Obituaries from the Appalachian News-Express Newspaper, Pike Co Ky

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Transcribed by: Gloria R.  gloriag@iwaynet.net
Date: Jan 1999
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                      January 27, 1999

Phyllis Jean Chapman, 64, of Lower Camp Branch, Phyllis, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, 
at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy, Va. She was born at Freeburn, March 6, 1934, a 
daughter of the late Burbage and Hester Sullivan Taylor. She was a homemaker. She was 
preceded in death by one brother, Homer Taylor. She is survived by her husband, Leeman 
Chapman; six sons, David Chapman of Meta, Darrell Chapman of Pikeville, Denton Chapman 
of Phyllis, Gary Chapman of Kimper, Rick Chapman and Keith Chapman, both of Harrison 
County; one daughter, Dana Hilton of Phyllis; two brothers, Larry Taylor of Stone, 
Dennis Taylor of Harold; one sister, Sue Lester of Big Rock, Va.; and 11 
grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, in the Gabriel 
Church of Christ, Kimper, with Jack Horne and Joe Ray Horne officiating. Burial 
followed in the Chapman Cemetery, Lower Camp Branch, Phyllis. Arrangements were under 
direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. 

Lois Marie Robinette, 69, of Varney, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital. She was born in Pike County, April 25, 1929, a daughter of Bessie 
Francis Allen of Varney and the late Ferrell Allen. She was a retired Varney 
postmaster and a member of the Pilgrim Home Regular Baptist Church. She was preceded 
in death by her husband, Landon Robinette, who died in 1993. Besides her mother, she 
is survived by one son, Eddie Robinette of Regina; one daughter, Janet Williamson of 
Varney; two sisters, Elon Smith of Varney and Hattie Peters of Springfield, Ohio; 
three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 
a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Pilgrim Home Regular Baptist Church with Regular 
Baptist ministers officiating. Burial will follow in the Francis Cemetery at Varney. 
Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. 

Ray Ratliff, 66, of Akron, Ohio, formerly of Greasy Creek, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 
1999, at Akron City Hospital, following a long illness. He was born at Greasy Creek, 
April 23, 1932, a son of the late Columbus and Ella Adkins Ratliff. He was a crane 
operator. He was preceded in death by one son, Glenn Ratliff. He is survived by
his wife, Mildred Cooley Ratliff; one son, Teddy Ratliff of Akron; two daughters, 
Annette Gillis of Barberton, Ohio, and Brenda Jones of Akron; four brothers, Herbert 
Ratliff, Denver Ratliff and Ralph Ratliff, all of Akron, Joe Ratliff of Greasy Creek; 
four sisters, Hazel Beaver of Akron, Mary Robinson of Greasy Creek, Ruby Scalf of
Martin County, Sylvia Springton of Erbacon, W.Va.; and five grandchildren. Funeral 
services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, in the Justice Chapel with Old Regular 
Baptist ministers officiating. Burial followed in the Ratliff Cemetery at Greasy 
Creek. Arrangements were under direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville. 

Earl Carson Thomas, 69, of Mossy Bottom, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at his home, 
following a sudden illness. He was born in Pike County, Nov. 17, 1929, a son of the 
late Troy and Gladys Justice Thomas. He was retired from Brandeis Machinery, was a 
Korean War Army veteran, a past post commander of American Legion Post #83, a past 
grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, Roger Chunta Council #7065, and a member of 
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by one son, Brian Alan
Thomas, who died in 1961. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Anderson Thomas; two sons, 
Eric Todd Thomas of Morehead and Tim W. Thomas of Paintsville; one daughter, Leslie 
Thomas Jennelle of Nicholasville; one brother, Troy Thomas Jr. of Pikeville; one
sister, Mrs. Sammie Lee Hamilton of Mossy Bottom; and one grandchild, Catherine 
Mershon Jennelle. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. 
Wednesday, Jan. 27, at St. Francis Church with the Rev. Stephen Gallenstein 
Officiating. Entombment will follow in the York Mausoleum at Johnson Memorial
Park, Pikeville. Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of 
Pikeville. The body will be moved to the church at 10 a.m. Wednesday to lie in state 
one hour before the Mass. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Foundation or St. 
Francis Catholic Church. 

Janice Williamson, 64, of Sidney, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist 
Hospital. She was born in Pike County, Aug. 3, 1934, a daughter of Aley Brown 
Williamson of Williamson, W.Va., and the late Jack Williamson. She was disabled and of 
the Baptist faith. Besides her mother, she is survived by six brothers, George Ed 
Williamson of Hardy, Larry Williamson of Charleston, S.C., Ray Williamson, John 
Williamson, Woody Williamson, and Roy Williamson, all of Sidney; and three sisters, 
Ida Reed and Betty Rose, both of Williamson, Loretta Young of Brushy Creek. Funeral
services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Dix Fork Old Regular Baptist 
Church at Sidney with Regular Baptist ministers officiating. Burial followed in the 
Stanley Cemetery, Dix Fork, Sidney. Arrangements were under direction of Rogers 
Funeral Home of Belfry.  

