Robert Eugene (Bob) Elam

Obituary: Robert Eugene (Bob) Elam, age 80, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at CMC-Main, Charlotte, NC after an extended illness. He was born February 25, 1931 in Alcorn County, NC, the son of the late Elmo Thomas Elam and Mae Dilworth Elam. In earlier years Bob served as a principal and teacher for a 5th grade at Purdi Elementary School in Alcorn County, MS. Then, he entered service joining the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. After service, he worked for the Standard Coffee Company in North Carolina which is headquartered out of New Orleans, LA for 35 years. Later, he owned & operated the J.T. General Store in Kannapolis, NC for twenty years until his retirement in 2006. He attended Jackson Park Pentecostal Holiness Church, Kannapolis, NC where he had served an usher, deacon, and a Sunday school secretary and treasurer. One of his greatest loves beside his family was spending time with his favorite dog, Troy. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by two brothers, Elmo Elam, Jr. and Donald L. Elam; four sisters, Bernice Conn, Juanita Ross, Katherine Johnson, and Dot Huff. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, December 29, 2011 at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Jimmy Barnhill with military rites conducted by the Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the graveside after the service.Survivors include his wife of sixty years, Donnie Phillips Elam; two daughters, Vicki Goulds & husband, Danny of Miller Creek, NC and Sheri Royal & husband, Dean of China Grove, NC; five grandchildren, Jamie Goulds, Valerie Wilks & husband, Rob, Brent Royal & wife, Heather, Blake Royal, and Britney Marckese & husband, Kenny; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Betty Jobe & husband, George of Monticello, GA and Hattie Powell of Rienzi, MS. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Jackson Park Pentecostal Holiness Church, c/o Falcon Childrens' Home, 1008 Moose Road, Kannapolis, NC 28083. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com who is handling the arrangements.
Visitation: Following the graveside service

Service: Graveside Service 1:00 P.M. Thursday December 29,2011 Carolina Memorial Park

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis, North Carolina