May Davidson

DAVIDSON – May Davidson, 92, of The Pines in Davidson, died June 22, 2011 at the Pines.

Born May 5, 1919, at Historic Rural Hill Farm, Huntersville, the ancestral home of the Davidson Family, Ms. Davidson was the daughter of the late Jo Graham and Annie May Alexander Davidson. She was a sixth-generation, direct descendent of Maj. John Davidson and his wife, Violet Wilson Davidson, both active in the American Revolution in Mecklenburg County.

Ms. Davidson was an active member of the Mecklenburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of the national organization since 1960. After graduating from Woman’s College in Greensboro, she worked for the State Department of Agriculture in Raleigh. She moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for U.S. Sen. Joseph W. Ervin, of North Carolina, U.S. Rep. William Colmer, of Pascagoula, Miss., and finally for U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin, the senator from North Carolina who gained fame in the Watergate impeachment hearings.

Ms. Davidson was a member of Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Huntersville.

Her brother, John Springs Davidson; Lt. Jo Graham, who died serving in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; and sister, Elizabeth Hampton Davidson preceded her in death.

Survivors include cousins Robert Davidson and wife, Jane, Columbia, S.C., Jim Davidson and wife, Cooper, Bahama, N.C., and Bob Davidson and wife, Donnelly, Columbia, S.C.

A graveside service was held Monday, June 27, at Rural Hill Farm, conducted by the Rev. J.E. Wayland Jr. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville, was in charge.

Memorials: Davidson Burying Grounds, c/o Jim Davidson, 8708 Millhouse Lane, Bahama, NC 27503 or Historic Rural Hill, P.O. Box 1009, Huntersville, NC 28070.

Lane C. Seaford

CHARLOTTE – Lane Calvin Seaford, 81, of Charlotte, died June 19, 2011. Son Jeffrey Seaford and his wife, Robin, live in Huntersville.
Born Jan. 8, 1930, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Seaford was a son of the late E.G. and Mary Honeycutt Seaford and grew up on the family farm, the youngest of six boys.

He graduated from W.R. Odell High School and retired as general manager of United Brake, where he earned salesman of the year honors many times.

He was a deacon at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church, volunteer firefighter and charter member of the Mallard Creek Optimist Club.
Survivors, in addition to son Jeffrey, include his wife of 62 years, Nancy; son Lane Seaford II and wife, Donna, Charlotte; brother, Fred Seaford; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held June 22 at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Brant Piper, with burial in the church cemetery. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville, was in charge.

Memorials: Levine & Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078 or Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church, 1600 W. Mallard Creek Church Road, Charlotte, NC 28262.

Edith F. Christian

DAVIDSON – Edith Fitch Christian, 90, of Davidson, died June 19, 2011.

Born Feb. 2, 1921, in Shelby, Mrs. Christian was a daughter of the late William F. and Lelia Self Fitch.

She studied nursing at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, and placed first on the state nursing board exam. A registered nurse, she retired after 27 years with Davidson College Student Health Services. She served as head camp nurse at YMCA  Camp Thunderbird, Lake Wylie, S.C., for more than 30 years, and the camp infirmary bears her name.

Her husband, H. J. “Chris” Christian, died in 1969, and two brothers and two sisters also preceded her in death.

Survivors include sons John William Christian, Davidson, and Paul Alan Christian, Charlotte; sisters Betty Edwards and Andrea McSwain; and two grandsons.

A funeral service was held June 23 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Bill Tiemann. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville, was in charge.

Memorial: Campership Fund, YMCA Camp Thunderbird, 1 Thunderbird Lane, Lake Wylie, SC 29710.

Patricia T. Knox

DAVIDSON – Patricia Shaw Tucker Knox, 77, of Davidson, died June 20, 2011, at her home of cancer.

Born Oct. 14, 1933, in Charlotte, Mrs. Knox was a daughter of the late Sarah Stewart and James Jackson Tucker.

A member of East Mecklenburg High School’s first graduating class, in 1951, she earned a degree from Queens College in 1955. She married Russell B. Knox in 1956, and they moved to Clinton, S.C., where he attended Presbyterian College and she worked at Thornwell Orphanage.

