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Obituaries

May 2014 Archive

Robert "Bob" Edwin Miskosky, 91

Robert "Bob" Edwin Miskosky, 91

Robert "Bob" Edwin Miskosky, died Friday, May 30, 2014, at the age of 91.

He was a loving, compassionate man to family, friends and, on occasions, to complete strangers.

He was born Aug. 26, 1922, to the late Kathryn Pahl Miskosky and Frank (Frantisek) William Miskosky in East Patchogue, N.Y. He attended elementary school in E. Patchogue and graduated in 1940 from Bellport High School in Bellport, Long Island, N.Y.

A Navy veteran of WWII, and Korea, he attained the rank of Commander before retiring. He enlisted Nov. 18, 1941. He attended the Navy Academic Refresher Unit at Cornell College in Iowa. He attended the Navy School of Music, Washington, DC. He soon entered flight training; training stations included: NAS Quonset Point, Norfolk, San Diego area, and later served in the Reserves at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, N.Y. His active service lasted 12 years; honors include: Good Conduct Medal; Pre-Pearl Harbor medal; American Defense; WWII Victory Medal, American Theatre; Korean Victory and Armed Services Reserve. During his service, he flew most of the Navy planes that were around at the time.

In 1950, he was flying off of the U.S.S. Maury (AG16) to Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf, and Kuwait). The Gulf waters were being checked for depth, probably with a future thought of oil tankers.

In 1951 he wed Wilhelmina E. Werdermann. In 1954, a beloved daughter, Linda, was born. He continued in the Reserves, as well as in the family florist and nursery business. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 69 in Patchogue, N.Y. A Mason, he belonged to South Side Lodge, Patchogue, N.Y. He was an Episcopalian.

A resident of Hendersonville since 1980, he played guitar and/or banjo in various musical groups, including the Buddy K Band.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Roman Miskosky and Roger Miskosky; and a sister, Kathryn Miskosky Bozotis.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Wilhelmina "Billie" Miskosky; his daughter Linda Miskosky Bellofatto; his grandson Michael Robert Bellofatto; and a great-granddaughter; as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Compassionate Home Care and its caregivers for extraordinary service. Thanks also go to Four Seasons Compassion for Life (hospice).

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at Shepherd Memorial Park with Brother Phillip Kuykendall officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 2, at Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors, 125 South Church Street in Hendersonville.

As a former florist, Bob had always requested flowers. Flowers will be appreciated. Donations would also be appreciated to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Reagan Mary Birchfield

Reagan Mary Birchfield, infant daughter of Brittany Nellie Ryan Birchfield of East Flat Rock and namesake of great- grandmother Mary Birchfield, passed into the arms of Jesus, Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Park Ridge Health.

She was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandparents, Frank Jr and Mary Birchfield.

She is survived, in addition to her mother, by her maternal grandparents, Darrin (Joe) Birchfield of Flat Rock and Pamela Birchfield of East Flat Rock; maternal great-grandfather, Bill Shelton of Asheville; great-aunts and uncles, Vickie and Timmy Cline of Baisden, W.Va., Lawford and Vanessa Shawn Birchfield of Grundy, Va., Lindalee and Ricky Hurley of Hendersonville and Ricky Shawn Birchfield of Hendersonville; cousins Catelyn Shelton of Asheville, Joshua and Tiffany Hurley of Hendersonville, Chelsey Birchfield of Va. and Tenisha and Patrick Sparks of Logan, W.Va., as well as many loving friends and extended family.

A funeral will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014, in the chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Chaplin Edwin Robling will officiate. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis, TN 38105.

To offer condolences online please visit www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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David W. Capps, 54

David W. Capps, 54

David W. Capps, 54, of Flat Rock died Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham after a brief illness.

A native and lifelong resident of Henderson County, David was the son of the late Edward R. and Alma Jean Moore Capps. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Brian Capps.

