Rick Dean Briles Passes

Rick Dean Briles, 61, of Catawba passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

A service to celebrate Rick’s life will be held on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the Arbor at Pisgah United Methodist Church in Catawba. Rev. David Hawkins and Rev. Buddy Compton will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. at Pisgah United Methodist Church.

He was born October 24, 1959 in Catawba County to the late Edward Lloyd Briles and Joann McAdams Briles.  Retired Law Enforcement Officer, US Marshal. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Vicki Briles and Sandi Briles Wagner.

Those left to cherish his memory are; His wife of 21 years: Cindy Shook Briles of the home,, Daughter: Amanda Briles and significant other James Golden of Pendleton, SC, Step-Son Jacob London and wife Vicky of Catawba, Grandchildren: Zandar Green and Aidan London, Niece Haley W. Helton and husband Wesley of Hickory, Nephew Tyler Wagner and wife Lindsey of Lincolnton, Great-Niece Lacie Helton and Great-Nephew, Waylon Helton

Gary Wayne Miller

Gary Wayne Miller, age 72, of Asheboro passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at Randolph Hospice House.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 12:45-1:45 pm at Fayetteville Street Baptist Church, 901 North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Sunday at 2:00 pm at Fayetteville Street Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Browder officiating. Burial will be held in Randolph Memorial Park.

Mr. Miller was born in Asheboro on April 9, 1949 to Gilbert and Lydia Voncannon Miller. He was preceded in death by his mother.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Teresa Auman Miller; son, Rodney Miller (Stacey); daughter, Amber Skeen (Chris); grandsons, Davis Miller and Wyatt Skeen; father, Gilbert Miller; and brother, Glenn Miller.

Mr. Miller's great grandmother is Frances Ellen "Fannie" Briles Miller

Norman O’Neil Nelson

Mr. Norman O’Neil Nelson, 73, resident of Sophia, died October 20, 2021 at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, at Poplar Ridge Friends Meeting in Trinity with Brian Donley, Randy Quate and Michael Thames officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 22, at the Cumby Family Funeral Service in Archdale.

Mr. Nelson was born June 1, 1948 in High Point, a son to the late William Alan and Bertie Skeen Nelson. In 1970, he married the former Beverly McCormick, who survives of the residence. Also surviving are his son, Seth Nelson of Greensboro; daughter, Miriam Nelson of Trinity; sister, Audrey Toth and husband Kelly of Sophia; brother, Keith Nelson and wife Myrna of Sophia; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Nelson's grandmother is Winnie Briles Skeen

Dolan Irvin Pierce

Mr. Dolan Ervin Pierce, 76, passed Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the Hospice Home at High Point.  

Graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Gary Myers officiating.  Mr. Pierce will remain at the J.C. Green & Sons Funeral Home in Thomasville until taken to the cemetery 30 minutes prior to the graveside service and he will lie in state at the funeral home on Friday, October 22, 2021 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM for members of the community to pay their respects.  No formal visitation will be held. 

Mr. Pierce was born on October 25, 1944 in Randolph County, NC to Royce Reece Pierce and Millie Frances Barnes Pierce.  

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Don Pierce; and three sisters, Jewel Watford, Pauline Gordon, and Mary Hughes.

Surviving is his loving wife, Bonnie Grubb Pierce of the home; son, Joel Pierce and wife Ani of Thomasville; brother, Charles Pierce of Lexington; sister, Louise Elberson of Thomasville; and three grandchildren, Justin Canady and wife Tara of Charleston, SC, Sydni Pierce and Kirsten Pierce, both of Thomasville.

Six generations back to Mary Briles Pearce

Meredith Gallimore Thornburg

Meredith Gallimore Thornburg, age 87, of Asheboro passed away on Monday, October 18, 2021 at the Randolph Hospice House.

Meredith's body will lie in repose on Friday, October 22, 2021 from 1:00-5:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 11:00 am at Science Hill Friends Meeting, 2421 Lassiter Mill Road in Asheboro with Rev. Michael Fulp officiating. Burial will follow in the meeting cemetery

Mrs. Thornburg was born in Randolph County on March 3, 1934 to Hal and Lola Briles Gallimore. In addition to her parents, Meredith was preceded in death by her husband, Reid Thornburg.

She is survived by her daughters, Jenni T. Breedlove and husband Heath of Asheboro and Laura T. Garner of Asheboro; grandchildren, Cami and Carson Garner, and Lauran Breedlove; great grandchildren, Braxton Vick and Charlie Harkey; sister, Margie Brown of Asheboro; and nieces and nephews.

Phillip Asther Ridge

Mr. Phillip Asther Ridge, 80, a resident of Providence Place, passed away on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at the Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Thomasville with Rev. Bynum Orr officiating.  No formal visitation will be held.  

