Obituaries
Gary Clark
Aug 17, 2021
A native of Alexander NC, Gary passed away on August 14th, 2021 at Mission Hospital at the age of 71.
He was the son of the late Edgar Clark and Genevieve Franklin Clark and brother of the late J.E. Clark.
He is survived by wife-Patricia Clark and four children, Daughters-Carrisa Clark and Teresa Clark Griffin...
Deanna Farmer
Aug 16, 2021
Deanna Jo Farmer, 74, of Asheville died on Monday, August 16, 2021.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Ricky Turner
Aug 14, 2021
Ricky Nelson Turner, from Crossville, TN born 10/24/59 and passed 8/14/2021. His survivors include wife, Amy Turner from Crossville, TN; daughter Alecia turner from Crossville, TN and 4 grandsons.
Suzanne Willems
Aug 11, 2021
Suzanne Z. Willems, 81, of Etowah died on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at the Elizabeth House.
Private services will be held.
Todd Clinger, Ii
Aug 5, 2021
Todd Marshall Clinger, 37, of Asheville passed away on August 5, 2021.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Hollis Berns
Aug 4, 2021
Hollis Meryl Berns, 37, of Asheville passed away Saturday, August 4, 2021.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Ethel O'Berry
Aug 1, 2021
Ethel Robin O'Berry, 69, of Cashiers passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at The Elizabeth House.
Further details are pending at this time.
Velvet Griffith
Jul 30, 2021
Velvet Messer Griffith of Glenville went home to be with lord on July 30, 2021. Velvet was born on November 27, 1979 in Sylva, NC She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Messer of Sylva, NC and brother, Robert Lee Messer, Jr. of SC, Her survivors include her daughter, Victoria Messer of Franklin, NC, her son, Eli...
Jason Roland
Jul 26, 2021
Jason Alan Roland Payne passed away on Monday July 26th,2021, in a terrible drowning accident. He was preceded in death by his father, Garland Wayne Payne. Survived by Mother, Rhonda R Payne. Two brothers, Wayne Payne, Andrew Joseph Baxley, and one sister Sheena R Payne Moore. He was a great son, brother and friend. He was 34 at the time...
Lester Stephenson
Jul 24, 2021
Lester “Warren” Stephenson of Asheville, NC passed away at his home Saturday, July 24, 2021
Warren was born August 19, 1938 in Washington D.C. to Robert and Clara Stephenson. While growing up in the D.C. area, Warren would frequent Potomac Beach and Chesapeake Bay to crab for his family. As a teenager, he was a skilled athlete...
Justin Hirsch
Jul 22, 2021
Justin Tyler Hirsch, 36, of Hendersonville died on July 22, 2021 at Pardee Hospital.
No services are planned at this time.
Jamie White
Jun 6, 2021
Jamie Caldwell White passed away on June 6, 2021, at her residence in Leicester NC. Jamie was born in Asheville, NC on December 17th 1961. She was preceded in death by her father Reed Howard Caldwell.
Her survivors include her daughters, Jackie Buckner of Leicester NC and Jennifer Ogle and her husband Bryan of Marshall, NC; sisters, Joyce Hazel...
Wanda Trull
Jun 5, 2021
Wanda Marie Brown Trull, best friend and loving mother, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Berlin and Maude Brown; lifelong friend and husband, Grover Cleveland Trull Jr.; one brother, Frank Brown (Mossy); and one sister, Myrtle Hilton.
Wanda leaves behind one...
Michael Banks
May 31, 2021
Michael Maurice Banks from Tampa Bay, Florida, passed away May 31, 2021.
He was a worldwide known retired tattoo artist, with former shops in Columbus, N.C. and Lake Lure, N.C.
He leaves behind his wife, 4 sons, his mom and his brother.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held on Sunday, June...
Haydee Gonzalez
May 29, 2021
Haydee Pita-Gonzalez, affectionately known as “Mama” by those that loved her, passed away on Saturday, 05/29/2021.
