Obituaries from the Appalachian News-Express, Pike Co. ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net Transcribed by: Gloria R. gloriag@iwaynet.net Date: Feb 1999 *********************************************************************** February 12, 1999 Willie L. Blackmon, 77, of Wheelwright, died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital. She was born in Jenkins, May 4, 1921, a daughter of the late Eugene Sr. and Julia Ann Johnson Lewis. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God, M.P.G. of T., Pikeville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Felmon P. Blackmon. She is survived by two sisters, Flora Mac Cavanaugh of Atlanta and Gertrude Tyson of Wheelwright. Funeral services were held at noon Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Church of God, M.P.G. of T. in Pikeville, with Eugene Layne Jr. and Ronald Terry officiating. Burial followed in Davidson Memorial Gardens at Ivel. Arrangements were under direction of Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home of Martin. Anna B. Johnson, 64, of Prestonsburg, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg. She was born in Pike County, June 17, 1934, a daughter of the late Corbit and Dona Cole Caudill. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Johnson. She is survived by six sons, Virgil Ray Johnson, Martin Eli Johnson, Johnny Johnson, and Dennis Johnson, all of Prestonsburg, Ronald C. Johnson of Newton, N.C., Willie Johnson of Weeksbury; two daughters, Jeanette Shepherd of David and Angela Helton of Auxier; one brother, Roman Caudill of Wheelwright; 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Bennie Blankenship Officiating. Burial will follow in the Buckingham Cemetery at Bevinsville. Arrangements are under direction of Hall Funeral Home of Martin. America Hall, 74, of Galveston, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at her home. She was born in Pike County, Oct. 3, 1924, a daughter of the late Noah and Mary Alice Hamilton Hall. She was a homemaker and a member of the Little Rachel Old Regular Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Hall. She is survived by six sons, Alex Hall, Melvin Hall, Charles Hall, Kenis Hall, Billy Jean Hall, and Vernis Gene Hall, all of Galveston; three daughters, Pearl Hamilton of Beaver, Becky May Hamilton of Teaberry, Minnie Hall of Galveston; three brothers, Alex Hall of Galveston, Pat Hall and Ermal hall, both of Virgie; one sister, Rosie Marrow of Galveston; 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Little Rachel Old Regular Baptist Church with Jack Akers, Roger Hicks, Jason Lowery and Ellis Holbrook officiating. Burial will follow in the Hall Family Cemetery, Pigeon Roost, Galveston. Arrangements are under direction of Hall Funeral Home of Martin. The next obituary has a picture with it -- Glen Bishop Jr. Glen Bishop Jr., 46, of Collins Highway, died at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Jenkins Community Hospital, Jenkins. He was born in Pike County, June 17, 1952, a son of Ruby Damron Bishop of Collins Highway and the late Ollie James Bishop. He was a drill operator for Branham & Baker Coal Co., and a member of the Jaycees. He is survived by one son, Terry Mitchell Bishop of Pikeville; two brothers, James E. Bishop of Collins Highway and Perry Bishop of Slones Branch; and two sisters, Marie Smith of Collins Highway and Phyllis Adkins of Chloe Road. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Jack Horne and others officiating. Burial will follow in Johnson Memorial Park, Pikeville. Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Lurlie Marie Thacker Thompson, 58, of Virgie, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. She was born July 7, 1940, a daughter of the late Mike and Gurtie Smith Thacker. She was a homemaker. She is survived by two sons, Jimmy Ray Thompson of Virgie and Brian Keith Thompson of Elkhorn City; two daughters, Janet Donathan of Virgie, Rae Lynn Newcomb of Shelbiana, Patricia Gail Trivette of Island Creek; three brothers, Clifton Thacker and Robert E. Thacker, both of Upper Chloe Creek, John Paul Thacker of Helena, Ohio; five sisters, Ersie Billiter of Lower Chloe Creek, Lillian Gail Thacker of Virgie, Patty Thompson of Robinson Creek, Justine Rogers and Jean Thompson, both of Upper Chloe Creek; and 11 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Thacker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with James R. Thompson and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Justice Cemetery at Ivy Fork, Chloe Creek. Arrangements are under direction of Thacker Memorial Funeral Home of Pikeville. Raymond Adkins, 70, of Blaine, formerly of Ransom, died Monday, Feb. 8, 1999, at the Three Rivers Medical Center in Louisa. He was born in Pike County, Sept. 7, 1928, a son of the late Perry and Laura Coleman Adkins. He was a retired coal miner and truck contractor. