Therell Efird

Therell Eugene “Gene” Efird, age 87, passed away on March 12, 2015.

Gene was born in June 1927 in Oakboro, North Carolina to the late Matokie Griffin Efird and Hubert L. Efird. He served the United States Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954 stationed at Camp Lejeune. He began work for the Davey Tree Expert Company in 1944 and rose to the position of area Vice-President until his retirement in 1992. Always active in the tree industry, he was a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and served as President of the Southern Chapter.

He was a leader in the local chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and a Member and Past-President of the Hickory Grove Lions Club. He also served as a Vice –President and Member of the Board of Directors for Charlotte Motor Speedway, as a Trustee for Meredith College in Raleigh North Carolina and on the Board of Directors for United Carolina Bank (BB&T).

Gene was preceded in death by his loving, caring and thoughtful wife, Ruth. They were married for 60 years and have a daughter Gina Ayscue and son Tracy Efird of Charlotte. Gina and her husband Frankie have a son Vance and daughter Chloe. Tracy and his wife Erin have two daughters Ellie and Emily. Gene was preceded in death by his four sisters and four brothers.

Gene enjoyed Nascar racing, traveling and raising Santa Gertrudis cattle. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church and enjoyed worship and fellowship with his friends of many years.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2015, at Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte NC 28211 with Dr. Al Cadenhead and Dr. David Jordan officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 2:00 and interment will be immediately following the service at Red Cross Baptist Church, 680 W. Red Cross Road, Oakboro NC 28129.

Contributions honoring Gene’s memory may be made to Providence Baptist Church or Red Cross Baptist Church.

The family would like to thank Doug Larter of Carepoint for his years of help to Gene and the Harris Hospice Unit at Novant Health for their love and care.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Efird family.