Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Annie Fulk Blackburn

Mrs. Annie Fulk Blackburn, 76, of Advance, passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2020, with her loving family by her side. She was born in Surry County to the late Ira “Jack” Fulk and Mary Ruth Key Fulk. Blackburn was a member of Fork Baptist Church. She worked for Hennis Freight Lines for 12 years and retired from Sara Lee with 36 years of service. Blackburn enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening. Surviving is her husband of 59 years, Larry Blackburn; son, Deric Blackburn; daughter, Stephanie Ashby (Andy); two grandsons, Andrew Ashby and Logan Ashby; sister, Sheila Cox (Bobby); several nieces and nephews; also surviving are her extended family Miranda, Zachary, and Ashleigh Stafford. A funeral service was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2020, at Friends Baptist Church in Clemmons with Pastor Daron Osborne and Minister Todd Cartner officiating. The family received friends from 1:30-3 p.m. prior to the service. Burial followed at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Pinnacle. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 1989 Perch Rd. Pinnacle, NC 27043.

Clarence ‘C.W.’ Woodrow Foster Jr.

Mr. Clarence “C.W.” Woodrow Foster, Jr., 80, of Advance, passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2020. He was born in Davie County on Feb. 10, 1940, to the late Clarence Woodrow Foster Sr. and Georgia Marie Davis Foster.

In addition to his parents, C.W. is preceded in death by a son, Richard Kevin Foster. Surviving is his wife of 60 years, Joyce Foster; a daughter, Amanda Smith (David); a daughter-in-law, Kim Foster; five grandchildren: Ryan Foster, Bethany Foster, Hampton Smith, Noble Smith, and Zayla Smith; and a sister, Texie Foster Nifong (Jake).

Foster was an optician and worked at S. Galeski, Crown Drugs, and Eckerds where he met and cared for many people. After retiring, he worked at The Tire Shop in Advance where he was surrounded by many of his old friends while continually making new ones. While many people called him “Red,” “Leggs,” or “Whirlee;” he was best known as a friend to all. Foster was quite an entertainer and cook and was renowned for his chicken stews and collard greens cooked in a wash pot on an open fire and his New Year’s Day celebrations. Foster will be missed for his positive encouragement and friendship to all.

A graveside service for family and friends was held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2020, at Advance United Methodist Church, officiated by Pastor Larry Thompson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Advance United Methodist Church, 1911 NC Hwy 801 S, Advance, NC 27006. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Vida (Vi) Smith Peller

Vida (Vi) Smith Peller passed away on Friday, July 10, 2020, in Raleigh. She was born on Feb. 8, 1929, to John and Frances Smith in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  She grew up on a farm in rural Oklahoma, one of five children. After World War II, she married Richard Peller, her husband for more than 70 years and moved to Norman, Oklahoma. She worked as a telephone operator to help put Richard through engineering school at Oklahoma University.

After graduation, in 1950, the couple moved to Winston-Salem, where Richard worked for Western Electric for 36 years. Peller spent the bulk of this time raising their three children. She was active in Sisterhood and on committees at Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, known for her artistic decorating of community and fund-raising events. She was an avid painter (oil and watercolor) and frequently dabbled in clay pots and figurines. After the children entered high school, she worked the Back Room at Loehmann’s in Winston-Salem.

Vi and Richard were enthusiastic bridge players throughout their lives. After retirement, Vi relished traveling with Richard across the United States and Canada. Some of their favorite memories and friends were made on Tauck tours they frequently enjoyed.

She is survived by her brother Granville Smith (Nina) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; children Ann Peller Tosky (George) of Raleigh, Charles Peller (Melissa) of Clemmons and Richard (Ric) Peller (Delphine) of Raleigh; grandchildren Benjamin Tosky (Sara) of Raleigh, Joshua Peller (Mayumi) of Kamakura, Japan, Aaron Tosky (Jennifer) of Baltimore, Maryland, Jeremy Peller (Martha) of North Wilkesboro, Joseph Peller (Alexandra) of Ede, The Netherlands, Jacob Peller (Mary) of Clemmons, Zoe Peller of Raleigh, Zachary Peller of Raleigh; and great-grandchildren Ethan Tosky, Marylou Peller, Spencer Tosky and Lily Vida Peller.

A private graveside service will be held at Mt. Sinai Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice in Vi Peller’s name.