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Blackburn Adkins. He is survived by his wife, Linda Ratliff Adkins; four sons, Richard Adkins, Darrell Adkins and Timothy Adkins, all of McCarr, Wetzel Adkins of Ransom; three daughters, Sue (Mrs. Eugene) Lockard and Teresa (Mrs. Tommy) Wolford, both of Ransom, Melissa Adkins of the home; two brothers, Tom Adkins of Pikeville and Gene Adkins of Pocahontas, Va.; three sisters, Mary Fields of Pikeville, Unis Adkins of Gulfport, Fla., Betty Patterson of Bienna, Ohio; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Hatfield Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Emory Varney officiating. Burial followed in the Adkins-Ratliff Cemetery at Ransom. Arrangements were under direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler. Jennifer Crickmer Baker, 51, of Stanford, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford. She was born in Beckley, W.Va., Nov. 30, 1947, a daughter of the late Walter Crickmer and Mary Agnes Hughes Crickmer of Bluefield, Va. She was a graduate of Pikeville High School and the University of Kentucky, a former elementary school teacher, bookkeeper for Rankin, Baker & Teater Law Office, chairwoman of Lincoln County Junior Miss, and a member of the Stanford Christian Church. Besides her mother, she is survived by her husband, Robert R. Baker; one son, Jonathan Baker of Stanford; one daughter, Stephanie Baker of Washington, D.C.; and one brother, Walter B. Crickmer III of Abingdon, Va. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Stanford Christian Church with the Rev. Steven Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Buffalo Springs Cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of Fox Funeral Home of Stanford. Memorials may be made to Lincoln County Junior Miss Jennifer Baker Scholarship Fund, c/o Stuart Underwood, 535 Springview Dr., Stanford, Ky. 40484; or Christian Church Children's Home, Danville. Gobel Adkins, 60, of Fords Branch, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pike County, March 3, 1938, a son of the late Vince Adkins and Lula Adams. He was retired. He is survived by his wife, Arlene Adkins; one son, Steven Adkins of Fords Branch; one daughter, Berniadean Dotson of Broad Bottom; three brothers, Fred Adkins and Dot Adkins, both of Fords Branch, Ballard Adkins of Shelbiana; three sisters, Lorraine Tackett of Michigan, Peggy Bray of Fords Branch, Verlie "Jean" Goble of Powells Creek; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Justice Chapel with Allen Thacker officiating and burial following in the Dan Adkins Cemetery at Fords Branch. Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville. Wilson Newsom, 66, of Jonancy, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at his home. He was born in Pike County, April 19, 1932, a son of Hazel Newsome and the late Duran Newsom. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the Church of Christ. He is survived by his mother, Hazel Newsom; two sons, Charles W. Newsom and Roger Darrell Newsom of Paintsville, Pa.; two daughters, Glenda Lowe of Shelby Gap and Karen S. West of Caney Highway; one brother, Jesse Newsom of Pikeville; two sisters, Bertha Scott of Pikeville and Lillie Branham of Milton, W.Va.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Justice Chapel with Monroe Jones, Carson Wright and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Newsome Branch Cemetery on Penny Road. Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville. Wade Coleman Jr., 46, of Sunshine Lane, Kimper, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pike County, Jan. 29, 1953, a son of Martha Jettie Smith of Ransom and the late Wade Coleman Sr. He was a truck driver formerly employed by J&M Trucking, Meta. Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife, Carolyn May Coleman; one brother, Bruce Coleman of Ransom; two sisters, Martha (Mrs. Douglas) Varney of Ransom and Claudia (Mrs. James) Maynard of Stone; and one half-brother, James Earl Thompson of Belleville, Ill. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Samaria Primitive Baptist Church at Ransom with Mike Smith, Paul Varney and Raymond Stanley officiating. Burial will follow in the Smith Cemetery at Ransom. