Brandon Scott Martin
I will never forget the image of him meeting me at the front door that last time. Brandon was born with beautiful blue eyes and that last day when he greeted me, I immediately noticed how brilliant and bright the color of his eyes was. Brandon Scott Martin was born July 11, 1979 at 1:14pm. He passed June 20, 2005 at 1:14pm. From the first day of his life he never seemed to slow down. He was always full of life. Even when he was an infant, he went from crawling to climbing in the same week. Brandon was born in Kingsport, Tennessee and moved to Richmond, Virginia at the age of 2. He excelled academically in his elementary school years but this ability was soon replaced with a developed interest in girls. His athletic ability began very early with an interest in soccer and baseball. When he was 10 years of age, we moved to Fayetteville, NC. He continued his interest in sports with football until high school and then moved on to weight lifting. He had built himself up so physically that his strength was unbelievable. His broad shoulders, big biceps, thighs and calves defined his strength. Not only was he strong physically, his personality was even bigger. He loved to joke around with his friends and family and had such a well rounded personality. He was quite the prankster. He had grown up to be a very nice looking man who was well liked by his family, friends and work associates. When Brandon was in the 10th grade, he was diagnosed with a sleeping disorder called narcolepsy. He was later diagnosed with depression which runs hand in hand with this disorder if the body doesn’t get the proper amount of rest.
Brandon worked for the family car wash business from 1994 until he passed. The last five years he was employed part time by UPS. He had a very close relationship with his parents and his older brother. He would communicate with all of us every day, whether in person or by telephone. His family was very important to him.
Brandon was the father of a five year old son named Seth. Before Seth was born, Brandon was involved with doctor visits and helping to choose names. He loved spending time with Seth. He wanted so much for Seth to live with him full time, but it never worked out. He was teaching him how to use his computer and play video games that were well advanced for his age. He helped him to develop his baseball skills in order for him to master t-ball. He spent two days with him each week and always looked forward to the next visit.
Brandon was very talented and had many hobbies that kept him busy. He was very artistic and loved drawing, playing the guitar, working on his Jeep and four-wheeling with his friends. He enjoyed traveling whether it was a trip to the mountains or the beach. He always enjoyed eating, especially fast food. We teased him about trips to McDonalds, Waffle House and Pizza Hut. His favorite food was pizza and his favorite drink was his beer.
Years earlier we had discussed organ donation and he immediately knew this was something he was interested in. He had his driver’s license validated to support his decision. He was very generous and always wanted to help others; so we knew this was one thing he would have definitely wanted to do. Brandon left us unexpectedly and we miss him desperately. We are proud to know that somewhere someone was able to benefit from his generosity – he would be proud as well.
Lisa Massey
The first thing anyone would ever notice about Lisa if they met her would be her bubbly personality that allowed her to never meet a stranger. She was very gifted in her cooking skills and loved to cook for friends and family. Loving and humorous stories were always told of her cooking a three course squash meal for her Dad and brothers and of her cooking enough tuna casserole to last all week while on a beach vacation with her in-laws. As a testament to her inner strengths, she was able to become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers and serve as an inspiration to many others in attaining their goals in weight loss. She was also strong in faith and active in her church, working with children and senior citizens. Over time, she became a symbol of strength, faith, and perseverance as she faced many medical problems.
Her career highlights include working as a cashier at Food Lion, a bank teller at CCB, and as a histotechnician at Duke Hospital. As a mother, she loved making gingerbread houses with her daughter, dressing her daughter and other children for dance recitals and pageants, and having typing contests on the computer with her daughter. As a wife and family member, she thrived on getting together with family, playing board and card games, scrapbooking, and rooting for the Blue Devils.
The highlights of Lisa’s travels include touring Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, and England while visiting her mother in Brussels, honeymooning in the Bahamas, going to all four of the Disney World parks, catching a late night space shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral, and touring Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in mainland China along with Hong Kong while with her husband on an MBA class trip.
James McCauley
James McCauley (better known as Jimmy) loved to work in the yard. He loved planting flowers and decorating the yard. He loved cooking and was known for his famous barbecue sauce that only the family knew how to make. He loved helping people when he could and always believed in treating people like you wanted to be treated. He was a special man who would do anything to help a person out.
Bryan Keith McClure
Born: November 24, 1957
Died: January 27, 2005
Keith will be missed by family and friends. He had just turned 47. He was a very likable guy. He loved working with his hands, building, planting or whatever. He was married for only 7 short years. As his wife, I hope those were happy years for him.
Edith L. McClure
Jimmy Wayne McKinney
Born in 1946 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Jimmy Wayne (J.W.) McKinney attended Sedgefield Elementary and Ragsdale High School. Known to his friends as “Stick”, he was into motorcycles as early as the age of 16. One of his early jobs was sweeping the floor at Sparky’s Harley Davidson to earn money for his first set of wheels. Motorcycles led him to start his own motorcycle club called Third Dimension of which he was president. His love for motorcycles remained constant throughout most of his life.
