Almeta Baylor Ponder

ALEXANDER— Almeta Baylor Ponder, 83, of Fletcher Martin Rd., went to meet her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. Mrs. Ponder was born April 26, 1927, in Buncombe County. She retired from Mills Manufacturing and Buncombe County Schools. She was a member of Alexander Missionary Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Robert J. and Nora E. West Baylor. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, James Harlon Ponder who died in 1996; and brothers, Robert, Radford, and Riley Baylor. Surviving are her daughter, Sandra Norton and husband Dean of Alexander; son, Terry Ponder and wife Sheila of Leicester; sister, Gladys House of Asheville; brother, John Baylor of Corbin, Ky.; grandchildren, Jason Ponder, Aaron Norton, Nicole Norton, Britani Gillespie; step grandchildren, Shannon Messer and Jeremy McElrath; seven great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Alexander Missionary Baptist Church, with Revs. Gerald Sprinkle, Steve Rogers, and Ricky Townsend officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville. The family will be at the residence Friday afternoon. Flowers are acceptable. Memorials may be made to John F. Keever Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813, or The Gideons International, P.O. Box 2292, Weaverville, NC 28787. www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com