Online condolences may be made through www.salemfh.com

Cora Lee White Lane

April 13, 1937 – July 7, 2020 Cora Lee White Lane, 83, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. She was born on April 13, 1937 to Charlie Harrison White and Pearl Flynn White. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 67 years James Robert (Bobby) Lane, sister Eleanor Rivenbark, brother Richard Jones, and nephew Jeffrey Rivenbark. Cora Lee is survived by a son, James Mark Lane; daughters Cathy Knapp (Chandler) and Lori Adkins (Chad); grandchildren Holly Redding (Arthur), Casey Martin (David), Tyler Lane, Courtney and Collin Reese; great-grandsons Oliver and Winston Redding; brothers Jerry White (Carolyn) and David Jones (Shirley), sister Tammy Lewis (Bear), and many loved nieces and nephews. Cora Lee married Bobby on June 13, 1953. He always said she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and while serving in Korea with the United States Army, his fellow soldiers agreed. The soldiers were invited to enter pictures of their “sweethearts” into a beauty contest and Cora Lee was voted Queen of the 73rd Tank Battalion. At the time of Bobby’s passing, just 35 days prior to Cora Lee’s, he still had the trophy that she was awarded, proudly displayed in their home. Cora Lee retired from RJ Reynolds Tobacco and was a member of Mount Bethel Baptist Church in East Bend, NC. She loved to travel, and she particularly enjoyed several cruises, a trip to Hawaii, and family vacations at Myrtle Beach. To her five grandchildren, she was Nanny. They all remember her stylish fashion sense, back scratches; evening snuggles during many sleepovers, her coconut cake that no one else can make quite the same, weeks of fun at White Lake, Christmas mornings with her huge breakfast spread, the most thoughtful gifts, and her genuine interest in their lives. Her smile made them feel loved and safe. A private graveside service will be held at Westlawn Gardens of Memory on July 14. The family is saddened they cannot be with extended family and friends during this time but they look forward to a celebration of Cora Lee’s life at a later date. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Pastor Bobby Watts and the members of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church for their love, support, and prayers. They would also like to express their appreciation to the caring staff of Yadkin Nursing Care Center and Mountain Valley Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, 4332 Mt. Bethel Church Rd., East Bend, NC 27018.

Colene Whitley Etchison Ziglar

Colene Whitley Etchison  Ziglar, 93, passed away peacefully at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home on Saturday, July 4, 2020.

Ziglar was born Dec. 19, 1926, to Hoyt L. and Frankie Russell Whitley and spent her early years in the South Fork community of Winston-Salem. She married J.O. Etchison Jr. in August 1945. They moved to Clemmons in 1958. J.O and Colene were married for 35 years until J.O.’s death in 1980. In June 1983, Colene married Grady Ziglar. They were married 21 years until Grady’s death in 2005.  Ziglar is survived by her three children; Steve Etchison (Diana), Mary Etchison, Brent Etchison (Trish); six grandchildren, Jodi Fisher (Jerry), Josh Etchison, Jill Goldbach (Jason), Whitney Etchison, Courtney Wileman (Thomas) and Nathaniel Etchison; three great-grandchildren, Judd Goldbach, Jace Goldbach and Abigail Wileman. She is also survived by her brother Robert Whitley (Ann), sisters-in-law Louise Etchison, Lou Ray Etchison and Jan Etchison as well as a host of nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind Grady Ziglar’s daughter, Gail Hauser; grandson, Greg Hauser; and great-granddaughter, Anna Merritt Hauser. Ziglar wore many different hats in her lifetime. She was an excellent student in her school years. She was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker. She became an LPN and worked at the N.C. Jewish Home in Clemmons caring for others. She was a notary public. She volunteered at Baptist Hospital with more than 3,000 volunteer hours. She worked in retail sales at Jamar Arts and Crafts in the Thruway shopping center. She was a very good cook, baker, seamstress, bookkeeper and all the many other things that a loving wife and a mom does. She was neat and meticulous in everything that she did.  Ziglar was also was known by many different names: Whit, Aunt Colene, Mama E, Mrs. Z and “mean ol’ mama” by Steve and Mary. She was dedicated to her churches throughout her life. She served in many capacities including teaching Sunday school classes and giving financially. Her family would tease her that she was a “Bapti-ravian” having been in the Baptist and Moravian church. When she joined New Philadelphia Moravian church, after marrying Grady, her family began saying the second verse of the Moravian blessing instead of saying only the first verse. She was generous to many organizations and causes. If a group phoned the house and Ziglar answered, the next thing you knew a “thank you for your donation” card came in the mail.

Ziglar loved to laugh and tell jokes. She enjoyed a good laugh even after her mind began to keep her “mixed up.” She loved good, funny stories and the more outrageous the better. She kept a stash of jokes clipped from various publications as well as a few handwritten copies of jokes in her “desk,” always prepared to entertain her guests. She especially cherished a visit with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was sincerely interested in their lives, keeping up with each one, asking about their endeavors, cheering them on and offering encouragement. Ziglar never failed to inquire about the well-being of others, she was less about herself and more about others. She enjoyed all the good times she and J.O. (and later Grady) had with “the gang.” The gang consisted of Bill and Clendon Newsome, Murray and Iris Clore, Jarvis and Johnnie Hauser, Reuben and Sue Hughes, Jack and Joyce Flynt, June and Ruth Robertson, Jack and Tommie Hauser and J.O. and Colene. They had many beach trips to Surf City, travels and parties together. She may have loved those times the most of all.

Ziglar’s homecoming party happened on July 4, 2020, the same day of her mother’s passing 38 years earlier. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you,” John 14:2. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at Lewisville Baptist Church. The family requests that masks be worn and social distancing be followed. The family would like to extend a very special thank you to “Mom’s Girls” who allowed her to stay at home until it was no longer possible; Nicole, Tonya, Natalie and Robin. The family is grateful for the others that helped earlier on; Keesha, Louise, Johnsie, Ruby, Denise, Teresa and Susan. The family also thanks the staff with Trellis Supportive Care for keeping her comfortable during her stay. She spent her last nine days at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore,” Psalm 121. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the charity of your choice or to Trellis Supportive Care.  Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com