Larry “Brian” Perry, age 34, of Ennice, died Saturday, May 3, 2008 from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ella Royall Perry, Frances Mae Hodge and Jessie Ben Hodge. He is survived by his wife, Sara Spurlin Perry of the home; a stepson, Thomas Teapole of the home; a stepdaughter, Ashley Teapole of the home; his mother, Rosalee Hodge Church of Salisbury; his father and stepmother, Larry and Sarah Perry of Galax, Va.; a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia “Sissy” and Richard Delawder of Troy; a stepsister, Kesha Phillips of Galax; his grandfather, James Franklin Perry of Sparta; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, May 6 at Grandview Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Piney Creek Methodist Church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home to assist with final expenses.

Everette Jackson “E.J.” Jenkins Jr., age 84, of Elkridge, Md., died Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at his home. He was the son of the late Everete Jackson and Lena Halsey Jenkins. He is survived by his wife, Ona Lee Jenkins of the home; two daughters and a son-in-law, Theresa Lester of Elkridge and Terry and George Morgan of Jessup, Md.; a granddaughter, Ashlee Lester of Elkridge; a stepson and spouse, Conn and Debbie Eller of Abingdon, Va.; a step grandson and spouse, Travis and Jennifer Eller of Abingdon; three sisters, Maxine Graybeal of Christianburg, Va., Evon Cook of Mount Airy and Billie Hall of Aberdeen, Md.; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday, May 4 at Grandview Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with burial on Piney Creek Methodist Church cemetery. Full military rites were conducted by the Bruce Wayne Osborne Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7034.

Wilma R. “Billie” Holcomb, age 86, went to her heavenly reward on Thursday, April 17, 2008 following an extended illness. Her life on Earth was a shining example of what a difference one person can make. Born on Nov. 22, 1921, she grew up in the Laurel Springs community of Alleghany County in the Blue Ridge Mountains, learning life’s lessons from her parents, Robert Avery and Nellie Miller Waddell. Avery was a community leader and well known cattle farmer and Nellie as a school teacher, her first years spent in one-room schoolhouses.

Following her graduation from high school in 1937, she became a beautician in Sparta, but love and war soon changed things. A double-date introduced her to her future husband, Jasper M. “Jack” Holcomb of Elkin, and the outbreak of World War II found her uprooted to Washington, D.C. to work as a “de-coder” at Arlington Hill. While on leave from his Navy C.B. duty, Jack and Billie married on March 1, 1945, this marriage lasting almost 63 years, as Jack passed over on Feb. 15, 2008.

Post-war found them back in Elkin to start and raise their family, where they joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary, which would change their lives forever. Billie found herself serving in several offices, chairmanships and even some on the national level. But she is best known for serving as N.C. State secretary and treasurer for 41 years straight. Her hard work “for the good of the organization,” putting aside any personal gains was noted by all. She worked hard while striving to keep up with two growing children who survive her, a daughter, Chloe Ann and son, A. Waddell Holcomb. Her other personal accomplishments are too many to mention, but those who knew her were blessed in the knowing. Her body finally wore down from multiple health issues, but her spirit fought on and will live on forever in heaven with Jack.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Curt Ratledge of Atlanta. In addition to her children, she is survived by special friends, Dorothy T. Hunter and Sylvia W. Crouch and families; as well as a very large Ladies Auxiliary family from Wm. J. Jones Post No. 7794 and across the state.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday, April 20 at Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Elkin with burial in Hollywood cemetery in Elkin. Doctor Bill Johnson officiated.

Mary Maude Hash, age 81, of Ennice, died Monday, April 28, 2008 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Va. She was born on Jan. 9, 1927 in Carroll County, Va. to the late William and Lela Hawks Bobbitt. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Hurley Hash Sr. She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Shirley and Travis McMillian of Mount Airy, Elizabeth Nance of Galax, Va. Melissa and Mitchell Carpenter of Ennice; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Hurley Hash and Herbert and Lou Ann Hash, all of Galax; one sister, Mazie Faith Ward of Lambsburg, Va.; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Ernest and Tavey Bobbitt, Joe and Violet Bobbitt, Howard and Alma Bobbitt and Rommy Bobbitt, all of Lambsburg; one sister-in-law, Nancy Bobbitt of Mount Airy; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday, May 1 at Midway Baptist Church with burial in Meadow Creek cemetery. The Rev. Myron Dalton, the Rev. Gene Hill and Ricky Hash officiated.

Cheryl Y. Boyette, age 63, of Silver Springs, Fla. and of Alleghany County, died Wednesday, April 28, 2008 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. She was born Dec. 24, 1944 in Chicago, Ill. She is survived by her husband, Robert Boyette of 38 years; three daughters and sons-in-law, Tomi and Jim McIntosh, TaRea and Rodney Goudy, all of Bradenton, Fla. and Linda and Matthew Bombolewski of Livonia, Mi.; one sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and John Tynski of Bradenton; her mother, Phyllis Skaggs of Bradenton; and two grandsons.

Memorial services were conducted on May 4 in Silver Springs.