Arell Rutherford, Sr.

Our Kind Master in His infinite wisdom has called our father from labor to reward. Arell Rutherford, Sr., passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at the age of 84.

He was born in McDowell County on April 7, 1941 to the late Gilbert Rutherford and Annie Lottie O’Neal Rutherford.

Mr. Rutherford was a longtime, faithful member of St. John AME Church in Nebo. He held numerous offices over the years including Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, choir member, and an avid worker in and around the church. Known as a hard worker, he formerly worked at Drexel and Clinchfield Mills. He also worked at Carolina Western where he was the Maintenance Supervisor. In his retirement, he enjoyed tending to his garden and sitting on the porch with family, friends, and his beloved cats, Smoke and Charlie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Clara “Peggy” Rutherford, and beloved mother of his children, Irene Elizabeth Hardy Rutherford Wilkerson; two children, Keith Rutherford and Alisa Rutherford; two grandchildren, Gerron Conley and India Rutherford; six brothers, Ed, Bob, JB, Lewis "Fats", Charles and Dan; and two sisters, Annie "Lib" Francis and Ethel Avery.

He is survived by five children, Donna Lomio (Anthony), Angela Stevenson (Ken), Sherry Wilkerson (Bubba), Arell Rutherford, Jr. (Libby), and Curtis Rutherford (Kim); two step-children, Kent Banks and Wanda Nation (Ken); two brothers, Harold Rutherford (Luberta) and Tim Rutherford (Chrastal); sister, Lynell Rutherford; and a host of grandchildren including twenty-one grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

A homegoing service will be held on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Beam Celebration Center with Rev. Arell Rutherford, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at St. John AME Church Cemetery.