Many Arledge cousins--all descendants of Greenberry Arledge's son John Pinkney Arledge and his wife Lizzie Ann Rucker--gathered between Mill Springs and Columbus, NC on a hot August afternoon to celebrate the life of cousin, uncle, father and husband, the late Sgt. William Dean Arledge. Dean Arledge served as a member of the NC State Highway Patrol from 1951 until October 5, 1974, when he was shot and killed in the line of duty.

On August 16, 2000, the NC Board of Transportation held a dedication ceremony naming U.S. Highway 74 from Interstate 26 to N.C. 9 in Polk County the Sgt. W. Dean Arledge Memorial Highway. A reception followed at Columbus Baptist Church, where Dean Arledge and many of his family members are laid to rest.

Dean Arledge's widow, Edna Earle Garrison Arledge, and her grandson Austin Long, at the podium during the tribute to the late Sgt. Dean Arledge.

The unveiling of the Sgt. W. Dean Arledge Memorial Highway sign, by (from L) NC Secretary of Transportation David McCoy, Edna Earle Arledge, Austin Long and Charlotte Ann Arledge Long. Edna Earle and Charlotte live in Asheville, NC, while Austin lives in Atlanta, GA.
 

Fred Arledge, his nephew Bill Arledge, Jr., his brother Bill Arledge, Sr, and Bill Sr's daughter Jayne Arledge. Fred lives in Lynn Haven, Florida; Bill and Bill Jr. live in Asheville, NC, and Jayne lives in Traveler's Rest, SC.
 

(L) Brothers Curtis Arledge (of Cornelius, NC) and Lawrence Arledge (of Dallas, TX)
(R) Cousins Lawrence Arledge and Janice Thomas (of Surfside Beach, SC).

Ruth (Mrs. Allen) Arledge of Asheville, NC; Diane and Curtis Arledge of Cornelius, NC, and Tom Arledge of Tryon, NC.

(L) Jervis Arledge of Rutherfordton, NC; Lawrence Arledge of Dallas, TX; and Jervis' wife Rubye.
(R) Tom and Anne Arledge of Tryon, NC; Norma Arledge Gaut of Columbus, NC, and Norma's daughter Janice Thomas of Surfside Beach, SC.
 

Charlotte Ann Arledge Long and her mother Edna Earle.
 

(L) Jervis Arledge or Rutherfordton, NC and Tom Arledge or Tryon, NC. Cousin Lib Waldrop is in center background.
(R) Ruth Bostick Arledge, widow of Allen Arledge, of Asheville, NC, and her son Lawrence Arledge of Dallas, TX.