David owned and operated Stoney Mountain Timber and was an avid bowler and fisherman. He was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy Radford Capps of Flat Rock; two sons, Adam Capps and wife, Rachel, and David Brandon Capps, all of Hendersonville; six grandchildren, Jaden, Baileigh, Ashton, Brooklyn, Dillon and MaKayla; brothers and sisters, Edward R. Capps, Jr., Stella Chase, Ricky E. Capps, Roger L. Capps and Lorraine Vidrine; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2014, at Mountain View Baptist Church in Tuxedo. The Revs. Eddie Capps and Matthew Morgan will officiate. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 p.m. Sunday at Shuler Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

To offer condolences online, please visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Alma Smith Barrett, 90

Alma Smith Barrett, 90, died on May 26, 2014, at Carolina Village in Hendersonville where she had lived for seven years.

A native of Portland, Maine, she was the daughter of Margaret Montgomery and Donald Goold Smith, and was preceded in death in 2001 by her husband, Austin Dudley Barrett.

At Carolina Village she enjoyed a full and active life with many cherished friends. Prior to that she resided in Heritage Village in Southbury, Conn. She graduated from the Erskine School in Boston, Mass., with an associate's degree. She later studied sculpting while living abroad in Tokyo, Japan and Sydney, Australia as well as in Rye, N.Y. In 1974, she moved to Madison, Conn., where she became an award winning sculptor and her stone carvings were exhibited extensively in galleries and art societies throughout Connecticut.

Alma is survived by her daughter, Martha Schwerdtle, and her son-in-law, Ted Schwerdtle, of Roxbury, Conn., and her sons, Sears Barrett, and daughter-in-law, Colleen, of Denver, Colo., and Donald Beach Barrett, and daughter-in-law, Kathleen Seabe, of Mills River; three grandchildren, Jessica Barrett, Sam Barrett, and Evan Barrett; and two great-grandchildren, Adrianna Barrett and Taylor Cowlishaw.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2014, in the Village Hall at Carolina Village, 600 Carolina Village Road, Hendersonville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Roxbury Congregational Church, 24 Church Street, Roxbury, CT 06783 where she was a member.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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Ted Capps, 80

Ted Capps, 80

Ted Capps, 80, of Hendersonville, passed away Monday, May 26, 2014.

He was a life time resident of Henderson County and a son of the late Leo and Nina Osteen Capps.

Ted served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and was the owner and operator of Ted's Truck Stop and Four Seasons Antiques.

His survivors include daughters, Gail Pennell and husband Billy, Carol Smith and husband Tim, and Cathy Edney and husband David; grandchildren Daniel and Megan Smith, Heather and Bailey Edney; brother, John and Phyllis Capps; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, 2014, in the chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home with Pastor Roy Perry officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. prior to the service in the chapel.

An online register book is available and sympathy card is available by visiting www.forestlawnhendersonville.com

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Louise E. Walker, 71

Louise E. Walker, 71, Mountain Home North Carolina, died Monday, May 26, 2014 at Mountain Home Health and Rehab.

Jackson funeral service and crematory is assisting the family.

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Theodore Roosevelt Capps, 80

Theodore Roosevelt Capps, 80, of Dana, passed away May 26, 2014.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home will announce the arrangements.

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Dorothy K. Fenton, 91

Dorothy K. Fenton, 91 of Hendersonville died Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Carolina Village Medical Center.

She was a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived in Garden City, Long Island, and New York City before moving to Hendersonville in 1990.

She was a graduate of St. John's University in Brooklyn where she received her bachelor's degree in education with a minor in economics. For 17 years she taught business at numerous schools in the New York school system, retiring in 1985.

She was of the Catholic faith.

Her parents, Patrick and Ann Dolan Kennedy and one brother and one sister preceded her in death.

Surviving are her husband Emmett P. Fenton; one son Peter Fenton and wife Patricia of Gastonia; one grandson Christopher Fenton of Gastonia; and one niece Jacqueline Cichetti.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 am Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Our Lady of the Angels Chapel of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731 or to Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 208 7th Ave. West, Hendersonville, NC 28791.

To offer condolences online, please visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Bruce Doyle McDowell, 91

Bruce Doyle McDowell, 91, of Fletcher died Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Park Ridge Hospital.

Born in Goodlett, Texas, and raised in Oklahoma with his 12 older siblings, he was the son of the late David S. McDowell and Hettie Ann Batts McDowell. He was also preceded in death by his wives, Lola Mae Fortner McDowell and Wilma Anita Krishingner McDowell; his daughter, Margaret Earlene McDowell; and his siblings.

