Category Archives: 2014

James Harold Dukes, Jr.

Dukes 1-2SPARTANBURG – James Harold Dukes Jr. of 350 Norris St., Apt. 209-A, husband of Kimberly Jones Dukes of Forest City, N.C., died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Cowpens.

A native of Cherokee County, he was a son of the late James Harold Dukes Sr. and Carolyn Ann Gist Dukes. He was a former employee of the Nestlé Company and a Baptist.

In addition to his wife, he leaves to cherish loving memories: two sons, Scottie O’Darrel (Malena) Jones of Gaffney and Darrin Smith of Spartanburg; two daughters, Jamiya Dukes of Gaffney and Chelsea Gossett of Charlotte, N.C.; three sisters, Stephanie Dukes of Cowpens, Felicia Dukes of Spartanburg and Tina Dukes of Shelby, N.C.; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Timothy Hunter, officiating. Burial will be in Limestone Cemetery.

Arrangements by The Gilmore Mortuary.

Grace Watkins Martin

13p1.previewGrace Watkins Martin, 75, of 2914 Lon St., Shelby, N.C., entered eternal rest on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, in Cherryville, N.C.

Widow of Clifford Martin, she was born in Cherokee County and was the daughter of the late Oscar and Elizabeth Woods Watkins. She was a member of Suck Creek Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by five siblings, Betty Jean Watkins, Joyce Watkins, Kathleen Rodgers, Jeff Watkins and Calvin Watkins.

Surviving are a son, Clifford C. Martin Jr. (Caroline) of New York City; two daughters, Jessie Phillips (Ronald) of Shelby and Lisa Rice (Adrian) of Mooresboro, N.C.; a sister, Geraldine Sarratt (Nathaniel) and a sisterin law, Audrey Watkins, all of Gaffney; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Suck Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Macomson officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. She will lie in state from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Arrangements by The Gilmore Mortuary.

Annette Smith Anderson

25p1Annette (“Rooster”) Smith Anderson, 65, of Oakland, Calif., entered eternal rest on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in Oakland.

Born in Cherokee County, she was a daughter of the late Herman and Rosetta Clark Crosby- Smith. She was a 1968 graduate of Granard High School and former member of Bethel C.M.E. Church in Blacksburg. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Woods.

Surviving are a daughter, Yolanda Jackson of Suffolk, Va.; two sisters, Judy Carr Smith of Gaffney and Catheline Hamilton of Las Vegas, Nev.; three brothers, Roosevelt Crosby of Lawrenceville, Ga,, Bennie Smith of San Francisco, Calif., and Terry Smith of Taylors; several nieces and nephews; and best friend, Modestine “Tina” Earls of Charlotte.

Memorial services will be held in Newport News, Va., and the date will be announced later.

(Courtesy of The Gilmore Mortuary)