Blue Ridge Funeral Service, Inc.

04/07/2026

Sometimes it’s hard to make the best decision about a casket, especially when you don’t know where to start. At Blue Ridge Funeral Service, not only do we offer a wide variety of colors and materials, we will sit down with every family and go over all the options so that you can make the best choice for your specific needs. Call us today at (828) 680-0287 to learn more.

04/07/2026

Joyce Humphfrey

Lora "Joyce" Hagan Humphfrey, of Marshall, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2026. She was born April 3, 1946. A native of Madison County, she was the daughter of the late Luther Jake Hagan and Zetta Riddle Hagan.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Terrell Humphfrey. and her brother, Clyde Luther Hagan and his wife, Donna Tweed Hagan.

Joyce was a graduate of Marshall High School class of 1963. She lived most of her life in Atlanta, Georgia, leaving behind co-workers and friends who became family. She proudly worked for the Barrington Group for 22 years. In their words, her decency and her high standards for how folks should interact with one another may be her true bequest to all of us. She showered people with kindness.

Her employees loved her. Her residents respected her. Her bosses adored her. She was one of a kind, and kind to everyone.

Joyce is survived by her sister, Velda Hagan Freeman (Albert); her nieces Pam Caldwell, and Lori Hagan Massey (David); nephews, Andrew and Mark and their families; and great nephew, Derek Lane Massey.

Her ashes will be spread in the Mountains of North Carolina per her request.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org

View Joyce Humphfrey's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/07/2026

April 15th is coming up fast - don't forget to complete your taxes!

04/07/2026

David "Gerald" Metcalf

David "Gerald" Metcalf, 77, of Marshall passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026. He was a lifelong resident of Madison County and a son of the late John Metcalf and Lola Carver Adams. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by two sisters, Carolyn and Delores, and two brothers, Johnny Metcalf and Bobby Horn.

Gerald was a US Army Veteran and an avid fisherman.

He is survived by his son, Michael Metcalf (Lindsey), sister, Susie Ricker (Steve), and three brothers, Boyd Metcalf (Elouise), Roy "Sunny" Horn, Jr. and William Horn (Rose).

A funeral service will be held at 1pm Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral & Cremation Service. Reverend Danny Jenkins will officiate. Burial will follow in Divide Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org

View David Gerald Metcalf's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/06/2026

Lila Nikla

Lila Nazarow Nikla, 89, of Mars Hill, was born on April 8, 1936 and passed away April 5, 2026. She was a native of Brooklyn, NY and the daughter of Samuel and Henrietta Cohen Nazarow. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Gerard James Nikla and a sister, Bobbie Stein.

Lila went to work at New York Bell when she was 16 years old and worked there until her retirement in Miami. After retirement she worked alongside her husband at their Papa Nicks Restaurants. She was an avid dog lover. Lila was a member of the Madison County Rotary, overseer of Women's League of Voters and for a period of time the Director of the Mars Hill Visitor Center. She volunteered at the Childcare in Mars Hill, where she read to the children and also volunteered for Meals on Wheels.

Lila is survived by her daughters, Deborah Turner, Darlene Fry (Rick), and Jeri Wilson; a sister, Toby Cantrell; grandchildren, Ricky Fry, Sean Turner, Angie Fry, Candace Scholl, and Kelli Yoder; and great grandchildren, Arik, Lila, and Alice Turner, Taylor Yoder, Gia Fry, Haylie Yoder, Nora and Jack Scholl.

A funeral service will be held 1:00pm Thursday, April 9, 2026 in the Robbie Capps Memorial chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral and Cremation Service. Reverend Dr. Tommy Justus will officiate. The burial will be held at 10:00am Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the WNC State Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 11:00am-1:00pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Madison County Animal Shelter, 389 Long Branch Road, Marshall, NC 28753.

The family would like to extend a special appreciation for her caregivers Susan Hinson, Nikki Blankenship, Tony Bradley, and Paula Hollifield, and the staff of Madison Health & Rehabilitation for their loving care.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org

View Lila Nikla's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/06/2026

04/05/2026

Today, we celebrate the love of God through the resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. He is risen! Happy Easter!

04/03/2026

Easter is a time for celebration, but children who have lost a loved one may struggle during this time. If your child is grieving, this article offers guidance on supporting them during the Easter season.

If your child has lost a loved one, this article provides guidance for supporting your grieving child during the Easter season.

04/03/2026

Good Friday reminds us of the ultimate act of a loving Father who would send His only Son to die that we might live.

03/31/2026

Joyce Bailey

Joyce Ann Bailey, 80, passed away peacefully Sunday March 29, finally being freed from the grip of the cruel, relentless disease, Alzheimer's.

Joyce was the daughter of the late Gus and Jane Bailey of Mars Hill. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her significant other, Frank Kelly, sister Edna Robinson and her husband Kermit, whom she loved as a brother, sister Genive Ramsey, and brother Vaughn Bailey. Before her memories of them were ripped from her, she missed them all dearly. Two nieces, Wanda DeHart and Annette Ducker and nephew Ricky Robinson passed during her Alzheimer's journey, so she didn't know. Now she is reunited with and remembers each and every one of them.