Mr. McDowell was a veteran of World War II, having served in the US Army. Before retiring in 1985, he was employed by Air Condition Products in Detroit, MI. He had resided in Henderson County for 23 years and was a member of the Arden Seventh-day Adventist church.

Mr. McDowell had a deep love of photography and bird-watching. He also enjoyed collecting and playing harmonicas. His great sense of humor was always appreciated by his family and friends. A very hardworking man, he was always concerned about the welfare of others.

He is survived by his son, Harold McDowell; his daughter, Carolyn McDowell of Fletcher; stepchildren, Patricia Battenburg and husband, Mark; Stanley Yurth and wife, Marian, all of Hendersonville; Cathy Mitack and husband, Charlie, of Hinsdale, IL; and Bruce Yurth and wife, Gerri, of Ft. Madison, IA.

The service will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church Student Assistance Program, 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704, or to the Fletcher Seventh-day Adventist Church Student Financial Aid Program, PO Box 429, Fletcher, NC 28732.

To offer condolences online, please visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Robert M. Paxton, 65

Robert M. Paxton, 65, of Hendersonville, passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Mission Hospital Memorial Campus.

A son of the late Maurice and Lucille Freeman Paxton, he lived in Alabama as a young boy, before moving to Henderson County where he lived for most of his life. An apple grower, he owned and operated M.A. Paxton, Inc. for many years.

Surviving is his wife of 44 years, Donna Paxton; a daughter Caroline Paxton Short and her husband Steven; a son Damian Robert Paxton; his 7-year-old granddaughter Ophelia Short; a sister Susan Worrell; and a niece Molly Worrell, all of Hendersonville.

A private memorial service is planned.

To sign an online register book, visit www.shulerfuneralhome.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Robert M. Paxton, 65

Robert M. Paxton, 65, of Hendersonville, passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Mission Hospital Memorial Campus.

A son of the late Maurice and Lucille Freeman Paxton, he lived in Alabama as a young boy, before moving to Henderson County where he lived for most of his life. An apple grower, he owned and operated M.A. Paxton, Inc. for many years.

Surviving is his wife of 44 years, Donna Paxton; a daughter Caroline Paxton Short and her husband Steven; a son Damian Robert Paxton; his 7-year-old granddaughter Ophelia Short; a sister Susan Worrell; and a niece Molly Worrell, all of Hendersonville.

A private memorial service is planned.

To sign an online register book, visit www.shulerfuneralhome.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Bruce McDowell, 91

Bruce McDowell, 91, of Fletcher, passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2014.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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Linda Barnett Cowan, 76

Linda Barnett Cowan, 76, of Mills River, formerly of Webster, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 19, 2014, following a period of declining health. Her final days were spent surrounded by many of the family and friends she cherished.

She was born June 15, 1937, in Mills River. The daughter of the late Kathleen Bagwell Barnett and Robert "Robbie" Sharber Barnett, Linda enjoyed growing up on the family dairy farm in Mills River. With undergraduate and master's degrees from Western Carolina University, Linda taught school in Lexington City Schools, Henderson County Schools, and in Jackson County Schools. The majority of her three decades of teaching were at Fairview Elementary in Sylva.

Linda was a devout Presbyterian. She served as a deacon and Sunday School Secretary at First Presbyterian Church in Sylva, where she faithfully brought her children up in church. Her retirement years were spent worshipping at Mills River Presbyterian, the church she grew up in. Linda was also a former member of the Alpha Delta Kappa teaching sorority and the Mills River Red Hat girls.

Linda enjoyed gardening, canning vegetables, making baskets, sewing and raising chickens. She had an incredible work ethic. She quietly helped students who needed rides home from school activities or wanted a ride to church. Her journey on earth started and ended on the family dairy farm, and she really enjoyed a retirement view of her Daddy's barns on the Old Homeplace. She especially liked being outside appreciating God's creation.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband, William J. "Bill" Cowan, who died just six weeks prior to her passing. They had been married for 48 years.

