Debbie Sue Key Cox Dies, Mother is Margaret Briles

Debbie Sue Key Cox, age 63, of Asheboro passed away on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at her home.

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 3, 2021 from 12:00 noon-1:45 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Friday at 2:00 pm in the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Frank Barrett officiating. Burial will be held in Randolph Memorial Park.

Mrs. Cox was born in Randolph County on November 6, 1957 to Brady and Margaret Briles Key. In addition to her parents, Debbie was preceded in death by her husband, Tony Cox. 

She is survived by her daughter, Tinia Murphy Duty (Kennith) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Makayla, Savannah, Makenzie, and Mason; siblings, Roger Key (Rhonda) of Burlington, Virginia Foust of Sophia, James Key (Donna) of Asheboro, and Phillip Key (Peggy) of Asheboro; and numerous nieces and nephews who were very special to her.

Thomas Lee Chism Sr.

Thomas Lee Chism Sr., 75, of Flaherty, passed away Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at Baptist Health Hardin in Elizabethtown.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, in the Chapel of Bruington-Jenkins-Sturgeon Funeral Home in Brandenburg. Burial follows in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Brandenburg. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and continues at 9 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Thomas was born April 29, 1946 in Irvington, the son of the late Herman and Maude Williams Chism. His sister, Kathleen Elliott; two brothers, Frank Basham and James E. Chism; and in-laws, Leo and Minnie Briles also preceded him in death.

Thomas was a veteran of the U.S. Army, who served in Vietnam.

Survivors include his loving wife of 50 years, Donna E. Briles Chism; two children, Lakeena (Andrew Hall) Clifford of Rineyville and Tommy Chism Jr. of Flaherty; a sister, Jean Heimler of Michigan; five grandchildren, Brianna Clifford, Briley Clifford, Chelsea (Bobby) Armes, Veronica (Brian) Anderson and Megan Chism; a bonus granddaughter, Hannah Bradshaw; and eight great-grandchildren, Darci Skillman, Garren Anderson, Maeve Anderson, Jasper Armes, Blayne Armes, Relic Armes, Anastasia Chism and Jack Chism; and several nieces and nephews.

Gerald Austin Barnhart

Gerald Austin Barnhart, 84, of Independence, Kansas passed away on Tuesday, August 17th, 2021, at Journey Home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Visitation will be held at Potts Chapel in Independence on Thursday, August 19th, with the family greeting friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be on Friday, August 20th at 1:00 pm at Potts Chapel with interment immediately following at Neodesha Cemetery. 

Born to Charles and Ruth (Briles) Barnhart on November 20, 1936, in Neodesha, Kansas. In 1958, Gerald married Charlotte Scott. The two later divorced. He then married Delores Labarr in 2007 in Miami, Oklahoma. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ruth Barnhart, sons, Scott Leroy and Jeffery Ray Barnhart, brothers, James, Merle, and Clyde Barnhart and sisters, Daisey Gullick and Betty Oyler.

Surviving are his wife, Delores of the home, daughters, Elizabeth Ann Schwatken and husband Wilbur of Sycamore, Karen Suzanne Davis and husband Ron of Cherryvale, daughter in-law, Amy Louise Barnhart of Independence, step children, John Marsh, Ray Marsh, and Karen Marsh, sisters, Sandra Walls of Owasso, OK, and Mary Bowen of Colony, KS, 5 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and his dear dog, Rosie.

John R. Briles Dies

John R. Briles, 89, of Bloomington passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at home with family. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am Friday August 13, 2021 at the Arlington United Methodist Church in Bloomington. With Pastor Rose Sparks officiating. Burial will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens. A visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 8:00pm Thursday, August 12, 2021 and Friday from 10:00am to service time both at the Arlington United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arlington United Methodist Church. 

He was born on June 13, 1932 in Greene County, Indiana, the son of Austin and Ada (Strauser) Briles. He married Dolores Calhoun on July 21, 1957 in Weedman, Illinois. Veteran of the United States Air Force. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dee; his two brothers, Charlie and Edgar Briles; and two sisters, Martha Loder and Luella Harper.

John is survived by two sons, Kevin (Terri) Briles and Craig (Marci) Briles both of Bloomington; his grandchildren Travis Briles; Joshua Briles; MacKenzie (Trey) Smith; Benjamin Briles; Nicholson (Ashlan) Briles; Maxwell Briles; Jonathan Briles and Brandi (Shawn) Langley; four great grandchildren, Marley Briles; Nick Langley; Brenna Langley and Ryan Langley; and several nieces and nephews. John's niece, Millie Briles, cared for John during his extended illness. 

Lacy Edward Pierce Dies in Bolivia

Lacy Edward Pierce, age 89, formerly of Asheboro, died Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia. 

The family will receive friends Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 11:00 - 1:15pm at Pugh Funeral Home, in Asheboro. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 pm at Randolph Memorial Park, 4538 US Hwy 220 Bus. North, in Asheboro.

Mr. Pierce was born September 9, 1931 in Davidson County to Ernest and Lillie Pierce. Mr. Pierce was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. In addition to his parents, Mr. Pierce was preceded in death by his wife, Ella Inez Pierce, daughter, Celleste Pierce and eight siblings. He is survived by children, Eric Pierce and wife Rita of Shallotte, Angela Talley and husband Johnny of Supply, Brian Pierce and wife Donna of Denton; grandchildren, Andrew Pierce, Callie Pierce, Krista pierce; step-grandchildren, Jodi Hearn, Jessica LaDronka, Gabriella LaDronka, Braydon Hearn; brothers-in-law, al Skeen, Howard Skeen; sisters-in-law, Josephine Pierce, Barbara Pierce, Mattie Ward; several nieces and nephews.

Five generations back to Mary Briles Pearce

Inez Lanier Varner

Mrs. Inez Lanier Varner, age 87, of Denton, NC died Friday, August 6 at the residence of her son.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 PM Monday, August 9 at Denton Town Cemetery conducted by Rev. Vern Peterson and Mr. Clinton Snider.

Mrs. Varner was born in Davidson County January 1, 1934 to Clement Wilson Lanier and Odetta Kindley Lanier. She was married to C Tyler Varner who died May 26, 2021. She was also preceded in death by a son, Charles Ty Varner and by sisters Kathleen Bisher and Laverna Cummings.

She is survived by her son, Todd Varner and wife Leslie of Denton; grandsons Will Varner and Ty Varner and financee Helen Jenkins; great grandchild, Sutton Rae Varner; and a sister Dot Landrum.

Six generations back to Mary Briles Pearce

Dr. John Gilbert Roland

Dr. John Gilbert Roland, 91, of Winston-Salem passed away on Saturday, July 31, 2021. A graveside service will be held 2:00 pm Wednesday August 4, 2021 at Forsyth Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, with Dr. Gary Chapman officiating. 

He was born on June 14, 1930, in Winston-Salem to William Reuben and Nellie Briles Roland.  He married Louise Strupe on September 7, 1950. Dr. Roland served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. 

Dr. Roland was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Louise Strupe Roland; two sons, John G. Roland, Jr. (Janie), and David Strupe Roland (Apryl); two grandchildren, John Joseph Roland (Christina) and Anna Louise Roland; and four great-grandchildren, John Joseph II, Barrett Daniel, Walker Earl and Dakota Joseph.