Audie Ferguson

INDIAN TRAIL — Audie M. Ferguson, age 92, of Indian Trail, N.C., passed away on September 20, 2009, at Lake Park Nursing and Rehab in Lake Park.

Born in Mint Hill, N.C., on January, 2, 1917, Audie Ferguson was preceded in death by her husband, Perry H. Ferguson; mother, Cleonis Easter Pigg Mullis; and her father, Lester James Mullis.

She was a member of Midland Chapter 260, Eastern Star and a member of Clear Creek Baptist Church for 81 years.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at Clear Creek Baptist Church.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. with the ministers Rev. Donald Lisk and Rev. David Wyatt officiating. Burial will follow at Clear Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Audie Ferguson is survived by sister Ruby Black of Indian Trail; her brother, Brooks Reid Mullis of Indian Trail; and nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com.

PAID OBITUARY

Hoyt Freeman

KERNERSVILLE — Hoyt Franklin Freeman, 81, passed away Friday, September 18, at his home in Kernersville, N.C., surrounded by family and friends. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at Word of Life Foursquare Church, located at 925 Edgemont Road in Greensboro, N.C.

Affectionately known as G Daddy, Hoyt was born in Alabama, and lived in Wingate for 40 years, where he was a member of Wingate Baptist Church. He was a retired pipe fitter and welder and had resided in Kernersville the last three years. He is survived by his wife, Betty Freeman; sister, Georgia Miller of Maryland; son, Frank Freeman of Hillsborough; daughter, Jan Sherrell of Kernersville; grandsons Bob Sherrell of High Point, Roger Sherrell of Kernersville, Bryan Wright of Albermarle, Aaron Wright of Ft. Bragg, Grant Freeman of Arizona, and granddaughter Ashley Jessup of Kernersville. Hoyt was also blessed with 12 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to The Grayson Foundation, which helps autistic children and is named after Hoyt’s deceased autistic great-grandson, Grayson Sherrell. Donations are accepted online at graysonfoundation.net.

PAID OBITUARY

John Harrell Sr.

MARSHVILLE — John W. Harrell Sr., 83, died Saturday (Sept. 19, 2009) at Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Piney Grove East Baptist Church in Wingate, with burial in Lakeland Memorial Park in Monroe.

Born Sept. 5, 1926, in Union County, he was a son of the late Jonas and Fidela Parker Harrell.

Survivors include his wife, Mary M. Harrell of Marshville; one son, John W. Harrell Jr. of Monroe; five daughters, Minnie Harrell Clyburn, Margaret C. Brewer, both of Marshville, Brenda Harrell Davis, Beverly Ann Harrell, Lena C. Staton, all of Charlotte; one brother, Hubert Harrell of Charlotte; one sister, Sarah Harrell Deese of Marshville; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Public viewing will be from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. today at Grier Funeral Service of Monroe.

Joan Knechtle

CHARLOTTE — Joan Delores Knechtle, 66, died Saturday (Sept. 19, 2009).

Funeral will be 3 p.m. today at Mill Grove United Methodist Church in Indian Trail, with burial in Sunset Memory Gardens.

Survivors include her husband Richard Knechtle Sr. of Charlotte; four daughters, Ann Marie Nguyen of Indian Trail, Joann Ng of Las Vegas, Jessica Knechtle, Elizabeth Sharpe, both of Charlotte; one son, Richard Knechtle Jr. of Charlotte; one brother, Robert Greene of Mount Airy; and 11 grandchildren.

Visitation will be at 2 p.m. today at the church.

Gaskin Services of Matthews is in charge.

Ruth Letke

CHARLOTTE — Ruth Ellen Letke, 84, died Saturday (Sept. 19, 2009).

Arrangements will be announced by Heritage Funeral Home of Indian Trail.

Betty Martin

PAGELAND, S.C. — Betty Gail Hartis Martin, 69, died Monday (Sept. 21, 2009) .

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Harmony Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery.

Born Dec. 21, 1939, in Mecklenburg County, she was a daughter of Myrtle Steele Hartis and the late Clyde Hartis and was married to the late Raymond Albert Martin. She was retired from PCA as a customer service representative.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include one son, Ronald R. Williams of Indian Trail; one daughter, Sandra Greene of Wingate; one son, Randy Williams of Stanfield; two stepsons, Robbie Martin, Stanley Martin, both of Charlotte; two stepdaughters, Beverly Martin of Dover, Gina Martin of Charlotte; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the church.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Union County, 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28112.

Heritage Funeral Home of Indian Trail is in charge. Online condolences may be left at www.heritagefuneral.net.

Benjamin Sharpe

WAXHAW — Benjamin Preston Sharpe, 64, died Saturday (Sept. 19, 2009) at Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe.

Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today in Lakeland Memorial Park in Monroe.

Born in Columbia, S.C., he was a son of the late Clark Lankford and Minnie Lee Currie Sharpe and was married to the late Betty Sharpe. He was a self-employed roofer.

Survivors include three daughters, Lee Ann Sharpe of Stallings, Wendy Maddox of Waxhaw, Diane Peterson of Kershaw, S.C.; one brother, Eugene Sharpe of Columbia; two sister, Mary Ann Frazee of Blythewood, S.C., Juanita McKay of Augusta, Ga.; and three grandchildren.

Visiation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Funeral Home of Indian Trail. Online condolences may be left at www.goodshepherdfuneralhome.net

Madge Snyder

WINNABOW — Madge Jarvis Snyder, 83, formerly of Monroe, died Sept. 10, 2009, at home.

Memorial service was Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. Burial will be at a later date in Lakeland Memorial Park in Monroe.

Born July 10, 1926, in Monroe, she was a daughter of the late Stanley and Maude Chaney and was married to the late Tom Snyder. She was retired as a science teacher at Holly Hill Junior High School in Holly Hill, Fla.

Survivors include one daughter, Sara Victoria Jarvis of Durham; two stepsons, Thomas Snyder, Robert Snyder; one sister, Wanda Chaney Holbrook of Winnabow; two grandsons; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center, 1414 Physician’s Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

Coble Ward-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service of Wilmington is in charge.