Three children were blessed to call her "Mama" and will miss her dearly. Her children are Jill Cowan Gregg and her husband Brian, Jan Cowan King and her husband Wade, and Jimmy Cowan and his wife Diana. Linda was fondly called "Nana" to her five grandchildren: Maggie King, Clay Gregg, Colby Gregg, Molly Cowan and Macie Cowan. Linda is also survived by her faithful sister, Myra Crisp, of Mills River, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends as well as her four-legged retirement companion, a border collie named Queenie.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Mills River Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2014. Following the service, friends and family will gather in the church fellowship hall for a time of remembrance and visitation.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Black Mountain Home for Children at 80 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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Linda Kay Orr, 58

Linda Kay Orr, 58, of Flat Rock, died Friday, May 9, 2014 at the Elizabeth House.

A native of Transylvania County, she was the daughter of the late Wade & Rebecca Orr. Linda is also preceded in death by a sister and a brother.

She was a member of Holly Springs Baptist Church. Linda devoted her life to raising children and was a very loving and caring mother.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Rojas; two sons, Keith Watts and Vincent Orr, all of Flat Rock; a granddaughter, Carly Watts; two sisters, Regina Armentrout and Rita Moorman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

An online register book and sympathy card are available by visiting www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Penelope Parker Peterson

Penelope Parker Peterson died on Friday, May 16, 2014, surrounded by family at her home in Flat Rock.

Born in Columbia, SC, she was the daughter of James Rose Parker and Sarah Clarke DeSaussure.

She graduated from Converse College and attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina.

She was predeceased by her husband, Auguste Bartholdi Peterson, Jr., and her beloved dog, Puck.

She is survived by her son, A. Bart Peterson, III, and his wife, Ellen, of Lake Mary, Fla., and by her daughter, Sallie Peterson White and husband, Daniel, of Greenville, S.C.; granddaughters, Bentley Parker White of Charleston, S.C., and Sarah DeSaussure White of Boulder, Colo.; and sisters, Sarah Parker Lumpkin and Martha Parker Allison and husband, Fitz, all of Georgetown, S.C.

A funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at St. John in the Wilderness, 1905 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC, with the Right Reverend C. FitzSimons Allison, Reverend John A. Morton, and Reverend Deacon Joyce Beschta officiating. Burial will follow the service in the churchyard.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Historic Flat Rock, St. John in the Wilderness, P.O. Box 185, Flat Rock, NC 28731 or to a charity of one's choice.

An online register book and funeral service details will be available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

 

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Michael A. Antonicchio, 53

Michael A. Antonicchio, 53, of Hendersonville, NC passed away peacefully, Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at his home.

Jackson Funeral Service and Crematory will announce the arrangements.

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Enon Leon Overcash, 57

Enon Leon Overcash, 57, of Hendersonville, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2014, at his home.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Enon and Mary Ruby Nelon Overcash and a niece, Jessie Overcash.

He had worked for Cason for 33 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 8 years, Janice Venerayan Overcash, three sisters, two brothers and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held 2:00 pm Tuesday, May 20th at his residence.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help the family. Please give to the family at the service or mail them to Janice Overcash, PO Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793.

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Meredith T. Durning, 56

Meredith T. Durning, 56, of Gerton, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2014.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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Glenn Ray Cantrell, 84

Glenn Ray Cantrell, 84

Glenn Ray Cantrell, community leader, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away at Life Care Center on May 17, 2014 at the age of 84 after a period of declining health.

Ray was born in Reidsville to John Glenn and Lucy Talley Cantrell. After service in the Army, he was named manager of the Chamber of Commerce in Ahoskie. In 1960, Ray joined the Greater Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce where he was the Executive Vice President until his retirement in 2000.

When he joined the Chamber, there were 3 industries and the county had no industrial parks. The annual budget for the Chamber was $20,000 and was supported by 210 members. Under his leadership, he persuaded more than 40 industries to locate plants in Henderson County, including Steelecase, Eaton Corporation, Ralph Wilson Plastics and Rockwell International.

He was instrumental in the revitalization of downtown Hendersonville, which included the transition to a serpentine Main Street. Upon his retirement, the G. Ray Cantrell Service Award was established by the Chamber to honor Ray and to recognize an individual's service to the community.

