Obituary of Mary Frances Reagan (1918-2007)

Mary Frances Reagan
Sep 05, 2007 - 07:45:56 am CDT

Yanceyville - Mary Frances Reagan, 89, of 226 Cemetery Street,
Yanceyville, NC died August 30, 2007 at her residence.

Ms. Reagan was born March 7, 1918 in Caswell County, North Carolina, the daughter of the late James King Reagan and Lelia Ann McCann. She was a homemaker and was a member of Yanceyville United Methodist Church. Ms. Reagan is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Smith of Yanceyville, NC; two grandchildren, Keith Smith and his wife, Pam of Greensboro, NC and Debra Ann Dickens and her husband, Berkley of Charlotte, NC; two nieces and her beloved pet, Joey. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by a brother, Thomas Reagan.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 12:00 noon at Cooper Family Cemetery, Prospect Hill, NC with Reverend David Wilson and Reverend David Powell officiating. The family will receive friends Friday, August 31, 2007 from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Marley Funeral Home, Yanceyville, NC. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to:

Cooper Family Cemetery, c/o Mr. Edwin Yarbrough, 1223 Ridgeville Road, Prospect Hill, NC 27314 or Hospice of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.

Marley Funeral Home, Yanceyville, NC is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Obituary of Mary Frances Reagan (1918-2007) The Caswell Messenger, 5 September 2007)

Obituary of James Witcher Turner (1919-2007)

James Witcher Turner
Sep 05, 2007 - 07:45:55 am CDT

Pelham - James Witcher Turner, 88, of 605 Red Marshall Road, Pelham,
NC died Sunday, September 2, 2007 in the Annie Penn Hospital,
Reidsville, NC.

He was born on April 24, 1919 in Norfolk, VA, the son of the late
Robert Edwin Turner and Lucille Millner Turner. He moved to Pelham, NC
in 1932 and was a graduate of George Washington High School, attended
Emory University and Shrivingham American University in Swindon, England.

In 1942, he was employed in management training with Carter Fabrics
Corp. in South Boston, VA. In 1944 he left to serve his country in
World War 11 in the United States Army as a combat infantryman and
received battle stars for the Rhine River crossing and for combat in
central Germany. In 1945 he resumed his job with Carter Fabrics Corp.
which at the time merged with J P Stephens Co. where he continued to
be employed for 44 years until retiring in 1984 as Operation Manager
for a division of the company. During his years with the company, he
was relocated several times working in South Boston, Great Falls, SC,
Greensboro, NC and finally the New York City corporate office where he
worked for 21 years.

As a young man he was active in civic affairs and served as President
of the South Boston Junior Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the
Virginia State Jaycees, President of the Great Falls SC Jaycees, and
Vice President of the South Carolina State Jaycees.

He was an avid tennis player and was a member of the Stratford Tennis
Club and the Ballou Park Hackers until he was 83. He was an active
member of the Pelham United Methodist Church and served on numerous
committees and served as chairman of the Administrative Council for 15
years. He was supportive of the Pelham Community Center and served
many years as Vice President. He was appointed to the Caswell County
Committee for service to the elderly which led to his serving on a
seven county state regional committee for service to the elderly. He
helped establish Caswell County's first qualified Senior Center in
Yanceyville.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a brother, Edwin
Turner. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Nancy Fitzgerald
Turner of the home; three sons, Dr. James Witcher Turner, Jr. of
Oakton, Virginia, Dudley Pierce Turner of Warren, Vermont, and Michael
Vincent Turner of Dedham, Massachusetts; eight grandchildren and 4
great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 7, 2007 at 11:00 am
from Pelham United Methodist Church with the Reverend Larry Durham
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at
Townes Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30 pm and at other times will be
at the residence.

The family respectfully suggests that memorials may be sent to the
Pelham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 82, 594 Red Marshall Road,
Pelham, NC 27311.

Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, Danville is in charge of
funeral arrangements.

Source: The Caswell Messenger, 5 September 2007.

Dr. Jacob Thompson House (Leasburg, NC): William Cogbill Ham

Dr. Jacob Thompson House (Leasburg, NC): William Cogbill Ham Purchased Interior Trim

(Click on Photograph for Larger Image)

The Dr. Jacob Thompson House in Leasburg, Caswell County, North Carolina, is a one and one-half story frame federal house of eccentric design, considerably altered. Originally two-story. It features extremely ornate trim includes pierced dentil cornice, window caps with geometric gouge work and fluted corner blocks. Much of the interior trim has been sold, including the mantel with 23 stars which once was said to have been bought by the Winterthur Museum of American Decorative Arts. However, the mantel went to a private home in Martinsville, Virginia.

(Click on Photograph for Larger Image)

And, pictured above is the famous mantel and the person who purchased it and moved it to Martinsville, Virginia, William Cogbill Ham (1912-1970), nephew of Thomas Jones Ham, Jr., (1896-1967), long-time Yanceyville pharmacist and owner of the Yanceyville Drug Company (the drug store on the square in Yanceyville) who affectionately was called "Old Doc Ham."