Left behind to cherish her memory, her daughter and best friend, Renee Lively and her husband Rex. Two grandsons who were her pride and joy and she loved more than anything in this world, Chad and Gannon (Emma Hubbard) her twin brother Morris Bailey (Geniva). Several nieces and nephews who were all very special to her and close to her heart, with one niece being like a daughter to her, Danita Robinson.

She resided in Hendersonville, NC so she could be close to her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons. They were her life. So many memories were made and shared with them.

Mom, we will hold onto those precious memories forever. We loved you dearly. There will forever be a huge hole in our hearts. We can't imagine our lives or a world without you in it. We will always keep your memory alive. We have grieved for you while you were here with us, and although we are grieving now, we know that you are in a much better place, and at peace from the battle you fought that was impossible to win. I knew you would fight hard, because that's who you were, but I also knew in the end, it was inevitable that you would lose. In my eyes though, you didn't lose. You won Mom, look where you are at. You remember me now, you know I'm your daughter, and Chad and Gannon are your grandsons, you know everybody you loved. No suffering, no pain, no sorrow and most importantly, no Alzheimer's. You won! You crossed that finish line, you left that ruthless disease behind. Alzheimer's will never make it to Heaven, so when it came in your life to destroy it, it didn't because it ended up sending you to your eternal home, where you've always wanted to be and where you belong. That Mom, is the biggest victory in your lifetime.

The 7 years that were taken from you, taken from us, I did remember for you, I kept my promise and always remembered for you.

The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the CNAs and nurses that showed compassion and became such an important part of Mom's life. Each of you showed her compassion, kindness, and exceptional care-and some of you grew to truly love her. There are far too many to name, but if you are reading this, please know how much you meant to her and to all of us.

We would like to recognize one caregiver in particular who went far beyond her role. She didn't just care for Mom-she loved her with the same tenderness and devotion as if she were her own momma. She became a constant presence in Mom's life and truly became part of our family. Michaela Kendrick, thank you for touching Mom's heart so deeply. She loved you, and I saw it every time her face lit up when you walked into the room.

We would also like to thank her special niece, who was more like a sister, Loretta Jamerson, for the wonderful care, compassion, and love she gave her and a dear friend, Barbara Medford, whom Mom loved and thought the world of.

We are forever grateful to each and every one of you, and to all who helped in any way-through your care, your kindness, your prayers, and your love. From the biggest gestures to the smallest acts, none of them went unnoticed. This was a long and difficult goodbye, and we could not have made it through without you.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory, Asheville.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org

View Joyce Bailey's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/31/2026

Robert Parks Anders

Robert Parks Anders, 85, of Barnardsville, passed away March 29, 2026. He was the son of the late John H. Anders and Clyde Lee Shepherd Anders. He was a US Army veteran.

Robert is survived by his wife, Janet Phillips Anders, daughter, Connie Sue Carver; son, Bobby Joe Anders (Shannon), Danny Eugen Anders and Roger Dale Anders (Sherry Rice); brother, Burl Anders; grandchildren, Tara, Tegan, Britany and Brandon Anders, Hailey Summey, Dakota Carver, Tara, Timothy and Troy Rice; great grandchildren, Melody and Charlie Anders, Gracie and Allayh Summey and several nieces and nephews.

A burial will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at the Maney Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.

View Robert Parks Anders's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/30/2026

Vernon Edwards

Vernon Edwards, 89, of Lower Bailey Branch Rd. passed away peacefully at home early Sunday morning. He was a native of Madison County and son of the late Lincoln and Dovie Fox Edwards. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cilla Kate Williams Edwards; sisters, Alma Edwards Greene and Wilma Edwards Young; brothers, Alvin Edwards & Jessie Edwards.

He is survived by his son, Brian Edwards; a granddaughter, Sydney Grace Edwards Wright (Logan); a sister, Dahlia Edwards Wilson (Rotha); a brother, Bernie Edwards (Wanda), and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Edwards was thrilled to be expecting his first great grandchild - a boy due in June; a joy that continues to brighten the family's lives.

Mr. Edwards was an outdoorsman who found joy in the simple surroundings of nature, farming for over 60 years. Whether he was casting a line into a stream at dawn or carefully tending to his garden, he appreciated the calm and satisfaction that came from working with his hands and being outside. He never hesitated in sharing the abundance of his garden with others, offering fresh produce to family and friends. Mr. Edwards had a deep interest in Native American culture and took great joy in leaning more throughout his life. He especially enjoyed walking through freshly plowed fields, carefully scanning the ground for hidden arrowheads, invisible to most other's eyes.

Above all, Mr. Edwards lived by the golden rule-do unto others as you would have them do unto you-which guided his actions and the way he treated everyone around him.

A graveside service will be held at the Little Ivy Baptist Church Cemetery,1:00 pm Monday, April 6, 2026, with the Rev. Jody Griffin officiating.

Pallbearers are Ricky Edwards, Roy Jay Young, Michael and Chris Wilson, Randy Edwards and James Greene.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org

View Vernon Edwards's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.