All Obituaries

     Donald Christopher Stroup, son of the late Samuel and Nancy Stroup, was born on July 25, 1926 and passed away August 13, 2019. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Grace Allen Stroup. Mr. Stroup was a master mason and a veteran of WWII.      To cherish his memory, he leaves behind his three children, Donald Joseph Stroup (Debbie), Susan Stroup Baylor (Bill), and Christopher Allen Stroup. He is also survived by four grandchildren,...

          Nancy Elaine Stroud Latham, age 71, of Black Mountain, NC, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at her home. She was born on December 21, 1947 in Buncombe County, NC to the late Woodrow and Ruth Stroud. Nancy worked in the assembly line at a car fuse manufacturing company and was a member of Nesbitt's Chapel United Methodist Church in Fairview, NC. She was married to and widowed by her husband, Michael Latham, who passed in 2002. Along with her...

          Palmer Eugene Burgess, age 77, of Lynchburg, VA, passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at Oakwood Health & Rehabilitation Center in Bedford, VA. He was born on August 28, 1941 in Buncombe County, NC to the late Delmar Samuel and Ruth Rollins Burgess. Eugene worked as a group leader for an electrical company and was a member of Swannanoa Heights Baptist Church. Along with his parents, he was also predeceased by his wife, Shelba Jean Messer Burgess who...

          Gordon Spiers Tannett, age 91, of Black Mountain, NC, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at the VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. He was born on February 16, 1928 in Bergen County, NJ (Teaneck) to the late James S. and Lillian M. Berkeley Tannett. Gordon was a United States Army and Korean War Veteran. He also worked as a purchasing agent for Continental Can Company and was of the Episcopalian Faith. Gordon is survived by his...

          John "Jody" Hilliard Lee Jr., age 65, of Waynesville, NC, passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Mission Hospital in Asheville. He was born on February 9, 1954 in Haywood County, NC to the late John H. Lee Sr. and Artis McDowell Lee. John worked as a mailman for the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Waynesville. He is survived by his son, Trevion Lee of Atlanta, GA; his daughter, Sheyquan Battle of Atlanta, GA;...

          Denise Ann Graessle, age 56, of Candler, NC, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. She was born on December 2, 1962 in Bradenton, FL to the late Ernest Boyett Jr. and the still living Shirley Walls Rollings of Bradenton, FL. Along with her father, Denise was also predeceased by a son, Joseph "Joey" Raymond Graessle. Along with her mother, she is also survived by her son, Jason "Jay" Cory Graessle...

Pauline Elizabeth Armstrong Clark Hagan Skinner December 28, 1928 – July 15, 2019           Polly Skinner, 90, of Black Mountain died July 15, 2019 at Givens Highland Farms.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Friend Skinner, her son Tom Skinner, her birth mother, Helen Armstrong, and her adoptive parents, Albert and Eva Hagan.  She is survived by her children Susan (Daffi) Nathanson of NYC, Jim (Terri) Skinner of Winston-Salem,...

          Robert Bennett Shepard, 78, of Wilson Cove, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at John F. Keever Solace Center, Asheville. A resident of Swannanoa for over 40 years, he was born in Alameda County, CA, oldest son of the late Robert L. Shepard and Elisabeth Bennett Shepard. A graduate of California State College, Hayward, he received a Master’s degree from San Francisco State University and became a CPA. Robert served as a private in the United States Army...

          Angus Theophilus Brown, Jr.  of Black Mountain, NC died on July 3.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Doris Calloway Brown of Black Mountain.  He is survived by sons Chuck Brown, Asheville; Richard Brown, Clayton, NC (Julie Peacock Brown and her sons Adam and Luke Hinton); Tommy Brown, Boone, NC (Karen Shafer Brown; grandsons Hayden Brown, Champaign, IL and Shafer Brown, Black Mountain, NC; ‘Adopted...

          Mamie Ruth Laws White, 96, of Swannanoa, NC, passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Flesher's of Fairview. She was born on February 5, 1923 in Buncombe County, NC to the late John Clinton "J.C." and Mable Davidson Laws of Swannanoa, NC. After graduating from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, Mamie started her career in Detroit, MI. She worked as a registered nurse for 35 years at Kastle Steel Manufacturing Company in Detroit. She moved...