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“March 2, 2006
JOHN CALDWELL
KINGS MOUNTAIN - John
Henry Caldwell, 80, 303 El
Bethel Road, died February 22
2006 at Carolinas Medical
Center, Charlotte.
A native of Cleveland
County, he was the son of the
late Dewey T. and Leona
Jenkins
Caldwell.
He was
also pre-
ceded in
death by
his brother,
Billy
Eugene
Caldwell,
and sister
Arilla C.
Hughes
He was a member of Oak
View Baptist Church where he
served as Trustee, Deacon and
Sunday School teacher. He also
served as choir director for 38
years and he was a member of
the Baptist Men.
He was a graduate of’
Bethany High School. He was
retired from Minette Mills after
14 years of service and he was
employed for 37 years at
Margrace Mills, Kings
Mountain, where he was plant
manager.
He served in the United
States Army during World War
II and was a Prisoner of War.
He was drafted at the age of 18
in November 1943. He took
basic training at Camp Walters,
TX and was stationed at Fort
Meade, MD.
He went to Europe where he
was assigned to the Anti-Tank
Company, 349th Infantry, 88th
Division commanded by
General W. Clark.
Pvt. Caldwell was captured
by the Germans on October 8,
1944 in Northern Italy. He sur-
vived Stalag 7A in Mooseburg,
Germany by secret prayer
meetings held with 49 other
captured Americans.
On April 30, 1945 he was lib-
erated as a Prisoner of War. On
his 20th birthday June 6, 1945,
John Caldwell came home from
the war.
He received the P.O.W. medal
as well as other honors. He was
promised the Purple Heart but
never received it.
John always said it was the
Lord who was with him during
those difficult days and now he
will be forever with the Lord.
He is survived by his wife,
Mildred Childers Caldwell of
Kings Mountain; sons Johnnie
Reed Caldwell and wife Diane
of Kings Mountain, and David
C. Caldwell ‘and wife Teresa of
Kings Mountain; sister Faye
Payseur of Kings Mountain;
grandchildren Bill “Eddie”
Parker and wife Dorene of
Kings Mountain, Johnnie Reed
Caldwell II of Kings Mountain,
Kimberly E. Davis of Ft. Pierce,
FL, Rev. Carey Caldwell and
wife Amanda of Kings
Mountain, Wesley Grant
Caldwell of Kings Mountain,
and John Hunter Caldwell of
Kings Mountain; and six great-
grandchildren.
The funeral with full military
honors was held Saturday,
February 25, 2006 at 11 a.m. at
Oak View Baptist Church. Rev.
James Billings, Rev. Carey
Caldwell and Rev. Curtis
Bundy officiated.
Interment was in Mountain
Rest Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to
Oak View Baptist Church “Bus
i OBITUARIES
Fund,” 1517 York Road, Kings
Mountain, NC 28086.
Harris Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
BRENDA FOSTER
KINGS MOUNTAIN -
Brenda McAbee Foster, 63, 805
Second Street, left for her heav-
enly home after an extended ill-
ness on February 25, 2006 at
Carolinas -
Medical
Center in
Charlotte.
She was
born in
Cleveland
County on
January 29,
1943. She
was the
daughter i
of the late James Russell
McAbee and Josephine Beam
McAbee. She was also preceded
in death by her brother, Tommy
McAbee.
She was a retired teacher’s
assistant after 27 years at North
Elementary School, Kings
Mountain, and she was a life-
long member of Second Baptist
Church where she served as the
Preschool Children’s Church
Director for over 20 years.