Ray loved his community and worked tirelessly to maintain a balanced growth in Henderson County – balance between industry, agriculture, tourism and retirees. He had a passion for education, serving on the Hendersonville City Schools Board of Education for several years. Ray was Past President of both the NC Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the NC Industrial Developers Association and past board member for Advantage West. In 1978, he was appointed by Governor Jim Hunt to the NC Human Resources and Development Board. He served as executive secretary of the NC Apple Festival for most of the 40 years he worked for the Chamber.

He was a member of Kedron Lodge #387 AF&AM. He was a recipient of the Service to Mankind Award and was a past recipient of the "Possum of the Year Award" from the Possum Hollow Club. He was a founding member of the Four Seasons Golf Club and a active member of Hendersonville Country Club. Ray was also a very active member of First United Methodist Church Hendersonville and Roy Johnson Sunday School class before his health declined.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Libby Smith Cantrell, and a sister, Virginia Cantrell Citty.

He is survived by his wife, Priscilla Cantrell, a son, John Cantrell, of Kingsport, TN and wife, Cindy; step son, Tony Hartle and wife, Linda of Mocksville, NC ; grandchildren Nicholas and Peyton Cantrell, both of Kingsport, TN.

Memorial services will be 11 Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dan Martin officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted by Kedron Lodge #387 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at Thos. Shepherd & Son. The family will receive friends at The Inn on Church on Tuesday, May 20, 2014.

The family wishes to thank the staff at The Life Care Center of Hendersonville and Dr. James J. Caserio and his staff for the compassionate care they provided.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Hendersonville PO Box 1460 Hendersonville, NC 28793 or Hendersonville Rescue Mission 639 Maple St. Hendersonville, NC 28792.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

 

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Rebecca "Becky" B. Mitchell, 81

Rebecca "Becky" B. Mitchell, 81

Rebecca "Becky" B. Mitchell, 81, of Hendersonville died with FrontoTemporal dementia on May 14, 2014 at the Elizabeth House.

A native of Tabor City, she lived in other parts of North Carolina and Virginia before moving to Hendersonville in 1998. She was the daughter of the late Volley Reece "V.R." Burroughs, Sr. and Mildred Harrelson Burroughs. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her older brother, V.R. Burroughs, Jr.

She is survived by her loving husband of 31 years, Billy "Bill" P. Mitchell of Hendersonville; her daughters, Amy King of New Albany, Ind., Elizabeth Robertson of Fairbanks, Alaska; younger brother, Gene Burroughs of Tabor City; step-children, Sharon Huggins of Altamonte Springs, Fla., Steve Mitchell of Altamont Springs, Fla., Amy Harrison of St. Augustine Beach, Fla.; step-grandchildren, Brittney Smith of Eustis, Fla., Sgt. Chase Boyt, stationed in Afghanistan; and step-great-grandchild, Hailey Belle Smith.

Becky graduated from Tabor City High School in 1950; Coker College, Hartsville, S.C., in 1954 with an AB degree in elementary education; and University of Virginia Tech in 1994 with an MS in counseling. She taught and counseled in the public schools of Durham,  Danville, Va.; Orange County, and Fairfax, Va., for a total of 43 years.

At Coker College, Becky was voted May Queen, president of the student body, "Best All Around" and was a member of the Cutie Court. Her marriage to the late Alfred H. Martin, Jr. ended in divorce.

She found pleasure in sharing her happiness, spiritual beliefs, training, and experiences with everyone. She was a vibrant, generous, creative spirit who made the earth a more hopeful, loving planet.

Becky represented her Falls Church, Va., Presbyterian Church in Russia teaching PAIRS, a course in making marital relationships successful. As a representative of the International Executive Service Corps, she and her husband did a mission to Zambia, where she taught street children. A favorite mission was to assist in the development of a Buddhist school in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Since she and her husband joined a colleague from Binghamton, N.Y., in the project in 2006, the school has grown from 46 students in grades 1-4 to 425 students in grades 1-10 today.

After Becky's retirement and move to Hendersonville, she continued to serve others. She served as an intake person at the Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM), as a food server at the Rescue Mission, in the outlet store of the Habitat for Humanity, as a Big Sister, a mentor for the Literacy Council, and was a member of the AAUW. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.

A Memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville. A committal service will follow the service in the Grace Memorial Gardens. Immediately following the interment the family will receive friends in Stull Hall.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Avenue West, Hendersonville, NC 28791, or Memory Care 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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