Aaron Cornelius "Neal" Laws

Aaron married Mary Elizabeth Miller on 9 Oct 1887 in Mitchell County, , , North Carolina. Mary was born in May 1867 in , Giles County, Tennessee, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Loranzis married Sally Carver about 1921 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . Sally (daughter of Dan Carver and Louise Puckett) was born on 7 Nov 1901 in North Carolina, , , ; died on 20 Oct 1960 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Josie married Charlie P. Tester about 1910 in North Carolina, , , . Charlie was born on 10 Aug 1888 in North Carolina, , , ; died on 5 Aug 1956 in North Carolina, , , ; was buried in Taylors Chapel Cemetery, , Avery County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Frank married Dorothy Marie Johnson on 24 Jul 1927 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Dorothy was born on 29 Jan 1908 in , Giles County, Tennessee, ; died in May 1985 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; was buried in Heaton Cemetery, , Avery County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Dayton married Dorothy Louise Manerva Gragg on 29 Nov 1930 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . Dorothy (daughter of Gaither Levi Gragg and Nelia Augusta Setzer) was born on 4 Oct 1908 in Caldwell County, , , North Carolina; died on 20 Nov 1988 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; was buried in Laws Cemetery, , Avery County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Louise Blair. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas Frank Laws, age 83, of the Heaton community, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. A native of Avery County, he was a son of the late Ranzy and Sally Carver Laws and husband of the late Linda McCurry Laws, who passed away in 2003. He was also preceded in death by sisters: Sudie Howell and Nell Jennings; and brothers: Chester, Paul and Hoyle Laws.

He was a US Army Veteran, having served in the 101st Airborne Division from 1957 to 1959, 327th Infantry Division, Company C. In the military he was one of the "Eisenhower Boys" and still holds the record at Fort Campbell Rifle Range as Champion Shooter. Tom was a 32nd Degree Mason-Scottish Rite and member of the Cranberry Lodge #598 A.F.&A.M. He loved entertaining, caretaking, fellowshipping and feeding people. He enjoyed cooking, owning two restaurants in the area, the last being The King Of The Road Restaurant, after retiring as a Correctional District Manager with the NC Department of Corrections. Other than owning restaurants, he owned a gas station, car lot, sawmill, two mobile home parks and was a heavy equipment operator.

Surviving is his daughter, Tommie Deyton and husband, Steve, of Old Beech Mountain; sons: Paul Laws and wife, Glenda, of Heaton, and Joseph Laws and wife, Chelsea, also of Heaton; grandchildren: Emily Deyton, Steven Deyton, Alyssa Laws, Loranzy Laws and Blaine Laws; brother, Sam Laws and wife, Janice, of Curtis Creek; and sister-in-law: Erma Laws of Lindside, W.Va. Several nieces, nephews and a host of friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Heaton Christian Church of which he was a member. Pastor Paul Cole will officiate. Burial will follow in the Heaton Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Pat Ray Post #4286.

Thomas married Linda McCoury about 1946. Linda was born on 11 Jan 1942 in North Carolina, , , ; died on 14 Nov 2003 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; was buried in Heaton Cemetery, , Avery County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Samuel Laws, 83, of Elk Park, North Carolina passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at his residence.

He was of the Christian faith, born on April 15, 1940 in Avery County, North Carolina, a son of the late Ranzy Laws and the late Sally Carver Laws.

Sam enjoyed working in his woodshop, watching baseball and growing a garden. He was the founder and owner/operator of Laws Construction Company. Sam was very involved in serving his county, having served as a County Commissioner for many years.

He was preceded in death by his son, Samuel Paul Laws; four brothers, Chester Laws, Paul Laws, Hoyle Laws, Tom Laws; two sisters, Sudie Howell, Nell Jennings; father, Ranzy Laws; mother, Sally Laws.

Sam leaves behind to cherish his memory wife of 59 years, Janice McCracken Laws; son, Stephen (Myra) Laws of Elk Park, NC; daughter-in-law, Maxine Laws of Elk Park, NC; grandson, Ethan Laws; extended family, John and Penny Hicks, Billy, Codie and Gus Berry, Roy and Earlene Crews, Casey Crews, Jamie Crews, Lorrie Pearce; Sisters-in Law, Sharon McCracken, Erma Laws; a host of nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.

