Ballard – Talbert Engagement – – Greg and Franda Ballard of Mooresville are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Marie Ballard, to Cpl. John Samuel Talbert of Camp Pendleton, Calif. – The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Lois Little and the late Buster Little and Elaine Ballard and the late Sid Ballard of Mooresville. A graduate of Statesville Christian Academy, Jennifer is a senior at Appalachian State University. – The future groom is the son of Wayne and Carla Talbert of Kannapolis and the grandson of Vedie Talbert and the late Ed Talbert of Concord and the late Carl and Bessie Ashburn. A 2004 graduate of South Rowan High School, John is a corporal in the United States Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. – The wedding is Dec. 19 at Liberty Baptist Church in Mooresville. – – Burris – Johnson Wedding – – KANNAPOLIS ó Jennifer Louise Burris of Rockwell and Bradley Thomas Johnson of Salisbury were united in marriage Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Charity Baptist Church. The Rev. Steve Hudson officiated the 5 p.m. ceremony, which was followed by a reception at The Copperfield Room at Cabarrus Family Medicine. – The bride was escorted by her father, Mr. Johnny R. Burris, and attended by her sister, Miss Susan Burris of China Grove, as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included cousin of the bride Miss Lara Baker of Salisbury, sister-in-law of the groom Mrs. Crystal Johnson and Miss Laura Patton of Concord, friend of the bride. – Brother of the groom Mr. Brandon Johnson of Harrisburg stood as best man. Groomsmen included friends of the groom Mr. Danny Parkhurst of Concord, Mr. Donnie Floyd of Matthews and Mr. Preston Peltier of Concord. Father of the groom Mr. Harold Johnson of Harrisburg was usher. – Miniature bridal couple were friend of the bride Skylar Barnhardt of Salisbury as bride and nephew of the groom Lucas Johnson of Harrisburg as groom. – Logan Johnson of Harrisburg, nephew of the groom, served as ring bearer. – Guest registrars were cousins of the bride Miss Kayla Baker and Mrs. Emily Harless. – The bride is the daughter of Ms. Judy Burris of Rockwell and Mr. Johnny Burris of China Grove. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Baker of Kannapolis and great-niece of Bessie Stirewalt of Rockwell. A 2001 graduate of South Rowan High School, Jennifer earned a degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2005 and will receive her MHA and MBA from Pfeiffer University in December. She is employed by Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. – The groom is the son of Ms. Christine Beaulieu of Debary, Fla., and Mr. Harold Johnson of Harrisburg. He is the grandson of Ms. Dorothy Johnson of Harrisburg and Ms. Alice Beaulieu of Debary. A 2000 graduate of Deltona High School, Bradley is a student at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, where he is studying mechanical engineering. He is employed by Hendrick Motorsports. – Following a wedding trip to the Mayan Riviera, the couple will make their home in Salisbury. – – Dolan – Canup Wedding – – Danielle Nichole Dolan and Joshua Caleb Canup were united in marriage Oct. 17, 2009, at the home of Paul and Crystal Canup in Salisbury. The Rev. William Ketchie officiated the 4 p.m. ceremony, which was followed by a reception at Salisbury Station. – The bride was escorted by her father, Daniel Dolan. Attending as matron of honor was Mrs. Carla Wilson Coley of Albemarle. Bridesmaids included Ms. Casey Lehman of Dixon, Ill., Ms. Sayre Froelich of Charlotte, Ms. Rachael Traylor of Greensboro and Ms. Stacy Galante of Seattle, Wash. – Mr. Jon Cerny of Seattle was best man. Serving as groomsmen were brother of the bride Mr. Jacob Melton of Charlotte, Mr. Stephen Robinson and Mr. Nick Gregory of Salisbury and Mr. Matt Kuehler of St. Louis, Mo. – Miss Adelynn Coppotelli of Dixon, niece of the bride, was flower girl. Mr. Kaden Coppotelli and Mr. Conner Coppotelli, nephews of the bride of Dixon, were ring bearers. – Music for the ceremony was by pianist and vocalist Sarah Hicks of Charlotte, sister of the groom. – The bride is the daughter of Daniel and Jan Dolan of Salisbury and the granddaughter of Clarence and Esther Dolan of Rockford, Ill., and Pauline Campbell of Dixon. A 2004 graduate of Salisbury High School, Danielle is a student at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she is majoring in Nutrition and Chemistry. She is employed by Sur la Table in Greensboro. – The groom is the son of Paul and Crystal Canup and the grandson of Harley and Mae Canup and Virginia Swindell, all of Salisbury. A 2003 graduate of Salisbury High School, Joshua received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 2008 and a Bachelors of Architecture in 2009 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is employed by Alfred C. Wilson Inc. – Following a wedding trip to Lake Nantahala, the couple are making their home in Salisbury. – – Dry 40th Anniversary – – Robert Julian Dry and Mae Hamilton Dry of Rockwell celebrated their 40th anniversary Nov. 14, 2009. Their celebration included a family trip earlier in the summer to Disney World and a cruise to the Bahamas with their sons, Robert II?