age 80, Beloved husband of Carole (nee Latanick) for 49 years. Son of the late Joseph Sydney and Eva Ione. Brother of the late Ima Jean and Dorothy Helen. Dear uncle of Gary and Greg Saber and Danny and Starlyn Borders. Loving cousin of Betty White and family. Passed away February 2, 2021. Funeral Mass 11 a.m. Monday, February 8, at St. Raphael Church, 525 Dover Center Road, Bay Village.
7 April 1949 - 29 Jul 2020
Harold was born to James and Leslie (Pritchard) Gaither in Memphis, TN. He was a Vietnam Veteran and served his country with the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and achieved the rank of Specialist 4. Harold received his Engineering Degree from State Technical Institute at Memphis. In his spare time, he loved to rebuild and restore classic cars.
Harold is survived by Jean Gaither, mother of his children; daughter, Alicia Carpenter (Roger); son Brantley Gaither (Laura), grandchildren, Alese Carpenter, Alana Carpenter, Dylan Carpenter, Grant Gaither, Cole Gaither; great-granddaughter Avery; sister, Marcia Atwood (John); and many nieces and nephews. Harold is preceded in death by his parents, younger brother, Jim Gaither, and his loyal canine companion, Milton.
Janie Sigmon Leonard passed away peacefully on July 1, 2020 in Raleigh, NC after an unexpected stay at Rex Hospital. She was born December 27, 1942, in Claremont, NC to the late Eulan Eugene Sigmon and Mary Nell Little Sigmon. After graduating from Bunker Hill High School in Catawba County, she attended Appalachian Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) until she married her beloved Bruce Gill Leonard and moved to Memphis, TN. They were married 57 years before Bruce’s passing in October 2019. Bruce and Janie raised 3 children in Raleigh, NC, all surviving, Alaric “Larry” Leonard, Lisa Leonard Carlay, (husband, Mark) and Andrew Leonard (wife, Angie). Janie is also survived by her brother, Timothy Sigmon of Catawba, NC and 4 grandchildren, Casey Carlay, Nicholas Carlay, Reid Leonard, and Evan Leonard. Janie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She had a calming way about her and always stopped to listen when someone needed to talk. Janie was active in the lives of her growing children, whether it was being a scout leader or hauling kids to soccer, baseball and track practices. During those years she was a substitute teacher. She also was part owner of the Calico Cat craft shop in Raleigh for several years. Later she worked many years for Drs. Thornhill and Thornhill. As a longtime member of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, she was active in the Cameron King (now Wesleyan) Sunday School Class and Circle No. 7. A celebration of life service for Bruce and Janie will be held later when circumstances allow.
Dr. Cornelius Elbert Gaither, 28 Feb 1928, Philadelphia, PA—22 Mar 2020, Aberdeen, MD, Son of Dr. Cornelius and Edith Albertha Robinson. Cornelius was Past President of SJGD and a ground breaker in many fields. For an interview in 2014 click this link or copy and paste. https://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/interviewees/64-text-html/1585-gaither-cornelias-e
Alice M Gaither, 87, of Charleston, SC, wife of William "Bill" Gaither Jr., peacefully passed away on Monday, August 3, 2020.
Alice was born on October 6, 1932 in Hamlet, NC, daughter of the late Luther Mudd and Elizabeth B. Pearson Mudd. She graduated from King's Business College in NC, and worked as an office manager in a doctor's office, at a shipping company and in the Dogwood Room Restaurant in the Charlotte Airport.
Alice was active in her church and was the chair of the Pastor Parrish Committee. She played Bridge weekly with friends and enjoyed sewing. She even made her own wedding dress. Alice and Bill had a black cat named Missy and a Cocker Spaniel named Sandy. After retirement Alice and Bill traveled to 49 states by car.
Surviving Alice are her dear husband of 59 years, Bill Gaither; her son, William Gaither (Sheila); her daughter, Elizabeth Gaither Hartsell (Alex); three grandchildren, Elaina Ann Novak of Chesapeake, VA, William Ryan Gaither of Hanahan, SC, and William Alex Hartsell of Charleston, SC.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her two sisters, Irene Crisco of Hamlet, NC, and Felicity Adams of Clover, SC.
A private funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at J. Henry Stuhr Inc., West Ashley Chapel. The family will receive friends prior to the service. Burial will follow at Live Oak Memorial Gardens.
Bruce Gill Leonard was born on March 29, 1940, in Catawba, NC, to C. T. and Genevieve Leonard. He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 brothers, James, Joe and Phillip. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janie Sigmon Leonard, and their children, Alaric Leonard, Lisa Carlay and Andrew (Angie) Leonard. He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren, Casey, Nicholas, Reid, and Evan. Continue reading
Albert Cowles Gaither, age 88, a lifelong resident of Newton, NC, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at Abernethy Laurels in Newton, NC. Born July 23, 1931 in Catawba County, NC, he was the son of the late William Cowles Gaither and Allie Comer Gaither. Continue reading
May 12, 1934 - February 9, 2020 Julia Ann Gaither Sharp, of Raleigh, died peacefully at William Dunlap Hospice Center in Raleigh, the morning of Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. She was born May 12, 1934, to the late Ralph and Louise Gaither in Harmony. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, L.W. Sharp Jr. Surviving are her brother, Ned Gaither; daughters, Delaine Blinson (Mel), Mary Lou Rhodes (Tim), Carla Brewer (Mark) and Connie Sharp all of Raleigh; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Saint James United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., at the church, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint James UMC, 3808 Saint James Church Rd., Raleigh, NC 27604; or Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Ethel Ilene Koger began the final journey of her life on July 17, 2019 when she passed away after a long illness. She was the daughter of Norman L. and Alvena Widiger Montgomery, and was born on the 19th of April, 1925 in Morrison, OK. Most of her life was lived in Oklahoma. She married Robert L. Koger on October 21st, 1951 in Ponca City, OK. They were married by the Rev. Charlie Shedd. Ethel and Robert lived for a while in Arkansas City, KS. In 1955 they moved to Ponca City and have resided there ever since.
Ethel spent her working life in the food service industry, including 21 years at the Ponca City Country Club.
Her lifelong hobby was Genealogy and researching her own family history. She and her sisters took many trips to other states to look through dusty courthouse records and search old cemeteries for family names. Ethel traced two family lines back as far as Charlemagne of France. She was a member of the Jamestowne Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Huguenot Society, Colonial Dames, and John Gaither Descendants. Continue reading
Leander Washington (L.W.) Sharp, Jr.
Raleigh
L.W. Sharp, Jr., died peacefully at his residence, early Sunday morning, 12/8/2019, after a brief illness. He was born on March 31, 1929 to the late Leander Washington Sharp, Sr. and Josie Bell Mullis Sharp in Hamptonville, NC.
Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Julia Ann Gaither Sharp; his daughters, Delaine Blinson (Mel), Mary Lou Rhodes (Tim), Carla Brewer (Mark) and Connie Sharp, all of Raleigh; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Tuesday at Saint James United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 am–11:00 am prior to the service.
Original obituary was published in The News & Observer on Dec. 9, 2019