She is survived by her hus-
band of 43 years, Bill R. Foster
of Kings Mountain; son John
Foster and wife Erin of Kings
Mountain; daughter Vonda
Carpenter and husband George
of Kings Mountain; brothers
Don McAbee and wife Helen of
Kings Mountain, Danny
McAbee and wife Wendy of
Kings Mountain, and Kenny
McAbee of Kings Mountain;
sisters Sue Holmes and hus-
band Gene of Cherryville,
Cheryel Pearson and husband
Ron of Kings Mountain, Wanda
Wilson and husband Bill of
Kings Mountain, and Wilma
Pearson of Kings Mountain; sis-
ter-in-law Reba Baucom
McAbee of Gastonia; and four
grandchildren, Lindsey and
Kaitlyn Carpenter and Collin
and Caroline Foster.
The funeral was conducted
by the Revs. Eugene Land and
Lynn Crouch at Api :
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at
Second Baptist Church.
Interment was in Mountain
Rest Cemetery.
The family requests that in
lieu of flowers, donations be
made to a scholarship fund
established at First National
Bank, 300 W. Mountain Street,
Kings Mountain, NC 28086 in
the memory of this loving and
Christ-like wife, mother and
sister. The scholarship will be
awarded to a high school senior
in need of assistance to attend
secondary schooling.
Harris Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
MARGARET BLACK
BLACKSBURG, SC -
Margaret Sansing Black, 90, of
Spring Arbor, Rock Hill, SC,
formerly of Blacksburg, died
February 24, 2006 at Piedmont
Medical Center, Rock Hill.
A native of Gaston County,
she was the daughter of the late
Albert B. Sansing and Gertrude
Bratton Sansing. She was wife
to the late John H. Black.
She is survived by her sons,
Billy R Black and wife Grace of
Wateree, SC and Jerry R. Black
and wife Sylvia of Blacksburg,
SC; brother J.B. Crook Jr. of
Blacksburg, SC; four grandchil-
dren, six great-grandchildren
The Kings Mountain Herald
and one great-great grandchild.
The funeral was conducted
by the Rev. Vernon Craig at 3
p.m. Sunday, February 26, 2006
at Antioch Baptist Church.
Interment was in the church
cemetery.
Memorials may be made to
Antioch Baptist Church, 839
Antioch Road, Blacksburg, SC
29702.
Harris Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
STEVE BLANTON
KINGS MOUNTAIN - Steve
Matthew Blanton, 50, 414
Scotland Drive, died February
23, 2006 at Presbyterian
Hospital in Charlotte.
A native of Cleveland
County, he was the son of the
late Lawton Matthew Blanton
and Sue Ann Sullivan Blanton.
He was also preceded in death
by a sister, Diane Marlow.
He was a member of World
Wide Church of God and a for-
mer member of the Kings
Mountain Fire Department. He
was owner and operator of
Affordable Bedding.
He is survived by his wife,
Gwen Blanton Blanton of the
home; son Brandon Matthew
Blanton of Grover; daughter
Marissa Danielle Blanton of the
home; sisters Joyce Miles of
Gastonia, Madeline Ledford of
Boiling Springs, Alice Dittman
of Kings Mountain, Hilda Holt
of Boiling Springs and Linda
Haskin of Shelby; and father-in-
law and mother-in-law, Ralph
and Selma Blanton of Boiling
Springs.
The funeral was conducted
by the Rev. Keith Dixon at 3
p.m. Sunday at Cleveland
Funeral Services Chapel. Burial
was in Cleveland Memorial
Park.
Memorials may be made to
Cleveland Funeral Services to
hep with funeral experiences,
2518 West Dixon Blvd., Shelby,
NC 28152.
Cleveland Funeral Services is
in charge of arrangements.
MARY JANE ALLISON
KINGS MOUNTAIN - Mary
Jane V. Allison, 80, 107 Stowe
Acres, died February 27, 2006 at
Kings Mountain Hospital.
A native of Cleveland
County, she was the daughter
of the late James Peter and
Lether Mae Smith Van Dyke.
She was also preceded in death
by brothers John David Van
Dyke and Robert Lee Van
Dyke, and sister Sarah Ann
Warlick. She was a member of
Kings Mountain Baptist Church
and was retired from textiles
and was a homemaker.
