Seventh Generation

3301. Mary Frances JOHNSON was born on 3 October 1932 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina. She died on 21 January 2010 at the age of 77 in Gordon Hospice House, Statesville, NC. She was buried in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Troutman, NC. Her obituary appeared as follows: TROUTMAN - Mary Frances Johnson Miller Sigmon passed away Jan. 21, 2010, from lung cancer. She was born Oct. 3, 1932, to Remer Franklin Johnson and Mary Alice Herman Johnson in Hickory. She was raised in Charlotte and graduated from Harding High School. Following her first marriage to Joseph E. (Gene) Miller Sr., she moved to Fayetteville where she spent more than 40 years. After raising two sons as a wonderful stay-at-home mom, she received her undergraduate degree in business education from Fayetteville State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian of her class. She received her graduate degree in business education from East Carolina University, where she also graduated with honors. Frances was a business education teacher at both the high school and collegiate levels and retired from the Fayetteville/ Cumberland County Public School system. She was very active in her professional organizations. Before retirement, she was active in the North Carolina Association of Educators. After retirement, she served many years on the state executive board and in elective offices of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, as well as on the executive board and in elective offices of the Fayetteville/Cumberland County and Charlotte/Mecklenburg Retired School Personnel. Frances was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and St. John's Lutheran Church in Statesville. She recently became a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman, which she adored. Frances was predeceased on Jan. 11, 2010, by her husband, Charles B. Sigmon. She is survived by her two sons, Joseph E. (Joe) Miller Jr. of Statesville and William H. (Bill) Miller and his wife, Nancy, of Easley, S.C.; two grandsons, Will Miller and wife, Morgan, of Hickory and Matthew Miller of College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C.; a stepdaughter, Elaine S. Nelson and husband, Kenneth, of Albemarle; and a stepgranddaughter, Randall Christine Elmo of Chapel Hill. A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, with the Rev. Matthew Miller (no relation) officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel Colony of Mercy, 1675 Bethel Colony Road, Lenoir, N.C. 28645; Urban Harvest Ministries, P.O. Box 26466, Greenville, S.C. 29616; or Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Restoration and Expansion Fund, P.O. Box 308, Troutman, N.C. 28166. Friends and family are invited to sign the guest book for Mrs. Sigmon at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com. Troutman Funeral home is serving the family of Mrs. Sigmon. The family would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for all their assistance: Dr. Ruby Grimm and staff; the doctors, nurses and all the caretakers at Iredell Memorial Hospital; and the many friends from St. John's Lutheran Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Landmark Church of God. A very special thank you goes out to the entire staff and volunteers at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, who made a very difficult time more bearable. God bless you all! [Published in Hickory Daily Record on January 24, 2010]

Mary Frances JOHNSON and Charles Buren SIGMON were married estimated 1950. Charles Buren SIGMON, son of Russell Edwin SIGMON and Maggie WHITENER, was born on 3 June 1929 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina. He died on 11 January 2010 at the age of 80 in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina. He was buried in Iredell Memorial Park, Statesville, NC. His obituary appeared as follows: STATESVILLE - Dedicating his life in service and loyal devotion to his profession, Charles Buren Sigmon, 80, passed away on Jan. 11, 2010, in the midst of friends and fellow educators. Born June 3, 1929, in Hickory, Charles was the son of Russell Edwin Sigmon, an educator for 42 years, and Maggie Whitener Sigmon. His formative years were spent in Troutman. He graduated from Statesville High School in 1947. After attending Mitchell College, Charles graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1951 with an A.B. in business administration. Possessing a beautiful voice, Charles sang in the A Cappella Choir. He was a member of numerous fraternities, including Gamma Beta Chi, and later obtained his M.A. from Appalachian State Teachers College. Throughout his life, he was devoted to his beloved Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, attending football games and endowing scholarships at L-R and Stanly Community College. He was a lifelong Lutheran, serving on Church Council and teaching Sunday school. Charles was a veteran of the Korean War, serving faithfully the country he so loved. For 35 years, Charles was an educator who touched the lives of countless students, school personnel and members of the community as a public school teacher, principal and administrator. He taught throughout North Carolina, becoming principal of Sharon Elementary School in Iredell County and then moving to Charlotte-Mecklenburg as principal of Davidson Elementary School. Moving to the position of administrative assistant in personnel, Charles was instrumental in hiring many current Charlotte-Mecklenburg employees. However, after several years in the central office, Charles missed the children whom he loved so much, so he asked to return to his former position and opened Winterfield Elementary School, serving as principal for 24 years until his retirement. Throughout his life, Charles received numerous honors and distinguished service awards. Among these were Eagle Scout, president of the Division of Principals of the NCAE and Division of Principals/Administrators NCAE Principal of the Year 1983, 1987-88. He was active in local, state and national educational associations and Phi Delta Kappa. He served in various capacities throughout the years in the Division of Principals, NCAE, NEA, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Unit of Elementary Principals, NEA-R, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Retired School Personnel, Iredell County Concert Association, Troutman Lion's Club, Queen's Crest Homeowners Association and as a state delegate to NEA/NEA-R conventions. Charles was on the Alumni Board of Lenoir-Rhyne University, serving as president of the Alumni Association from 1985 to 1986. He was instrumental in creating the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Friends of Education. Charles was legislative chairperson for CMRSP for more than 10 years, working closely with state representatives and lobbyists, gathering information and sharing ideas, concerns and solutions primarily regarding health care and retirement benefits. As a friend and colleague remarked, "When Charles spoke, people listened." Possessing a keen business sense and a desire to make sure everything was done properly and correctly, Charles instilled a sense of respect, responsibility and commitment, putting his all into everything he did. Charles loved gardening, golf, tennis, swimming and dancing. But most of all, he loved and devoted his life to education. Throughout his career, Charles was known for his exemplary and professional leadership, prominent achievement, challenging innovative practices, inspiring administrative vision, cooperative program planning and dynamic public relations. His happiest moments were spent with family and friends, and in unselfish service to others. Mr. Sigmon is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Johnson Sigmon of the home; daughter, Mary Elaine S. Nelson and husband, Kenneth, of Albemarle; granddaughter, Randall Christine Elmo of Chapel Hill; stepsons, Joe Miller of Statesville and Bill Miller and wife, Nancy, of Easley, S.C.; and stepgrandsons, Will Miller and wife, Morgan, of Hickory and Matthew Miller of Charleston, S.C. Heartfelt thanks go to the caring and professional members of the CMRSP Board, medical professionals and the many family and friends who have touched Charles' life throughout the years. We will miss our honorable Southern gentleman's caring smile, friendliness and kindheartedness, but we will always cherish his sense of humor, his energy and love of life, his generous spirit, his strength of character and his steadfast faith in God. Charles B. Sigmon has touched our lives in profound ways and we feel blessed to have known him, to have been loved by him and to have had the privilege of loving him in return. The family will receive friends Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman. A celebration of Charles' life will be held Friday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. immediately following the visitation at the church. Pastor Matthew L. Miller will officiate. Interment will follow at 3 p.m. in Iredell Memorial Park. Troutman Funeral Home will be serving the family. Memorials may be sent to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Restoration and Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 308, Troutman, N.C. 28166 or Stanly Community College Student Emergency Fund, 141 College Drive, Albemarle, N.C. 28001. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book for Mr. Sigmon at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com. [Published in Hickory Daily Record from January 13 to January 14, 2010]