Luther Carswell

Luther Carswell, 90, of Morganton, NC died Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Grace Hospital. Born in Burke County, NC on November 11, 1921, he was the son of the late Obadiah Carswell and Marry Etta Prewitt Carswell. Luther was a member of Mull?s Grove Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, during which he was wounded in France and awarded the Purple Heart. Luther founded I-40 Used Auto Parts and continued to operate the business with his grandson and co-owner, Kenneth Hemmings, Jr.Luther is survived by daughters, Trudie Hemmings and Annie Alford, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Kenneth Hemmings, Jr. of Morganton and Priscilla Stamps of Melbourne, FL; great-grandchildren, Kelli Hemmings, Kyle Luther Hemmings, Amaris Stamps, and Shelbie Stamps; a great-great-grandchild, Tyla Mae Hemming Jamison; a brother, Cecil Carswell of Morganton; a sister, Orce Denton of Morganton; and a number of nieces, nephews, and other extended family.In addition to his parents, Luther was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Claudia Mae Crowley Carswell; brothers, Broudus, Odis, Harrison, Oliver, and Arthur Carswell; and sisters, Hattie Scott and Eula Smith.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at Mull's Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Bud Jernigan officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at the residence of Trudie Hemmings on Salem Road.Memorial contributions may be made to Mull?s Grove Baptist Church, 5106 Burkemont Road, Morganton, NC 28655.