Melanie Tallent

Melanie Kay Tallent, 55, died Friday, Oct. 11 from injuries sustained in a horse riding accident. Over her 25-year professional career, Melanie was a pioneering neuroscientist, first as an academic with an NIH-funded research laboratory dedicated to treatment of neurological diseases.

Leona West

Leona Wiggins West, 91, of Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 at Graham Healthcare and Rehabilitation. A native of Graham County, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Minnie Holloway Wiggins.

Alicia Batts

On Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, Alicia Batts of Robbinsville, N.C., unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 42 from heart failure at UT Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn., while awaiting heart surgery. Alicia was the daughter of her parents, Marlene and William Artrip of Robbinsville, N.C.

Jesse Mack Bridges

Jesse Mack Bridges, 82 of Robbinsville, N.C. passed away, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2019 at Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C. He was a native of Graham County and the son of the late Jess and Mamie Bradshaw Bridges. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his son Jesse Mack Bridges Jr.

Evelyn Wachacha

Evelyn Taylor Wachacha, 73, of Robbinsville, N.C. passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on the night of Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. Her parents Julius Taylor and Katie Panther, grandparents Jonah and Mindy Wolfe, and brother Julius Taylor, precede her in death.

Elwanda Phillips

Elwanda Phillips, 62, of the Meadow Branch Community near Robbinsville, N.C., passed away on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, at Care Partners Solace Center in Asheville, N.C.  A native of the Chattanooga, Tenn. community, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Nannie Mae Wilcox Gunther.

June Stewart

June Marie Hyde Stewart, 82, of the Atoah Community in Robbinsville, N.C., passed away Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Murphy, N.C. A native of Graham County, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Maggie Bridges Hyde.

Lavada Crisp

Lavada Buchanan Crisp, 76, of Maryville, Tenn, formerly of Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, at Fairpark Health Center in Maryville, Tenn.  A native of Graham County, she was the daughter of the late Arnold and Hazel Snider Buchanan.

Emmett Phillips

Emmett R. Phillips, 81, of the Franks Creek Community in Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 at his residence.   A native of Graham County, he was the son of the late Henry and Ethel Roberts Phillips.

Barbara Tesner

Barbara Jean Tesner, 75, of the Meadow Branch Community near Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 at her residence.  A native of Buncombe County, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Alfred and Pauline Baldwin Taylor.