Author: Mary Beth Pope

John Witherspoon Foster passed away on July 8, 2022 at the age of 73 after a long battle with Lewy Body dementia. 

John was born on November 6, 1948 in Columbia, South Carolina to Charles Cantzon and Isabel Witherspoon Foster. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Charles McDonald Foster. Raised by an accountant with a penchant for farming and a schoolteacher, John deeply valued education and the outdoors. Congaree Farm, which belonged to John’s grandfather, is where he felt most at home. 

John obtained his undergraduate degree in political science and economics from Davidson College in 1970 before studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. He then went on to Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude in 1976. Following law school, John moved to New York City where he began his career as an attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell. He was married to Vesta Anne Haselden in 1977, and the two eventually moved back to their mutual hometown of Columbia to start a family. John practiced law and co-founded Foster Saad, a real estate development company dedicated to new development in the Midands and the preservation of historic buildings in downtown Columbia. 

John was an avid outdoorsman and particularly enjoyed hunting, horseracing, sailing, and flying airplanes. A colorful storyteller, John relished sharing tales of his adventures, like the time he crewed a sailboat from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Gibraltar, eating flying fish for dinner. He also had a passion for animals and a penchant for history. John’s greatest love of all however, was reserved for his daughters and grandchildren. 

John was a member of the Palmetto Club, Forest Lake Country Club, the Columbia Cotillion, The Centurion, and the Pine Tree Hunt Club. 

John is survived by his two daughters, Vesta Murray Ferris (Mead) and Isabel Foster Berbert (Tayloe); his grandchildren, Mead Boykin Ferris IV, Charles Witherspoon Ferris, Louise Blalock Ferris, Knox Blalock Berbert; his sister, Ann Foster Alexander; and his former spouse, Anne Haselden Foster. 

His family would like to give special thanks to the remarkable staff at Still Hopes Retirement Community who took such good care of John in his final years. 

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation, a sanctuary for retired thoroughbreds (PO Box 122 Greenville, NY 12083; 518-755-1813). Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com

March 24, 1930 – June 30, 2022

Tommy – “TSR” was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and died in his home in Roanoke, Virginia, after a nine year struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

He graduated from Davidson College and the Medical College of South Carolina. He completed his internship and surgery residence at Charity Hospital and urology residency at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana.
He returned to his hometown to practice urology for a year. In 1963 he brought his family to Roanoke, Virginia, where he practiced urology at Lewis-Gale Clinic until his retirement in 1993.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. William B. Ward; his sister, Juliet Brice; his brother, Dr. William B. Ward, Jr; his first wife, Mary Lee Ward; and his son, William Vaughn Ward.

His is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Kaye Ward; son, Tom Ward, Jr. and wife, Valerie; his daughter, Mary Ward Seyler and husband, Richard; his daughter, Juliet Brown and husband, Chris; his grandchildren, Logan Ward, Forrest Ward, Rose Seyler, and Abby Brown; siblings, Dr. Robert Lee Ward, Dr. John Logan Ward and wife Nini, Jane Gregory, Mary Maners and husband Jimmy, Ann Houck; and sister-in-law, Dicksie Ward.

The family wants to thank Denise, who was Tommy’s caregiver for the duration his illness, and who is considered a member of the family. They would also like to thank caregivers, Brysha and Mary, as well as the staff of Good Samaritan Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, July 5, 2022, at 11 AM. Everyone is invited to join the family in the fellowship hall for a reception and to share special memories and stories.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association, Good Samaritan Hospice, or the charity of your choice.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Linny Marshall Baker of Concord, NC passed away at the age of 88 following a brief illness. Born March 11, 1934, in Ashe County, Linny was the youngest of five children born to Linny McKinley Baker and Bertha Phillips Baker. Linny was preceded in death by his father, who passed away unexpectedly in late 1933, prior to Linny’s birth. He initially grew up in Wilkes County before moving with his family to Kannapolis, NC, in 1942.

Linny graduated from A.L. Brown High School in 1952 as valedictorian and co-captain of the Wonder’s state championship basketball team. He was also one of the student representatives from A.L. Brown who joined their counterparts from Concord High School to acquire the “victory bell” from Southern Railway in 1950. After graduating as salutatorian and Phi Beta Kappa from Davidson College in 1956, Linny graduated at the top of his class from the Duke University School of Medicine in 1960 and attained the highest score in North Carolina on his state board examination. Following medical school, he pursued a residency in Pediatrics at Duke University Hospital where he was selected as Chief Resident in 1962 and was named a Wyeth Fellow, which recognized him as one of the top pediatric residents in the United States.

In 1956, Linny married the love of his life, the former Joyce Carroll Holshouser. In 1963, Linny and Joyce moved back to Cabarrus County and made their home in Concord. He joined the Cabarrus Pediatric Clinic and embarked on a lifelong mission of caring for many local children as well as serving his community through involvement in various organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Rotary, and the Jaycees. He also served as chief of the medical staff at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, Captain and physician in the US Army National Guard, Chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Health, and Chairman of the Northeast Foundation Board. Linny was an active member of St. James Lutheran Church where he spent over 40 years teaching Sunday School and frequently serving in various leadership positions within the church.

