Joseph Lasley

LAKE JUNALUSKA-The Rev. Joseph Williams Lasley, 80, of 593 Crum Drive, died May 20, 2005 at Brooks-Howell Home, Asheville, NC. He was born July 6, 1924 in Winston-Salem, NC, the son of Joe Cephas and Dora Belle Williams Lasley. Rev. Lasley was a United Methodist Minister for 38 years, serving the Western North Carolina Conference. He served churches in the Charlotte area, Reidsville, Winston-Salem, Canton, Lake Junaluska, Greensboro, Murphy, and Asheville. A veteran of World War II, he served in the 291st Infantry, 75th Division, saw service in the European Theater, Battle of Ardennes Forest, and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Rev. Lasley attended Brevard College and was a graduate of Guilford College and Union Theological Seminary In The City of New York. He was ordained elder in the Methodist Church in 1951 and was a member of the Western North Carolina Conference. His interest in United Methodist History led to his service as chair of the WNC Conference Historical Society (later the Commission of Archives and History), the Southeastern Jurisdiction Historical Society, and the General Commission of Archives and History for the United Methodist Church. He had a particular interest in the establishment of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Heritage Center at Lake Junaluska. He was a Life Member of Junaluska Associates and a member of The Junaluskans. Rev. Lasley was the author of "Long's Chapel: A Centennial History," "Names and Places: A Cyclopedia of Lake Junaluska," and his autobiography " Things Remembered." Rev. Lasley was preceded in death by his sisters Barbara Lasley Carter and Doris Lasley Roddick. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Hare Lasley, son George Wesley Lasley and his wife Jane, of Raleigh, daughter Ellen Lasley Murphy and her husband Kevin, of Harpers Ferry, WV, brothers-in-law, Conrad N. Carter of Fort Mill, SC and James A. Roddick of Winston-Salem, a step-grandson, John Mullen of Benton City, WA, nieces Martha Carter Mattocks of High Point, NC, Susan Carter Hope, Ann Roddick Cash, and nephew David Roddick, all of Winston-Salem. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 23, 2005 at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church, Lake Junaluska. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service. A committal service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at Forsyth Memorial Park, Winston-Salem, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Long's Chapel UMC Building Fund, P.O. Box 459, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745, or the SEJ Heritage Center Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 1165, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745.

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