Graveside services for Sam Laws will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in the Heaton Cemetery with military honors provided by the Pat Ray Post of the VFW. Serving as pallbearers will be Paul Laws, Joe Laws, Paul Harris, John Hicks, John Jay, Jamie Crews, Casey Crews and Ethan Laws.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Amorem Hospice for the wonderful and loving care.

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Frances married William Waitsel Hicks on 2 Feb 1939 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . William (son of Roby Hicks and Eva Davis) was born on 6 Feb 1914 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; died on 1 Jan 1958 in Forsyth County, , , North Carolina; was buried in Taylors Chapel Cemetery, , Avery County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mae Smith of Newland passed away at the age of 84 on June 28, 2018.

She was born in Heaton, NC on April 24, 1934, the daughter of the late Frank and Dorothy Johnson Laws. Mae was a lover of games and stories. For most of her career she worked with children, at both the Banner Elk Child Development Center and Avery County Schools. She taught them the wonders of using your imagination and being creative. Mae shared her love of nature and animals with her students, her children and grandchildren.

Her enthusiasm and passion for nature and camping were contagious. Mae's love for her students was heard in the many stories she shared of their accomplishments and how proud she was of them each time they reached a new milestone.

If you asked any of her grandchildren, they would tell you they learned to know and love fairies, insects and creepy crawlies from observing them with their Mama Mae/Nana. She shared this earth with them, but more importantly, she taught them if they loved the earth and cared for it, the earth would provide and love them back. Mae loved a good joke and she could spin a tale that would leave her audience spellbound. Anyone fortunate enough to spend time with her knew just how mesmerizing her storytelling could be. She could pull you in and make you a part of the story with just her words and animated expressions. You could not help but be as excited about the outcome as she was.

It was difficult to go anywhere in Avery County without a child or young adult screaming out "Hey Miss Mae," or stopping her to tell how much she meant to them and how they loved being one of her students. She was a firm believer in trying and tasting new things in life. Even if she would sometimes scoff at the idea, she would give it a go, just so she could say she tried. If you were playing a game with Mae and won, then you truly earned it. She believed in playing by the rules and if you won, you earned the title "winner."

Mae was extremely proud of and survived by her four children; Daughters: Deborah (Debby) Gwyn and Tonyah Gwyn, both of Newland, and her "Angel Baby," Davie Smith of Heaton; and Son: Doran Gwyn (Elizabeth) of Carmel, Ind. Mae passed her love of reading, gardening, camping and singing a folk song or two on to all her children. Each of them has a special gift because of her.

Her four grandchildren: Candy Gwyn of Dallas, Texas, Shawn Gwyn (Brittany) and Travis Gwyn (Kate) of Carmel, Ind., and Cacee Gwyn (Robin) of Duluth, Ga., spent many hours camping, playing games, watching bugs, walking trails and playing in creeks as well as with action figures, miniature cars and airplanes whenever they had the chance to spend some time with their Mama Mae/Nana.

Mae also loved and cherished her four great-grandchildren: Annelise and Isaac Gwyn-Hutchison of Dallas, Texas, Dominic Gwyn of Heaton, and Ryder and Gracee Olson-Gwyn of Duluth, Ga.

In addition to her parents, Mae was preceded in death by three of her siblings: brothers Coleman and Elmer Laws, and her sister, Faye Cannon.

She is survived by three siblings: Barbara Ann Sparks of Heaton, Lawrence Laws (Lolita) of Elk Valley and Billy Laws (Thelma) of Altamont. Mae loved and admired her siblings. She lovingly shared stories of their lives together. Mae was also blessed with many loving nieces and nephews.

She was a native of Avery County, living in several other states, she returned to the mountains she loved and raised her family here, enjoying her career working with children.

