Recent Articles

NASHVILLE  - Margaret Hudson Paramore, 88, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2013.  She was born April 11, 1925 in Harnett County to the late Ernest and Ida Weaver Hudson.

ROCKY MOUNT - Debra Ann Kelly, 61, passed away Sunday, December 22, 2013. She was born October 15, 1952 in New Jersey. Debbie was preceded in death by her mother, Gurtrude Fay, and step-mother, Stephanie Sidorski.

NASHVILLE - Walter L. Granison, 75, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2013.

ROCKY MOUNT –– Maude Franklin Salisbury, 94, of Rocky Mount, passed away Monday, December 23, 2013 at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount.

ROCKY MOUNT –– James Frank Hinnant, Jr., 56, of Rocky Mount, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013 at the  VA Medical Center in Durham.

ROCKY MOUNT -– Mandy Silver, 86, of Rocky Mount, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount.

Dorothy Wheeler Stubbs, born April 16, 1925, passed away in Rocky Mount on December 25, 2013.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Morris Stubbs, daughter, Earlyne Priscilla Stubbs, and six siblings.

Nikki Clark passed away December 24, 2013. She is survived by  her husband, Bo Clark, her three children: Bailey Tyndall (spouse James Tyndall), Taylor Clark, Grey Clark, and one granddaughter; sisters, Michelle Manning and Renee Whitley.

Elbert Clemon Fisher, age 86, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2013. Born in Nash County, he was the son of the late Jerry Fisher and Mattie Harper Fisher. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Elizabeth Fisher.

Anna Turner Flood, age 91, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2013. Born in Edgecombe County on July 19, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Fletcher Turner and Elizabeth Evans Turner. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Johnnie B. Flood, daughter-in-law, Keturah Gail Flood, great-granddaughter, Amiee Lynn Pitt, great-grandson in law, Cpl. Ricardo Villahermosa, two sisters and two brothers.

Delphia Joyce Stewart Smith, 83,  passed away Monday, December 23, 2013.  She was born in Nash County January 25, 1930 to the late James Thomas and Rosa Morris Stewart.  In addition to her parents, Delphia was preceded in death by her husband, Wiley Cecil Smith; brother, Gene Stewart; sister, Peggy Daniel and a granddaughter, Sherrie Parker.

Roger Edward Nines, 80, passed away Monday, December 23, 2013.  He was born in Nash County September 13, 1933 to the late James Elijah Nines and Frances Walker Nines.   In addition to his parents, Roger was preceded in death by his first wife, Agnes Cone Nines, seven sisters, and three brothers.

Bobby Ray Dorsey, 61, passed away Friday, December 20, 2013.  He was born May 30, 1952 in Newport News, VA  
He is survived by his wife, Cassie Mitchell Dorsey; his parents, Marvin and Margie Dorsey; a daughter, Jennifer Dorsey Stancil and husband, Chad; four grandchildren and one sister, Debbie Larkin and husband, Simon. A funeral service was held Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Cornerstone Funeral Home.  The interment was held  Monday, December 23, 2013 at Bailey Cemetery.

Gertrude Joyner Langley, age 88, passed away Monday, December 23, 2013. Born in Nash County on February 23, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Robert Lee Joyner and Lillian Carpenter Joyner. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Roscoe M. Langley; two brothers, Limb Frank Joyner and James Edward Joyner; and daughter-in-law, Chan “Tau” Langley.

Twas the night after Christmas, when all through our place,
It looked like a tornado had hit our space.
The stockings were hanging from the ceiling fan without a care,
It was obvious that three children hepped up on sugar lived there.

Last Monday, I got the sad news that a lady I had the pleasure to meet had passed away. She was only 61 years old.
I first met Debbie Kelly in October 2011. The Graphic was doing an article every week on a breast cancer survivor. It was in doing those articles, I came across Ms. Kelly.
She was more than happy to sit down and talk to me about her experience battling cancer.

Reflecting back on 2013  for the Town of Nashville, we saw good times and sad times.
We said goodbye to some iconic people in the Town of Nashville in 2013. Many of us mourned the loss of special people such as long-time town council member Tommy Rogers, former business leader and veteran Atlee Gulley, and a beloved educator and “mom” to many, Mrs. Beverly Cooper –– all of whom made a substantial impact on our lives today here in Nashville.

TARRYTOWN MALL TREE –- This photo originally published in The Graphic on November 23, 1967.  Tarrytown Mall’s tree was noted as the Magic Christmas Tree. The annual tree ceremony attracted hundreds of people from around Nash County including high school concert bands and choirs. The 1967 tree stood 33 feet high and was reported as the only one of its kind in North Carolina.

Coopers Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department held its annual Christmas program and awards ceremony on Decmeber 13. Pictured above Chris Joyner,  Coopers Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief, (left) presents Cliff Askew (right) with the Fireman of the Year Award.

Scott Bottoms, Coopers Volunteer Fire & Rescue Junior Firefighter Advisor, (right) presents the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award to Jarrett Moss (left).

Corey Reynolds (at left), a sophomore at Southern Nash High School, won the chapter level George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay contest sponsored by the Halifax Resolves Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.  The award was presented by chapter Knight Essay Chairman Ken Wilson (at right).  Reynolds received an Olympic style medal, a certificate and a check for $100.

The following Nash Rocky Mount Schools students made the A or  the A/B Honor Rolls for the latest reporting period.

Spring Hope Commissioners have approved a plan they hope will help revive the town.
Commissioners formally gave approval to the Small Town Economic Prosperity (STEP) plan last month. The plan has been in the planning phase for several months and now commissioners are ready to see it put to action.
STEP focuses on how to help individual small towns reinvigorate their economies.

The Oak Level Ruritan Club held its annual Christmas Banquet on Monday, December 9.
Several members were honored with perfect attendance pins during the meeting.
New officers for 2014 were also sworn in.

Nash County Animal Friends has started calling the Nash County Animal Control Shelter dogs “All American Shelter Dog.” What is in a name, a breed? There are many misconceptions. Does it really matter? Seems like the intake cards say pit mix a lot, even when obviously it isn’t! We want no labels! Love is Breed Free. ~ Carol