Nolan Blackburn

MARSHVILLE — Nolan Wayne Blackburn, 70, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2009. He was born in Union County, N.C., on August 31, 1939, son of the late Murphy B. and Jennie Lynn Williams Blackburn. Mr. Blackburn was a retired N.C. Department of Transportation employee.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. in the Gordon Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Lakeland Memorial Park.

Mr. Blackburn is survived by his wife, Peggy Baucom Blackburn; sons, Michael Blackburn and wife Shannon of Monroe, Ronnie Blackburn and wife Denise of Fayetteville, David Blackburn of Marshville; daughter, Renee Nolan and husband Patrick of Indian Trail; sisters, Jessie Blackburn and Sally Blackburn; grandchildren, Brandon, Charlie, Lathan and Ryan Blackburn and Blake and Danielle Carlton. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ann Blackburn, brothers, R.T., Robert and Joe Blackburn.

The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 until 9:00 at Gordon Funeral & Cremation Service, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC 28112. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Rd., Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.

PAID OBITUARY

Ninh An Cao

MONROE — Ninh An Cao, 61, died Wednesday (Oct. 6, 2009).

Funeral will be 1 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home of Indian Trail.

Survivors include her husband, three daughters and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Esther Ford

CERRO GORDO — Esther Willoughby Bullard Ford, 83, died Tuesday (Oct. 6, 2009) at Shoreland Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Whiteville.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Porter Swamp Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery.

She was a daughter of the late Lattie and Mollie Deaver Willoughby and was married to the late Hezzie D. Bullard and to the late Edgar Brooks Ford.

Survivors include one daughter, Vivian B. Gilliard of Fayetteville; two sons, Phillip Bullard of Indian Trail, Teddy Bullard of the home; one sister, Ethel Pharr Kester of Whiteville; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn.

Memorials may be made to Porter Swamp Baptist Church, P.O. Box 98, Cerro Gordo, NC 28430.

Beatsy Hawfield

MONROE — Mrs. Beatrice “Beatsy” Haywood Hawfield, 80, died Wednesday (October 7, 2009) at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte.

Beatsy was born August 23, 1929, in Union County, daughter of the late James Lloyd and Annie Lee Scott Haywood. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, James Haywood and Louis Haywood; one sister, Elizabeth Hargett.

Mrs. Hawfield was a retired finance manager with the Monroe and Union County school systems with 32 years of service.

The family will receive friends from six until eight p.m. Friday, October 9, 2009, at the McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe. Services to celebrate the life of Beatsy will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, with Reverend Dr. John Wilkerson officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeland Memorial Park.

Survivors include her husband, Houston L. Hawfield Sr. of the home; two sons, Hugh Hawfield and wife Rhonda of Monroe, N.C., Jimmy Hawfield of Indian Land, S.C.; two grandsons, Jake Hawfield and Kaleb Hawfield.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, 204 E. Windsor St., Monroe, NC 28112.

McEwen Funeral and Cremation Service of Monroe is assisting the family of Mrs. Hawfield.

PAID OBITUARY

Sandra Rogers

MONROE — Sandra Rogers, 58, died Monday (Oct. 5, 2009) at home.

Memorial service and burial will be at a later date in Buffalo, N.Y.

Born March 21, 1951, in Buffalo, she was a daughter of the late Marshall and Frances Hall Steffans.

Survivors include two sons, Scott Rogers of Broad Top, Pa., Carl Rogers of Buffalo; one daughter, Diane Gajewski of Indian Trail; one brother, George Hall of Catie, Texas; her companion, Raymond Gerwitz of Monroe; and six grandchildren.

Good Shepherd Funeral Home of Indian Trail is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.goodshepherdfuneralhome.net.