Obituaries
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Patrick Dewitt Parris
Jan 5, 2022
Patrick Dewitt Parris, 57, of Franklin, NC, died January 5, 2022, at home. Patrick was born July 5, 1964, in Sylva, NC, and remained closely tied to that community throughout his life.
He was a 1982 graduate of Sylva-Webster High School. A lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins and the Duke Blue Devils, Patrick enjoyed cheering his teams on through good...
James Russell Jackson
Jan 5, 2022
James Russell Jackson, 71 of Cullowhee NC, left this life on Wednesday January the 5th, 2022, after a very long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, amongst other diagnoses. He was born in Berlin, Germany to the late Ellis Finch Jackson and Ilse Behm Jackson.
He was a US Army Veteran- MP as well as a licensed EMT. Close friends knew him as...
Heather Shepherd Lund
Jan 5, 2022
Heather Shepherd Lund, 37, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday January 5, 2022
A native and a lifelong resident of Jackson County, Heather loved pineapples and cactuses. She enjoyed going to the beach and traveling but the love of her life was her son Jaden. She is survived by her husband GregHer son JadenMother; Joan ShepherdFather; Vaughn...

Connie Martin
Jan 4, 2022
Connie Martin, 64, of Bryson City, passed away Tuesday January 4, 2022.
A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, she is survived by her 3 Sons; Jeremiah Martin, Jason Woodard and Raymond Bard. Also surviving is her Granddaughter Kayla Woodard, her aunt Rose Jorden, nephew Greg Foster and a niece Sherry Davis.She was the best woman, friend and mother I...
Carolyn Worley Blanton
Dec 31, 2021
Carolyn Ann Worley Blanton, 74 of Whittier, passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021. Carolyn was born in Jackson County on May 19, 1947, to the late James Alfred Worley and Annie Sue Worley.
Carolyn owned and operated Qualla Beauty Salon. She was a member of the board of trustees at Southwestern Community College. She loved her family especially...
Tommie Jean Nicholson
Dec 31, 2021
Tommie Jean Rogers Nicholson beloved wife, mother and grandmother of Buchanan Loop Rd. in Webster went home to be with the Lord on Friday, December 31, 2021. Tommie Jean was born on November 27, 1932, in Graham County. She was the youngest and last of nine children born to the late Tom Rogers and Lillie Wiggins Rogers of the Tallulah...
Oscar "Jim" Woodard Jr
Dec 30, 2021
Oscar "Jim" Woodard Jr., 79, of Sylva, passed away Thursday December 30, 2021.
Jim grew up in Jackson County and enjoyed all that it had to offer with his family. If he was not in the Tuckasegee River fishing, he was on top of the mountain hunting for ginseng or supper for his family and others. Those who met him quickly...
Stella Sue Sutton
Dec 29, 2021
S. Sue Sutton, age 89, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents Lucious Sutton and Oma Sutton. She was the oldest living of the Joe and Violet Sutton generation, who were two of the founders of Ochre Hill Church and oldest of Columbus and Artie Bryson generation. She attended Sylva High School,...
Sue Arledge
Dec 28, 2021
Mary Sue Arledge, 68, of Sylva went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Mary was born in Haywood County on January 13, 1953 to the late Clarence and Mary Jane Conard.
Mary enjoyed listening to gospel music, cooking, and going on walks. She loved her family especially her grandchildren. Mary was a member of Zion...
Mike Bryson
Dec 28, 2021
Thomas Michael “Mike” Bryson, 75 of Sylva, NC passed away on Tuesday December 28, 2021at Mission Hospital after a brief illness, he was the son of the late Thomas Logan and Mary Hawkins Bryson of Cashiers, NC.
Mike, a veteran of the US Army, served from 1966-68. He was employed for 28 years at the Ecusta plant in Brevard. Then he...
Harold Carl "Red" Trantham
Dec 26, 2021
Harold Carl (Red) Trantham, age 67 of Sylva NC, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday December 26, 2021. He was born in Jackson County, on November 7, 1954, to the late Phillip and Mary Bell (Wikle) Trantham. Also preceding him in death are his wife, Rosie Mathis Trantham; brothers, Odell, Tom, Paul, and Wayne Trantham; sister, Fannie...
Christopher Kalli Allgood
Dec 26, 2021
Christopher Kalli Allgood, age 49 of Cashiers NC, passed away on Sunday December 26, 2021. He was born on December 27, 1972, in Red Bank NJ, to the late Roy E. and B. Lucille Allgood.
Christopher was accomplished in the building trades as an experienced construction worker. He was also a skilled basketball and football player and stayed fit and...
Johnny Michael Cunningham
Dec 25, 2021
Johnny Michael Cunningham, 69 years old, peacefully passed away on December 25, 2021. A native and life-long resident of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Bonnie and Weaver Cunningham of Dillsboro. In addition to his parents, "Mike" was preceded in death by his son Derrick Cunningham; brother, Jim Cunningham; and sisters, Mary Sue Gulino, Linda Snyder, and...
Brenda Clawson
Dec 24, 2021
Brenda Clawson, age 69, of Sylva, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, December 24, 2021 after a period of declining health. She was the daughter of the late Jim and Lillian Clawson.
A member of Laurel Branch Baptist Church, Brenda loved cooking, jigsaw puzzles, and especially enjoyed taking care of her nieces and nephews. She dearly...
Walter Lloyd Wilkes
Dec 24, 2021
Walter Lloyd Wilkes, 80, of Bryson City, passed away Friday December 24, 2021. A native and a lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Lloyd and Helen Robinson Wilkes. He was a Member of Cullowhee Baptist Church and he loved to bake, his specialties being fudge and coconut cake. He also would enjoy spending time...
Dr. Laura Coffey
Dec 23, 2021
Laura Lee Denton Coffey, PhD, 76, of Webster and Biltmore Lake, NC passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 23, 2021. Laura was born on July 15, 1945 in Hudson, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Myrtle Denton, and her sister, Marlene Walker.Laura is survived by her family, whom she deeply loved; her husband...
Donna "Video Girl" Castro
Dec 22, 2021
Donna Marie Castro (Albury), age 61 of Sylva NC, passed away on Wednesday December 22, 2021. She was born on January 12, 1960, in Hialeah FL, to the late Victor and Sylva (Knapp) Albury. Donna loved motorcycle riding and was a member of H.O.G.. She rode over 100,000 miles in 4 years. She traveled all over the US to all...
Ferne Iris Guffey
Dec 22, 2021
Ferne Iris Guffey, 96 of Webster went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. She was born on December 19, 1925 to the late Thomas and Gladys Winters.
Ferne loved the Lord and was a member of Webster United Methodist Church. She loved her family and animals. Ferne also loved the outdoors, gardening, flowers, and reading westerns....
Matthew Ryan Cagle
Dec 21, 2021
Matthew “Matt” Ryan Cagle, age 24, went home to be with the Lord on December 21, 2021. Matt was a native of Jackson County, born in Sylva, NC on June 5, 1997. For the past six months, he resided in the Asheville area. He was a graduate of Smokey Mountain High School and then Southwestern Community College with a technical...
Hazel Jane Henderson
Dec 20, 2021
Hazel Jane Coggins Henderson, 93, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 20, 2021 in Sylva.
Born Sept. 9, 1928, in Jackson County, she was the daughter of Eulas & Iva Bryson Coggins, both deceased. She was married to the late Aubrey Henderson. Deceased siblings include brothers, Eugene & Furman Coggins, Bedford Bryson and sisters, Jessie & Barbara Hooper.
Hazel graduated from Glenville...