James F. Penley

James F. Penley, 83, of Valdese, and formerly of Ponderosa Rd. in Morganton died Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at Valdese Hospital following a period of declining health. He was born May 3, 1927 in Burke County, and was a son of the late Julius Penley and Florence Franklin Penley. James was a faithful member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, and a retired employee of Drexel-Heritage Furnishings with 40 years of service.He is survived by children, Dwight Penley and wife, Frances, Hazel Causby, and Naomi Buff and husband, Major, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Tammy Farris and Heather Brown; and great-grandchildren, Emily Farris, Macray Brown, Raelyn Brown, and Kerrigan Brown.In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by his wife, Lola Carswell Penley; brothers, Howard, Bill, Oscar, Robert, and John Penley; sisters, Ruby Smith, Myrtle LaFevers, Johnsie Watson, and Essie Thompson; and a son-in-law, Kenneth Causby.Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 17, 2010 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Cline officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends Wednesday from 7:00 until 8:30 pm at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body remained until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 2396 Enola Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.