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

D. C. Laws, 83, of Madison, died Saturday, June 27, at Madison Hospital, Madison, AL.

Services will be 2 PM on Wednesday at Spry Funeral Home, Chapel with Jimmy Clark officiating, burial in Bethel Cemetery.

Visitation is from 12 noon until service on Wednesday at Spry Funeral Home.

Mr. Laws was born August 20, 1931, to Dayton and Dorothy (Gregg) Laws in Avery County, North Carolina. He served in the US Army before moving to Johnson City, TN. He joined the Johnson City Police Department where he retired as a Captain. He received numerous awards for marksmanship, including Tennessee State Pistol Championship. He loved hunting and fishing. After his career in law enforcement he began teaching and preaching the Gospel of Christ.

Survivors include, Wife: Russellynn (Loper) Laws of Madison, AL; Children: Elaine (Ray) Jordan of Pulaski, TN, Rick (Monica) Laws of Ardmore, TN, Janie Quillen of Johnson City, TN: Step-Children: Michael (Katrina) Lamb and Ryan Lamb of San Antonio, TX, Emilie Lamb of Pulaski, TN: Grandchildren: Adam (Jamie) Jordan and Scott Jordan of Birmingham, AL, Yvonne (Joe) Lucius of Ardmore, TN, Jared Wheeler of Johnson City, TN, and Anthony Havens, Burnt Chimney, VA. Step-Grandchild: Michael Lamb of San Antonio, TX; and Seven Great Grandchildren; He is also survived by three sisters: Irma Whittington, Wilma Lopez and Mary Moody and two brothers, Dennis Laws and Ray Laws.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Nancy; grandson, Robbie Wagner; and one sister, Edith Baldwin.

Pallbearers will be the Men of Bethel Church of Christ.

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Betty married John J. Johnson on 11 May 1960 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . John (son of David Edward Johnson and Thursa Etta Hicks) was born on 10 May 1929 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 25 Dec 1989 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; was buried in Taylors Chapel Cemetery, , Avery County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Rosalie Erwin, age 76, of Minneapolis, NC passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018 at Sycamore Shoals Memorial Hospital in Elizabethton, Tenn.

She was born on July 27, 1942, in Banner Elk, North Carolina, a daughter of the late Waitel Hicks and Francis Hicks Teaster.

She was preceded in death by her Parents; Son: Eddie Erwin; and Sister: Betty Johnson.

Rosalie was a Member of Lewis Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. She enjoyed Gospel Music, going to church, reading her Bible and spending time with her husband, kids and grandchildren.

Rosalie leaves behind to cherish her memory her: Husband of 60 years, William Erwin of Minneapolis, NC; Son: Buddy (Regina) Erwin of Elk Park, NC; Daughter: Donna (Fiancée Jim) Huskins of Jonas Ridge, NC; Daughter: Karen (Rick) Pressnell of Newland, NC; Daughter: Sherry (Jack) Ollis of Newland, NC; Son: Terry (Cindy) Erwin of Minneapolis, NC; 16 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Rosalie Erwin will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 1, 2018, at Lewis Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Jack Ollis and Pastor Michael Sheppard officiating.

The family will receive friends beginning at noon until the service hour on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Lewis Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.

A Private Interment will be in the Rose Garden Cemetery.

Rosa married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
JOHNSON CITY - Miss Wendy Jo Laws, age 50, of Johnson City, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Wendy was a native of Avery County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Elmer W. Laws Sr. and Martha Keener Laws Hensley.

Wendy worked for the Dawn of Hope for many years. She had a special love for the individuals she supported, and they for her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by nephew Matthew McWilliams.

She is survived by her cherished son, Jeffery Sherill Hughes, fondly referred to as JJ. She and JJ shared an incredible bond. JJ was the light of Wendy’s life. Other survivors includer her step-father, Robert Hensley Sr.; four sisters, Sandy (Art) Abrams, Cindy Laws McWilliams, Sherry (Robin) Carden, Terry (JC) Calvert; two brothers, Elmer Laws Jr. and Robert Hensley Jr. (Debbie), numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephew.

Memorial services for Wendy will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home. The graveside service will follow at a family cemetery in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]