She is survived by her hus-
band, Johnnie Allison of Kings
Mountain; brother James
Charles Van Dyke and wife
Margie of Kings Mountain; sis-
ters Barbara Lovelace and hus-
band Bill of Grover, and Ila
Leonhart of Kings Mountain;
nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted
by Dr. Jeff Hensley and Rev.
Olin Byrum at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at
Kings Mountain Baptist
Church. Interment was in
Mountain Rest Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to
Kings Mountain Baptist
Church, P.O. Box 608, Kings
Mountain, NC 28086.
Harris Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
Nominations sought for County Volunteers of the Year
The Cleveland Association of
Volunteer Administrators is
seeking nominations for out-
standing volunteer service in
Cleveland County.
Nominations are sought for
individuals and groups who
volunteer. Categories are indi-
vidual youth, individual adult,
individual education volunteer
and group volunteer.
Volunteer service must have
been performed in Cleveland
County. The volunteer’s organi-
zation must serve the commu-
nity at large. Services must be
performed without pay or stu-
dent course credit. Nominees
may not be selected as winners
in the same category for two
consecutive years.
Awards will be presented
Thursday, April 6 at Aldersgate
United Methodist Church in
Shelby. All nominees will be
invited to the celebration.
Nominees will also be consid-
ered for the United Way
Volunteer of the Year Award.
Nomination forms are avail-
able at libraries, senior centers,
the United Way office or by
calling 476-8178. Nominations
are due by Monday, March 6 at
5 p.m. Return nominations via
mail to CAVA, P.O. Box 594,
Shelby, NC 28151-0594 or to the
United Way office at 132 West
Graham St., Shelby.
LOCAL
Black History
~fogeSh
program held
at Patrick Senior Center
By HAZELENE ABERNATHY
The annual Black History Program was pre-
sented at the Patrick Center last Tuesday.
Carolyn Bell, program coordinator, gave the
welcome and prayer.
Hazelene eat rogram organizer,
traced and ey historical beginnings
from slavery to freedom, contrasting the tradi-
tional and present aspects of the program.
She said, not only Africa Americans but all
Americans are not so different. “We need to cre-
ate a world where we can trust one another. Yet,
there is hate; there is violence, there is confusion
among people. We don't try hard enough to
understand each other. We don’t seem to realize
that we all have the same basic needs.
“No matter who we are or what part of the
world we come from, we must understand the
differences among one another and celebrate the
sameness. We must make the world a place
where love and friendship dominate our hearts -
respect, gui compassion, faith and love
must guide our actions. Only then will we live
eacefully and lovingly and be able to live the
ife we each choose.
“During this month we celebrate and honor
some of the greatest thinkers, dreamers and
believers of their time,” she added. “Without
their accomplishments and contributions to our
society our lives would not be nearly as rich or as
open-minded. Thus, for their dedication, we give
them honor and we salute them for their
courage, faith and devoted sacrifices.”
Abernathy appealed to the audience to take
the lead in bringing about fundament change
through unity by “sharing and becoming doers.”
Zenobia Degree is one who is striving for max-
imum success in her chosen field,” Abernathy
noted. “She realized early if life that God had
given her special talents, and as she grew and
developed those talents as an avid, expressional
reader and inspirational singer, she is determined
to use her talents for God.”
“I'll Rise Again” by Maya Angelou was read
by Degree, as well as “Gone Up Yonder,” the
song she sang.
Lester Williams, CEO of his electric company,
gave a brief description concerning his younger
years in Louisiana. He remembered the racia
disparity and said he wouldn't want to inflict
that on anyone.
“All people are created equal,” he said,
* other issues that
“because we are all God's children.”
He said he lives by his speech. He recited the
memorable speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, “I
Have a Dream.”
Rev. Steve Wingate, pastor of Unity AME Zion
Church and is currently teaching in South
Carolina, spoke on Romans 5.
He said, “we need to look deeply within our
hearts and see the issues we stand for, not
because or our color but because of what's right.
