McEwen Funeral Home - Monroe

Virginia Blakeney Smith, 79, of Asheboro, NC passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Virginia graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with both a Bachelor or Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in English. After teaching college level English classes in Ohio and South Carolina, Virginia became a consultant specializing in Human Relations for financial institutions in Tennessee and North Carolina. Virginia is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Michael Smith, and two sisters, Rhetta Thompson and Betty Howren. Services will be private. McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is honored to serve the Smith Family.

Virginia Blakeney Smith, 79, of Asheboro, NC passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Virginia graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with both a Bachelor or Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in English. After teaching college level English classes in Ohio and South Carolina, Virginia became a consultant specializing in Human Relations for financial institutions in Tennessee and North Carolina. Virginia is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Michael Smith, and two sisters, Rhetta Thompson and Betty Howren. Services will be private. McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is honored to serve the Smith Family.

Fredrick "Mickel" Battermann, 83, of Waxhaw, NC, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 30, 2023, and joined his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in eternity. Mickel was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend. He was born in Danville, VA, on October 11, 1939, to Hattie Beatrice Keen Battermann and Frederick Christian August Battermann, the youngest of nine children. He grew up loving baseball and was a member of Kentuck Baptist Church. He graduated from Dan River High School in 1958 and studied Drafting and Design at Danville Technical Institute, where he earned his Associates Degree in 1960. He went on to have a long and distinguished career of over 40 years...

Nora Lee Baucom Allison, 88, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2023. Born and raised in Union County, Nora recently relocated to Myrtle Beach to be with her family. She loved flowers and spending time in her garden. Nora is predeceased by her loving husband, Leonard Allison and siblings, Carl Baucom, Winford Baucom, Boyce Baucom, Leonard Baucom, Bruce Baucom, F.L. Baucom, Frances Clontz, Via Baucom, O.J. Baucom, Grovene Gossert, Oren Baucom and Mabel Baucom. She is survived by her son, Craig Allison, daughter, Pam Allison; grandchildren, Brandon Rushing and his wife Meagan, Garrett Allison and Ryan Rushing; great- grandchildren, Marley Rushing, Nora Rushing and Ellie Rushing;...

Margaret Rigdon Skinner, age 79, of Waxhaw, passed on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Atrium Hospice in Monroe, NC. She was born July 5, 1943 in Haywood County, NC to the late John and Pauline Rigdon. She was the youngest of four children. One preceded her in death. Margaret married James "Leigh" Skinner IV on December 15, 1960 in Chapel Hill, NC. She is survived by her husband, Leigh; children, Elizabeth, Katherine, Jennifer, and James; thirteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. Margaret and her husband spent the first ten years of marriage travelling the US, frequently camping in assorted parks in Canada, Alaska, and the US. They lived in...

Margaret Rigdon Skinner, age 79, of Waxhaw, passed on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Atrium Hospice in Monroe, NC. She was born July 5, 1943 in Haywood County, NC to the late John and Pauline Rigdon. She was the youngest of four children. One preceded her in death. Margaret married James "Leigh" Skinner IV on December 15, 1960 in Chapel Hill, NC. She is survived by her husband, Leigh; children, Elizabeth, Katherine, Jennifer, and James; thirteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. Margaret and her husband spent the first ten years of marriage travelling the US, frequently camping in assorted parks in Canada, Alaska, and the US. They lived in...

Mrs. Kate Mullis Williams, 95, of Indian Trail, NC passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022. The family will receive friends and have services for Mrs. Kate on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe. Please visit www.mcewenmonroechapel.com for full obituary and service details.

Martha Shaw Charo, age 87, of Monroe, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on August 23, 2022 at home. The family will receive friends from 11:00am until 12:00pm Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Calvary Baptist Church in Monroe, NC with a service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Charo beginning at 12:00pm. Interment will follow in Lakeland Memorial Park. To view full obituary please visit www.mcewenmonroechapel.com

Gordon Morgan Hobbs, of Waxhaw, NC, formerly of Alexandria, VA, passed away August 12, 2022. Gordon joined the United States Army when he graduated from high school and served in post WWII Germany and attended classes at Heidelberg University. He later graduated from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN and the University of Virginia Law School, Charlottesville, VA. He began his career after law school with the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers and retired from the Pentagon in January 1991 as Assistant for Real Estate in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Logistics. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Jones Hobbs, two daughters,...

Dorothy Lloyd Atkins, 70, of Marvin, NC, formerly of Owings Mills, MD, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2022. She was born in Greensboro, NC to the late James I. Lloyd and Norma P. Lloyd. Dorothy relocated to North Carolina in 2021 to be closer to her family. She was a health care provider for over 40 years which included time as a nurse practitioner at University of MD Hospital and with private practices. Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Erika Atkins Gowder and husband, Kurt; her grandsons, Drew P. Whitley and Ethan J. Whitley; her sister, Cynthia L. Creekmore; her brother, James I. Lloyd, Jr. and wife, Stephanie; her nieces, Olivia C. Miller, Hanna R. Creekmore, McKenzie L....

Jean Catoe Freeman passed away peacefully on August 1, 2022. Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at McEwen Funeral Home in Monroe on Saturday, August 6 followed by a celebration of life service at noon.