In 1966, J.W. joined the United States Army and did his first tour in Vietnam. In 1975, he left the Army and moved to Greensboro. J.W. worked in the snack food industry for the next 20 years, spending 14 years with Frito Lay as a district manager. In 1995, J.W. joined Pope Transport, Inc. as a tanker driver. J.W. was awarded his ten-year Safety Driver Award a few days following his death.
J.W. was a very passionate man with a love for history, life and family. He was a wonderful father to two beautiful girls, Danielle Elaine and Olivia Morgan. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. J.W.’s heart wasn’t big enough for all the love he felt for Brycen and Amelia. Each time they called him “Pops” when he was with them, it caused a radiance to be emitted from him that all could see. He was very proud of them and of his daughters. J.W. enjoyed traveling the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, visiting forts and historical landmarks along the way. He enjoyed finding old graveyards and exploring their history. He was captivated by life in the 1700’s and the 1800’s. J.W. was an avid Republican and enjoyed talking politics. He would lend a helping hand to his friends when needed and expected nothing in return. He was loved and respected by all who knew him.
James Allen McRae
James Allen McRae was born August 18, 1939 in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He secured his education in Scotland County, attending Allen Chapel and Chapel Hill School and graduating from Carver High School.
James Allen was a very ardent church worker. He was a lifelong member of Galilee United Methodist Church. He served diligently and faithfully in various capacities, including the Usher Board.
James entered the United States Army in 1963 and was honorably discharged in 1965. While serving his country in Vietnam, he was awarded many medals and ribbons.
James was employed at Westpoint Stevens where he served in various positions including that of a supervisor for thirty-nine years and eleven months, until his death.
He departed this life on June 20, 2005 at Scotland Memorial Hospital after a very brief illness, leaving to his family a legacy of love, perseverance and concern.
James Albert Merrill
He was a husband, friend and a dad. He loved the Lord and his family. Anyone that met Jim was never a stranger. He welcomed anyone. He loved NASCAR racing (Gordon was his driver). He also liked going fishing. But most of all, he really enjoyed B.B.Q. for his friends and family. We miss and love him very much.
April 28, 1941 – January 30, 2004.
Samuel Metzger
A loving husband, brother, and father to Anne, Steve, Jon, Erica, Drew, and Diana. Sam also took great pleasure as “Pappy Sam” to his four grandchildren Allyson, Abby, Jordan and Riley. Family times meant everything to Sam. Taking our grandchildren to the local spring to feed the ducks and fish was the highlight of every visit. He was known as the “grill meister” to all who knew him. Playing host was the perfect excuse to gather friends and family at our home. Sam was dedicated to his community of Roaring Spring. He taught math at Central High School for 35 years, where he served as assistant football coach and head varsity football coach. He was a mentor and advocate for kids of all ages. Sam enjoyed spending time in our home, watching football, doing home projects and cuddling with me. His love of life and living each day to the fullest showed in his warm smile. Besides time with family, Sam loved our private getaways, especially to the Outer Banks. He loved to walk the beach, but his favorite pastime was to watch the sun rise from the deck while having a cup of coffee. Sam died on Father’s Day, June 19, 2005, while having his cup of coffee watching the sun rise over the ocean at the Outer Banks.
David Landon Mitchell
Son – Brother – Dad
David was the youngest of three boys – his older brothers Sammy and Chris spoiled him. As he grew up he loved to play golf and drag race. He restored a 1981 Ford Mustang. The car was white so David named it “The Ghost”. His daughter, Landon Brooke, now has the car – both David and Brooke both loved Mustangs. David always had a smile on his face no matter what mood he was in.
David was dedicated to his family. He was always the first one there at the gatherings and always the last to leave. I think almost all the people in the county either knew him or knew of him. He was always a happy and grateful character towards other people. David is loved by everyone and will be missed forever.
The Mitchell Family
Anthony “Andy” Wayne Moore
There is so much to tell you about my son Andy, the love of my life. A country boy at heart, he could easily become the prince at a ball. He was a tall lanky kinda guy, with short dark hair, olive skin and beautiful brown eyes. He loved hunting, fishing, riding four wheelers, horseback riding, rodeos, NASCAR racing, professional ice-skating and playing baseball. He had two dogs, Tex, a miniature dachshund and Dallas, an Australian Shepherd. They were both spoiled rotten, especially Tex. Andy was a very talented young man. He could build, paint and figure difficult situations out. He worked at building truck cabs. He owned his own home, which was immaculate, and his yard was the same with a lot of beautiful flowers and plants.
He was loved by a lot of people. His sister Tammy was the true love of his life, and he was very dedicated to his family. He loved his grandfather the best and the night he died he said that his pawpaw needed him. He left a lot of people behind that loved and cared for him deeply. He was going to be an uncle for the first time, hopefully on his birthday in September of 2005. We know that he will have special angels looking after the baby because he has special angels looking after us.
He was curious in nature and he had a loving and giving heart. For those who received his corneas, I pray that you will see the beauty that he saw. Smile so everyone else will smile with you. Laugh so you bring joy to those around you. God bless you and I hope your life is filled with all the beauty that his sight gave to you.
Andy was a simple and sometimes misunderstood man. He wanted people to know that he was nothing fancy, just a “Simple Man”. This is what was playing continuously the night I found him dead.
Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.
Take your time…don’t live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you’ll find love,
And don’t forget son,
There is someone up above.
Chorus
And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Won’t you do this for me son,
If you can?
Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul.
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied.
Chorus
Boy, don’t you worry…you’ll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.
You are truly loved and missed by your mom, your sister Tammy, your dad and your whole family. We don’t know how you thought we would make it without you.
Rest in your sweet Savior’s care. We’ll be with you somewhere along the line.
Billy Stephen Murray, Sr.
February 8, 1945 – September 18, 2005
My husband, Billy Stephen Murray, Sr. had the most expressive eyes. They were of a hazel color that looked particularly striking when he wore a green shirt. He won me over with those eyes. They sparkled when he told one of his stories, stories that I would later respond to with “Billy, that is a Murray exaggeration!” He was a wonderful story teller and everyone always appreciated his version of any event over mine!
Billy was a generous man. He would give you the last dollar in his pocket, the shirt off of his back or any number of old (or sometimes new) horse shoes. He was a farrier and a very necessary part of many horse owners’ lives in southeastern North Carolina. Billy was the best! I used to say that from the knee down on a horse, Billy was the expert! Horses were his passion and life.
I was never surprised with Billy’s superior intellect. He could with one reading of an article in one of his farrier journals, digest the content and be out telling one of his clients about the material the next day. He loved to go to workshops and learn new things. He loved to talk to other farriers, particularly the young ones, and encourage them in their business. There was enough work for everyone, he always said.
Billy was an exceptional horse show announcer. He was quite in demand for his services, which he always provided free of charge. He was in his best element when he had the microphone in his hand at a horse show. You never knew what he might say and neither did he! Billy kept the atmosphere light, the environment safe and the show moving! He rarely took a break and was on the job until the horse show was over. I loved to hear his voice ringing out over the speakers as I drove up to the show.
Billy was so proud of his family! He bestowed nicknames on all of us. The Chicken, Albert, The Baby Girl, Moe, Larry and Curly and the Doctor – we all know who we are!
People would often ask Billy how many horses he had. He would answer “Twenty five head. How many do you want?” None of them were for sale, but that did not matter to Billy. As a part of our business together, Billy and I gave organized trail rides, gave pony rides at parties and festivals, gave riding lessons and conducted summer horse camps for kids. Billy loved the children and they loved “Mr. Billy”.
Before Billy and I met, he had been a crane operator, truck driver, run a successful boarding barn, helped with local saddle clubs, and transported horses as well as doing the farrier work. Everyone misses him.
Lastly, Billy was an avid deer hunter. During deer season, all of his spare time was spent in the woods with his hunting buddies and all of their hunting dogs. He enjoyed the camaraderie and the process as much or more than the kill! He loved to look at deer and try to determine their feeding patterns and movements. Billy could count the points on a deer’s rack from hundreds of feet away. That was Billy! It is an honor for our family to allow Billy to continue helping people, even after his passing. He would say, “I don’t need them now. If someone else can get some use out of them, let them have them!”
Johnel LeAnn Murray
Johnel LeAnn Murray was a very special daughter. LeAnn was always putting others before herself. She was full of life. LeAnn enjoyed going to the beach, bowling, riding motorcycles with her stepdad Mike and her mother Caroll. LeAnn received her CNA nursing 1 and 2 license and worked at Highsmith Rainey Hospital for two years. LeAnn then went into food services and managed Subway Restaurant for 4 years. She then went to Mitchell Hairstyling School, graduated with honors, did hairstyling at home in the daytime and worked at Outback Steakhouse at night – a job she enjoyed very much, meeting new people. LeAnn was an organ donor, saving 4 other people’s lives and 2 people being able to see. LeAnn was 28 years old.
Eddie H. Myers
September 14, 1946 – August 14, 2005
There are no adequate words to describe the incredible person that was my husband. Eddie Myers was an exceptional husband, father, and human being. We always knew how blessed we were to have our relationship. We often questioned what we ever did to deserve to have this special connection. He was my best friend, partner, husband, and soul mate, and we thankfully accepted this as a gift from God. I planned to grow old with this special person, but that was not to be.
He loved his family and genuinely cared about others. He made home a place of peace and love for me, his wife of almost 29 years, and our daughter, Erin. His caring and giving spirit was with him whether he was spending time with his family, serving at his church, or in the role of friend, counselor, coach, or administrator. He loved life and always seemed to find joy in even the simple things. He loved the outdoors and his favorite outdoor activities were playing golf and working in his yard. He loved working at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and did so for nearly 36 years. He spent his entire professional career being an advocate for students. To honor him, the college has started a scholarship in his memory. Our family feels this is a wonderful tribute to his life. Even in death, this will allow him to help his beloved students for years to come.
Eddie fought cancer for 18 months with grace, courage, and dignity. 2 Timothy 4:7 seems to express Eddie better than I ever could, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.
His family misses him so much that it aches. We are so proud of the man he was. I believe that God puts us on this earth to leave it a little bit better than when we arrived. Eddie’s name will not be found in history books, but we know our world is a better place because he was here.
We love you and miss you so much.
