, who passed away in 1947 and later married the late Theron W. Willis, who passed away in 1971. She was a housemother at Davis Hospital School of...

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Long of Statesville, NC passed away on Monday, December 30, 2019 at the age of 51 after a long battle with cancer. Elizabeth loved spending time with her family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. Many will remember her for adding light into their lives. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Long, her daughter, Krystina Sharp, her son, Ryan Coleman (Anna), and her stepdaughter, Sydney Long. She is also survived by two grandsons, Reece and Liam, and several aunts,...

Billie T. Lassiter “Billie Gray”, 80, of Statesville, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully Sunday, December 29, 2019 at her home.   Billie Gray was born to the late Grayson Columbus Thomas and Dora Johnson Thomas on December 10, 1939 in Burlington, NC.  She was a 1958 graduate of Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, where she backed the Bulldogs as a member of the Varsity Cheerleading squad. She went on to graduate from Watts School of Nursing in Durham,...

Frances Deal Kimball, 84, died on Saturday evening, December 28, at her home in Statesville after a long illness.  Born on September 29, 1935, in Statesville, Frances was the daughter of the late Asa Watt Deal and Ethel Jessup Deal.  She was preceded in death by her husband of more than 45 years, Hugo Brown Kimball, who died on November 19, 2005. Frances was a graduate of Statesville Senior High School, where her father was principal, and of the Woman’s College of the...