(Rob) and Joseph (Jody); daughter-in-law Brandy; grandsons Trey, Jayten and Harley; and family friends Krishna and Sierra Lail. – The Drys were married Nov. 14, 1969, in South Carolina. Robert retired after 38 years with Fiber Industries, and Mae has been employed 27 years with Rowan Regional Medical Center. – They also plan a trip in December to the PRCA National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev. – – Hill Birth – – Luke Abram Hill was born Nov. 6, 2009, at Rowan Regional Medical Center. He weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz., and was 20 in. long. – Luke is the son of Kristina Poole Hill and Christopher Michael Hill of Salisbury. He has two brothers, Blake Michael Hill, 4, and Tyler Christopher Hill, 2. – His grandparents are Rickey and Jenny Poole and Mike and Carol Hill, all of Salisbury. – His great-grandparents are Ethel and the late Oddis Poole Sr. of Salisbury, Clyde and Betty Hill of China Grove, the late Rubie and William Charles and the late Lee and Esther Miller. – – Kesler Promoted – – Steven C. ěHankî Kesler of Moyock, formerly of Gold Hill, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer with the United States Navy during a pinning ceremony held Sept. 19, 2009, in Washington, D.C. – A 1990 graduate of East Rowan High School, Kesler is the son of Larry and Sherrill Kesler of Gold Hill and is married to the former Donna Askins. Their children are Elizabeth, Grant, Kristin, Taylor and Meagan. – Stationed in Washington, D.C., Kesler has served our country for 19 years. – – Lowery – Culler Engagement – – Jerry and Marla Lowery of Spencer are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Donna Michelle ěMoî Lowery, to Kenneth Charles ěK.C.î Culler of Tobaccoville. – The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late John Joe Eller of Salisbury, the late Juanita Cranfield of Salisbury and the late Mr. and Mrs. Lodie Lowery of John?son City, Tenn. Mo is a 1999 graduate of Sheets Memorial Christian School in Lexington and graduated from Pfeiffer University in Misen?heimer in 2003. She is employed by Dr. Tina S. Merhoff, DDS, Winston-Salem. – The future groom is the son of Kenneth L. Culler and Jan Mont?gomery-Culler, both of Tobacco?ville. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Rober Lawrence Culler of Tobaccoville and Mr. and Mrs. Hassell Arnold Montgomery of Tobaccoville. A 1996 graduate of North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, K.C. graduated from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee in 2000 with a bachelorís degree and Appalachian State University in Boone in 2003 with a masterís degree. He is employed by North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem and the City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department and is a game-day worker for the Wake Forest University Athletic Media Relations office. – The wedding is Dec. 12 at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury. – – Murphy – Sims Engagement – – Brian and Lorraine Murphy of Cary are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Olivia Murphy, to Matthew Sims, both of Raleigh. Matthew is the son of Joan Sims of Cary and Joseph Lon and Janet Sims of Salisbury. – The wedding is planned for Dec. 12 in Salisbury.   – – Van Coverden – Black Wedding – – ALEXANDRIA, Va. ó Emily Van Coverden and Paul Ritchie Black were united in marriage June 20, 2009, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Pastor Lowell Schuetze officiated the 4 oíclock p.m. ceremony, which was followed by a reception at The Springfield Country Club. – The bride was escorted by her father, Paul Van Coverden, and attended by her sisters, Alison Van Coverden of Alexandria as maid of honor and Carolyn Smith of Clarksburg, Md., as matron of honor. Her bridesmaids were Michele Sager of Jessup, Md., Sara Poole of Wilmington, N.C., and Amanda Moss of Raleigh, N.C. – The groom chose his brother, Robert Black of Salisbury, N.C., as his best man. Groomsmen included Carlos Dixon of Salisbury,?Jordan Bretz and Cass Jarrett of Wilmington and Nathan Woodburn of Raleigh. Ushers were Todd Smith of Clarksburg, James Supple of Alexandria and Chris Duhaime of Reston, Va. – Serving as flower girls were Morgen and Rylen Smith, nieces of the bride. Godmother of the groom Deana Trexler of Salisbury did a special reading of I Corinthians 13:4-8a. – The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Cheryl Van Coverden of Alexandria and the granddaughter of the late Wilfred and Virginia Van Coverden and the late Norman and Grace Maeder. A 2000 graduate of Bowie High School, Emily received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from East Carolina University in 2004 and her master degree in Elementary Education from Regent University. She is a kindergarten teacher at Mount Vernon Elementary School in Alexandria. – The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. and Betty Black of Salisbury and the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hess and the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ritchie Black. A 1999 graduate of North Rowan High School, Paul received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from East Carolina University in 2004. He is an Account Executive with The Merchandiser Newspaper in Chantilly, Va. – Following a two-week wedding trip to Jamaica, the couple are making their home in Alexandria.  –