Statesville Record & Landmark

William Minor Appleman, 74, husband of the late Susan Louise Appleman, died suddenly on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. Minor was born in Richmond, VA, to Roy Edgar Appleman and Irene White Appleman. He gained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 1975. He worked as a federal civil service employee for the Naval Surface Warfare Center until his retirement at age 53. He married Susan Louise Appleman on October 6, 1979 and raised 3 children in Davidsonville, MD. He is survived by sons, Casey Appleman (Melissa) of Mauldin and Dale Appleman (Sarah Pe?a) of Baltimore, MD; a daughter, Amy Appleman (Evan Shafer) of Charlottesville, VA; sisters, Charlotte Appleman...

Mrs. Linda Louise Mascarello McManus, 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 20, 2025, at home surrounded by her family. She was born on May 7, 1948, in Santa Monica, CA to the late James T. Mascarello and the late Betty M. Barnes. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her soulmate and husband, Joseph E. McManus. Linda was a devoted and selfless wife, mother and grandmother with a calm, comforting disposition and unconditional love for her family. She spent many years working in the Arizona and Florida concrete industry as a bookkeeper and dispatcher until her retirement. Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Katie Mascarello-Simari (spouse...

Gary Dale Carson, (aka Gary Dale O'Neil) was born on March 24th, 1958. He died on April 14th 2025. He was born to the late Shirley Ann Carson Smith. Gary was raised by his grandparents Charlie and Betty Carson who preceded him in Death. Gary never met his biological father whose name given on his birth certificate was Edmond Jay O'Neil which he later found out was Edmund James O'Neal, which he is looking forward to meeting in Jehovah's promised new Paradise. Gary graduated from North Iredell High school in 1978. Later in life, he received his Associates degree at Mitchell Community College. Gary worked as a Quality Control Engineer for many years. He was an active member and attended the...

Sandy Lim Gordon, whose grace and kindness touched many lives, passed away peacefully on Monday, the 20th of January 2025, at the Houston Hospice House. Known for her strength, joy, and generosity, Sandy was born on the 4th of July 1974 in Pailin, Cambodia to Linda Kim and Pheng Lim. Survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime, Sandy, her mother and siblings found a new beginning in Black Mountain, North Carolina, in September 1981, thanks to the sponsorship of a kind guardian angel, Margaret Whiteside. Sandy's extraordinary work ethic emerged early in life when, in middle school, she began working after-school jobs in restaurants to help support her family. She attended the University of North...

Sherman Keith Russell, age 97, went to be with our Lord on Friday, January, 10, 2025 at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, NC. Born May 7, 1927, on the family farm in the Sugarloaf community of northern Alexander County. His parents were the late Parks Russell and Della Davis Russell. He was preceded in death by four sisters and two brothers. He graduated from Taylorsville High School in 1944 and then served four years in the United States Navy primarily on a minesweeper in the Pacific. Following active duty, he served four years in the Naval Reserve. In 1949, he graduated from Clevenger College in Hickory, NC with a degree in Business Administration. He later became a successful...

Mama entered into Heaven with her beautiful smile, Patsy Lee Byers DeJarnette, age 83, of Stony Point, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Abernathy Laurels in Newton. Patsy was born May 3, 1941 in Iredell County, the daughter of the late Archie Vance Byers and Cleo Johnson Byers. Patsy graduated from Scotts High School. She was a wonderful homemaker and enjoyed taking care of people. She was a member of Hiddenite Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and enjoyed cooking and NASCAR racing. Including her parents, she was preceded in death by: a brother-in-law, Reid Gray. Those left to cherish and honor her memories include: her...

Barbara Holder Hines, age 81, of Boone, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. Born on Halloween in 1942, Barbara Holder Hines was the daughter of the late Paul and Coleen Holder of Statesville, North Carolina. From the beginning, she was a vivacious soul-- a quality of hers we're thankful never faded. Everyone knew her to be a witty woman; even though her dirty jokes often raised eyebrows at the dinner table, she had a talent and passion for bringing laughter to her family. Her funny expressions and humor are woven throughout all of us, which she'd be immensely proud of. When she wasn't busy cracking jokes,...

