February 10 – Alyne Ruby Vandegrift, 72, of Surfside, SC, went home to be with the Lord on January 25, 2004. She was the daughter of the late Buford Smith, Sr. of the Yellow Hill Community, Cherokee, NC, and the late Ethel McDonell of Yardley, PA.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Harry T. Vandegrift; sons. Earl A. Wood, Steven M. Wood, Gregg R. Vandegrift, and Vernon W. Vandegrift; daughters-in-law, Barbara Wood, Betty Wood, Nancy Vandegrift, and Dee Vandegrift; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Ronald Wood. Also surviving are five sisters, Shirley Henson, Janice Griffin, Norma Jean Swaney, Alice Caley, Kathleen Best; and four brothers, Buford Smith, Jr., Thomas Smith, Gilbert Smith, and Jerry Smith.

A memorial service will be held Friday, February 13, 2004, at 6 p.m. at Big Cove Baptist Church, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Cherokee, NC.