Bristol, VA - December 25, 2002 Obituaries: BRISTOL HERALD COURIER Uploaded to the USGenWeb Archives with permission from the Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com ************************************************************************ 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 ************************************************************************** James C. Bartley HAYSI -- Funeral service for James Carroll "Smokey" Bartley will be conducted at 10 a.m. Dec. 25, 2002, at Haysi Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Sluss officiating. Burial will follow in the Bartley-Wallace Cemetery, Haysi. Deacons of the Splashdam Freewill Baptist Church will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Splashdam Freewill Baptist Church Building Fund. Mr. Bartley, 76, of Route 1, passed away Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Leona L. Blaylock The funeral service for Leona Virginia Lunsford Blaylock will be conducted at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon in the Chapel of Blevins Funeral Home with Rev. Walter Statzer officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from noon until 1:45 p.m. Thursday and at other times at the home of Arlene and Randall Brooks. The committal service and burial will follow in MountainView Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Phil Brooks, Bill Brooks, Mark Brooks,Wayne Brooks, Roger Brooks, Earl Inman, Howard Widener, Roger Jackson and Mike Eades. Condolences and memories may be sent via e-mail to condolences@blevinsfuneralhome.com. Mrs. Blaylock, 80, of 704 Goodson St., Bristol, Va., died Monday, Dec.23, 2002, at the home of her daughter. Arrangements especially for Mrs. Blaylock have been made through Blevins Funeral Home. Charles G. Campbell A graveside service for Mr. Charles G. Campbell will be conducted Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, at 11 a.m. in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Rev. Bob Neace Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday night at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be James W. Clark, Rowland Roe, Edward Campbell, Wayne Campbell, J.R. Gilmer and Calvin "Cowboy" Odum. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Clifton, Johnnie Payne, Ted Callahan, Gary Kennedy and Michael Pippin. The family requests that friends omit flowers and those who wish may make a memorial contribution to the Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele's Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Those wishing to experss sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mr. Campbell, 77, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at the Wellmont Hospice House. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Campbell. Robert F. Clarke ABINGDON -- Robert F. Clarke, 69, died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002, at HolstonValley Medical Center, Kingsport. Mr. Clarke was the former owner of Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood. Entombment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. The family will receive friends on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Further obituary notices will be announced later. Condolences may be sent to the Clarke family via e-mail at condolences@castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. William J. Craft William J. "Bill" Craft, 89, of 456 Bristol Caverns Highway, Bristol, Tenn., went to be with the Lord, Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born May 2, 1913, in Dante, Va., a son of the late Thomas and Hannah Tate Craft, and has made his home in the Bristol area most of his life. Bill, as he was affectionately known by his friends and church family, was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, retired salesman for Rice Wholesale with 58 years of service and for several years was a caretaker of Rooty Branch Cemetery. He was preceded in death by two wives, Ruby Taylor Craft and Lloyd Rhymer Craft. Survivors include special friends and care givers, Glenna and Ray Rouse; two daughters, Marjorie Meadows and Katherine Craft; one brother, Arthur Craft; 21 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded by a daughter, Marie; and two sons, Paul and Charles. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, in the Rooty Branch Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Howard Campbell, Rev. Roger Carter and Rev. David Wright officiating. Burial will follow in the Rooty Branch Cemetery with military honors conducted by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975. Pallbearers will be Paul Dover, Landon Townsend, Mike Grindstaff, Tim Rouse, Jerry Gragg and Bo Musselwhite. Honorary pallbearers are Ray Rouse, Nelson Waddell, Dennis Beddix, Atch Alexander and friends at Rooty Branch Church. Special thanks to Dr. Tom Townsend, Dr. Serena Smith, Dr. Daniel Brake and the staff of ETSU Family Practice. E-mail condolences may be sent online at www.weaverfuneral.net. In lieu of flowers, Bill requested that memorials be made to Rooty Branch Cemetery Fund, c/o Howard Campbell, 1097 Bristol Caverns Highway, Bristol, TN 37620. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Weaver Funeral Home and other times at the home of Glenna and Ray Rouse, 1089 Bristol Caverns Highway, Bristol, Tenn. William L. Dorton CASTLEWOOD -- The funeral service for William L. (Billy) Dorton will be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel in Lebanon with the Rev. Ernest Jessee officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Lebanon VFW Post 9864 will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002, in the Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood. Those attending are requested to meet at the funeral home by 10:30 a.m. to go to the cemetery in procession. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. William L. (Billy) Dorton, 78, of Route 2, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at his home. Combs Funeral Service is serving the Dorton family. Michael Allen Grant BLUFF CITY -- Graveside services for Michael Allen Grant will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Crumley Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers include Justin Grant, Dave Poe, Wade Necessary, Lee Grant and Johnny Necessary. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Mr. Grant, 34, passed away on Oct. 15, 2002. