Justin Cecil "J.C." Tolley

Asheville - Justin Cecil Tolley, 84, of 163 Park Ave., died Saturday April 19, 2003 at his residence following a period of declining health. A native of Mitchell County, he had resided in Asheville most of his life. He retired in 1979 after 44 years of service with Southern Railway as a flagman and was a member of the Brotherhood Maintenance of Way Employees. . He was a W.W. II U.S. Army-Aircorps Veteran and receipient of the Meritorius Unit Award, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Philippin Liberation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Medal. He was the son of the late Marrion and Emma Eller Tolley and husband of the late Lillian Calloway Tolley who died September 8, 1994. He was also preceded in death by son, Charles Richard Tolley formerly of Asheville; special friends, Orpheus Keener, Margaret Keener and Buelow Keener. Surviving are his daughters, Rev. Barbara Ann Tolley Branks and husband, Paul E. of the home and Betty Jean Tolley of Asheville; son, Cecil Anderson Tolley and wife, Mary of Asheville; grandchildren, Donna Ledford and Jonathan Tolley; great grandchildren, Charles Erskine Creasman, IV, Tonya Ann Creasman and Katherine Tolley; great great grandchildren, Danyelle Creasman and Charles Creasman, V and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Revs. Barbara Ann Branks and Woody Hutchinson officiating. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery with military graveside rites. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home and at other times will be at his residence. He was a loved man and had never met a stranger.