Mozetta Cowan Dobbins, 77, of Troutman, NC passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Salisbury Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. She was born November 1, 1946 in Mooresville, NC to the late Hugh Clayton Cowan and Marie Moore Cowan. Mozetta graduated from Unity High School in 1964. She then attended Winston Salem State University and graduated Cum-Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. After graduating, she attended North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University where she received a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counselor Education with a concentration in Human Resources. In her spare time she enjoyed baking cakes, reading and writing for the local newspaper....

Genoa Hayes Taylor passed peacefully at home on the evening of October 5, 2024. She has joined her beloved son, Russell, and her husband, Bill, as they welcomed her home with loving and tender arms. She was born in Harmony, NC, on August 5, 1938, to W.G. Hayes and Eula Myers Hayes. She was a graduate of Harmony High School, and on November 4, 1956, Genoa was married to William (Bill) Kenneth Taylor at Holly Springs Baptist Church. In addition to her husband and her son, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Norma Snow, Olean Ellis, and Ulean Snow, and brothers Horace Hayes, and A.G. Hayes and her special, much-beloved aunt, Jewel Myers. She is survived by sister, Camilla Thompson,...

Shirley Anne Ray, age 72, passed away at her home in Clyde, North Carolina, on September 29, 2024. Born in Boone on November 12, 1951, she was the cherished only daughter of the late J.E. Ray and Clara Tester Ray. A graduate of Watauga High School in Boone, Shirley earned her Bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts and a Master of Arts in Industrial Arts and Technology from Appalachian State University, with additional studies at Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Clemson University. She was a member of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Elk Bugle Corps in Cataloochee Valley for 13 years. Shirley began her career as a mechanical drafting...

Wilson Godfrey, beloved husband, father, brother and friend, passed away Friday September 20, 2024 at his home. Born to Allie Byrd and Eva Bruce Godfrey on November 23, 1935 in Hiddenite, NC, he is survived by the love of his life, Lois Pitts Godfrey, whom he married on June 14, 1958, and were married for 66 years. He is also survived by his daughters, Sandra Godfrey Johnson, Karen Godfrey Burke (Richard) and Janet Marie Godfrey. Wilson's grandchildren are Lauren Lee Johnson (Justin Draughan), Emily Burke Hare (Eli), David Wilson Godfrey Burke (Allison) and Richard Jackson Burke. He has one great-grandchild, Grace Lynn Draughan, and another due in October. He is also survived by his sister,...

Martha Ellen Stevenson Jones, 94, of Statesville, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Martha was born on February 26, 1930, in Iredell County to the late Carl Brown Stevenson and Nellie Winters Stevenson. She graduated from Scotts High School and went to Davis Hospital Nursing School. She was a member of Concord Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School and kept the nursery for 62 years. Martha was married to her husband, Willis Howard Jones, on August 19, 1950, and were together until he passed away on July 3, 2010. Martha was a loving and caring woman who enjoyed being with her family, her community, and her Sunday school children. She also loved to garden and farm and...

John Neely Gilbert, Jr. died on August 24, 2024 at home after a period of declining health, having lived a long, loving, and purposeful life. He was 87. Born in Statesville, North Carolina on September 12, 1936, he was the son of the late John Neely Gilbert, Sr. and Sara Pressly Gilbert. After attending Statesville City Schools, he went to The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. John graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in civil engineering. He was then commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and then the 92nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg. In 1959, he returned home to Statesville to work at Gilbert...

Colonel Eric C. Murdock (Retired), 72, of Columbia, SC, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, NC, with his family by his side. He was born Oct. 5, 1951, in Charlotte, NC. Eric was the son of Conda Murdock and Betty Lazenby Murdock. He was married to the beautiful Kathryn Bennett Murdock of Asheville, NC, for 30 years. Eric is survived by his sons Jason Eric Murdock (Ella) of Canton, GA, and Benjamin Wilson Murdock (Delia) of Seattle, WA, his four grandchildren Pierce, Ansley, Aiden, and Carter, sister Anna Murdock of Statesville, NC, and brother Steven Edgar Murdock of Huntersville, NC. Eric was baptized at Broad Street United Methodist...

