Annie Pearl Sharpe of 202 Raymond Sharpe Road, Bear Creek died Saturday (10-25-03) at Sun Bridge Care Facilities in Siler City.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Tuesday (10-28-03) at Antioch Christian Church in Bear Creek with Rev. Warren Brown and Rev. Clark Davis officiating. Burial followed in church cemetery.

Miss Sharpe was a native of Chatham County and a homemaker . She was of the Christian Faith.

Surviving are brothers, Reno Sharpe and Raymond Sharpe both of Bear Creek; sister, Nettie Sharpe of Bear Creek and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Antioch Christian Church Building Fund, 246 Antioch Christian Church Road, Bear Creek, NC 27207.

Etna Mozelle Pickett, 88, of 601 N. Third Ave., Siler City died Thursday, October 23, 2003 at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

Funeral services were held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 26 at First Wesleyan Church in Siler City with Rev. Kevin Stumbo officiating. Burial followed at Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City.

Miss Pickett was a native of Chatham County, a member of First Wesleyan Church, Secretary of the Ladies Bible Class and was retired from Hadley-Peoples Mfg. Company.

Survivors are brother, Albert Pickett of Siler City; sister, Faye P. Williams of Siler City; great-nieces, Sherri Carter and husband, Neal of Staley, and Annette Bailey and husband, David of Siler City, and great-great-niece, Brynn Carter of Staley.

Memorials may be made to First Wesleyan Church, 608 N. 3rd Ave., Siler City, NC 27344.

Bunn Curtis Brewer, 75, of 3283 Bennett-Siler City Rd, Bennett died Wednesday (10-22-03) at his home.

Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Saturday (10-25-03) at Bennett Baptist Church where he was a member with Rev. Tim Strider officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mr. Brewer was a Chatham County native, was a retired security guard, and a member of the Roland Linnens Sunday School Class at his church.

Mr. James Robert Rodgers, 56, died Tuesday (9-30-03) in Maryland.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Saturday (10-11-03) at Evans Chapel AME Zion Church with Rev. Ridie Headen officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mr. Rodgers graduated from Chatham High and was a army veteran.

Surviving are his children, Bonnie and Tameika Rodgers of Greensboro, and Cashua Rodgers of Durham; his father and mother, Charlie and Euphenia Rodgers; four brothers, Charlie, Jr. of Greensboro, Howard of Virginia, Leroy and Bobby of the home; two sisters, Doris Belton of Pleasant Garden, and Delois Alston of Pittsboro.

Edna K. Dowd Burke, 84, of 1136 Rufus Brewer Road, Siler City died Sunday, October 26, 2003 at Sun Bridge Care Facilities in Siler City.

Funeral services were held 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 29 at Meroney United Methodist Church in Bear Creek with Rev. Jim Whittaker and Rev. Dadid Wade officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Burke was a native of Chatham County and a homemaker. She was a member of Meroney United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest & Annie Dowd, husband John E. Burke, daughter Dorothy Ann Burke, brother Vernon Dowd and a son-in-law John R. Hall.

Survivors are sons, Larry Burke and wife Fannie of Siler City, Buddy Burke and wife Linda of Siler City, Roger Burke and wife Lillie of Pittsboro; daughters, Mary Catherine Green and husband Jackie of Pittsboro, Mamie Lee Hall of Siler City, Helen K. King and husband J.C. of Woodbridge, VA, Ellen F. Dixon and husband Mike, Bonnie L. Allen and husband Winfred, Flida M. Smith and husband Lee; all of Siler City; brother, Bobby Dowd and wife Janie of Siler City; sisters, Jeanette Dowd Dollar of Siler City, Durema Dowd Burke and husband C.R. of Asheboro; sister-in-law, Polly Dowd Duncan of Siler City; twenty grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren and four step grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Meroney United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Sharon Trotter, 1304 Vernie Phillips Road, Bear Creek, NC 27207.

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: Cinnamon Toast, Assorted Juice