Recent Obituaries and Guest Books

Matthew Wayne Allen CONCORD Mr. Matthew Wayne Allen, 25, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2013. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 20, at Friendship Southern Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Jessie Watkins. Burial will follow at Cabarrus Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends this evening (Wednesday, June 19), night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilkinson Funeral Home. Matt was born in Concord March 16, 1988. He loved being with his family, especially his two sons, Jayden and Bryson. Matt also enjoyed playing with R/C cars, four-wheeling, and drawing, particularly tattooing. He is survived by his wife, Alleigh H. Allen; sons, Jayden and Bryson Allen; father, Gary Allen; brother, Andrew Allen; uncles, Robert and Jeff Allen; grandfather, Kenneth Allen; and mother-in-law, Tammy Redman and husband, David. Online condolences may be left at www. wilkinsonfuneralhome. com. Wilkinson Funeral Home is handling arrangements for the Allen family.

Lillie Armstrong KANNAPOLIS Lillie Mae Wheless "Butch" Armstrong, 84, died Monday, June 3, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m., this evening (Friday, June 7), at West Corinth Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m., at the church, prior to the funeral. Whitley's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Marilyn Baucom OAKBORO Marilyn Louise Howard Baucom, 88, of Oakboro, died June 15, 2013. The family received friends, at Mineral Springs Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, in Oakboro, Tuesday, June 18, from 3 to 4 p.m. The funeral service followed, at Mineral Springs Baptist Church, at 4 p.m. Hartsell Funeral Home, of Albemarle, is serving the family.

Arnold Benton MIDLAND Arnold Ray Benton, 82, of Monroe, died Wednesday, June 12, 2013. The family will receive friends at Shiloh Advent Christian Church, 3601 Sikes Mill Rd., Monroe Saturday, June 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. At other times, the family will meet at the family home. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Benton family.

Rev. James H. Black CONCORD Rev James Hansel Black, 86, passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Five Oaks Nursing and Rehab. A private graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. today (Friday, June 14), at Nealsville Church of God in Marion. The family will receive friends today, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Wilkinson Funeral Home in Concord. Rev. Black was born April 26, 1927, in Cabarrus County to the late Curtis and Jennie Morrow Black. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Maude Mitchell Black; and a daughter, Becky Lawing. He is survived by his son, Steve Black and wife, Celeste, of Concord; daughters, Fay Wright and husband, Billy and Ruth Raffield and husband, Clark, all of Marion and Vicky Black, of Waynesville; brothers, Robert Floyd Black and Grady Black, both of Concord; five grandchildren; and 13 great- grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Nealsville Church of God Cemetery Fund, 27 Bethel Church Rd., Marion, NC 28752. Condolences may be left at www.wilkinson funeralhome.com. Wilkinson Funeral, 100 Branchview Dr. NE, Concord, is serving Rev. Black's family.

Pauline Davis ALBEMARLE Pauline Mills Dennis Davis, 93 , of Albemarle, died Friday, June 14, 2013. The family will receive friends Tuesday, June 18, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Hartsell Funeral Home, of Albemarle. The funeral service will follow, at 11 a.m., in the Hartsell Funeral Home's Lefler Memorial Chapel. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the family.

Jackie Neal Day Sr. KANNAPOLIS Mr. Jackie Neal Day Sr., 63, passed away Friday, June 14, 2013, at Tucker Hospice House. A funeral service will be held at 5 p.m., Monday, June 17, at Lady's Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Mike Roper will officiate. Interment will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, at Carolina Memorial Park, in Kannapolis. The family will receive friends, after the service until 6:30 p.m., Monday, at Lady's Funeral Home. Mr. Day was born Sept. 19, 1949, in Iredell County. He was a son of the late Roy Jackson "Jack" Day and Martha Moore Day. He was a graduate of A.L. Brown High School, class of 1968 and retired from the City of Kannapolis street department. Mr. Day drove the street sweeper and was proud of his service to the city of Kannapolis. He was previously a fireman in Salisbury, Cleveland and Kannapolis. Mr. Day is survived by his wife, Margaret Donahue Day; four children, Jackie N. Day Jr., Christie Day Shuping and husband, Todd, all of Salisbury, Cathy Bruce and husband, Thad and Chris Mullis and wife, Paula, all of Kannapolis; sister, Patsy Day Long and husband, Jerry, of Gold Hill; brother, Larry Wayne Day and wife, Martha, of Mooresville; seven grandchildren, Ashley Day, Whitney Anderson, Kimberly Plott, Zachary Bruce, Branden Mullis, Andrew Mullis and Kevin Mullis; and his beloved dog, Penny. Memorials may be made to the , 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979. Remembrances for the family may be made online at www.ladysfuneralhome.com. Lady's Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family of Mr. Day.

