Herbert Reed Todd Sr., age 75, of Independence, Va. and formerly of Sparta, died Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville. He was born July 15, 1934 in Sparta to the late Kyle and Dora Cox Todd.

He is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Todd of Ennice; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Randy and Joy Todd of Ararat and Reed Todd Jr. of Independence; one brother and sister-in-law, R.L. and Edna Todd of Galax, Va.; one sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Paul McMurry of Gate City, Va.; four grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were conducted Monday, March 8 at Pleasant Home cemetery in Alleghany County with the Rev. Pete Hawks officiating.

Cecil Calbert Crouse Sr., age 89, of State Road and formerly of Alleghany County, died Sunday, March 7, 2010. He was born May 1, 1920 to the late George and Pearl Andrews Crouse in Alleghany County. He was a postal contractor and served in the United States Armed Forces. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Daisy Etta Hutchens Crouse; two sisters; and two brothers.

He is survived by four children and a spouse, Jane and Bill Reynolds, Ann “Annie Belle” Crouse Cook and Nancy Crouse, all of State Road and Cecil “Bud” Crouse Jr. of North Wilkesboro; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Woodrow Crouse of Thurmond and Malhon and Ina Rae Crouse of Kernersville; a sister and brother-in-law, Ima Jean and James Chappell of Elkin; four grandchildren and a spouse, Sarah and Dale Bartley, Krista Seagraves, Calbe Gullatt and Bailee Crouse; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a very special friend and extended family, Wanda Caudill.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, March 10 at 11 a.m. at Grass Creek United Methodist Church. The Rev. John Pillsbury and the Rev. Michael Harrell officiated.

Lonnie Franklin Absher, age 70, of Sparta, died Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. Lonnie ran Absher’s Grocery in Sparta for 27 years. He was a member of New Home Freewill Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Lundy and Mae Sidden Absher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Matthew Absher; three sisters, Bertha Mabe, Ruth Halsey and Ruby McCann; and two brothers, John Absher and Jimmy Absher.

He is survived by one son, Kenneth Absher of Sparta; two daughters and a son-in-law, Patricia and Gary Bryant of Ennice and Brenda Brewer of Sparta; six grandchildren, Tracy Absher, Crystal McMickle, Kaylynn Brewer, Garrett Bryant, Jimmy Bryant and Travis Bryant; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Roy Lee Absher; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday, March 7 at New Home Freewill Baptist Church in Piney Creek with burial in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Home Freewill Cemetery Fund, c/o Kenneth Bright, 4868 U.S. Hwy. 221, Sparta, NC 28675; Foundation Fighting Blindness for Retinitis Pigmentosa Research, P.O. Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21203-7279; or the American Cancer Society, c/o Janet McKnight, 2511 Mountain View Road, Glade Valley, NC 28627.
Grandview Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

John Edward Crouse, age 78, of Glade Valley, died Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Alleghany Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 1, 1933 to the late Robert Hortie and Sarah Louella Anderson Crouse. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Robertson Crouse.

He is survived by a daughter, Bernice Crouse Bryant of Glade Valley; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Clyde Edward and Lisa Crouse and Wayne Royal, all of Glade Valley; a sister, Thelma Crouse of Glade Valley; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, March 10 at Grandview Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the family cemetery in Glade Valley.

Verena Pandora Tynan-Kali, formerly known as Regina Ann Richmond, age 47, of Sparta, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 at her home.

She is survived by four children, Darvin Franklin Richmond, Dae-va Sunny Richmond and Tomas Riley Richmond, all of Hillsville, Va. and Eliza-Pauline A. Richmond of Sparta; her father, Walter Franklin Richmond of Pulaski, Va.; her mother and stepfather, Alice Villalabos and Pastor Rodriguez of Hillsville; a sister, Alice Ramona Farmer of Hillsville; and two special friends, Faith Johnson and Betty Cook.

A graveside service was conducted Thursday, Feb. 25 at Little Vine cemetery in Hillsville with Pastor Chip Neeley officiating.