They moved to Davidson, and Mrs. Knox worked for Davidson College from 1958 to 1972. In 1973, Mrs. Knox opened Knox Realty in Davidson, and her husband joined the business three years later. Knox Realty thrived on Main Street for 37 years and was recently acquired by Allen Tate Realtors.

From 1981 to 1990, Mrs. Knox also owned and operated Davidson Dry Goods, a ladies clothing store on Main Street.

She assisted her husband, who served as Davidson mayor for 14 years, in shaping the Main Street village. She also served on the boards of the YMCA, Ada Jenkins Center, Mint Museum and Friends of the Arts. She was a past member of the Davidson Garden Club and served as treasurer of the Davidson Horticultural Symposium. She was a member and elder of Davidson College Presbyterian Church and received an honorary life membership in Presbyterian Women.

Her husband and brother James J. Tucker II preceded her in death.

Survivors include children Russell Brevard Knox Jr. and wife, Danielle, Elizabeth “Beth” Stewart Knox Sullivan and husband, Skip, Douglas Jackson Knox and wife, Terilynne, and Michael Gregory Knox; brother John Stanley Tucker, New York City; nine grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.

A memorial service was held Saturday, June 25, at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, conducted by Dr. Charles Raynal and the Rev. Ed Wayland. A private burial service was conducted before the service. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home was in charge.

Memorials: Hospice of Lake Norman 705 Griffith St., suite 203 Davidson, NC 28036; Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, Cornelius, NC 28031; or Davidson College Presbyterian Church,100 N. Main St., Davidson, NC 28036.

Carl R. Jacobs

CORNELIUS – Carl Richard Jacobs, 79, of Canton, Ohio, and a longtime resident of Cornelius, died June 20, 2011, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House, Huntersville.

Born March 3, 1932, in East Canton, Ohio, Mr. Jacobs was a son of the late Frank Vernon and Pauline May Jacobs.

He served in the Korean War in 1950- 51, receiving the Korean Service Medal. He retired as housekeeping supervisor from Presbyterian Hospital in 1986.

His wife of 41 years, Evelyn O. Jacobs; son Jerry Jacobs, daughter Meta Arrendale, brothers Ronny, Bobby and Johnny Jacobs and sister Wilma preceded him in death.

Survivors include brother Jim Jacobs, Parma, Ohio; sons Paul Arrendale and wife, Eileen, Canton, Ohio, Del Arrendale and wife, Judy, Cornelius, Carl “Jason” Jacobs Jr. and wife, Cindi, Canton, Ohio, and Frank Jacobs and wife, Lynn, Charlotte; daughters Donna Arrendale and husband, Terry Hamilton, Atlanta, Ga., and Eva Jacobs Holbrook, Cornelius; 18 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Saturday, June 25, at Cornelius Church of God, conducted by the Rev. Larry Joyner. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service License, Huntersville, was in charge.

Memorials: Cornelius Church of God or Levine & Dickson Hospice House, c/o Del Arrendale, 20484 G Chartwell Center Drive, Cornelius, NC.

Frank G. Benson Jr.

HUNTERSVILLE – Francis G. “Frank” Benson Jr., 78, of Huntersville, died June 23, 2011, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House.

Born Aug. 24, 1932, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Benson was a son of the late Francis G. and Elizabeth Lamb Benson. He worked in the aerospace industry and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Survivors include sons Kevin Benson and wife, Sue, Lakeside, Calif., Frank Benson and wife, Lucena, Huntersville, Daniel Benson, Palmdale, Calif., and Michael Benson, Van Nuys, Calif.; daughter, SueEllen Wilds; and brother, Thomas Benson.

At his request, no funeral service will be held. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, is assisting the family.

Bobby D. Atkins

HUNTERSVILLE – Bobby D. Atkins, 81, of Huntersville, died June 23, 2011, at Olde Knox Commons.

Born May 26, 1930, in Greer, S.C., Mr. Atkins was a son of the late Stanley and Effie Atkins.

Survivors include his wife, Irene; son, Bobby Atkins, and wife, Rita, Huntersville, brothers Olin and Maurice Atkins; and a grandson.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 2, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Duncan, S.C. The family will receive friends following the service.

Memorials: American Diabetes Foundation, PO BOX 11454 Alexandria, VA 22312. Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee, is in charge.