All Obituaries

       Jane Alice Stearns, age 98, of Black Mountain, NC, passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain. She was born on July 8, 1920 in Chicago, IL to the late Allen Noble and Alice Strickler Stearns. Jane worked as a social worker with the Red Cross for 20 years. She was a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and at the University of Mississippi where she was also the Assistant Dean and where she eventually retired...

              Virginia Dale Jones, 46, of Asheville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at her residence. She was a native of Morristown, TN but has lived in Asheville for many years. Virginia was the daughter of the late Joe Charles and Verda Mattie Lee Moore Wells. She worked as a private duty Certified Nursing Assistant and was of the Baptist...

       Harry (Tip) Sawyer, 98, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at the Solace Center. A native of Buncombe County, he was the son of the late Chan C. and Blanche Lunsford Sawyer. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Wilma Nelson; and brothers Charles and Ray Sawyer. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sara Shope Sawyer; daughter, Madeline Dillingham and husband Dover; granddaughter, Loren Hagearty; grandson, Kyle Dillingham; three great...

      Robert (Bob) John Rumney, age 85, of Swannanoa, NC, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018. He was born on October 7, 1933 in Elizabethtown, NY to the late LD and Beatrice Goodroe Rumney. He was a United States Army Veteran and also served in the Coast Guard Reserves and the Merchant Marines. Bob then worked as a technician for Bell Telephone Co. for 40 years, was a member of St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Swannanoa, a member of USO and of American...

       Julie Anne Pierce, age 58, of Swannanoa, NC passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018 at Asheville Health Care Center. She was born on August 14, 1959 in Ely, Minnesota to the late Raymond Delbert and Kathrine Johnson. Julie was a homemaker for her family and was predeceased by her husband, Shane Pierce who passed away in May of 2018. She is survived by her son, Noah Pierce of Swannanoa; and four brothers.        There will be no service per...

       Ronnie Dean Harris, 57, of Rock Mason Road in Swannanoa, died Friday, November 23rd.  Harris was the son of the late Lee Roy Harris. He worked as a third generation stone mason for most of his life and attended Swannanoa Church of God. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ray William Harris.        Surviving him are his mother, Georgia Rogers Harris; his wife, Tenia Harris; one brother, Richard Lee Harris of East Flat Rock; two...

      Shelley Anita Turner (King), age 61, of Nebo, NC, passed away on Thursday, November 22, 2018 at the JFK Solace Center in Asheville. She was born on October 4, 1957 in Deland, FL to the late Charles Edward King and Frances Louise Harper of AK. Shelley was a homemaker for her family. Along with her mother, she is survived by her husband, Eddie Turner; her sons, Courtney Boyd of Valdosta, GA, Aaron Boyd of Valdosta, GA, Tyler Boyd of IA, and A.J. Durham of Marion, NC;...

      Sarah Sybil Owenby, age 65, of Swannanoa, passed away on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. She was born on July 20, 1953 in Buncombe County to the late Eugene Pressley and Sherry Forga. Sarah worked as a housekeeper for Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain and was of the Baptist Faith. She is survived by her daughters, Betty Vincent of Swannanoa and Sara Gregory of SC; her brothers, Hershel Pressley (Kathy) of SC and Eugene "Geno" Pressley of Swannanoa; her eight...

      Patricia Mauldin Gilmer Tubbs went to be with her Savior on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 after a full life of service to God and her family. She was 93 years old and had lived at Given's Highland Farms, Black Mountain, NC for 22 years. Married to Ace Leonard Tubbs (dec'd February, 2015), she was the daughter of Sam Orr and Maud Elizabeth Cason Gilmer. She met our Dad while attending the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, while he was...

      Gary Lee Banks, age 60, of Swannanoa, NC, passed away on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. He was born on October 25, 1958 in Buncombe County to the late Ralph Banks and Aris Bass Banks. Gary worked was self-employed as a farmer and a member of Faith Independent Free Will Baptist Church in Weaverville. He was married to Linda Banks who passed away in 1999. Gary was predeceased by his sisters, Brenda Lusk and Barbara Smith. He is survived by his sisters, Deborah McMahan of...