Bertie Skeen Nelson Passes Away

SOPHIA-Mrs. Bertie Skeen Nelson, 89, passed Saturday, December 29, 2007 at her residence. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at Poplar Ridge Friends Meeting; Pastor Randall A. Quate officiating. Burial will follow in the Poplar Ridge Friends Cemetery. Born on April 24, 1918 in Randolph County, a daughter of the late Enos and Winnie Briles Skeen. On December 24, 1939, Mrs. Nelson married W. Allen Nelson, who preceded her in death on June 12, 1982. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by four brothers, two sisters and a great-granddaughter. Survivors include one daughter, Audrey Toth and husband, Kelly of Sophia. Two sons, R. Keith Nelson and wife, Myrna and Norman O. Nelson and wife, Beverly, all of Sophia. One sister, Radie Kennedy of Trinity. Six grandchildren, Joanna Peterson and husband, Mark, Ron Nelson and wife, Vicki, Brent Toth and wife, Aimee, Brian Toth and wife, Leslie, Seth Nelson and Miriam Nelson. Six Great-Grandchildren. -Cumby

Connie Andrews Farlow Passes

Winston-Salem - Mrs. Connie Lou Andrews Farlow, 41, passed on December 28th, 2007, in the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center from injuries of an automobile accident. Memorial Services will be conducted Monday at 2:00 p.m. by the Poplar Ridge Friends Meeting; Pastor Randall A. Quate and Pastor James Shields. Private Inurnment will be held January 1st, 2008 in the Marlboro Friends Meeting Cemetery. Born December 8, 1966 in Hawaii a daughter of Nova Lawrence and Rachel Haller Andrews. On Feb.12, l994 she was married to David Farlow who survives of the home. Also surviving are two sons; Allen Prescott Farlow, Samuel Nova Farlow and one daughter; Caroline Gage Farlow all of the home; one sister; Mrs. Joy Smith and husband Jeff of High Point and one brother; Nova Lawrence (Larry) Andrews Jr. and wife Sue of Chambersburg, Pa.; Mother & Step-Father; Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Pingley of Elkins, West Virginia; nephews; Zachary Andrews, Joshua Smith, Gabriel Walden, Matthew Walden, Nathan Farlow, and Benjamin Osmann, nieces; Anna Farlow, Megan Smith, Jennifer Andrews; great-nephew; Evan Walden; great nieces; Jenna Walden, Kamryn Walden, and Sarah Walden; Sister-In-Laws; Kathy Walden and husband Brad; Mark and Jeannie Farlow and Lynn Osmann and friend Dean Hill, Mother-in-Law; Jewel Farlow. Preceded in death by her Father-in-Law, Dennis Farlow.-Cumby

Edward Lloyd Briles Dies

HILDEBRAN - Edward Lloyd Briles, 70, of Hildebran, passed Dec. 26, 2007, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 30, 2007, at Hickory Funeral Home Chapel; Rev. Al Stout officiating. Interment will follow in Catawba Memorial Park. Born Dec. 31, 1936, in Durham County, son of the late Fred and Clara Blackwood Briles. Preceded in death by two sisters, Linda Faye Briles and Nellie Briles. Survived by his wife, Jo Ann McAdams Briles; daughters, Sandra B. Wagner and husband, Kenny, of Taylorsville and Vicki Briles of Hildebran; son, Rick Briles and wife, Cindy, of Catawba; grandson, Tyler Wagner of Taylorsville; granddaughters, Amanda Briles of Catawba and Haley Walker of Hildebran; a brother, Carl Briles and wife, Mary, of Spartanburg, S.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews.- Hickory Funeral Home

Beulah Lambeth Pierce, 94, Passes

DENTON-Beulah Lambeth Pierce, 94, passed on Dec. 18, 2007. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. December 21, 2007 at Walters Grove Baptist Church; Rev. Jeremy Simpson and the Rev. Jody Harrison officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Thomas "Joe" Pierce. Surviving are son, Eugene Pierce of Asheboro; daughter, Betty Sue Hill of Asheboro; sisters, Sally Gallimore and Ola Pierce, both of Thomasville, Minnie Anderson of Asheboro and Magdalene Lambeth and Hazel Briles, both of Lexington; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.--Briggs

Archie Farlow Passes at Age 79

SOPHIA-Archie Kenneth "Tunney" Farlow, age 79, passed December 9, 2007 at his home. Funeral will be December 12, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel; Rev. Dwight Ayers officiating. Burial will follow in Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro. Born October 22, 1928 the son of Arthur Fredrick and Eula Alta (Redding) Farlow. Survived by his wife: Hera Bullard Farlow; son and his wife: Tony and Nina Farlow of Sophia, NC; daughter and her husband: Marsha and Charles Jeffery Haithcock of Cedar Falls, NC; granddaughter and her husband: Mindy and Ronald Hankins of Sophia, NC; grandson: Wyatt Farlow of Sophia, NC; grandson: Joshua Alexander Haithcock of Cedar Falls, NC; great-grandchild: Cody Richardson of Sophia, NC; and great grandchild: Taylor Hankins of Sophia, NC-Pugh

Fred Kearns Passes Away

Asheboro-Fred Martin Kearns, Jr, age 83, passed November 30, 2007 at his home. Funeral will be Monday, December 3, 2007 at 11:00 AM. at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel; Rev. Michael Holder and Rev. George Robertson officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro. Survived by his wife: Wilda Briles Kearns, daughter and her husband: Karen and Tom Trollinger of Asheboro, NC ; son and his wife: Martin and Beth Kearns of Asheboro, NC; grandchildren: Caroline Trollinger; Lindsey Trollinger; Lauren Trollinger; William Kearns; George Kearns; great grandchildren: Hunter Wilson, and Cameron Norton.US Veteran-Pugh Funeral Home

Note: Obituaries from Newspapers are copyrighted. The BIN is not allowed to copy the notice however it can used the information from it to create a notice, unique from other publications.