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. Barbara Jean Harrison, 60, of Sidney, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at the Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, W.Va. She was born at Hatfield, Aug. 1, 1938, a daughter of the late Cecil and Anna Artrip Blevins. She was a homemaker and a member of the Antioch United Baptist Church at Wolf Creek. She is survived by her husband, John B. Harrison; three sons, John L. Harrison of Sidney, Scott Harrison and Matt Harrison, both of Floyd, Va.; seven daughters, Dixie Stacy, Debbie Farris and Mary Frances Ruckerd, all of Hatfield, Sherrie Maynard of Black Log, Nancy Dials of Floyd, Jackie Farmer of Grundy, Va., Loretta Rumburg of Check, Va.; Five brothers, George Blevins of Tomahawk, Johnny Blevins of Warfield, David Blevins, Daniel Blevins and Darrell Blevins, all of Hatfield; five sisters, Louise Harrison and Carolyn Runyon, both of Martin County, Anna Mae Blankenship and Minnie Harrison, both of Hatfield, Tootsie Jude of Lovely; and 16 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Mary Elizabeth Regular Baptist Church at Hatfield with Tom Stepp, Quincy Stroud and Darrell Damron officiating. Burial will follow in the Fraley Cemetery at Hatfield. Arrangements are under direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler. February 17, 1999 Gladys Mateles, 86, of Kingsport, Tenn., died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Holston Valley Medical Center, Kingsport. She was born in Pikeville, a daughter of the late Simon and Myrtle Slone. She was co-owner of Matty's Dress Shop. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gabriel G. Mateles. She is survived by one son, James Kendrick of Kingsport; one sister, Beatrice Allen of Ashland; and one grandson. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Oak Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Mullins officiating. Arrangements are under direction of Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home of Kingsport. Jarrett M. Wood, 81, of Alderson, W.Va., formerly of Pikeville and Ashland, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Fairlea, W.Va. He was born at Winona, Minn., Feb. 18, 1917, a son of the late John Malcolm and Vivian Jarrett Wood. He retired as division manager of Kentucky Power Company in Pikeville in 1978; was president of the Lonesome Pine Council, Boy Scouts of America; Pikeville Rotary Club president; Pike County Chamber of Commerce president; Pikeville College trustee; a World War II Army Air Force veteran; member of Pikeville Presbyterian Church and Alderson Presbyterian Church, and served on many church and civic committees throughout his life. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Jarrett M. Wood III. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Bryant Wood; one son, Jarrett M. Wood Jr. of Paintsville; one sister, Virginia Wood McLaughlin of Alderson; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Following cremation, graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Gwinn Memorial Cemetery in Alderson with the Rev. Stewart McMurray and Rev. BillyReed Wickline officiating. Arrangements are under direction of Lobban Funeral Home Inc. of Alderson. Memorials may be made to the Alderson Ministerial Association, 507 N. Monroe St., Alderson, W.Va. 24910, Davis Stuart Inc., Lewisburg, W.Va., or the Pikeville College Student Fund, Pikeville, Ky. 41501. Eunice Bishop, 74, of Lick Creek, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born in Pike County, Jan. 9, 1925, a daughter of the late Bud and Kanzada Sayers Short. She was a store merchant. She is survived by her husband, Tulie Bishop; one son, Teddy Bishop of Lick Creek; one daughter, Vicki Bishop Reynolds of Lick Creek; two brothers, Paul Short of Nashville, Tenn., and Brack Short of Belcher; two sisters, Loretta Williams of Lick Creek and Mary Lou Gunter of Lancaster, S.C.; and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the Lick Creek Holiness Church with Elmer Davis officiating. Entombment will follow in the J.U. Thacker Memorial Mausoleum at Annie E. Young Cemetery, East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. Earnest Brad Adkins, 57, of Ashcamp, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999. He was born in Pikeville, Sept. 30, 1941, a son of the late Jesse James and Roxie Raines Adkins. He was a retired self-employed carpenter. He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Ann Adkins and Diana Lyn Smith, both of Ashcamp; one brother, Vinton Adkins of Mouthcard; three sisters, Imal May of Zebulon, Rubby Hatfield and Dewey Martin, both of Hardy; and three grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Rebecca Old Regular Baptist Church with Orbin May and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Annie