Mr. Joseph Arthur Parnell, 73, of 4372 Jones Street Ext., Ramseur died Tuesday ( 10-28-03) at Randolph Hospital.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Thursday (10-30-03) at Ramseur Wesleyan Church with Rev. Gary Moger and Pastor Tommy E. Smith officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Surviving are his wife, Iris Parnell, of the home; daughters, Joann Braxton of Ramseur, Sharon Richardson of Ramseur; sons, Mickey Parnell of Henderson, Eddie Parnell of Ramseur; sisters, Geneva Sherman of Richmond, VA, Rosa Lee Yeagle of Sunset Harbor; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Faith Christian School, 5449 Brookhaven Rd., Ramseur, NC 27316; Ramseur Wesleyan Church 2038 Leonard Park St., Box 501, Ramseur, NC 27316; or Franklinville Fire Dept., 146 W. Main St., Franklinville, NC 27248.

Kathleen Murdock, 85, of 922 NC Hwy 902, died Thursday (10-30-03), at Central Carolina Hospital.

Graveside services were held 3 p.m. Saturday (11-1-03) at Chatham United Methodist Church cemetery.

She was a native of Chatham County and a member of Chatham United Methodist Church.

Survivors are a daughter, Nancy M. Newton of St. Simons, GA; two sons, Bill Murdock of Apex and Larry Murdock of New Bern; three sisters, Betty Morgan of Goldston, Lillian Bright of Bonlee and Bernice Higgins of Greensboro; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Robert Jackson (Jack) Murray, 71, of 1275 Siler City - Glendon Road, Siler City died Wednesday ( 10-29-03) at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Funeral services were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday (11-1-03) at Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City with Rev. Matthew Taylor officiating.

Mr. Murray was a native of Chatham County a member of Oakley Baptist Church and was a retired contractor/carpenter.

Surviving are his wife, Mary N. Murray of Siler City; daughter, Kathy M. Jones and husband, Bob of Summerville, SC; step-son, Ricky Stephens of Pilot Mountain; sister, Arlene Norwood, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Riverbend Baptist Church, 7035 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29418.

Westley Wayne Walker, II, 17, of 615 Poe Road, Siler City died Sunday (11-2-03) at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Thursday (11-6-03) at Edward Hill Friends Meeting in Siler City with Rev. Leonard Moore and Rev. Mike Crosby officiating. Burial followed in church cemetery.

Westley was a native of Chatham County and a Junior at Jordan-Matthews High School. He was formerly employed with Wendy's and attended Community Baptist Church.

Percy (Poodle) Gaines, Jr. 79, of 28 Bonlee-Bennett Road, Bonlee died Monday, November 3, 2003 at Jordan Lake in Pittsboro.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, November 6 at Bonlee Baptist Church with Rev. Darrell Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Bonlee.

Mr. Gaines was a native of Chatham County, a member of Bonlee Baptist Church where he was a member of Frank Andrews Adult Sunday School Class and was retired from C.C. Routh Mills in Bonlee.

Survivors are brother, Howard J. (Buck) Gaines and wife, Carlyle of Bonlee, nieces, Janie Riggsbee of Bonlee and Lisa Gaines of Goldston; nephews, John H. Gaines of Bonlee and Mark N. Scott of Bennett; great-nieces, Abby Howard, Tina Harrelson, Wendy Johnson and Dana Scott; great-nephews, Brad Howard and Justin Gaines; best friends, Gene Watson of Bonlee, David Mitchell and Clinton Scott both of Siler City.

Memorials may be made to Bonlee Baptist Church, P.O. Box 75, Bonlee, NC 27213.

David Cecil Pulliam, 75, of 1104 Sandy Cross Road, Burlington died Friday October 31, 2003 at Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport, NC after 4 months of failing health.

He was a native of Person County, retired from NC Dept. of Transportation and a member of Surl Primitive Baptist Church.

Survivors include daughters, Mary Kay Andrews and husband, Danny of Oak Island, NC, Judy Ross and husband, Mike of Burlington; sons, Wallace Ray Pulliam and wife, Carla of Burlington, John Pulliam of West Palm Beach, FL, Thomas Pulliam of West Palm Beach, FL, James C. Pulliam and wife Debra of Stuart, FL; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and special friend, Barbara Vaughn.

Mr. Pulliam was preceded in death by parents, Grover Cleveland Pulliam and Sarah Clayton Pulliam; wife, Annie Warren Pulliam; son, Roy Pulliam; brother, J.W. Pulliam; sisters, Ruth Simpson, Naomi Webster, and Annie Mae Duncan.

Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2003 at Surl Primitive Baptist Church in Roxboro with Elder David Minnow officiating. Burial followed in church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215.

Dorothy Ann Alston, 68 of Bronx, New York died Friday (10-31-03) at her residence.

Memorial service will be held 3 p.m. on Thursday (11-6-03) at John H. Joyce Funeral Home at 2332 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd., New York, New York 10030.

Survivors are mother, Ola B. Alston of Goldston; daughter, Wanda L. Cotton of Goldston; sisters, Bernice Lyons of New York, NY, Debra Faye Paige of Siler City and Paulette Daye of Durham; brothers, David S. Alston of Goldston, Frank Alston of Mt. Vernon, NY, Lewis Alston, Mac Arthur Alston and James Nicholas Alston all of Dayton, Ohio.

Announcement made by Knotts Funeral Home in Sanford.

Willie Tripp Canipe, 79, of Hamlet Chapel Rd., Pittsboro died Tuesday (10-28-03).

Mrs. Canipe was a native of Chatham County, member of Rock Springs Baptist Church. She was a nurse for years at Mathiesens Clinic and retired from UNC Hospital.

Survivors are daughter Emily Meacham of Chapel Hill; two grandchildren, six great-grandchildren.

Shepherd's Pie is a good dish to serve in cooler weather. Because of the mashed potato topping, all you have to add to your meal is a green salad. I usually make this dish with leftover lamb but my daughter's family enjoys a version similar to this one that also uses ground beef. This certainly simplifies making this dish.

1½ pounds ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cups mashed potatoes

1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

In a skillet, brown ground beef, onion, garlic, bell pepper, celery and drain. Add soup and seasonings and place in a casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove form the oven and top with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika. Bake 15 minutes more.

Breakfast: Chicken Biscuit, Assorted Juice