J.C. "Jake" Elder

J.C. "Jake" Elder, 73, formerly of 125 Tree Lane, Statesville, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, at Autumn Care of Statesville. He was born Nov. 22, 1936, in Statesville, and was the son of the late Dewey Lee and Mable Mae Sprinkle Elder. Jake was a retired crew chief with NASCAR and was known as "Suitcase Jake." Beginning his career in 1959, he worked with 30 different drivers, including Lee Petty, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Davey Allison, Terry Labonte and Sterling Marlin, and served as crew chief for two Winston Cup championship teams. In addition to his parents, Jake was preceded in death by his wife, Debbie Elder; a son, Randy Lee Elder; a sister, Maude E. Cline; and two brothers, Robert and Johnny Elder. He is survived by a daughter, Sandy Elder Maxwell (Doug), of Elberton, Ga.; a son, Andy Elder (Beth), of Elberton; three grandchildren, Brent Maxwell, Britney M. Scarborough, and Jacob Elder; a great-grandson, Malec Scarborough; four sisters, Mary E. Russell, Helen E. Moore, Lou E. Haire, and Peggy E. Parker; and two brothers, Esker Elder and James Elder, all of Statesville. Funeral services celebrating Jake's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with the Rev. John C. Parks Jr. and the Rev. Charles Efird officiating. Entombment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park in China Grove. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, prior to the service. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the family of Jake Elder. Announcement courtesy of Hicks Funeral Home, Elberton.