Thomas Henry Harrison Letter

Envelope mailed 1900 from Thomas Harrison, Treasure of Caswell County in Yanceyville, NC addressed to J M Sires in Oxford, NC. On the back it shows a Danville, Va transit mark and an Oxford, NC receiving mark. Evidently the envelope went north across the border to Danville, Va and was probably put on a train that went to Oxford, NC. Danville apparently was a processing center for that part of NC.

This Thos. H. Harrison may have been Thomas Henry Harrison, son of Thomas Satterwhite Harrison (1842-1927) and Adeline Hannah Slade (1843-1878).

Name: Thomas Henry Harrison
Spouse: Viola Gertrude Vincent
Parents: Thomas Satterwhite Harrison , Adeline Hannah Slade
Birth Place: Caswell, Milton, NC
Birth Date: 11 Jul 1869
Marriage Place: Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, Mebane
Marriage Date: Dec 1898
Death Place: Danville, Pittsylvania, VA
Death Date: 26 Jun 1921
Source: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000

1920 US Census
Name: Thomas H Harrison
Home in 1920: Danville Ward 4, Danville (Independent City), Virginia
Age: 48 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Birthplace: North Carolina
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Viola G
Father's Birth Place: North Carolina
Mother's Birth Place: North Carolina
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas H Harrison 48
Viola G Harrison 44
Delonas Harrison 15
Thomas P Harrison 17
Virginia L Harrison 7
Connelia Vincent 73 [possibly mother of Viola Gertrude Vincent Harrison]


Here is a retouched version of the image:



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Obituary of Robert Edward Dix (1930-2007)

Obituary of Robert Edward Dix (1930-2007)
Aug 29, 2007 - 07:37:17 am CDT

Providence - Robert Edward Dix, 77, of 10455 Highway 86 North, Providence, NC died Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital after 10 years of declining health and being a patient in the hospital for the past week.

He was born February 12, 1930 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, the son of John Daniel Dix and Mary Smith Dix, both deceased. Mr. Dix lived most of his life in the Providence Community of Caswell County. He was employed for 15 years as a truck driver with Star Paper Tube Company and was a veteran of the US Army. He was a member of Welcome Baptist Church, Blanch, North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie Snead Dix; daughter, Diane Shorter of Eden, NC; son, Daniel L. Dix of Chino Hill, CA; sisters, Nannie Clayton of Providence, NC and Lottie Mae Robertson of Caswell Co., NC; brothers, Billy Dix and Willard Dix both of Richmond, VA, George Dix of Conway, NC and Bobby Dix of Yanceyville, NC; 2 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

The funeral will be Friday, August 24, 2007 at 2:00 pm at Swicegood Chapel with Reverend Jimmy Reaves officiating and Graveside Military Honors conducted by American Legion Dan River Post #1097 Honor Guard. Burial will be at Floral Hills Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends Thursday, August 23 rd from 7:00 until 8:30 pm at Swicegood Funeral Home and at other times the family will be at 10011 Highway 86 North, Providence, NC.

Source: Obituary of Robert Edward Dix (The Caswell Messenger, 29 August 2007).

Obituary of Charlie Roosevelt Overby (c. 1941-2007)

Obituary of Charlie Roosevelt Overby (c. 1941-2007)
Aug 29, 2007 - 07:37:17 am CDT

Charlie Roosevelt Overby, 66, of 6371 NC Hwy 119 N, died Saturday, August 25, 2007 at Person Memorial Hospital.

Born in Mecklenburg County, VA, Mr. Overby was the son of the late Walter and Sallie Puryear Overby. Mr. Overby worked for the NC DOT and was a member of Nelson Baptist Church in Nelson, VA.

Mr. Overby is survived by his wife, Carol Marklew Overby; four children, Charlie Overby, Jr. of South Boston, VA, Melinda Davis of Roxboro, Chris Overby of Leasburg and Stephanie Whitley of Savannah, GA; two brothers, Decatur Overby of Virgilina, VA and Robert Overby of NelsonVA; three sisters, Holly Newton Crenshaw, of Victoria, VA, Margie Nelson of Nelson, VA and Faye McGaughey of Albermarle; four grandchildren, Austin Rimmer, Victoria Rimmer, Kaitlyn Coleman and Michael Whitley.

Visitation will be held from 6 until 8:30 pm Monday, August 27, 2007 at the Brooks & White Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 6 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at the Brooks & White Chapel by the Reverend James McAllister.

Memorials may be made to Nelson Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Chuck Nelson, 3054 Nelson Church Rd., Nelson, VA 24580.

Source: Obituary of Charlie Roosevelt Overby (The Caswell Messenger, 29 August 2007).
_______________

The following is from the desk of the Editor of The Caswell Messenger and is reprinted here with permission (all rights reserved):

They say that God broke the mold when he made Charlie Overby.
Aug 29, 2007 - 07:35:33 am CDT

I tend to agree.

