Addie Juanita Prevatte Smith, age 90, of Carolina Care Center, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at her residence. She was born in Robeson County on April 8, 1918 to the Rev. Furney A. and Dora Jane Moody Prevatte. She was the daughter of a Confederate veteran, a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, retired supervisor with Danka Inc. Gastonia and was a gifted person who enjoyed sitting with elderly people. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Lyle Smith; a son, Charles Eugene Smith; a grandson, Kenneth Edward Johnson; a brother; and two sisters.

She is survived by two daughters, Barbara and Ronnie Harmon of Lakeview, Va. and Brenda and Ronnie Beam of Cherryville; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Mary Smith of Conover; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Rebecca Thompson of Hopewell, Va. and a special daughter, Brenda Payseur of Lincolnton.

Funeral services were conducted at Cone Memorial Chapel of Carpenter’s Funeral Home with burial in Antioch United Methodist Church cemetery in Roaring Gap near Sparta. The Rev. Kenneth Gibson officiated. Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Zion Baptist Church, 112 Mount Zion Church Rd., Cherryville, NC 28021.

Willie Lee Poole, age 96, of Sparta, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at his home. He was born in Alleghany County to the late John Wiley and Rosa Alice Sexton Poole. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Blanche Goodman Poole; and 11 siblings.

He is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Billie and Roger Smith of Ennice, Joyce and Harold Moxley of Columbia, S.C., Kaye and Austol Youmans Jr. of Lexington, S.C., Kathy and Lanny Hodge of Jonesville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Linda Poole and Gary and Beverly Poole, all of Sparta; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a sister, Clyde Pearl Poole of Sparta; a special friend and caregiver, Martha Loggins of Piney Creek; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Jan. 20 at New Haven Church of the Brethren with burial in the church cemetery. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to New Haven Cemetery Fund, c/o Jack Sexton, 353 New Haven Road, Sparta, NC 28675. Grandview Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Grace Houck Mabe, age 82, of Independence, Va. and formerly of Sparta, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 at the Grayson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Independence. She was the widow of Ted Mabe.

She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jack and Patricia Mabe and Larry Mabe, all of Sparta; five daughters and four sons-in-law, Teddie and Cecil Privette of Troutdale, Va., Joan Crouse of Sparta, Joy and Michael Francis of Ennice, Delilah and Richard Richardson of Galax, Va. and Mary Ellen and Jimmy Spears of Wilkesboro; 20 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A graveside service was conducted Thursday, Jan. 15 at Sparta cemetery. Grandview Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

James Mack Higgins, age 73, of Cannon, Del., died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md. He was the son of the late Elder Quincy and Docia Brown Higgins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Higgins; two sisters, Elsie Lowe and Nancy Joines; and three brothers, Tom Higgins, Samuel Higgins and Paul Higgins. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War in Seaford, Del. He was also a member of the Moose Club in Seaford.

He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Lisa and Scott Tull of Greenwood, Del. and Pamela Kernodle and her fiancée, Roger Lovin of Cannon; one grandson; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, John and Vickie Higgins of Laurel, Del., Herbert and Jennie Higgins of Seaford and Joseph Higgins of Sparta; six sisters and two brothers-in-law, Mary Holecheck of Hurlock, Md., Ruth Bryant of Glade Valley, Lois and Issac Dixon of Laurel Springs, Ethel and James Smith of Sparta, Evelyn King and Evon Hull, both of Mount Airy; a special sister-in-law, Charlene Higgins of Vancouver, Wash.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were conducted Friday, Jan. 16 at Cranston Funeral Home in Seaford with burial in Delaware Veterans Memorial cemetery in Millsboro, Del. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Legion, 230 Front Street, Seaford, DE 19973 or to Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 4961, Middleford Road, Seaford, DE 19973.

Elder Elmer Crouse, age 70, of Sparta, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. He was the son of the late Lester William and Bertha Benge Crouse. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Grady Crouse, David Crouse, Alvin Crouse and Harold Crouse.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma Edwards Crouse of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Darlene and Wayne Bare of Ennice; a son, James Allan Crouse of Sparta; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Opal Crouse of Sparta; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Eula and Pete Brown, Stella and Dwaine Love, Opal and Charles Brinegar, Thelma and Tom Nixon, all of Sparta; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday, Jan. 18 at Grandview Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Crouse Family cemetery in the Pine Swamp community. Memorial contributions may be made to the family to help with medical and funeral expenses.