Kenneth Earley CONCORD Kenneth Eugene Earley, 76, of Concord, passed away at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis Tuesday, June 11, 2013, with Margaret and Brandon by his side. The family received friends at Hartsell Funeral Home in Midland Thursday, June 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. At other times the family will meet at the home. The funeral service will be held at Hartsell Funeral Home Chapel in Midland today (Friday, June 14), at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Mark Clontz officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel United Methodist Church. Mr. Earley was born in Rutherford County March 12, 1937, to the late Herman Eugene Earley and Ina Wilson Earley Allen. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Joshua Earley; and a sister, Helen Long. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and was a truck driver for 30 years. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Margaret Lucille Kaylor Earley, of the home; son, Brad Earley and wife, Ashelyn, of Concord; grandson, Brandon Earley; brother, Jack Earley and wife, Shirley, of Midland; and many nieces and nephews. Good-Bye Pa I'm telling my Pa good-bye tonight. A new beginning for him is in sight. Pa is in a lot of pain these days, Me and maw-maw; we cry and pray, Soon angels will be in this place, And God will send His Amazing Grace! My life with Pa has been grand. But Jesus has for my Pa a greater plan. So, Jesus I have a favor to ask you see, Please let my Pa whisper in my ear at night, Good night my little man, sleep tight! In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Joshua B. Earley Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 351, Harrisburg, NC 28075. The family wishes to thank the care givers at NorthEast Medical Center, especially Crystal, and Tucker Hospice House for the outstanding care and support they showed him and his family. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Earley family. Online condolences may be made at www. hartsellfh.com.

Rev. Alfred Elliott KANNAPOLIS Rev. Alfred Elliott, 91, of Marion Ave., Kannapolis, departed this earthly life Tuesday, June 11, 2013, at the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury. Alfred was born in Troy, Nov. 28, 1921, to the late Charles Elliott and the late Lottie Torrence. "Red" as he was fondly called, was a brick mason and a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, past pastor of True Holiness Church of God, Lifetime Member of DAV Chapter 46 of Fayetteville, N.C., 32nd Shriner of the King Edward Lodge #24. Funeral services will be conducted at Bethel Baptist Church Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will in the VA National Cemetery Wednesday June, 19, at 11 a.m. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Safronia Lipscomb Elliott; his second wife, Blanche Boyd Elliott; and four children, SSG Charles Elliott, Kay Sheelor, Lucy Elliott and Rev. Eddie Elliott. Those left to cherish his memory include nine daughters, Eloise Alston (Larry), of High Point, Brenda Fields (Weldon) of Columbus, Ohio, SFC (Ret.) Mary Elliott, of Fayetteville, Lottie Williams, of Kannapolis, Loretta M. Elliott, of Statesville, Angela McCauley (Frank), of Concord, Carla Elliott, of Landis, Shirley Plight, and Loretta Toon, both of Washington, D.C.; seven sons, Pastor Alfred Elliott Jr. (Berlin), Bill Elliot, of Philadelphia, Pa., David Toon, of Kannapolis, Ricky Toon, of Oxen Hill, Md., James Toon, Eugene Toon, of Washington, D.C., Ashley Toon, of Fairfax, Va.; 71 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Ethel Mae Caldwell, of Kannapolis, Evelyn Gray (Bishop E.L.), Dottie Strickland, both of Statesville, and Lovella Ramseur, of Maiden; one sister-in-law, Letha Barfield, of Kannapolis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Clark Funeral Home is serving the Lawson Family. Online condolences may be submitted at www.clarkfuneralhome inc.com.

Rev. Alfred Elliott KANNAPOLIS Rev. Alfred Elliott, 91, of Marion Ave., Kannapolis, departed this earthly life Tuesday, June 11, 2013, at the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury. Alfred was born in Troy, Nov. 28, 1921, to the late Charles Elliott and the late Lottie Torrence. "Red" as he was fondly called, was a brick mason and a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, past pastor of True Holiness Church of God, Lifetime Member of DAV Chapter 46 of Fayetteville, N.C., 32nd Shriner of the King Edward Lodge #24. Funeral services will be conducted at Bethel Baptist Church Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will in the VA National Cemetery Wednesday June, 19, at 11 a.m. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Safronia Lipscomb Elliott; his second wife, Blanche Boyd Elliott; and four children, SSG Charles Elliott, Kay Sheelor, Lucy Elliott and Rev. Eddie Elliott. Those left to cherish his memory include nine daughters, Eloise Alston (Larry), of High Point, Brenda Fields (Weldon) of Columbus, Ohio, SFC (Ret.) Mary Elliott, of Fayetteville, Lottie Williams, of Kannapolis, Loretta M. Elliott, of Statesville, Angela McCauley (Frank), of Concord, Carla Elliott, of Landis, Shirley Plight, and Loretta Toon, both of Washington, D.C.; seven sons, Pastor Alfred Elliott Jr. (Berlin), Bill Elliot, of Philadelphia, Pa., David Toon, of Kannapolis, Ricky Toon, of Oxen Hill, Md., James Toon, Eugene Toon, of Washington, D.C., Ashley Toon, of Fairfax, Va.; 71 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Ethel Mae Caldwell, of Kannapolis, Evelyn Gray (Bishop E.L.), Dottie Strickland, both of Statesville, and Lovella Ramseur, of Maiden; one sister-in-law, Letha Barfield, of Kannapolis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Clark Funeral Home is serving the Elliott family. Online condolences may be submitted at www.clarkfuneralhome inc.com.