Carlene Christy Schafer, beloved Wife, Mother, Memaw, Great Memaw, and Aunt, passed away peacefully at Mitchell Mack Hospice House in Mooresville, NC, on August 15, 2024, following a stroke and years of declining health due to dementia. She is now dancing with Jesus, likely organizing a tea party in celebration. Carlene was born on May 21, 1936, in Cabarrus County, NC, to Rubert Christy and Vilie Ann Barbee Christy. One of four children, she grew up in Kannapolis, NC, and graduated from AL Brown High School. She attended Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. Carlene worked as an operator for The Concord Telephone Company and Bellsouth in Statesville while attending Mitchell College. It was at...

Lynn Mayes White went to his eternal home on July 31, 2024. Born on June 22, 1931, in Hiddenite, NC, Lynn was the youngest of nine children of Henry Marvin and Dorcas Meadows White. He is preceded in death by both his parents, his wife, Lexine Allen White, his eight siblings (Grady White, Ida Mitchell, Ruth Meadows, Eva Childers, Tressie Morrison, Escar White, Veryl White and James White), and his granddaughter, Amber Davis. He is survived by his son, Tim White (Jackie), his daughter, Nancy Moore (Bill Moore), his grandchildren, Jennifer Anselmo (Jay), Brandon White (Bobby Cook), Adrianne Blackwelder (Adam), and Derek Davis (Heather), and his nine great-grandchildren, Noah, Nora, and Reid...

Anne Mackie, formerly of Oakhurst Road in Statesville, departed this physical world on July 7th, 2024. She had been resident at Friends Homes West in Greensboro for the past seven years and is now rejoicing in the presence of the friends and family who have transitioned and patiently awaited her arrival. Anne was born in 1931 during the Great Depression and grew up on a small family farm in Harmony, NC. She was the middle child of three fine individuals born to Dorsey and Tossie Johnson. Her family all worked HARD to keep the farm self-sustaining, a place that they all could be proud to call home. Driven by the work ethic learned first-hand, Anne secured employment while she was a young...

Frances Lynn Calhoun Cole, 74, of Statesville passed away on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Gordon Hospice House. Francis was born on September 7, 1949, in Fayetteville, NC and was the daughter of the late Leon and Vila Autry Calhoun. She was a graduate of Hope Mills High School, Greensboro College, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was married in Fayetteville, NC on July 19, 1970, to Donnie Ray Cole who preceded her in death in the year 2000. Francis was a retired dental hygienist and was a member of First Baptist Church in Statesville. She enjoyed spending time with grandchildren, traveling, knitting, and cooking. In addition to her parents and husband, she was...

Raymond Mae Robbins, Jr., 84 of Statesville, NC passed away at The Greens at Maple Leaf nursing facility on June 6, 2024. He was born in Rock Hill, SC on November 16, 1939, to the late Raymond Mae Robbins, Sr. and the late Wilma Cantrell Robbins. He married his high school sweetheart and late wife, Patricia Campbell Robbins in 1959, who passed away in 2022. He enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from East Mecklenburg High School in 1957. He was stationed in Germany as part of the armored brigade combat team (ABCT). He served actively until 1962 and with the army reserves until July 1964. Upon returning to the US, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill...

In the early morning of June 5, 2024, a gifted and loving man took off to the land of an Uncloudy Day, taking with him pieces of innumerable hearts. It is with deep sadness and love that his family announces the passing of Donald E. Joye, of Statesville, NC, at the age of 80. Donald left after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of loving him. An extended obituary can be viewed at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com, and online condolences can be made there for the family. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Larry Whitesides, Sr., age 79, of Troutman, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville. Larry was born August 3, 1944 in Rutherford County, NC, the son of the late James Whitesides and Gladys Epley Whitesides. Larry worked in the textile industry and was of the Church of God faith. He enjoyed being with his family especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed watching TV. Including his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers. Those left to cherish and honor his memories include: his wife of almost 60 years, Mary Jolly Whitesides of the home; his daughter, Sherri Williams of Troutman; his sons,...