One of the greatest pioneers of Black History was
Coretta Scott King, who was continuing her hus-
band's dream. Coretta wanted to bring equality,
not only racial equality but social equality and
enefit senior citizens and oth-
ers. Dignity, elegance, courage, faith-filled are all
words that describe Coretta Scott King - a peace
activist and civil rights leader. She was the “first
lady’ of the civil rights movement and fought
tirelessly to keep her husband's legacy alive.”
Rev. Wingate described February as a special
month, namely Women’s Month, Black History,
Heart, Fire Fighters (in his school), Valentine's
Day, birthdays of presidents Lincoln and
Washington, President’s Day, and Carter G.
Woodson, the father of Black History.
Rev. Wingate said “we must go forward to
bring better love and hope. Hope for tomorrow is
my theme. Faith is our belief. Faith is what we
stand for. Faith is our ability to stand for our
rights in our ever-changeable global world.
“Love is universal,” he added.”God loves us in
spite of ourselves and He shared his love abroad
in our hearts. Remember to love one another as
God first loved us - not because of the color of
one’s skin but we love one another because Jesus
Christ taught us to love one another. Celebration
the Rpm of our forefathers and others
who have paved the way for a better tomorrow
through Jesus Christ.”
Carolyn Bell, thanked the audience for their
attendance and sharing the program with the
Patrick Center’s 2006 Black History program. She
congratulated the participants for their “source of
great contributions to make the program a suc-
cess.”
She said, “I am sure we all have some soul
searching to do and let's all of us try to go for-
ward and search our souls.:”
Her ending remarks were, “the greatest asset
in this world is not so much as where we are
going but what direction we are moving.”
Preregister for preschool
The Carpenter’s Clubhouse Preschool at
Central United Methodist Church will hold pre-
preregistration for the 2006-2007 school year on
March 14 from 5-7 p.m.
The preschool operates Monday-Friday from
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and has programs for two,
three and four year olds with the primary objec-
tion being preparing children for
kindergarten.The programs utilizes The
Highreach Curriculum and focuses on areas such
as ABCs, numbers, language, math, science, writ-
ing, Bible lessons, computer introduction and
music. Fun activities include arts and crafts,
cooking, and outdoor activities including field
trips.
Fhe Carpenter’s Clubhouse Preschool has over
23 years of experience in education, including
certification in CPR and first aid.
All parents of preschool age children are invit-
ed to attend the pre-registration. For more infor-
on Rd.
104-730-1882
1-85 and
The "Niner
LUNCH AND
DINNER SPECIAL
ALL YOU CAN
TRAE
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(KL
Senior Citizens 10%
Discount Age 60+
(ask for it)
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Is your life a blur? Lost Your way?
This is a personal invitation for you to come and visit
and let the Peace of God help you find your way!
Activities
Sunday Morning
8:45 Praise and Worship Service
9:30 Sunday Morning Fellowship
9:45 Sunday School
10:50 Traditional Services
Sunday Evening
Children’s Activities: ‘Ages 4 to High School
Snack supper and Bible Related Activities
5:00 to 5:30 Children’s Choir-
Preschool to 5" gr.
5:30 to 7:15 Kids for Christ-
5t" gr. and younger
5:30 to 7:15 United Methodist Youth-
6™ to 12" gr.
Tuesday Evening
6:30 Youth Bible Study -
6" gr. to 12" gr.
6:30 Boy scouts
www.kmcumc.org
113 S. Piedmont Ave.
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Wednesday Evening
5:15 to 5:45 Children’s Choir Practice-
Preschool to 5" gr.
7:00 Adult Choir Practice
Thursday Evening
7:00 Over 40’s Basketball
Community Kitchen
Serving our 11,000 meals in 2005
Monday- 11:30AM to 1:00PM
Thursday- 5:00PM to 6:00PM
Preschool
Ages 2 to 4 years
Monday - Friday 8:30AM to 12:30PM
704-739-2471