Gladys Lucille Robinson Epley

Gladys Lucille Robinson Epley, 68, of Zion Rd., Morganton, NC went home to be with her Heavenly Father Wednesday, December 7, 2005 after a short period of declining health. She was born August 26, 1937 in Burke County, NC and was a daughter of the late Oscar M. Robinson and Zora Harris Robinson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Roy Epley; sister, Elizabeth Robinson; and by an infant sister. Gladys graduated from Drexel High School in 1955. She worked for the Burke County School system and was a retired employee of Broughton Hospital with 30 years of service. Gladys was a member of Burkemont Baptist Church and an active member of her Sunday School class and Young at Hearts Senior Citizens Group at the church.

Mrs. Epley is survived by her children and their spouses, Dennis J. and Roxanne "Rocky" Epley of Drexel, Cynthia E. and Eric Jaynes of Morganton, Roy D. and Gena Epley of Jacksonville, NC, and Wanda E. and Keith Huffman of Connelly Springs; a sister, Pearl Rowell and her husband, Tyrone, of Wilmington, NC; grandchildren, Heather Epley, Jennifer Epley, Danielle Epley, Anna Epley, Zach Wood, Ashley Jaynes, Emily Jaynes, Alex Epley, Katrina Huffman, and Christopher Huffman; a great-granddaughter, Emma Osborne; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 11, 2005 at Burkemont Baptist Church with Reverends David Mills and Eddy Bunton officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Sossoman Funeral Home Saturday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., 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 Cynthia and Eric Jaynes, 4506 Burkemont Road, Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to Burkemont Baptist Church, 4668 Burkemont Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.