David E. Burns

CORNELIUS – David Edward Burns, 34, of Cornelius, died unexpectedly Oct. 29, 2011.  Born Dec. 28, 1976, in Winston-Salem, Mr. Burns was a son of Herb and Susan Burns.

He graduated from Bishop McGuinness High School in 1995 and was recently inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Davidson College on a basketball scholarship and graduated with a degree in studio art in 1999. He worked as a professional artist and a circulation manager for the Charlotte Observer.

Survivors include his wife, Amanda; sons, Isaac, Aaron and Jordan, of the home; brother Herbie Burns; and grandparents Ed and Ruth Seiler, Ruth Anderson and Irmagene Davis.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, with a reception following at the Congregation House. Carolina Cremations, Winston-Salem, assisted the family.

Memorials: David Burns Memorial Family Trust, c/o Mike Anderson, Hunton & Williams LLP, 101 S. Tryon St., suite 3500, Charlotte, NC 28280.

Janet W. Sherrill

DAVIDSON – Janet W. Sherrill, 77, of Davidson, died Nov. 6, 2011.

Born March 3, 1934, in Swoyersville, Pa., Mrs. Sherrill was one of 11 children of late William and Margaret Slank Weiss.

She was a former member of St. Therese Catholic Church, Mooresville, and more recently joined St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville.

Her husband, Benny Sherrill; brothers Johnny and Bill Weiss; sisters Delores Maguschak, Nancy Shampack, Mary Adamcik and Anne Crisci preceded her in death.

Survivors include daughters Jennifer Johnson and husband, Harry, Apex; and Elizabeth “Betsy” Orrison, Apex; son, Robert Sherrill, and wife, Caroline, Morrisville; sister, Trudy Hansbury; brothers Tony and George Weiss; and three granddaughters.

A funeral Mass was held Saturday, Nov. 12, at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, with burial at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church cemetery, Cornelius.

Memorials: St. Mark Catholic Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, 28078, NC or Wake County Hospice.

Martha A. Benson

HUNTERSVILLE –  Martha Dale Alexander Benson, 55, of Huntersville, died Nov. 6, 2011.

Born Nov. 25, 1955, in Burlington, Mrs. Benson was the daughter of Mary Ruth Surratt Alexander, and the late Reid Ross Alexander. She was a member of Front Street United Methodist Church in Burlington and Huntersville United Methodist Church and worked as a librarian.

Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Thomas; sons William Tyler and Thomas Alexander Benson, of the home; and sister, Diane A. Damon.

A funeral service was held Nov. 9, at Huntersville United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Michael Goode. A family burial will take place later in Burlington. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service is in charge.

Memorials: Bailey Middle School Band Boosters, 11900 Bailey Road, Cornelius, NC 28031.

‘Lonnie’ Davis Jr.

HUNTERSVILLE – Londees “Lonnie” Davis Jr., 64, of Huntersville, died Nov. 7, 2011, at Presbyterian Hospital.

Born July 5, 1947, in Camden, S.C., Mr. Davis was a son of Betty Baskins Davis and the late Londees Davis.

He served in the U.S. Air Force 49th TAC Fighter Group/8th TAC Fighter squadron, known as the Black Sheep, and was stationed in England, Germany, Africa and New Mexico. He was a member of the Cornelius/Lake Norman Lions Club and worked in the engineering department at Duke Energy’s McGuire Nuclear Station. He loved flying friends in an Ercoupe at Bradford Airport.

An accident in 1969 left Mr. Davis unable to work.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Cindy Davis; godson, Cameron Londees Mays; and wife’s parents, Eva and Jack Barnes.

Memorials: The Salvation Army, Hospice and Community Care of Rock Hill, S.C., Lions’ Camp Dogwood or donor’s choice.

A funeral service was held Saturday, Nov. 12, at Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church, Camden, S.C., with burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Camden. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, was in charge.

Ruth H. Jones

CORNELIUS – Ruth Hardin Jones, 71, of Cornelius, died Nov. 7, 2011, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House.

Born Feb. 13, 1940, in Rutherfordton County, Mrs. Jones was a daughter of the late Rowland and Essie Franklin Hardin.

She was a member of Mt. Mourne Church of God and a retired certified nurse assistant.

Her husband, Jimmie Gerle Jones, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter, Tammy Jones, Cornelius; brother, Donald Hardin, Charlotte; and sisters Dorothy Clough, Gibsonville, and Betty Tilley, Charlotte.

A funeral service was held Nov. 10 at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Clough, with burial at Northlake Memorial Gardens, Huntersville.

Eleonora Bates

HUNTERSVILLE – Eleonora Bates, 77, of Huntersville, died Nov. 9, 2011.

Survivors include her husband Ted; son, Craig; and daughters Karen and Marion.

The funeral service will be private. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services was in charge.

Anna F. Merkel

HUNTERSVILLE – Anna “Nancy” Marie Fraser Merkel, 87, of Huntersville, died Nov. 9, 2011, at Huntersville Oaks. She suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Mrs. Merkel was born May 8, 1924, in Queens, N.Y.

Her husband, William Merkel, and son, Stephen Merkel, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Gloria Merkel, and many nieces and nephews,  including Gloria Baio and husband, Charles, Huntersville, and Mary Ann Donaghue, Cornelius.

A private funeral mass was held at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville. Burial will take place at Long Island National Cemetery. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, is in charge.

Memorials: St. Mark Catholic Church.

Jennifer P. Kiffor

DAVIDSON – Jennifer Leigh Parow Kiffor, 25, of Davidson, died Nov. 10, 2011, at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville.

Mrs. Kiffor was a member of the Leadership Challenge Team at Seminole College, Fla.,  and received her emergency medical technician-paramedic license in Florida, also. She graduated from Queens University of Charlotte, with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

She married Zachary Kiffor on Aug. 5, 2007, at Jetton Park, in Cornelius.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include; baby son, Julian; parents, Daniel and Judith Parow; sisters Lindsey and Bryanne Parow; paternal grandfather George Parow; and maternal grandmother, Phyllis LeShane.

A memorial service will be held later. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge.

‘Deanie’ Brannon

DAVIDSON – Haley Silvadean “Deanie” Overcash Brannon, 84, of Davidson, died Nov. 13, 2011, at Serenity House in Mooresville.

Born Dec. 20, 1926, in Davidson, Mrs. Brannon was the daughter of the late William Burette and Cecile Spencer Overcash.

She graduated from Davidson High School, where she was captain of the basketball team, and was among the first women to attend Davidson College in 1944.

She was a charter member of the Davidson Garden Club, and remained active for 46 years, including a term as president. She was a member of Davidson United Methodist Church since 1949 and received the Honorary Life Membership pin in 1991. She worked for the Federal Reserve Bank and Withers Electric Company.

Brother Charlie Overcash preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband for 64 years, William “Bill” Edward Brannon; daughter, Donna Patterson, and husband, Larry, Davidson; son, Jim Brannon, and wife, Lucy, Huntersville; brothers Ray Overcash, New London, and Bobby Overcash, Concord; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. at Davidson United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Jody Seymour and Berta Spencer, with visitation in the fellowship hall after the service. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, Huntersville is in charge.

Memorials: Serenity House, 110 Centre Church Road, Mooresville, NC 28117 or donor’s choice.