Charlie passed away unexpectedly on Saturday (see his obituary on page 8) but he has left a lasting legacy to everyone who was fortunate enough to cross paths with him.

Charlie had a bigger heart than anyone I ever met. He simply couldn't stomach seeing anyone suffer and did everything in his power to make sure those around him didn't.

It didn't matter to Charlie whether you were related to him or not, or even if he didn't know you. Charlie viewed everyone he met during his days here on earth as family, as children of God and spent his life showing them the love God had for them. He showed that love with the sweat of his brow as he shared the harvest of his huge garden, helped a neighbor put up a fence or fix a car. Charlie showed that love in a generous sharing of his time, whether it was to drive a neighbor to the doctor, simply so they wouldn't have to go alone or to help with the heavy work during fundraisers. He showed that love by offering a warm smile every time you saw him or a hug when you needed it.

When Charlie Overby did something kind for you, it was not for brownie points or because he wanted anything in return. No Charlie did it simply because he loved you.

And we loved you, Charlie. Our lives will certainly be a bit dimmer without your smile, but Heaven surely just got a whole lot brighter!

Elizabeth Anne Rogers Morgan (1912 - 2007)

Above is a May 2006 photograph of Elizabeth Anne Rogers Morgan (left) and Karen Wade Avants (right). The mother of Elizabeth Anne Rogers Morgan, Capitola Pointer Rogers, had been very close to the great grandmother of Karen Wade Avants, Josephine Pointer Wade.

SMITHFIELD - Elizabeth Anne Rogers Morgan, age 95, died on August 18, 2007.

"Lib" was born in Person County, N.C. on July 5, 1912, the tenth and youngest child of William George and Capitola Pointer Rogers. A 1929 graduate of Roxboro High School who starred as a five foot tall basketball forward, she began her teaching career in 1931 in Dover, Craven County, after graduation from East Carolina Teachers' College. There she met agriculture teacher M. A. ("Happy") Morgan of Wake County, whom she married in 1935 and who preceded her in death in 1984.

She moved to Smithfield in 1939 when her husband was named County Agent. Throughout her marriage she loyally supported her husband, whom she called "Morgan", who was a leader in the Farm Bureau. The two of them enjoyed trips to National Farm Bureau conventions and a multitude of North Carolina State Wolfpack athletic events, as well as traveling together during retirement. Lib returned to school teaching in 1956 and at the same time earned her B. S. degree from Atlantic Christian College. She strongly believed in the value of an education. Her teaching made it possible for her four children to receive college educations.

Lib grew up a member of Lea's Chapel United Methodist Church, established in 1750 in Person County. She became a member of First Baptist Church after she and her husband moved to Smithfield in 1939. She taught in the Sunday School Beginner Department for many years.

Lib was adventuresome. She attended the 1933 Chicago World's Fair on press credentials, twice visited the London site of her ancestor John Rogers' burning at the stake for his religious views, flew to Paris from Raleigh-Durham on the Concorde, at age 85 traced her family's roots throughout the British Isles, and at age 91 followed the trail of her kinsman, William Clark, on the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean.

She attended the retirement celebrations of her husband and sons and the college and graduate school graduations of all of her grandchildren.

Lib co-chaired the Smithfield Appearance Commission for ten years, and was named 1974 Co-Citizen of the Year by the Greater Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce in recognition of this involvement. A personal trip to the River Walk area of New Orleans inspired her to work to establish the Town Commons trail along her beloved Neuse River.

She enjoyed dancing, travel, genealogy, and bridge. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, was active in the Smithfield Junior and Senior Woman's Clubs, and the Down-to-Earth Garden Club. She was a lifelong progressive Democrat.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses Melzer A. "Pat" Morgan, Jr. (Molly), Anne Rogers M. Grimes, Ralph S. Morgan (Gloria), and Joseph N. "Joe" Morgan (Nancy).

Her nine grandchildren are: John M. Grimes (Hank Lewis), Morgan G. Grimes (Carter), Melzer A. Morgan, III (Kristi), Patrick E. Morgan (Elizabeth), Brian Pope (Shelley), Ragan Ham (Dale), Margaret M. Lee (Gary), Elisabeth M. Sawyer (John), and Virginia F. "Ginny" Morgan.

Her thirteen great grandchildren are: Lily Reva, Adron IV, and Mylo Morgan; Ava Grimes; Seth, Luke, and Jake Pope; Kayla and Leah Ham; Brittany and Megan Lee; Iliana Morgan; and Will Sawyer.

A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church, 202 South Fourth St., Smithfield, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22, 2007. The family will receive friends at the church's Ryberg Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21. The family will also receive friends at the Church following the memorial service. At other times the family will be at the residence at 122 W. Riverside Drive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Smithfield Appearance Commission, P. O. Box 761, Smithfield, N.C. 27577.

Special thanks are given to her caregivers over the last several years, especially Debbie Chandler, Doris Bizzell, and Luann O'Brien. Thanks are also given to the staff of the Palliative Care Unit of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Source: Durham Herald-Sun and Raleigh News & Observer

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