Born on July 14, 1941 in Davidson County, NC to Asther Venson Ridge and Beulah Raines Ridge. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Ridge; and a sister, Shelby Ridge.

In 1962, he married Nancy Lou Bean, who survives of the home; also surviving are his daughters, Penny Ridge Bell and husband Timothy of Thomasville and Amy Ashlaw of CO; brothers, Randy Ridge and wife Angie of Greensboro and Tony Ridge of Archdale; four grandchildren, Sara Parrish, Gracie Bell, Venson Nunnally, and Amber Nunnally; and two great-grandchildren, Eva Parrish and Dax Parrish.

Six generations back to Mary Briles Pearce

Jackie Walker Dies, Grandmother is Sarah Briles Walker

ARCHDALE-Jackie T. Walker, 82, passed Wednesday, October 6, 2021.

A service to celebrate Jackie’s life will be held on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at 2 p.m., from the chapel of Cumby Family Funeral Service, Archdale, with Bishop Steve Rich officiating. The committal service will follow in Floral Garden Memorial Park Cemetery. His family will receive friends on Monday, October 11, from 6 until 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

He was born on October 15, 1938 in Randolph County, a son of the late William Robert Walker and Eula Rush Walker. In addition to his parents, preceding him in death were his brothers, Rayford, Robert, Paul, Charles, Odis, Benson, Dale, Glenn, Roy and Billy.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Priscilla O’Brien Walker; his children, Renee Walker and Timothy Walker; his sister, Ruth Wall and her husband, Raymond; his grandchildren, Chris, Kayla, Lexi and Jake. Also surviving are his great grandchildren, Eli, Ezra and Eden and a number of nieces and nephews.

His grandmother is Sarah Briles Walker (Paternal) Also seven generations back to Mary Briles Rush (Maternal)

Michael Ray Hayes Passes

Michael Ray Hayes, 68, of Thomasville passed away peacefully Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. 

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Testimonial Baptist Church with Rev. Carl Sutton, Rev. Rick Shoemaker, and Jason Grubb officiating. Interment will follow at Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM at J.C. Green and Sons Funeral Home in Thomasville

Michael was born January 04, 1953 in Davidson County to the late Howard Sebert Hayes and Lorene Welborn Hayes. Veteran of the United States Navy.

Surviving are is his loving wife, Ellen June Maness Hayes of the home; one son, Jonathan Michael Hayes; one daughter, Victoria Michelle Hayes; two brothers, Timothy Hayes, Mark Hayes and wife Tracey; one sister, Elizabeth Varner.

Mr. Hayes' great grandmother is Martha Jane Briles Welborn.

Iris "Bo-d" Clark Morgan

Iris "Bo-d" Clark Morgan, 93, of Asheboro, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at her home.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 9, 2021, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Aaron Powers and Pastor Billy Myers officiating. Entombment will follow at Randolph Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Ridge Funeral Home from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.

Born on September 26, 1928, in Guilford Co., to the late Daniel Archie Clark and Ina Pierce Clark. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Jennings Morgan; sons, Kim "Kim-bo" Stephen Morgan, Ken Jennings Morgan; daughter, Darnell Morgan Long; son-in-law, John Phillip Morgan; three brothers and two sisters.

She is survived by her daughters, Rhonda Morgan Austin (Richard) of Randleman, Pamela Morgan Morgan of Robbins, Lisa Morgan Bunting of Katy, TX, Anna Morgan of Asheboro; daughter-in-law, Lona A. Morgan of Star; son-in-law, Loyd Long of Asheboro; sister, Kay Outen of Asheboro; brother, Ronnie Clark of Asheboro; grandchildren, Jonathan Long (Loretta), Jennifer Scrivano (Tom), Richard J. Austin (Trina), Tiffany Sutton (John), Stephanie Davis (Neil), Marca Miller, Melissa Brady (Mikie), Drew Morgan, Winston Morgan (Tara), Miles Bunting, Chase Bunting, Nathaniel Grantham, Dustin Grantham (Isa), Tyler Grantham (Ashleigh); 27 great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.

Six generations back to Mary Briles Pearce (Irs, Ina Pierce, Robert Jasper Pierce, William Jesse Pierce, Eli Pierce, Mary Briles Pearce)

Paul Marie Kindley Murdered in Winston-Salem

Paula Marie Kindley, 48, of Thomasville was located in the woods near Chevy Chase Street and Jones Meadow Drive after being reported missing earlier in the week. Case is being classified as a homicide. Kindley had obvious signs of trauma. No suspect(s) at this time. Ms. Kindley is seven generations back to Margaret Briles Kindley.