Dempsey E. Gatlin

Mr. Dempsey Edward Gatlin, 87, formerly of Brook Drive, Asheboro, died Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2010, at Oakhurst Baptist Church, where he was a member, with Dr. Richard Crider officiating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Born on January 4, 1923, in Randolph County, Mr. Gatlin was the son of the late John E. and Cora Hayes Gatlin. He was a 1943 graduate of Seagrove High School and had worked for 19 years as a jailer for the Randolph County Sheriff's Department, serving under three different sheriffs. He then transferred to the Asheboro Fire Department where he worked until his retirement. After retiring he went back to school and became a certified adjuster for Carolina Farmers Mutual Insurance, where he had served on the board since 1954 and later served as president. He was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Riverside Baptist Church and Oakhurst Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Gatlin, his brother, Lewis Gatlin, and sisters, Lucy Brady Powers and Clatie Kearns Lawson. The loves of his life were his wife of 65 years, his family, his church and his farm. Surviving are his daughter, Ann Cranford and her husband, Tommy, of Asheboro; sons, Joe Gatlin and his wife, Brenda, Roger Gatlin and Debbie Gatlin, Don Gatlin and his wife, Patty, Mark Gatlin and his wife, Wendi, all of Asheboro; grandchildren, Karen Pike and her husband, Daniel, of Florida, Duree Auman and her husband, Charles, of Seagrove, Corrie Gatlin, J.R. Gatlin, both of Asheboro, Olivia Gatlin, of Star, Olicia Ferguson and her husband, Jason, of Troy, Lee Cranford, Amy Cranford, Taylor Gatlin, Sarah Gatlin, all of Asheboro; great grandchildren, Haleigh Pike, Luke Pike, Sam Pike, Kenneth Gatlin, Garrett Morton, Olissa Morton, Cade Auman and Grason Ferguson. The family will receive friends at Ridge Funeral Home from 6:00 until 9:00 pm on Sunday, January 24, 2010, and other times at the home of Ann and Tommy Cranford, 2209 Berkley Lane, Asheboro, NC. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the wonderful staff of the Garden Place at Carillon Assisted Living and special friend, Virginia Garner. Memorials may be made to Oakhurst Baptist Church, 2225 S. Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27205; or to Riverside Baptist Church, 8123 Riverside Road, Seagrove, NC 27341.