Haydee was born on 10/05/1932 to Epifanio and Flora Pita and eventually had seven siblings: Rigoberto Pita, Eluterio Pita (deceased), Berta Roig (deceased), Emelina Betancourt, Felix Pita, Dora Pita (deceased), and Marta Cuadras.
Haydee had four children...
Cynthia Fantoli
May 24, 2021
Cynthia Louise Fantoli, aged 61 , passed away on Monday, 5/24/2021 in Candler, North Carolina.
Cynthia, born in New Jersey, grew up in New York before moving to Candler, NC. She was the daughter of the Barbara Jeanne Fantoli, nee Wranovics and Stelio Fantoli. She was preceded in death by her mother and father and most recently,...
Shirley Russell
May 11, 2021
Canton – Shirley Trantham Russell, 82, passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at her residence.
Shirley was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Clayton and Hazel Rogers Trantham. She was a 1958 graduate of Clyde High School, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Sonoma Chapter #254,...
Bruce Long
May 3, 2021
Bruce moved to Biltmore Lake from the Maryland Eastern Shore six years ago. Prior to that, he lived in Northern Virginia and commuted to Washington, DC where he worked for the Federal government.
Bruce’s social conscience was born in his youth in Mississippi from 1954 to 1962, a particularly challenging time in modern race relations. He later graduated from the University...
Mark Roberts
Apr 25, 2021
Heaven’s gate opened this past Sunday, April 25, 2021 to allow William Mark Roberts to enter bliss. After about three years of fighting metastatic melanoma, he looked forward to joining all his family, friends and neighbors that had gone on before him.
He was born July 3, 1959 to the late Billy Gene and Ruby Hylton Roberts...
John Peters
Apr 24, 2021
John Kevin Peters, 66, of Morganton, NC, passed away at his home on April 24, 2021.
Born November 24, 1954, John was the son of the late Nolan and Faye Peters, of Marion, NC.
He is preceded in death by one brother, Melvin Peters, and one sister, Donna Brooks.
John is survived by his wife,...
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Recent Obituaries in Buncombe County, North Carolina
Gary Clark
Aug 17, 2021
A native of Alexander NC, Gary passed away on August 14th, 2021 at Mission Hospital at the age of 71.
He was the son of the late Edgar Clark and Genevieve Franklin Clark and brother of the late J.E. Clark.
He is survived by wife-Patricia Clark and four children, Daughters-Carrisa Clark and Teresa Clark Griffin...
Deanna Farmer
Aug 16, 2021
Deanna Jo Farmer, 74, of Asheville died on Monday, August 16, 2021.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Ricky Turner
Aug 14, 2021
Ricky Nelson Turner, from Crossville, TN born 10/24/59 and passed 8/14/2021. His survivors include wife, Amy Turner from Crossville, TN; daughter Alecia turner from Crossville, TN and 4 grandsons.
Suzanne Willems
Aug 11, 2021
Suzanne Z. Willems, 81, of Etowah died on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at the Elizabeth House.
Private services will be held.
Todd Clinger, Ii
Aug 5, 2021
Todd Marshall Clinger, 37, of Asheville passed away on August 5, 2021.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Hollis Berns
Aug 4, 2021
Hollis Meryl Berns, 37, of Asheville passed away Saturday, August 4, 2021.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Ethel O'Berry
Aug 1, 2021
Ethel Robin O'Berry, 69, of Cashiers passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at The Elizabeth House.
Further details are pending at this time.
Velvet Griffith
Jul 30, 2021
Velvet Messer Griffith of Glenville went home to be with lord on July 30, 2021. Velvet was born on November 27, 1979 in Sylva, NC She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Messer of Sylva, NC and brother, Robert Lee Messer, Jr. of SC, Her survivors include her daughter, Victoria Messer of Franklin, NC, her son, Eli...
Jason Roland
Jul 26, 2021
Jason Alan Roland Payne passed away on Monday July 26th,2021, in a terrible drowning accident. He was preceded in death by his father, Garland Wayne Payne. Survived by Mother, Rhonda R Payne. Two brothers, Wayne Payne, Andrew Joseph Baxley, and one sister Sheena R Payne Moore. He was a great son, brother and friend. He was 34 at the time...