E. Young Cemetery at East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Darling Newsome, 77, of Robinson Creek, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, at his home. He was born at Indian Creek, April 20, 1921, a son of the late Johnny and Sarah Bridgeman Newsome. He was a retired coal miner formerly employed by Island Creek Coal Company. He is survived by his wife, Virginia (Newsome) Newsome; five sons, Virnel Newsome of Arkansas City, Kan., Lester Newsome of London, Ohio, Vester Newsome of New Albany, Ohio, Chester Newsome and Elster Newsome, both of Pikeville; three daughters, Juanita Smith of Ray City, Ga., Hester Hannah of Pikeville, Shirley Newsome of London; one brother, Junior Newsome of Ohio; two sisters, Ethel Hampton and Maxie Tackett, both of Robinson Creek; 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Caney Old Regular Baptist Church with Kermit Wright, Dewey Roberts and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Annie E. Young Cemetery, East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday. George Lacy Williamson, 71, of Pikeville, died at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, at his home. He was born in Pike County, July 28, 1927, a son of the late Hiram Floyd and Bess Stepp Williamson. He was retired from Citizens Bank (now Star Bank) where he served as president, was a member of the Pikeville Kiwanis Club, served on the boards of directors of Pikeville College and Pikeville Methodist Hospital, was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, and a member of the Pikeville United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by one brother, Wallace Williamson. He is survived by his wife, Biddie Elizabeth Worley Williamson; and two daughters, Diana Newsome of Morristown, Tenn., and Carol Williamson of Lexington. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Pikeville United Methodist Church with James Crit Stratton and Jerry Stanley officiating. Burial will follow in the Williamson Family Cemetery, Turkey Creek. Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Memorials may be made to the Pikeville United Methodist Church. David Jackie Bowen, 51, of Williamson, W.Va., died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, at the South Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital. He was born in Williamson, Jan. 12, 1948, a son of Millard Bowen of Williamson and the late Minnie Ross Bowen. Besides his father, he is survived by three brothers, Nickie Bowen and Kenneth Ricky Bowen, both of Williamson, Donnie Bowen of Buckhannon, W.Va.; two sisters, Nancy Bowen of Statesville, N.C., and Shirley Bowen of Pikeville. Graveside services were held Monday, Feb. 16, at Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher, W.Va., with Dr. Allen Shouse officiating. Arrangements were under direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler. Cathy Hibbitts Eule, 45, of Hallendale, Fla., died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, following a sudden illness. She was born in Pikeville, Dec. 24, 1953, a daughter of Harold Hibbitts of North Carolina and the late Betty Sue Arnold Hibbitts. She graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in mathematics and communications. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Eule; two children, Adam and Erin; one brother, Kenneth Hibbitts of Hallendale; and three sisters, Paula, of Morehead, and Lisa and Cynthia, both of Hollywood, Fla. Memorial services will be held Friday, Feb. 19, at the Robert Greaver Funeral Home in Hallendale. Steven Keith Ward, 42, of Majestic, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at his home. He was born Sept. 27, 1956, a son of Danny and Bernice Hurley of Majestic. He was a disabled coal miner and was of the Presbyterian faith. Besides his parents, he is survived by one son, Steven Bryan Keith Ward of South Williamson; one brother, Tony Ward of Cynthiana; two nieces and two nephews. Funeral services were held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Phelps Funeral Home Chapel with DeWitt Furrow officiating. Burial followed in the Buddy Mounts Cemetery, Sand Siding. Arrangements were under direction of Phelps Funeral Services of Phelps. Omer "Buster" Hopkins, 76, of Greasy Creek, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pike County, Oct. 6, 1922, a son of the late Ance and Roxie Riley Hopkins. He was a retired coal miner, a member of United Mine Workers of America, a volunteer fireman, and a World War II Army veteran. He is survived by his wife, Marie Powell Hopkins; four sons, Kenneth Hopkins of Rocky Road, James Hopkins, Robert Hopkins and Richard