Howard Black Jr.

CHERRYVILLE - Howard Black Jr., 57, of 501 Sunbeam Farm Road, died Saturday, July 5, 2014.

He was born in Bryson City, N.C., son of the late Howard Black Sr. and Nelta Mauney Black. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Deborah Kurt Black. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Cherryville, where he held several offices and leadership positions. He was owner and operator of the Bright Star Grill in Mount Holly where he operated the first restaurant Internet radio station. He was an avid car enthusiast and loved music.

He is survived by two sons, Christopher Daniel Black Sr., of Cherryville, and Kurt Dustin Black, of Mount Holly; one grandson, Chris Black Jr.; a sister, Ginger Black Gaither, of Bryson City, N.C. He is also survived by his beloved mother and father-in-law, Frank and Peggy Kurt, of Conover, N.C.; two half-sisters, Beth Ramsey, of Charlotte, and Bobbie Stam Boyken, of Atlanta, Ga.; half-brother, Harold Dean Black, of Dallas; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A service to celebrate the life of Mr. Black will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 7, 2014, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Cherryville. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Woodlawn Funeral Home, Mount Holly.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association by visiting www.heart.org or to the American Diabetes Association by visiting www.diabetes.org.
Condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.woodlawnfuneral.org.
Woodlawn Funeral Home, Mount Holly is serving the family.