Lester Stephenson
Jul 24, 2021
Lester “Warren” Stephenson of Asheville, NC passed away at his home Saturday, July 24, 2021
Warren was born August 19, 1938 in Washington D.C. to Robert and Clara Stephenson. While growing up in the D.C. area, Warren would frequent Potomac Beach and Chesapeake Bay to crab for his family. As a teenager, he was a skilled athlete...
Justin Hirsch
Jul 22, 2021
Justin Tyler Hirsch, 36, of Hendersonville died on July 22, 2021 at Pardee Hospital.
No services are planned at this time.
Jamie White
Jun 6, 2021
Jamie Caldwell White passed away on June 6, 2021, at her residence in Leicester NC. Jamie was born in Asheville, NC on December 17th 1961. She was preceded in death by her father Reed Howard Caldwell.
Her survivors include her daughters, Jackie Buckner of Leicester NC and Jennifer Ogle and her husband Bryan of Marshall, NC; sisters, Joyce Hazel...
Wanda Trull
Jun 5, 2021
Wanda Marie Brown Trull, best friend and loving mother, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Berlin and Maude Brown; lifelong friend and husband, Grover Cleveland Trull Jr.; one brother, Frank Brown (Mossy); and one sister, Myrtle Hilton.
Wanda leaves behind one...
Michael Banks
May 31, 2021
Michael Maurice Banks from Tampa Bay, Florida, passed away May 31, 2021.
He was a worldwide known retired tattoo artist, with former shops in Columbus, N.C. and Lake Lure, N.C.
He leaves behind his wife, 4 sons, his mom and his brother.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held on Sunday, June...
Haydee Gonzalez
May 29, 2021
Haydee Pita-Gonzalez, affectionately known as “Mama” by those that loved her, passed away on Saturday, 05/29/2021.
Haydee was born on 10/05/1932 to Epifanio and Flora Pita and eventually had seven siblings: Rigoberto Pita, Eluterio Pita (deceased), Berta Roig (deceased), Emelina Betancourt, Felix Pita, Dora Pita (deceased), and Marta Cuadras.
Haydee had four children...
Cynthia Fantoli
May 24, 2021
Cynthia Louise Fantoli, aged 61 , passed away on Monday, 5/24/2021 in Candler, North Carolina.
Cynthia, born in New Jersey, grew up in New York before moving to Candler, NC. She was the daughter of the Barbara Jeanne Fantoli, nee Wranovics and Stelio Fantoli. She was preceded in death by her mother and father and most recently,...
Shirley Russell
May 11, 2021
Canton – Shirley Trantham Russell, 82, passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at her residence.
Shirley was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Clayton and Hazel Rogers Trantham. She was a 1958 graduate of Clyde High School, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Sonoma Chapter #254,...
Bruce Long
May 3, 2021
Bruce moved to Biltmore Lake from the Maryland Eastern Shore six years ago. Prior to that, he lived in Northern Virginia and commuted to Washington, DC where he worked for the Federal government.
Bruce’s social conscience was born in his youth in Mississippi from 1954 to 1962, a particularly challenging time in modern race relations. He later graduated from the University...
Mark Roberts
Apr 25, 2021
Heaven’s gate opened this past Sunday, April 25, 2021 to allow William Mark Roberts to enter bliss. After about three years of fighting metastatic melanoma, he looked forward to joining all his family, friends and neighbors that had gone on before him.
He was born July 3, 1959 to the late Billy Gene and Ruby Hylton Roberts...
John Peters
Apr 24, 2021
John Kevin Peters, 66, of Morganton, NC, passed away at his home on April 24, 2021.
Born November 24, 1954, John was the son of the late Nolan and Faye Peters, of Marion, NC.
He is preceded in death by one brother, Melvin Peters, and one sister, Donna Brooks.
John is survived by his wife,...
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HeartLight offers a variety of support groups, education, resources, and special programming related to grief and loss.

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