Hopkins, all of Greasy Creek; four daughters, Mildred Coleman, Janice Hill and Sherry Thacker, all of Greasy Creek, Gina Ray of Rocky Road; one brother, Arthur Hopkins of Ohio; one sister, Gerlean Hopkins of Greasy Creek; 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Morris Chapel with Jimmy Jack Adkins officiating. Burial followed in Annie E. Young Cemetery, East Shelbiana. Arrangements were under direction of Justice Funeral Services-Morris Chapel of Justiceville. Martha Ann "Bootie" Hager Smith, 53, of Ransom, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. She was born Feb. 26, 1945, a daughter of the late Russell and Emma Whaley Hager. She is survived by her husband, Landon Smith; one son, Chad Smith of Winchester; three daughters, Lana Blankenship and Tammi Jones, both of Ransom, Susan Coleman of Raccoon; three brothers, Charlie Hager of Columbus, Ohio, Melvin Hager of Michigan City, Ind., George Hager of New Buffalo, Mich.; five sisters, Viola Slone of Louisa, Faye Maynard of Elizabethtown, Brenda Hatfield of New Buffalo, Delores Jean McNeal and Rita Akers, both of Columbus; and ive grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at the Samaria Primitive Baptist Church with Franklin Mounts, Mike Smith, J.C. Hager and other Primitive Baptist ministers officiating. Burial followed in the Willie Jake Hager Cemetery, Ransom. Arrangements were under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Robert Lee Thacker, 70, of Piketon, Ohio, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at the Pleasant Hill Manor Nursing Home in Piketon. He was born in Pike County, March 26, 1928, a son of the late Martin and Lozzie Smith Thacker. He was a former coal miner and retired from the N&W Railroad. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Patricia Ann Thacker. He is survived by two sons, Roger Lee Thacker and Larry Jo Thacker, both of Minford, Ohio; one daughter, Regina Whitt of Minford; two brothers, Oskar Thacker and Arthur Thacker, both of Sidney; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Elmer Thacker officiating. Burial will follow in the family cemetery at Canada. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Nellie Mae Hunt, 74, of Belfry, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at her home. She was born at Rawl, W.Va., March 15, 1924, a daughter of the late Columbus Gillman and Liddie Kitchen. She was a homemaker and a member of the Rockhouse Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Hunt; and one daughter, Deanna Lee Hunt. She is survived by her stepmother, Enos Gillman; two sons, Douglas Hunt of Wauconda, Ill., and Woody Hunt of Des Plains, Ill.; eight daughters, Dorothy Katalinas and Geraldine Bowens, both of Belfry, Jean Hunt of Los Angeles, Sue Smith of Sidney, Brenda Bailey of Fort Gay, W.Va., Janet Chafins of Louisa, Delcie Chafins of Orlando, Fla., Joann Bevins of Hatfield; one brother, Frank Gillman of Springfield, Ohio; five half-brothers, Robert Gillman, Tom Gillman, Charles Gillman, Dennis Gillman and Richard Gillman; four half-sisters, Della M. Boyer, Doris Grough, Loulla Knerr, Juanita Duncan; 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel, with Charles Thompson and Lewis Hall officiating. Burial followed in the Hunt Cemetery at Hardy. Arrangements were under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Nyoka Fields Burgess, 41, of Peter Fork Road, McCarr, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at the Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va. She was born in Pike County, Aug. 18, 1957, a daughter of Lillie Duty Fields of McCarr and the late Opal Fields Sr. She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. Besides her mother, she is survived by her husband, Lonnie Joe Burgess; two daughters, Rebecca Mitchen of McCarr and Carlena Burgess of the home; three brothers, Ravin Fields Sr. of Norwalk, Ohio, Opal Fields Jr. of Vermillion, Ohio, Terry Fields of McCarr; and one sister, Josephine Hager of McCarr. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Raven Fields Jr., Raven Fields Sr. and Opal Fields Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the family cemetery at McCarr. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Frank Coleman, 53, of Shelbiana, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pike County, May 4, 1945, a son of Lee and Josie Hopkins Coleman. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Old Regular Baptist Church at Greasy Creek. He is survived by his wife, Helen Coleman; two daughters, Nichole Coleman and Valerie Coleman, both of Shelbiana; two brothers, Carl Coleman of Ohio and Orville Coleman of Shelbiana; and six sisters, Jettie Fern Newsome of Virgie, Hazel Ray, Lois May, Ocie Thacker, and June Tackett, all of Shelbiana, and Gladys Slone of Pikeville. