Rev. Worth Gardner Emory

Reverend Worth Gardner Emory, age 89, of Weaverville went to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Worth was born September 13, 1933 in Buncombe County where he lived all of his life. He was the last living of ten children born to Jeff and Essie Myers Emory. Also preceding him in death are his son, Alan Worth Emory; brothers, Clarence, Jerry, L.J., and Eric Emory; sisters, Magdalene Emory, Dorothy Brown, Willie Mae Hawkins, Mildred Metcalf, and Juanita Hill.

Worth married Marie Whitt Emory on January 6, 1956. They just celebrated their 67^th Wedding Anniversary. Marie unfailingly assisted and supported Worth, making all his ministries possible. He proudly served for 2 years in the United States Army. Family was very important to Worth and Marie and they loved their family celebrations of birthdays, Christmas, other holidays, and family vacations to the beach. He also enjoyed making molasses at home and at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair.

Worth was a member of Ivy Hill Baptist Church where he served as Pastor for 59 years. Throughout Worth’s ministry he preached Love: Love God, Love People. In his later years he said, “If I was a young man, I would start a church and call it Followers of Jesus.” He always encouraged congregants to raise money for countless people in his own church, community, and the world at large. Worth’s ministry involved Revivals in other Churches, Funerals, and Weddings. He was a member of the French Broad Baptist Association where through the years he served as a Moderator and Committee Chair. Worth and Marie hosted many Missionaries in their home for conferences.

A builder by trade, he helped to build houses, churches, playhouses, cradles, various craft and other furniture projects. Worth used his talents on many Mission trips to: Honduras; Nicaragua; Venezuela; Jackpot, NV; Regina, Canada; West Virginia; Kentucky; Idaho; and Tarboro, NC. He also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, GA with Jimmy Carter and served on the Madison County Habitat for Humanity Board. He and Marie sponsored a child in Honduras. In the early years of his mission trips, Marie stayed home with the children; but in later years she accompanied him.

Worth loved working at church, visiting, carpentry, farming, and “piddling in the garage.” He served as a board member of the Barnardsville Fire Department and led morning devotions once a week at the radio station WHBK for 45 years. He was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina, the I. Ruth Martin Award at Mars Hill University, and the North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award.

Surviving is his wife, Marie; daughters, Connie Emory McMillan (Kevin), Jennifer Emory Hilliard (Roney), Natalie Emory Ponder (Jimmy); daughter-in-law, Sandra Emory Snyder (Robert); grandchildren, Reverend Jeremy Alan Emory (Sharon), Israel Worth Emory (Stacia); Sean Patrick Gaffney (Sara), Reverend Serena Marie McMillan (Josh Mellon), Christopher Ryan Gaffney (Brenna); Maryworth Patterson Hilliard, Hinton James Emory Hilliard; Sydney Grace Ponder and Hayden Emory Ponder; great grandchildren, Brayden Worth Emory and Tyce Alan Emory, Camden Asher Emory and Connor Joseph Emory, Finnegan Isaac Gaffney, and Shepherd Graceynn Ruiz; and sisters-in-law Marjorie Emory, Edith Whitt, Louise Gillis, and Ann Dugger. Daddy loved his family; he loved us well. God is Good All the Time!

A celebration of Worth’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, February 6, 2023, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home with his grandson, Reverend Jeremy Emory and Reverend Tony Vess officiating. Burial will follow in West Memorial Park with Reverend Jeremy Emory officiating the committal and Reverend Gordon Ball closing in prayer.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Sunday, February 5, 2023 at the funeral home.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Ivy Hill Baptist Church, c/o 315 Ivy Hill Road, Weaverville, NC 28787 designated for “Honduras Mission Fund,” or to the Barnardsville Fire Department.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to: Barnardsville Fire Department First Responders, Mission Hospital including the ER Nurses, Doctors, Staff, Trauma Team and Chaplains for their wonderful, kind, and compassionate care to Worth and all our family. A special thank you to Gary and Vicki West and the rest of the staff at West Funeral Home for the love they have shown to our family through the years.

West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville is honored to be assisting his family. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Worth’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.