Vital Records for Guilford County Back On-Line...with a Catch!

Mr. Jeff Thigpen has informed the BIN that access to Guilford County Vital Records (Abstracts) has been restored...with a little catch! Since the end of July, we have been without access to vital records, an important tool for everyone around the genealogy world. Guilford County, Moore, Iredell, New Hanover & Burke County ROD's are the only offices that has access to vital records online.* Many of us were disappointed when access was removed for the reasons given by Mr. Thigpen. Although the BIN and this author disagreed with the reasoning, we believed Mr. Thigpen would reconsider and institute a system where access would be restored.

Well, Christmas comes early for most us that live within driving distance of the Guilford ROD office. For the rest, it will take an extra step and a stamp! Mr. Thigpen has indeed instituted a login/password authentication process to allow users to access vital record abstracts online. In my eyes and for the massive benefit this service provides, it is well worth the effort. Click on this link: http://rdlxweb.co.guilford.nc.us/vital/login.php?signup=1 and complete the online registration. You will receive an email from the ROD with further instructions on how to complete the process. You have two options. The first option: After completing the form, you can visit the ROD office and show a valid ID, which include a valid driver's license, state ID card, military ID card, English or English translated consular card, or valid passport. You should be granted access after you complete this step. The second option is for the folks who can’t drive to the ROD office. Photo copy your ID, complete the attached form contained within the email you receive (after you register), have it notarized, mail it in to the ROD office and wait for a reply. The instructions for either step are clearly explained in the first email you receive after you complete the initial registration form. Both steps may seem cumbersome and redundant, but I feel it’s reasonable because the benefits outweigh the pain of driving to his office or losing a stamp! Ha! On a personal note, I met Mr. Thigpen at my graduation from Guilford College in 2002. He was our keynote speaker and a former county commissioner. I knew he was well respected and was in good standing in the county. I know he took both sides of this issue to heart and came up with a workable and reasonable way of allowing online access to vital records. After reviewing the registration process, the BIN fully supports the Guilford County ROD and their procedure for access to vital records.

I applaud Mr. Thigpen for sticking to his word and implementing a system that is acceptable to everyone. It addresses the concerns lodged by the citizens of the county and allows law-abiding, innocent, and foremost, the serious genealogist access to otherwise PUBLIC records. I have been to the Guilford County Register of Deeds office many, many times and I’ve always been served without issue. Access to vital records has always been granted and I know it will always be in the future.

*Source: Bonnie Jones, Contributor to the BIN

Art Briles Moves On

So much for the Houston Cougar Watch! Art Briles, Head coach of the Cougars, has been hired by Baylor to become the next head coach. Briles had four years left on his contract and accepted a bowl bid to the Texan Bowl on the 28th of December. Briles will not coach the team in the bowl game. Briles led Houston to four bowls in his five seasons. "Life is full of decisions. Sometimes, you have to look at things from a professional, personal standpoint," Briles said. "Professionally, (Houston) ... is great university with a situation I'm proud to be a part of. Personally, the move allows a person of my nature a little more security. When you're getting up in my age, that's an important factor in life." Baylor completed their 12th straight losing season and their 12th consecutive Big 12 loss. Briles will make 1.8 million dollars a year for the next 7 years.

Jewel Francis Briles Jordan Passes at Age 79

ASHEBORO-Jewell Francis Briles Jordan, age 79, passed November 24, 2007 at her home. Funeral will be Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel; Rev. Robert Kidd officiating. Burial will follow in Randolph Memorial Park. Born January 21, 1928 at Jackson Creek, NC the daughter of Ernest Sheridan and Ella Mae (Younts) Briles. Survived by her husband: William Jordan, Jr.; one daughter: Patricia Diane Trull of Randleman, NC; granddaughter and her husband, Jan and Danny Cox of Cedar Falls, NC; granddaughter and her husband, Stephanie and Frankie Nobles of Randleman, NC; great grandchildren, Jacqueline and Nicole Cox of Cedar Falls, NC; great grandchildren, Brianna and Frankie Nobles, Jr. of Randleman, NC; sister : Alice Loflin of Asheboro, NC and two brothers: Gilbert Briles of Trinity, NC, Wendell Briles of Asheboro, NC. Family will receive friends Tuesday, November 27, 2007 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC.-Pugh FH

Houston Slams Texas Southern

The Houston Cougars, coached by Art Briles, defeated Texas Southern Saturday, the 24th of November. The final was 59-6, Cougars. The Cougars are now 8-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play. The regular season is over and the team is bowl eligible. They cannot win the Conf-USA Title. Art Briles and the Cougars now await a bowl bid. Congratulations to Art Briles and the Houston Cougars for a great season!!! The BIN will continue to monitor the NCAA Bowl Selection and report on the game if the team gets a bowl bid.