Obituaries
Local Obituaries
Local obituaries for our Badger Funeral Home & Ashelawn Memorial Chapel with funeral services throughout North Carolina, including West Jefferson, Jefferson and adjoining counties.
Reggie Dale Powers
May 27, 2026
Reggie Dale Powers, age 62 of Jefferson, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Forsyth Medical Center.
Mr. Powers was born on February 3, 1964 in Ashe County to Rev. Joseph Edward Powers and Pauline Church Powers. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Benny Powers.
Reggie will be remembered for his kind heart, gentle spirit, and...
Elton Vaughn Ball
Jun 4, 2026
For Elton Vaughn Ball, his Christian faith was the cornerstone of his life. From the age of 17, the United States Navy began to give him the structure and discipline for his 99 and one-half years of life. He was born at the home of his grandparents in Ball Hollow, in the community of Helton, Ashe County, North Carolina on...
Melda Luzell Kennedy Fraley
Jun 4, 2026
Melda Luzell Kennedy Fraley, age 66 of Crumpler, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Mrs. Fraley was born on October 19, 1959 to Wade and Elizabeth Lester Kennedy. She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Melissa Hamm, a sister, Ann Kennedy, and brothers, Richard and Eddie Kennedy.
She was a loving...
Margaret Julia Neal
Jun 3, 2026
Margaret Julia Neal age 78 of Newland formerly of Jefferson passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Avery County Group Home. She was born in Ashe County on June 24, 1947 to the late Joseph Franklin and Ruth Frances Robinson. Including her parents she was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Robinson Neal and sister, Sarah Gordon Neal.
Margaret...
Elsie Eldreth Trivette
Jun 2, 2026
Elsie Eldreth Trivette, age 88 of West Jefferson passed away on June 2, 2026 at Margate Health & Rehab surrounded by the love of her family and the many memories she created throughout a life well lived. She was born on November 26, 1937 in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Oscar and Francis “Frankie” Hamm Eldreth. In addition...
Harold "Randall" Davis
Jun 1, 2026
Harold "Randall" Davis, age 75, of Crumpler, passed away Monday, June 1, 2026, at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Harold was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, veteran, farmer, and friend. He was born in Ashe County on Saturday, August 5, 1950 to the late William Garvey and Ethel Poe Davis. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by...
Joe Ray Turner
May 29, 2026
Joe Ray Turner, 79, of West Jefferson, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 29, 2026. Born on September 16, 1946, in Ashe County, Joe was the beloved son of the late Glen and Hattie McNeil Turner.
A man known for his dedication and willingness to help others, Joe was a hard worker who spent his career...
Jean Towber Graybeal
May 27, 2026
Jean Towber Graybeal, age 84 of Warrensville passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at her home. She was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on June 8, 1941 to the late Peter and Alice McGinnis Towber. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Lee Graybeal Sr. and a grandson, Ethan Shrader.
Jean charmed everyone...
Thelma Brown
May 27, 2026
Thelma Lou Brown, age 94, passed away May 27, 2026 at Watauga Medical Center. Thelma was born April 30, 1932 to the late Frank and Docia Greer. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Glen Franklin Brown; son, Jim Ronald Brown; sisters, Virginia Potter, Shirley Burleson, Leanore Burleson and brothers, Glen Greer, Guinn Greer,...
Barbara Elaine Edwards Lawrence
May 23, 2026
Barbara Elaine Edwards Lawrence, age 85, of West Jefferson, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, May 23, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born in Watauga County on January 22, 1941 to the late Swanson and Mable Wilson Edwards. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Glenn Lawrence,...
Bernice Houck Prestwood
May 23, 2026
Mrs. Bernice Houck Prestwood, age 72, of Jefferson, passed away Saturday evening, May 23, 2026, at Margate Health & Rehab Center.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Ashelawn Memorial Chapel with Rev. Jeremy Houck officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, one hour prior to the...
James "Jamie" McCoy
May 22, 2026
James “Jamie” McCoy, age 36 of Sparta passed away on Friday, May 22, 2026. He was born on May 6, 1990 in Ashe County, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Richard Tuney and Minnie Belle McCoy as well as an uncle, Mark Pennington.
Jamie was a man who felt most at home in the great outdoors,...
Stacy Lynn Flanagan
May 22, 2026
Stacy Lynn Flanagan, age 54 of Crumpler, passed away on Friday, May 22, 2026 at his home. He was born in Ashe County, North Carolina on October 23, 1971 to the late Herbert Lee and Alice Faye Miller Flanagan. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Lenwood “Pete” Flanagan and Edward “Ed”...
Gearleen Brown Pollard
May 19, 2026
Gearleen Brown Pollard, age 86 of Crumpler, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Margate Health & Rehab Center. Born in Ashe County to the late Willie Bruce and Eula Adeline Jones Brown, Gearleen lived a life centered around her faith, family, and caring for others. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her...
Catherine Marie Hunt
May 18, 2026
Catherine Marie Hunt, age 67 of Wilkesboro passed away on Monday, May 18, 2026 at her home. She was born on February 7, 1959 in Ohio to the late Homer Richard and Joann Stacy Hunt. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Bobby Ann Hunt and a nephew, Taylor Hayes.
Catherine found great joy...
Joanne Evelyn York
May 18, 2026
Mrs. Joanne Evelyn Beckett York, age 89, of Jefferson, North Carolina, passed away Monday night, May 18, 2026, at the Johnson City Medical Center.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 10, 1936, Joanne was the daughter of the late Clarence Beckett and Evelyn Elizabeth Wissell Beckett.
Joanne dedicated her life to the care of others, charting a remarkable career in healthcare that...
June "Polly" Gilley
May 16, 2026
June Gilley better known as Polly age 77, of Jefferson, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, May 16, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born in Ashe County on Wednesday, June 23, 1948 to the late Barnie Bruce Ham and Buyrl June Baldwin Ham. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by,...
Donna Rae Ellison Davis
May 14, 2026
Donna Rae Ellison Davis, age 81 of Sparta passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Wilkes Senior Village. She was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia on October 30, 1944 to the late James Ray Ellison Sr. and Claudine Weeks Ellison. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles (Bud) Foster Davis,...
Nancy Kathryn Miller
May 14, 2026
Nancy Kathryn Miller, age 71 of West Jefferson, NC; passed away Thursday, May 14th, 2026 at her residence.
Nancy was born September 2nd, 1954 in Ashe County, NC to the late Joe Miller and Annie Lou Black. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: June Miller and wife Regenia, Rex Allen Miller; a sister, Deanna...
Christina Perry Blevins
May 11, 2026
Christina Perry Blevins age 96 of West Jefferson passed away peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2026 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. She was born in Ashe County on Thursday, September 5, 1929 to the late Monroe and Ollie Davis Perry. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by, her husband, Clinton Wane Blevins, her daughter, Virginia Shephard, grandson,...

