Brenda Wagnon Best

MONROE

Brenda Wagnon Best died Friday, Jan. 29, 2010.

Memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Born Jan. 26, 1940, in Gadsden, Ala. she was a daughter of the late Tom Ben and Jessie Miles Wagnon and married to John P. Vitale. She was retired from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include two sons, James M. “Jamie” Best, III of Charlotte; Jonathan David Best, Sr. of Huntersville; step-daughter, Judy Vitale of White Salmon, Wash.; three sisters, Mary Crump of Lexington, and Paula Hatley and Edie Moore, both of Charlotte and seven grandchildren.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com

Gracie Brewer

MONROE

Gracie Mae Kilgo Brewer, 63, of Monroe, died Sunday, January 31, 2010 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe. Her body will lie in repose for one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Born March 15, 1946, in Union County, she was a daughter of Richard and Daisy Austin Kilgo of Monroe.

Survivors include other than her parents, six sons, Michael Eugene Laney and Roger Laney, both of Pageland, S.C., Curtis Laney, Richard Laney and Maurice Laney, all of Monroe, and Alonzo Brewer of Wingate; one brother, Richmond Kilgo of Monroe; two sisters, Maezetta Laney and Deloris Barnes, both of Monroe, and 18 grandchildren.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home and Cremaion Service of Monroe.

Callie Veatrice Helms

PEACHLAND

Mrs. Callie Veatrice Helms, 87, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at her residence.

Mrs. Helms was born July 10, 1922 in Mecklenburg County, daughter of the late James Avery and Myrtle Taylor and was married to the late Hosea Reid Helms.

She was preceded in death by a son, Avery Reid Helms; a brother, Frank Taylor; and a sister, Martha Lou Starnes.

Funeral services will be 12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 in the McEwen Colonial Chapel, interment will follow in Forest Lawn East Cemetery.

Survivors include four sons, John Helms of Kenley, NC, Ed Helms, James Helms both of Peachland, Hosea Helms Jr. of Polkton, NC; five daughters, Myrtle Thompson of Peachland, Viola Williams of Cleveland, Carrie Morris, Margaret Helms, both of Monroe, Minnie Sanchez of Polkton; 14 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren.

The family of Mrs. Helms will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday at the McEwen Funeral and Cremation Service of Monroe.

Nell Davis Helms

MONROE

Nell Davis Helms, 79, passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. She was born June 12, 1930 in Union County daughter of the late William Callie and Glennie Baucom Davis. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John Hayne Davis and Heath Davis.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 at Benton’s Cross Roads Baptist Church. Burial will follow in church cemetery.

Nell was a devout Christian, loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother. Mrs. Helms is survived by her loving husband of 55 years William B. “Dub” Helms, two sons Brad Helms and wife Rosemary of Matthews, and Bennett Helms and wife Joy of Monroe; one sister Frances D. Simpson of Monroe; and four grandchildren Meredith Helms, Will Helms, Katie Helms and Taylor Helms. She also leaves behind an extended family that she loved and cared for deeply.

The family will receive friends on Monday prior to the service from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the church fellowship building. Memorials may be made to Benton’s Cross Roads Baptist Church 5816 Concord Hwy, Monroe, NC 28110. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com. Gordon Funeral & Cremation Service is caring for the Helms family.

PAID OBITUARY

Mrs. Jeanette Beaver Jarmon

MONROE

Mrs. Jeanette Beaver Jarmon, 81, of Monroe, died on Friday, (February 5, 2010) at Gray Brier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Trinity, North Carolina.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Davis Funeral Service.

James Darrick Marsh

WAXHAW

James Darrick Marsh of Waxhaw died Friday, February 5, 2010 at Carolinas Medical Center-Union.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Grier Funeral Service.

Genora Covington Marsh

MONROE

Genora Covington Marsh, 65, of Washington, D.C., and formerly of Monroe, died Friday, February 5, 2010, at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

Funeral arrangments are incomplete and will be announced by Harris Funeral and Cremation Service of Monroe.

Katherine Roberts

MONROE

Katherine Roberts died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at Hospice of Monroe.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Grier Funeral Service in Monroe.

Freda “Come to Jesus” Robinson

MONROE

Freda “Come to Jesus” Robinson, 56, of Monroe, went to be with her Lord Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.

She is survived by her husband, Theodore “Roc” Robinson of Monroe, one daughter, Fenicia Burden of Atlanta, one step-daughter, Sabrina Alexander of Chesapeake, Va., four sisters, Gladys Wagner or Norfolk, Va., Joeann Alexander of Chesapeake, Va., Alvan Vann of Portsmouth, Va. and Sherry Shamlee of Seattle, Wash. and three grandchildren.

Visitation services will be 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mercy House Church of God, 3210 Secrest Shortcut Road, Monroe. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Alan Greene officiating.