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, in the Justice Chapel with Orbin May, Edward Spears and others officiating. Burial followed in the Coleman Cemetery at Greasy Creek. Arrangements were under direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville. Myrl Hazel Rowe Damron, 86, of Douglas Parkway, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born in Pike County, March 9, 1912, a daughter of the late Lawrence and Ethel Whitaker Rowe. She was a homemaker and a member of the Old Union Regular Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Damron; one son, Arnold Ratliff; and one daughter, Kansada Marie Ratliff. She is survived by one sister, Myrtle Potter of Robinson Creek; two grandchildren, Vonda Coburn and Sharon Rowe; and three great-grandchildren, Anita Tackett, Steve Brown and Johana Compton. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Lucas & Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Carson Wright, Kermit Wright, Ted Honaker and James Tackett officiating and burial following in the Potter Cemetery at Yeager. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Alberta Osborne Ray, 75, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly of Pikeville, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. She was born in Pikeville, March 23, 1923, a daughter of the late Monroe and Kate Osborne. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Ray. She is survived by two sons, Glenn Ray of Columbus and Paul Ray of Richmond, Va.; two brothers, Thomas Osborne of Robinson Creek and Edgar Osborne of Virgie; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday, Feb. 18, in the Lucas & Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Tommy DeHart officiating and entombment following in the O.T. Hinton Mausoleum at Johnson Memorial Park, Pikeville. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Sylvia Grace Taylor Dodge, 69, of Hammond, Ind., died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at the William J. Riley Memorial Residence in Munster, Ind. She was born at Feds Creek, March 16, 1929, a daughter of the late Charlie and Lillie Green Taylor. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Norman Dodge; one son, Larry Sarget of Indiana; one daughter, Dawn Martin of Talazuah, Okla.; two brothers, Charles Taylor of Lapeer, Mich., and Earl S. Taylor of Brooksville, Fla.; two sisters, Mildred McGuire of Pikeville and Helen Warner of Lapeer; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the Lucas & Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Church of Christ ministers officiating and burial following in the Blackburn Cemetery, Raccoon Creek Road. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Enos Roberts, 72, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., formerly of Caney Creek, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, in Myrtle Beach. He was the son of the late Hatler and Myra Roberts. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Roberts; one daughter, Bonnie Aders of Myrtle Beach; two brothers, Richard Roberts of Kingsport, Tenn., and James Clyde Roberts of Murrells Inlet, S.C.; and one sister, Imogene Mullins of Virgie. Memorial services were held Sunday, Feb. 14, in Myrtle Beach. Obituary compliments of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of Virgie. Billy P. Rutherford, 72, of Sebring, Fla., died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, in Sebring. He was born in Pikeville and worked as a coal miner until moving to Bradenton; and was a member of Life and Praise Ministries of Sebring. He was preceded in death by his wife, Florrain Rutherford. He is survived by one son, Thomas N. Rutherford of Tulsa, Okla.; three daughters, Lorraine Justice of Orlando, Fla., Paulette Barrett of Sebring, Anneta Ollis of Melbourne, Fla.; one sister, Grace Elliott of Frankfort; seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Stephenson-Nelson Chapel with the Rev. Floyd Holland and Pastor James Cobb officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery at Arcadia, Fla. Arrangements are under direction of Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Sebring. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Ersel Ratliff, 71, of Mooresburg, Tenn., died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at Fort Sanders Regional Hospital, Knoxville, Tenn. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at presstime and will be announced by Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City.