Robert Harper Ratchford went home to the Lord on July 25, 2022. He was born on December 24, 1947 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. He had one brother, James Edward Jr and one sister, Martha Jane. Due to his father's profession as a Presbyterian minister, the family moved quite a bit. From Big Stone Gap, Bob lived in Madison, NC, 2 areas of Charlotte, Erwin Avenue and Lilac Rd and Mocksville, NC where he graduated from Davie County High School in 1966. Mocksville is where He got his start in radio, recording PSAs. He attended St Andrews college where he worked for the campus radio station. Over the next 50+ years he worked in a number of radio genres, rock, country and finally Christian. He began...

M. Otis Smith, age 84, of Monroe, went home to be with the Lord on June 17, 2022. He was born on November 30, 1937, son of the late Alver and Edna Earl Smith. Otis was preceded in death by his brothers, Jimmy Lee Smith and David Earl Smith; his sisters, Roxie and Sandra. Mr. Smith is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Patsy Smith; his sons, Michael Otis Smith, Steven Howard Smith and David Alan Smith; his grandchildren, Emily Simpson and Emma Sloan Smith and William Sloan Smith and by his brothers, Charles Marvin Smith and Paul Wayne Smith. A great patriot, Otis loved his country, family and friends. He embodied a quiet strength, faith and power oftentimes overlooked and under...

M. Otis Smith, age 84, of Monroe, went home to be with the Lord on June 17, 2022. He was born on November 30, 1937, son of the late Alver and Edna Earl Smith. Otis was preceded in death by his brothers, Jimmy Lee Smith and David Earl Smith; his sisters, Roxie and Sandra. Mr. Smith is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Patsy Smith; his sons, Michael Otis Smith, Steven Howard Smith and David Alan Smith; his grandchildren, Emily Simpson and Emma Sloan Smith and William Sloan Smith and by his brothers, Charles Marvin Smith and Paul Wayne Smith. A great patriot, Otis loved his country, family and friends. He embodied a quiet strength, faith and power oftentimes overlooked and under...

David A. Knight passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, May 22, 2022. David enjoyed hunting and spending time with his family. He worked in carpentry most of his life with his specialty being inside trim work. David was one of the most honest, caring and loving individuals that you would ever meet. Along with his parents, Mr. Knight was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Judy Knight and brother, Larry Knight. He is survived by his daughters, Susan Knight (Harvey) and Suzette Yow (Jay); sons, Steve Warlick (Betty) and Scott Knight (Christy); grandchildren, Lucy Crump, Shane Plyler, Ashelyn Plyler, Nicole Yow, Megan Yow, Timmy Duncan, Jeremy Warlick, Cody Warlick, Kayla...

Marion Frances Todd Furr, age 84, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother gained her angel wings to her forever home with our Lord on Thursday, April 21, 2022. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rev. Bobby Furr; her parents, Eva Mae (Sledd) and Henry Arthur Todd; brother, Claude Douglas Todd; grandson, Derrin Furr; and granddaughter, Angelia Eve Garren. She is survived by her children, Patricia (Pat) Furr Garren and spouse Carl of Middletown, CT; D. Ray (Furr) Withrow and spouse, Robin of Apex, NC; grandchildren, Carla Garren Williams and spouse, Stacy of Wilmington, NC and Gena Garren and partner Steven Plummer of Middletown, CT;...

Richard Massey, 83 of Monroe, NC passed away on March 20, 2022. Full obituary can be found at www.mcewenmonroechapel.com

William "Bill" Joseph Pleasants, Sr., President and CEO of Plaza Appliance Mart and longtime resident of Charlotte, NC passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home on Sunday March 20, 2022 at the age of 81 years old. Bill was born on February 24,1941 in Jacksonville, Florida, son of the late Louise Collins Pleasants. He graduated from William E Grady Vocational High School in June of 1959. In 1960, Bill enlisted in the United States Airforce where he specialized in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning. He was honorably discharged in 1966 as an E-5 Staff Sergeant after dutifully serving 6 years during the Vietnam conflict. In addition to his mother, he is preceded in death by...

Brenda Robertson Hardin, age 78 of Charlotte, NC passed away from Alzheimer's on January 30th 2022. Brenda was a loving mother of three children, Mark Lewis and his wife Lynn Marie (Souza) of Middleboro, MA; Blair Hardin and his wife Erica Kay (Allman) of Lexington, SC and Justin Hardin and his wife Lindsey Ann (Burdette) of Waxhaw, NC and by her grandchildren, Mark Lewis Jr., Erin Lewis, Tristan Lewis, Hunter Lewis, Julia Hardin, Gracelan Hardin, Brynlee Hardin, Ellie Jaye Hardin and another baby girl expected in April. Brenda was born in York, SC on October 4th, 1943 to Mrs. Mozelle Childers Robertson and Palmer Hazel Robertson. Brenda had four brothers who are all deceased; Keith...

Dr. Delores (Dee) Buford died on January 27, 2022. Born in Texas on December 18, 1933, she was the daughter of Louisa Mae Yochum and George Jefferson Phife. Dee loved her family, husband Thomas O. Buford, children Anna and Scott Pigg, Robert Carl and Russell Warren Buford, her grandchildren Sarah Deanne and Emily Renee Pigg, Daniel Andrew and Jackson Carl Buford. With a twinkle in her eye, she said, "I was here and now I am gone." In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to PCE at PEO International https://donations.peointernational.org/peo-donation-pce , First Baptist Church Greenville, and Alpha Delta Pi foundation https://www.alphadeltapi.org/foundation/give/. McEwen Funeral Home of...