Edda Stump, 90, of Phelps, died Monday, Jan. 25, 1999, at the South Williamson 
Appalachian Regional Hospital. She was born March 13, 1908, a daughter of the late 
Elige and Maxie Jane Smith. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Martha 
Stiltner and Rosa Tilley. She is survived by two sons, Jessie Stump and Andy
Stump, both of Jamboree; seven daughters, Ocie Smith of Detroit, Zetta Rick of 
Freeburn, Dorsie Hurley of Pikeville, Dora Corn of New Port, Tenn., Tilda Gilliam of 
Matewan, W.Va., Judy Caccavella of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Opal Stevenson of Kingsport, 
Tenn.; two sisters, Mary Hackney of Freeburn and Pearl McKenzie of Louisa; 52
grandchildren and a host of great- and great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services 
will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home, 
Phelps Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Casey officiating. Burial will follow in the 
Stump Family Cemetery at Smith Fork, Phelps. Arrangements are under direction
of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home-Phelps Chapel of Phelps.  

Joan "JoAnn" Muncy, 64, of Chattaroy, W.Va., died Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, at Williamson 
Memorial Hospital, Williamson, W.Va. She was born at Millers Creek, W.Va., May 3, 
1934, a daughter of the late Lois Carter Ellis and Elizabeth and Arlie Carter. She was 
a homemaker and a member of the Jesus Only Faith Church. She was preceded in death by 
her husband, Jesse Lee Muncy. She is survived by one son, Gilford Lee Muncy of 
Williamson; two daughters, Jennifer (Mrs. Roy) Martin of Hardy and Wilma (Mrs. 
Richard) O'Brien of Chattaroy; three sisters, Betty Parsley, Glenna VonMoegan and 
Carol Patts, all of Columbus, Ohio; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Rogers Funeral Home
Chapel with Orville Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Memory 
Gardens at Maher, W.Va. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of 
Belfry.  

Horace Clifton Howell, 82, of Harold, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, at the Mountain 
Manor Nursing Home in Pikeville. He was born in Lynnwood, May 13, 1916, a son of the 
late Lee and Mary Ann Justice Howell. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the
Lower Toler Church of Christ. He is survived by three brothers, Lowell Howell of 
Rosedale, Ind., Hobert Howell of Harold, Charles Douglas Howell of Scottsville; and 
two sisters, Jewell Smallwood of Harold and Anna Mae Wade of Scottsville. Funeral 
services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Lower Toler Church of
Christ (Toler Creek), Harold, with Joe Meade officiating. Burial will follow in the 
Howell and Roberts Cemetery, Harold. Arrangements are under direction of Hall Funeral 
Home of Martin.

Josephine Hurd, 79, of Prestonsburg, died Monday, Jan. 25, 1999, at Mountain Manor 
Nursing Home in Prestonsburg. She was born in Pike County, Feb. 8, 1919, a daughter of 
the late Stone Wall and Fonnie Stanley Clark. She was a homemaker and attended the
Highland Avenue Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, 
Edgar Hurd. She is survived by five sons, Lewis Edward Clark of McCombs, Connie Ray 
Hurd, Lonnie Day Hurd, Arthur Woodrow Hurd and Robert Donald Hurd, all of Sugar Loaf,
Prestonsburg; four brothers, Stone Wall Clark Jr., Charles Clark, John Audrey Clark 
and James Clark, all of McCombs; three sisters, Lizzie Viney of Pikeville, Cora Scalf 
of McCombs, Faranda Robinson of Pike County; nine grandchildren and three 
great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in 
the Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Clifford Austin officiating. 
Burial will follow in the Clark Cemetery at Johns Creek in Pike County. Arrangements 
are under direction of Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home of Martin. 

Phillip Andrew "Mayberry" Akers, 35, of Orville, Ohio, formerly of Dorton, died 
Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, in Ohio, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile 
accident. He was born in Pikeville, Nov. 1, 1963, a son of Lucille Little Akers and 
the late Johnny Akers. Besides his mother he is survived by three sons, Jonathan Akers 
of Orville, Chadwick Mullins of North Carolina, Elijah Blue Akers of Virgie; three 
brothers, Edward Akers and Rodney Akers, both of Pikeville, Ricky Akers of Jenkins; 
and three sisters, Sheila Thomas, Sandra Mullins and Judy Kinney, all of Shelbiana. 
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in the R.S. Jones & Son
Virgie Chapel with Freewill Baptist ministers officiating. Burial will follow in the 
Roberts Cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of 
Virgie.  

