Candace "Candy" Michele Toomes

CLIMAX — Candace Michele “Candy” Mashburn Toomes of 3705 Lilliewood Lane, Climax, died at her home early Sunday morning on her 43rd birthday. Her death ended 4 years of pain and discomfort resulting from an automobile accident in May, 2007.

Funeral services will be at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4211 Wayne Road, on Friday, December 9, at 3 p.m. A reception will follow in the church parish hall.

Candy’s career included time as a news photographer for the Hickory Daily Record and the Asheboro Tribune. She later worked on her own as a commercial photographer. She also worked for a time at the AMP Inc. plant in Winston Salem.

She was born on December 4, 1968, in Greensboro and grew up in Randolph County after her parents moved to the Whites Chapel Community. She graduated from Eastern Randolph High School and received a degree in photography from Randolph Community College.

On February 17, 2007 she married a longtime friend, Rick Toomes, who survives. She also is survived by stepsons, Aaron and Nick Toomes; her parents, Ronny K. and Penny C. Mashburn; her parents-in-law, Sidney and Jenny Toomes of Grays Chapel; her brother-in-law Sidney Toomes, Jr. of Greer, S.C.; her maternal grandmother, Gaynell Mashburn of Nantahala; her paternal grandfather and step-grandmother, Henry L. and Ruth Coble of Greensboro; her aunts, Nancy C. Stowe of Gastonia and Gerri K. Coble of Bridgeville, DE; her uncle, Paul A. “Tony” Coble of Greensboro; and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A great love of her life was of animals, especially cats, of which she raised several litters of pure bred Himalayans.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Humane Society of the Piedmont at 4527 W. Wendover Ave. or to a similar organization of the donor’s choice.

Hanes Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel is assisting the Toomes family