Elma Golightly Clontz

Elma Golightly Clontz, 84, of Brook Mill Court in Great Mills, MD, and a Morganton resident for most of her life, died unexpectedly Saturday, October 17, 2009 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. She was born April 13, 1925 in Burke County and was a daughter of the late William Alexander Golightly and Florence Singleton Golightly. Elma was a member of The Church of Christ. She attended The Church of Christ in Morganton and in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. She worked 34 years as a clerk and Deputy at the Burke County Register of Deeds until her retirement in 1977. Elma was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister.She is survived by her husband, Vester H. Clontz, Jr. of the home; daughters, Janice Clontz Brinkley and husband, Sam of Arlington, VA, and Patricia Clontz Elliot and husband, Jim of Great Mills, MD; grandchildren, Tracy Hollifield and wife, Janice Pless Hollifield of Belmont, NC, Chad Brinkley and wife, Julie Diehl Brinkley of Houston, TX, and Staci Elliot of Great Mills; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Reagan, and Spencer Hollifield, and Avery Brinkley; brothers, Vernon Golightly and wife, Bettye, and Elbert Golightly and wife, Frances, all of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Lester and Kenneth Golightly; and a sister, Evelyn Abee.A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Reverends Kathie Clontz Sherrill and Randy N. Sherrill officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Southmountain Children’s Home, 7330 Myrtle Drive, Nebo, NC 28761.