Mary "Emily" Virginia Six, 90, of Palatka, Fla., formerly of Williamson, W.Va., died 
Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, at the Palatka Health Care Center. She was born in Williamson, 
W.Va., Jan. 31, 1908, a daughter of the late Frank and Ida Camron Stevens. She was
retired from Schwachters Clothing Store in Williamson, after 42 years, and was a 
member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Palatka. She was preceded in death by her 
husband, Lawrence Six. She is survived by one daughter, Mary Emily Humbert of 
Jacksonville, Fla.; one sister, Nora S. Varney of Palatka; two grandchildren and 
several great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, in 
the Watts Funeral Home Chapel in Palatka with the Rev. Jesse Woot officiating. Burial 
will be in Mountain View Memory Gardens at Huddy. Arrangements are under direction of 
Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. 

Virgil Edgar Osborne, 82, of Baltimore, formerly of Turkey Pen of Indian Creek, died 
Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, at Harbor Hospital in Baltimore. He was born April 13, 1916, a 
son of the late Jack and Katie Elswick Osborne. He was preceded in death by his wife, 
Cindy Osborne. He is survived by two sons, Marlious Osborne of Baltimore and Jimmy 
Osborne of Detroit; two daughters, Rosalie Lloyd of Marion, Ind., and Oliena Tucker of 
Riverside, Calif.; and two sisters, Stella Justice of Virgie and Goldie Little of 
Detroit. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the R.S. 
Jones & Son Virgie Chapel with Elder Monroe Jones officiating. Burial will follow in
the Jack Osborne Cemetery, Turkey Pen of Indian Creek. Arrangements are under 
direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home-Virgie Chapel of Virgie 

The next obituary has as picture with it. Avery Rowe. 
Avery Rowe, 86, of Feds Creek, died at 10:50 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital, following a long illness. He was born at Feds Creek, Jan. 28, 
1912, a son of the late John Ance and Lydia Hunt Rowe. He was a retired coal miner and 
attended the Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was preceded in death by his wife,
Garness Hunt Rowe. He is survived by two daughters, Evalene Rowe Allemohamed of 
Gaithersburg, Md., and Sarah Ann Thacker of Phyllis; one brother, James Oliver Rowe of 
Florida; one sister, Marie Rowe Estep of Ashland; five grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in 
the Justice Funeral Home Chapel with Ray Sayers officiating. Burial will follow in the 
Annie E. Young Cemetery at East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of Justice 
Funeral Services, Justice Chapel, Pikeville. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. 
Wednesday.  

Acie Slone, 73, of Red Creek, died Monday, Jan. 25, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist 
Hospital. He was born in Pike County, April 9, 1925, a son of the late William "Bill" 
and Martha Justice Slone. He was a retired coal miner and of the Old Regular Baptist 
faith. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Slone; two sons, Donald Gene Slone
of Shelby Township, Mich., and Conel Ray Slone of Canton, Mich.; four daughters, 
Geraldine Tucker, Sadie Justice, Brenda Robinson and Monica Sims, all of Pikeville; 
one brother, Callahan Slone of Kimper; one sister, Dora Harmon of Kimper; nine 
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 28, in the Thacker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Joe Slone, Alfred 
Chaney, Hershel Wright, Leonard Kiser and others officiating. Burial will follow in 
the Annie E. Young Cemetery at East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of 
Thacker Memorial Funeral Home of Pikeville. Special services will be held at 7
p.m. Wednesday.  

                      January 29, 1999
 
Freda June Coley Chapman, 60, of Canon, Ga., died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1999, at Cobb 
Memorial Hospital in Royston, Ga.   She was born in South Williamson, March 19, 1938, 
a daughter of the late James Hubert and Elizabeth McCullough Coley Hucke.  She was a 
homemaker, a retired certified dietitian, a member of the Dietitian Management 
Association and was of the Baptist faith.  She was preceded in death by her husband, 
Jonah Chapman.  She is survived by three sons, Jonah Ray "Buddy" Chapman of 
Louisville, Ronald Delano Chapman of Canon, Thomas Benjamin Chapman of Royston; seven 
daughters, Phyllis Jean Grace of Louisville, Carol Lavern May of Jacksonville, Fla., 
Judith Kay Hickenbottom of Texarkana, Texas, Sally Ann Melmige of Williamson, W.Va., 
Nancy Veronica Lyerly of Canon, Donna Cleryl Kinley and Sheena Elaine Bennett, both of 
Royston; one brother, James E. Coley of Royston; two sisters, Mary Faye Clemons and
Shirley Lucille Comstock, both of Milford, Ohio; 25 grandchildren, 25 
great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held 
at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, in the Pruitte Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Paul 
Creason officiating and burial following in the Franklin Springs City Cemetery.
Arrangements are under direction of Pruitte Funeral Home Inc. of Royston. 
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association. Obituary courtesy of Rogers 
Funeral Home of Belfry. 

