Finding a specific tribute in the local paper shouldn't feel like a chore, but honestly, if you’re looking for Stanly News and Press obituaries, you’ve probably realized that the digital trail is a bit more tangled than a simple Google search suggests. It’s not just about clicking a link. It's about knowing where the paper's 140-year history actually lives.
A lot of people think everything is just "on the website." It isn't.
Since the recent merger on May 1, 2025, where the Stanly News & Press joined forces with the Stanly County Journal to become the Stanly News Journal, things have shifted. If you’re hunting for a notice from 1985, you’re looking in a completely different place than if you’re trying to find a service time for this coming Saturday in Albemarle.
The Reality of Searching Stanly News and Press Obituaries Today
Most folks start at thesnaponline.com. That’s the logical home base.
For recent passing notices—say, within the last couple of years—this is your best bet. The paper partners with Legacy.com, which means the "Obits" tab on their main site is basically a portal. You can find people like Amanda Gail Kiker, who passed in late 2025, or Bonnie Sue Blackburn from Oakboro. These listings are permanent. They don't expire after 30 days like some old-school digital archives used to.
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But here is the kicker.
If you are doing genealogy, the modern website is basically useless for anything older than the mid-2000s. You need the deep archives. For that, you have to pivot to specialized databases like GenealogyBank or the Stanly County NCGenWeb project.
Why the Name Changes Matter
The paper has lived a dozen lives. It started as The Second Century back in 1880. Then it was the Stanly News-Herald. Then the Albemarle Press. Finally, in December 1929, the Stanly News and Press as we knew it for nearly a century was born.
Why do you care? Because if you’re searching an archive and only type in "Stanly News and Press," you might miss forty years of family history filed under the News-Herald banner.
How to Actually Find an Old Obituary
Don't just type a name and hit enter. You'll get 5,000 results for "Smith" in North Carolina.
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- Use Initials: In the early 20th century, the paper often listed men by initials (e.g., J.W. Smith) and women by their husband's name (Mrs. J.W. Smith).
- Location Keywords: Add "Badin," "Locust," or "Norwood" to the search string.
- The 25-Word Tease: Some archives, like the Legacy search tool for older SNAP records, let you see the first 25 words for free. It’s usually enough to know if you’ve found the right person before you pay for a full scan.
Honestly, the Stanly County Public Library in Albemarle is still the "secret" weapon. They keep microfilm. If the digital OCR (the tech that reads the old newsprint) fails because the original paper was wrinkled or the ink faded, the microfilm is the only way to see the actual page.
Posting a Notice: Costs and Hurdles
If you’re the one having to place a notice, it’s a heavy time. It's also a bit expensive.
Currently, placing a notice in the paper starts around $33 to $38, but that's for a very basic "death notice." A full obituary with a photo and a life story—the kind people actually clip and save—usually runs by the "column inch."
- Short obits (under 11.75 inches): Roughly $38.50 per inch.
- Longer tributes (12 inches or more): Around $36.50 per inch.
You can do this yourself via the online intake tool on their website, but most people just let the funeral home handle it. Stanly Funeral Home or Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle usually have a direct line to the SNAP advertising department. They handle the formatting, ensure the death is verified (the paper won't print a notice without proof from a mortuary or a death certificate), and add the cost to your final bill.
Pro tip: If you're writing it yourself, double-check the spelling of the great-grandchildren. It’s the #1 reason people call the paper for a correction on Monday morning.
The Digital Shift in Stanly County
The community is tight-knit. Even though the paper has evolved into the Stanly News Journal under publisher Neal Robbins, the "obits" remain the most-read section.
In a world of Facebook and instant updates, the Stanly News and Press obituaries still serve as the official record of record. It’s how the county says goodbye. Whether it’s a service at Durham Springs Missionary Baptist or a memorial at the Salvation Army in Concord, the notice in the SNAP is the "official" word.
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Actionable Steps for Your Search
- For recent deaths (2019–2026): Go directly to the "Obits" section on
thesnaponline.com. - For genealogy (1880–2010): Use GenealogyBank or visit the Albemarle branch of the Stanly County Public Library.
- For submission: Contact the paper at (704) 982-2121 or email their obituary desk. If you're using a funeral home, ask them specifically for a "print and digital" package so it ends up on Legacy.com permanently.
Searching for a loved one is emotional. Finding the record shouldn't be the hard part. By knowing the name changes and the specific archive locations, you can cut through the digital noise and find the tribute you're looking for.