Obituaries – 12/27/11

Published 9:48 am Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Cecil Pierce

ASHEBORO, N.C. — Cecil Harmon Pierce, 82, of 2013 Stutts Road, Asheboro, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Randolph Hospice House, Asheboro.

Mr. Pierce was born Nov. 15, 1929, in Southport, the son of Edmond and Elizabeth Sprouse Pierce.

Mr. Pierce was raised in Ironton and was a retired self-employed carpenter. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of Living Waters Baptist Church. Cecil was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Ann Webb Pierce; daughter, Toni Pierce; sister, Elizabeth Whitt; and brother, Edward Pierce.

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He is survived by two daughters, Vickie Pierce House and her husband, Don of Pleasant Garden, N.C. and Rita Pierce Kinley and her husband, Terry of Asheboro; two sons, Larry Pierce and his wife, Sara of Swansea, S.C. and Danny Pierce of Sophia, N.C.; eight grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and one brother, Paul Pierce of Ironton.

The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro and other times at the home of his daughter, Rita Pierce Kinley, 2013 Stutts Road, Asheboro.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Living Waters Baptist Church, 2376 Race Track Road, Sophia, N.C. with Rev. Wayne Pugh officiating. Burial will be follow at 1 p.m. at Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury with military honors provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to: Hospice of Randolph, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204-0009. Please share your remembrance and condolences with the family at: www.pughfuneralhome.com.

 

Emma Blankenship

COAL GROVE — Emma Blankenship, 96, of Coal Grove passed away Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky. The Magoffin County, Ky., native was born June 12, 1915, the daughter of the late Lenzie Triplett and Lucy Jane Hughes Triplett. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death in 1988 by her husband Joseph R. Blankenship; three infants; one daughter, Natta Dryden; six brothers, William (Doc) Hayes, Russell Triplett, Oak Triplett, Bert Triplett, Beech Triplett,and Normel Triplett; and one sister, Roxie Alfrey.

Mrs. Blankenship was a homemaker and a faithful member of Community Missionary Baptist Church.

She is survived by three sons, Jim Blankenship of Tennessee, Gary (Judy) Blankenship of Deering and Larry (Sharline) Blankenship of Pedro; three daughters, Glenda Marshall of Deering, Brenda (Ted) Taylor of Ironton and Sherry (Danny) Brammer of Florida; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home with Pastors David Lambert and Mark Roach officiating. Burial will follow in Community Cemetery. Viewing hours will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

To offer online condolences to the Blankenship family, please visit www.tracybrammerfh.com.

 

Gloria Lowery

SOUTH POINT — Gloria Jean Lake Lowery, 69, of South Point, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at home. She was the wife of David Lowery, who survives. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.

 

Robert Fleming

Robert E. Fleming, 80, of Warren, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Hospice House in Poland, Ohio. He was born July 31, 1931, in Ashland, Ky., the son of Claude E. Fleming and Stella Louise (Day) Fleming

Robert E. Fleming came to Warren in 1958 as the director of bands at Warren G. Harding High School. He proceeded to establish an outstanding band program that became the model for high school bands.

Mr. Fleming then became the director of bands at Youngstown State University. The Marching Band and Concert Bands immediately exhibited the visual excitement and outstanding musical qualities that had become his trademark.

After his retirement at YSU, Mr. Fleming became a professor of music and director of bands at Hiram College. His teaching excellence and commitment to concert bands continued as he developed a College-Community Concert Band that was exemplary in every respect.

Robert retired from the W.D. Packard Concert Band on July 25, 2004. He joined the band in 1959 performing on the trumpet and became co-conductor in 1983. He also has directed The Big Band Sound of Packard, The Packard Jazz Quintet and the Packard Dixieland Band.

The W.D. Packard Concert Band Executive Board and the Packard Park Board of Trustees conferred upon Mr. Fleming the honorary designation of Conductor Laureate & Conductor Emeritus. In his honor, the Robert E. Fleming Concerto Competition has been established to present outstanding high school musicians as soloist with the W.D. Packard Concert Band and earn a scholarship for study at the college level.

Mr. Fleming also was instrumental in developing the “Top Notes” Orchestra in 1961.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley Ann Fleming of Warren; two sons, James Robert (Joanne) Fleming of Canfield, and Mark (Sherri) Fleming of Warren; granddaughter, Patricia (Thomas) Krewson; great-grandson, Connor Krewson; and granddaughters Jennifer Martin and Jacquelyn Martin; and great-grandchildren, Chuck, Cassie and Tiana.

Friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the McFarland & Son Funeral Home. A private family graveside burial will be held at Rose Hill Burial Park, Ashland, Ky., with Rev. Harvey officating. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org and Hospice House, 9803 Sharrot Road Poland, OH 44514

Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland & Son Funeral Services Co., 271 N. Park Ave., Warren. Please visit www.mcfarlandcares.com to view this obituary and send condolences.

 

Joe Brown

FLATWOODS, Ky. — Joe Eugene Brown, 57, of Flatwoods, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, at his home. There will be a memorial service at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Carman Funeral Home.