Wanda Claydene Epling, 71, a resident at Mountain Manor Nursing Home in Pikeville, 
died at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was 
born in Pike County, Aug. 14, 1927, a daughter of the late Jake and Nora Adkins 
Ratliff.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Zebulon Church of Christ. 
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Epling, who died in 1969; one brother, 
Eugene Ratliff; and two sisters, Betty Elaine McCoy and Nona Mae Saunders. 
She is survived by two brothers, Willard Ratliff and Charles Ratliff, both of Robinson 
Creek; and one sister, Elsie Jewel Allen of Pikeville.  Funeral services will be held 
at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, in the J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home Chapel with E.W. 
Damron officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Morris 
Family Cemetery, Raccoon Creek. Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & Son 
Funeral Home of Pikeville.  

Delano Newsome, 61, of Oak Hill, Ohio, died Monday, Jan. 25, 1999, at the Holzer 
Medical Center in Ohio.  He was born at Beefhide Creek, Myra, May 6, 1937, a daughter 
of Gracie Addington Newsome and the late Jonah Newsome.  He was a member of the Old 
Regular Baptist Church and Morning Star. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Freeman 
Newsome; four sons, Wada A. Newsome and Darven Newsome, both of Jackson, Mich.,
Kenneth Henson of Michigan, Steve Henson of Tennessee; one daughter, Amanda Mill of 
Jackson; three brothers, Otto Newsome of Kentucky, Seamawn Newsome of Indiana, Algar 
Newsom of Columbus, Ohio; five sisters, Mildred Hall, Beulah Heflin, Freda Roman, and 
Reeda Dalton, all of Michigan, Eula Ward of West Virginia; 15 grandchildren and two 
great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the
Little Ettie Church of Old Regular Baptist with Elders Paris Tackett, Covis Tackett 
and Roger Hicks officiating. Burial followed in the Newsom Rest Cemetery at Jackson 
County, Ohio.  Obituary courtesy of Thacker Memorial Funeral Home of Pikeville. 

Clara Helen Looney, 67, of the Douglas Apartments, Robinson Creek, died Wednesday, 
Jan. 27, 1999, at her home.  She was born in Pike County, March 27, 1931, a daughter 
of the late Dave and Polly Wright Ratliff.  She was a homemaker.  She was preceded in 
death by her husband, Orbie Looney. She is survived by one son, Gary Looney of 
Pikeville; three daughters, Christine Plowman of Trenton City, Calif., Barbara
Meadows of Regina, Debra Kaye Bunce of Front Royal, Va.; one brother, David Ratliff 
Jr. of Elkhorn City; four sisters, Katherine Cantrell of Elkhorn City, Shirley McCoy 
of Crum, W.Va., Delores Barnes and Audra Jean Slone, both of Lexington; nine
 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. 
Saturday, Jan. 30, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Clinard Ratliff, Billy 
Ratliff, Doug Kendrick and Carson Adkins officiating, and burial following in the
Elkhorn City Cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of 
Elkhorn City.  

Leonard "Bo" Justice, 49, of Pinsonfork, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 1999, at his home. 
He was born at Pinsonfork, April 1, 1949, a son of Ival Justice of McAndrews and the 
late Kathleen Conley Justice. He was a disabled coal miner, a member of United Mine 
Workers of America, Local #5737, and the Bluesprings Freewill Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Damron Justice; one son, Rodney Justice of 
Pinsonfork; one daughter, Durunda (Mrs. Greg) Varney of McAndrews; two stepsons, Jim 
Booth and Steven Booth, both of Williamson, W.Va.; one stepdaughter, Sherri (Mrs. 
Mark) Blackburn of Williamson; three sisters, Iva Gail (Mrs. Rick) Quijada of Norfolk, 
Va., Norma Jean (Mrs. Robert) White of Belleville, Mich., Rose Mary (Mrs. John) Smith 
of Williamson; one stepbrother, Colonel Cline of Charleston, W.Va.; two stepsisters, 
Debbie (Mrs. Robert) York of Ransom and Patty (Mrs. Joey) Adams of Harts, W.Va.; and 
two step-grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, in 
the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Emory Varney, Curtis Wellman and Mike Smith 
officiating. Entombment will follow in the Mountain Memory Gardens Mausoleum, at 
Huddy. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. 
Pallbearers are Bruce Hatfield, Joe Hurley, John Taylor, Roger Bogar, Rodney Justice, 
Leo Carden and Charles Brown.  Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday with 
Emory Varney and Larry Hubbard officiating, and at 7 p.m. Saturday with Emory Varney, 
Ballard Yates and Robert Smith.