Mrs. Beach

Mrs. Grace Simpson Beach, age 89, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road and formerly of Wintergreen Lane, Boone, wife of the late Jay Beach, died Thursday morning, April 26 at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation in Boone.
Mrs. Beach was born in Forsyth County on October 1, 1917, a daughter of the late John A. and Julia Stutts Simpson.
She was a graduate of Appalachian State Teacher’s College and held a Masters Degree from ASU. She was an elementary school teacher, having spent most of her career at Blowing Rock Elementary School.
Mrs. Beach touched the lives of hundreds of “her children” during her legendary career at Blowing Rock School. For parents and students alike, the most memorable experience in their elementary school experience was the year they spent in or involved with Mrs. Beach’s fourth grade class.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Boone.
Services for Mrs. Beach were conducted Saturday afternoon, April 28, at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. George Miles officiating. Entombment followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens Mausoleum in Boone.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 375 West King Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory of Boone was in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Cannon

Mr. Billy T. Cannon, age 69, of Dunwoody, Georgia and a seasonal resident of Blowing Rock, died Friday, April 27.
Mr. Cannon was born in Charlotte, N.C., and was a veteran of the United States Air Force, a retired Vice President with BellSouth Advertising and Publishing, and was involved in many community services projects, both in Dunwoody and Blowing Rock.
He was a member of the Dunwoody Community Church and during the summer months attended Faithbridge Methodist Church of Blowing Rock. He was also a member of Ioppa Lodge 530 in Charlotte, N.C.
Mr. Cannon is survived by his wife, Kaye, daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Tracy Jessup, and grandchildren Anna and Christian; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol and Dick Mudd, Leta and Joe Wood, Kim and Cody Horn and Joanne Cannon; two nieces, Shawna Peterson and Rhonda Hunter and one nephew, Max Cannon III and many great nieces, great nephews and his german Shepherd companion, Diesel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Max Cannon, Jr; and a niece, Alexa.
Funeral services for Mr. Cannon were held Tuesday, May 1 at Dunwoody Community Church. Officiating was the Rev. Jim Reiter. A graveside service was held on Wednesday, May 2 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock with the Rev. Sandy Sisson officiating.
In lieu of flowers a contribution to the American Cancer Society, Cherokee Animal Shelter or a charity of the donors choice will honor his memory.
H.M. Patterson & Son’s Arlington Chapel of Sandy Springs, Georgia was in charge of the arrangements.

Rev. Jones

Reverend Jay Jones, age 84, of 804 Greenway Road, Boone, died Saturday, April 28, at Glenbridge Health Care Center.
Rev. Jones was born June 27, 1922 in Mecklenburg County, a son of the late James Clarence and Cleo Thomas Jones. He married his teenage sweetheart and was married for 64 years. Reverend Jones graduated from Mars Hill College, where he played football. He also graduated from Queens College in Charlotte with a B.S. degree, and completed his education with four years at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. A biblical scholar in Greek and Hebrew languages, he was also a historical storyteller. Reverend Jones began his ministry at Bethel Baptist Chapel in Charlotte, and continued his ministry at First Baptist Church in Creedmore, Whitehurst Road Baptist Church in Plant City, Florida, Green Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte. He completed his ministry at Greenway Baptist Church in Boone, for 12 years, where he also continued as a member. Reverend Jones served with the United States Air Force during World War II. Prior to becoming a minister, he was a conductor for Southern Railroad, and was known for remembering everyone’s name.
Reverend Jones is survived by his wife, Polly McGraw Jones of the home; one son, Peter Jones and wife Janice Bauguess-Jones of Blowing Rock; two daughters, Deborah Jones of Mill Valley, California, and Tessa Vilardebo and husband Bob of Tampa Florida; four grandsons, Matthew Vilardebo and wife Elida of Brandon, Florida, Nathan Vilardebo and wife Melissa of Apollo Beach, Florida, Dylan Taube and Tyja Taube, both of Truckee, California; one great-grandson, Clark Vilardebo, and one great-granddaughter, Rylee Vilardebo, both of Brandon, Florida. He is also survived by five nieces and one nephew.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Eunice Deaton Jones; one sister, Margaret Jones Daughtry, and one brother, Earl Jones.
Funeral services for Reverend Jay Jones will be conducted Thursday morning, May 3, 2007, at 11:00 o'clock, at Greenway Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Reverend Charles Hughes, Reverend Harold Bennett, and Reverend Allen Higginbotham. Military graveside rites and burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the High Country Health Care System/Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.