Burial will take place in the Roanoke, Va. area.

Gaskin Services of Matthews is in charge.

PAID OBITUARY

Phillip Michael Vance

WEDDINGTON

Mr. Phillip Michael Vance, 48, of Matthews, beloved husband, daddy, soldier, son, brother, uncle and friend passed away on Thursday at Presbyterian Hospital, after a lengthy and valiant battle against lymphoma. His family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and again from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, Weddington Chapel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, with Father Patrick Toole celebrant. Military honors will follow the service also at the Church. A continuation of the celebration of Phillip’s life will be immediately following the services at Providence Country Club.

Phillip was born on October 15, 1961 in Kansas City, MO, son of Garland Ray Vance and the late Sandra Seigel Vance. In addition to his mother, he was also preceded in death by his mother–in-law Mary Lou Wesolowski and his loved and cherished companion, his dog Gilda. He was a loving and devoted family man who loved spending time with his wife and best friend, Amy and his precious angel, his daughter Grace Emily. Phillip received his BA in Political Science from Rutgers University - Livingston College, NJ, in 1986 and in 1997 received his Juris Doctorate from the City University of New York School of Law at Queens College with a concentration in Mediation.

Phillip and Amy left their beloved Big Apple, NYC and relocated to Matthews, NC in 2002, where Phillip joined the Royal SunAlliance/Arrowpoint Capital team in Charlotte working with Environmental Claims. Phillip was a graduate of Leadership Union and a member of both Mensa and the Intertel Intellectual Society. He proudly served his country in the both the U.S. Marine Corps and as an enlisted SGT in the U.S. Army, spending time in Afghanistan in 2001 as a combat broadcast journalist. He spent time in Fort Benning, GA, Quantico, VA and at the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Maryland. Most notably Phillip was proud to be an army infantry sniper. Additionally, Phillip was a loyal Rutgers University follower and a hardcore sports enthusiast with a special love as a season ticket holder for the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Bobcats and Checkers and all things NASCAR. Phillip remained loyal to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, NY Jets, NY Mets and the New Jersey Devils. Phillip was an impressive marathon runner completing ten NYC Marathons with his best finish time being 3:52. He was an avid reader, mainly history books but his favorite was the many children’s books he read to Gracie. Phillip also enjoyed music, theater, dance and the arts.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Amy S. Vance; daughter, Grace Emily Vance, and their beloved pet, Patty, all of Matthews; father, Garland R. Vance and wife Joanne, of Charlotte; brother, Scott Vance and wife Susan, of Kansas City, MO; sisters, Jennifer Roselli, of Charlotte, Andrea Yascur and husband Michael and their children, Kevin and Kristen, all of Charlotte; father-in-law, Raymond J. Wesolowski, of Philadelphia; brother-in-law, Raymond J. Wesolowski, Jr., of Coatesville, PA; sister-in-law, Bethanne Wesolowski and her children, Kyle and Zachary Abele of Philadelphia; brother-in-law, Adam Wesolowski and wife Katie and their children, Hannah, Ben and Lucy, all of Philadelphia.

The family would like to give special thanks to the outstanding health care professionals that compassionately and selflessly assisted Phillip, Amy and Gracie through this difficult journey. A very special thanks goes to the late Dr. Thomas Hauch and his wife Karon, Dr. Jean Chai and the entire team at Carolinas Cancer Care along with the entire staff at Presbyterian Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and especially to the 3-A “All-Star Team”. A very special heartfelt thanks goes to Rebecca Brooks, Catherine and Andrew Fenyves and their family, Dr. G-B, Sheila Moore, William Tegard, Leslie Walker, and Tom Zweng, M.D. You all are angels that shared very special moments with us. Lastly, Phillip, your “hawkettes” ARE going to Disney World! Thank you!

In lieu of flowers memorials made be made to the Vance’s second family, the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, by Phone: 704-384-4048 or by mail P.O. Box 33549, Charlotte, NC 28233 or by online donationwww.presbyterian.org/site/give_back/foundation.

A family service to scatter Phillip’s ashes will be conducted at a later date at Phillip’s favorite vacation spot, the cliffs of Gay Head, Martha’s Vineyard.

Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Funeral Home, Weddington Chapel. An online guestbook is available atwww.heritagefuneral.net.

PAID OBITUARY

Lolita J. Wickham

POLKTON

Lolita J. Wickham died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, at CMC-Union.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Freedom Baptist Church with burial to follow at 2 p.m.

She was a daughter of the late Samuel Jordan and the late Elizabeth Tanner Jordan.

Survivors include two sons, Jack Wickham of Polkton and Johnny Wickham of Southern Pines; on daughter, Kathy Parker of Florida; one sister, Betty Mullins of Georgia; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Freedom Baptist Church.