In 1999, Linny retired from the Cabarrus Pediatric Clinic and began working as a pediatrician for the Cabarrus Health Alliance. After more than 50 years of practicing medicine, Linny treated his last patient in 2015 at the age of 81 and permanently retired his stethoscope. The Health Alliance honored him by naming their children’s clinic the “Linny M. Baker Pediatric Clinic.” In 2016, the Governor of North Carolina awarded Linny with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor in the state.

In his spare time, Linny was a devoted family man and spent many years supporting his children’s and grandchildren’s various endeavors. He also enjoyed playing golf, snow skiing, and pulling for the Duke Blue Devils. Being an A.L. Brown and Duke graduate, he was often reminded by his three children, all of whom attended Concord High School and UNC, that he was on the wrong side of these big rivalries.

Linny was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, mother, Bertha, father, Linny, and three siblings, Herbert Baker, Ruby Lynch, and Eunice Bradshaw. He is survived by his sister, Lois Wetter, as well as his three children, including daughter, Deedee Gilbert, and husband, Jeff Gilbert; son, Dr. Scott Baker, and wife, Dr. Kristin Baker; and son, Brad Baker; all of Concord. Additionally, he is survived by six adoring grandchildren, Leah Baker, Kelli Baker, Michael Baker, Marshall Cromer, Thomas Baker, and Emerson Baker. Linny is also survived by his close friend and companion, Patricia (Pat) O’Neal, who continued to remain by his side during his final days.

The family will receive friends at Wilkinson Funeral Home in Concord on Friday, July 1, from 4 to 7 pm. A service to honor Linny’s life will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Concord on Saturday, July 2, at 2 pm. A graveside burial will be at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis immediately following the service. The family would like to thank the staff at the Gardens of Taylor Glenn for their kind and compassionate care for our father.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 684, Concord, NC 28026-0684, or the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County, P.O. Box 1405, Concord, NC 28026-1405.

John McKay Graham, husband of Virginia Brown Graham, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 28, 2022.

Born October 15, 1932, in Sumter, South Carolina, John was the son of the late Martha Wilson Graham. He graduated from Edmunds High School in Sumter in 1950. He attended Davidson College, transferred to the University of South Carolina and was drafted into the Army in 1953 during the Korean War. After completion of his military service, he returned to USC and graduated in 1956. He then began his career in banking and savings and loan.

He married his wife, Virginia Martha Brown, on June 14, 1958, making their home in Sumter for the next 40 years.

After John received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he became an active member of his church where he worshipped regularly. He served faithfully in leadership roles of elder and deacon and was active in men’s ministry, global missions and audiovisual ministry.

He and Virginia were known for their hospitality, often opening their home for family and friends. John loved his family and treasured time with Virginia, their children and their families. Family gatherings would often include his engaging retelling of his life experiences.

As a young man, he achieved and was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis and photography.

His career in banking and savings and loan extended for almost 40 years, beginning as a loan officer with First Federal Savings and Loan of Sumter, and retiring as a Senior Vice President and Business Development Officer with BB&T. His tenure was marked by character, integrity, fairness and generosity. He served on and chaired numerous boards including Sumter Area Technical College, Sumter Kiwanis Club, American Legion Post 15, and Shaw AFB/Sumter commission. He was a loyal supporter of law enforcement as an assistant to the Sheriff, a special SLED agent, and a lifelong SC state constable.

After retirement, John and Virginia moved to Hendersonville, NC, and then Mount Pleasant, SC, where, for the past 17 years, they have been active in their church and community. John enjoyed staying in touch with his many friends from over the years, and meeting and making new friends, encouraging them through photos, letters, and phone calls.

In addition to his wife, John is survived by his children, Dr. John McKay Graham, Jr. (Tamara), Mount Pleasant, SC, Virginia Graham Caswell (Braxton), Johns Creek, GA, Elizabeth Graham Faulkner (Larry), Mount Pleasant, SC and Benjamin Brown Graham (Tracy), Hendersonville, NC; grandchildren, Caroline Elizabeth Graham, Marshall Anne Caswell Busbee (Daniel), Virginia Britton Caswell, Margaret Graham Caswell, Mary Elizabeth Faulkner Kimble (Seth), Sarah Louise Faulkner McCurry (Marion), John Lawrence Faulkner, Benjamin Brown Graham Jr., James Frierson Graham, Kruesi Graham, Natasha Townsend and Julia Townsend; great-grandchildren, James McKay Busbee and Hannah Grace Kimble, and many extended family. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert E. Graham; his sisters, Elizabeth G. Gallagher, Georgianna G. Thomas, Margaret G. Love, Sadie G. Randall, and Helen G. Stoddard.

Special thank you to the nurses and staff at the Keil Health Center at Franke at Seaside in Mount Pleasant.

Celebration of life service will be at East Cooper Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, SC, on Saturday, July 2, at 11 AM. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 AM until the hour of service. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. Burial will be at the Sumter Cemetery in Sumter, SC, on Saturday, July 2, at 4 PM. Arrangements by Elmore Hill McCreight, Sumter, SC.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to East Cooper Baptist Church Global Missions Fund, 361 Egypt Rd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, eastcooperbaptist.com or Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, samaritanspurse.org

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.