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Dennis Wayne Hess RICHLANDS -- Mr. Dennis Wayne Hess, 51, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, in Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands after a lengthy illness. Mr. Hess was born in Richlands and was a lifelong resident. He was a member of Community Heights Baptist Church. He graduated from Richlands High School and was a disabled coal miner. He was a lifetime member of the Tazewell County Sportsman's Club. He was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Lee Hess; a sister, Natalie Dell Hess; and his father, Garman Lee Hess. Survivors include his wife, Brenda Kaye Hess of Richlands; one daughter, Rachel Denise Hess; one stepson, Christopher Thomas Taylor; mother, Lorene Dell Hess; three sisters, Carol Ryall of Abingdon, Sheila Plaster and husband Bill of Richlands, and Rhonda Blevins and husband Rick of Richlands; two brothers, Gerald Hess and wife Susie of Lebanon and Leland Hess and wife Ruth of Richlands; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Jim (Dooger) McFarland and Dr. Mario Stefanini. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, in the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Rick Blevins officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Cemetery at Claypool Hill, Va. Pallbearers will be Charlie Brown, Earl Hess Jr., Louie Hess, Darrell Lawson, Eddie Piedmont, George Roberts, Rodney Roberts, Gary Shrader, Jimmy Lockhart, Max Smith, Brad Hess, Jacob Hess, Donnie Hess and Jerry White. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim (Dooger) McFarland and Dr. Mario Stefanini. Special thanks to Dr. Mario Stefanini and the nursing staff at Clinch Valley Medical Hospital and Tammy Vencil for all of their care and support. The family will receive friends at the Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff from 6-9 p.m. Thursday. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Hess Family. Uba Fletcher McDilda ABINGDON -- Funeral services for Uba Fletcher McDilda will be held Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at Farris Funeral Service. Rev. Chuck Trent will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill with Rev. Wayne F. Chant officiating. Pallbearers will be Ike Thomas, Junior Blevins, Charlie Perkins, Brian Mercer, Fred McGlothin Jr., Winfred McGlothin, Frazier McGlothin and Glen Coffman. The family wishes to express their deepest and most heartfelt appreciation to the doctors and nurses at Johnston Memorial Hospital and the Wellmont Medical Center in Bristol Tennessee. Also, especially to the wonderful nurses and volunteers at the Wellmont Hospice. Thank you for caring for our mother. Those wishing to express their condolences online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. McDilda, 64, our sweet, gentle mother, went to be with God at 4:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at Wellmont Hospice in Bristol with all her children by her side. She was born in Jewel Ridge, Va., to the late Clarence and Mary Elswick Fletcher. She was a member of Trigg Street Church of God. She was employed with Long John Silvers since 1979 where she worked as assistant manager. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Charity McDilda; a brother, Ollis Fletcher; and sisters, Helen F. McGlothin and Ceila F. Stinson. Survivors include two sons, Robert C. McDilda Jr. of Corvallis, Ore., and Clarence (David) McDilda of Bristol Virginia; two daughters, Martha (Arlene) McDilda of Knoxville and Mary M. Millsap of Abingdon; one brother,Waldon Fletcher of Plant City, Fla.; two sisters, Fern F. Hutson and Effie F. Davis, both of Tampa, Fla.; four grandchildren, Chris Besse McDilda, Alyssa Faye Charity McDilda and Corey Logan McDilda, all of Bend, Ore., and Traci Michelle Millsap of Abingdon. Farris Funeral Service of Abingdon is serving the McDilda family. Charles Albert Owens KEEN MOUNTAIN, Va. -- Mr. Charles Albert Owens, 65, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, in Buchanan General Hosptial following a brief illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of Mrs. Alberta J. Lambert Owens of Oakwood,Va., and the late Charles M. Owens. He retired in 1986 as an employee of Grundy Hospital. Mr. Owens, in addition to his mother, is survived by one sister, Mrs. Susie Layne of Keen Mountain; one nephew, Tony Layne of Keen Mountain; and two nieces, Paige Keene of Richlands and Leigh Brown of Johnson City. Graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Cemetery at Claypool Hill, Va., with Pastor Jack Keene officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery after noon Thursday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Mountain Mission School, Route 1, Hurley Street, Grundy, VA 24614. Buchanan Funeral Service at Keen Mountain is serving the Owens Family. Kenneth Harold Pippin Mr. Kenneth Harold Pippin, 19151 Benhams Road, died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later. Castle Funeral Home of 14298 Lee Highway, Bristol, Va., is serving the Pippin family. Doris Rash Doris Rash, 66, of 312 Esther St., Bristol, Tenn., passed away on Dec. 23, 2002, at Greystone Health Care Center. She was a native of Abingdon and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by Slick Henderson. Survivors include: mother, Frances Henderson; children, Angela Smith and husband Terry, Judy Columbia, Kathy Groseclose, Johnny Rash and Sidney Saltz; brothers, Jake Ewing and wife Shirley and Doug Ewing; six grandchldren; one great-grandson; and one nephew. Memorial services will be held on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends onThursday from 6-7:45 p.m. prior to the service. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anna Mae Stallard COEBURN -- Anna Mae Stallard, 83, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, in the Select Specialty Hospital, Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Tennessee. Mrs. Stallard was a member of the Coeburn Church of God of Proplhecy and lived most of her life in the Coeburn area until most recently she resided at The Humming Bird Retirement Villa, Lebanon, Va. She was preceded in death by her husband, James B. Stallard, and a son,Ralph Stallard. Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles L. and Judy Stallard and William R. (Billy) and Toni Stallard, all of Ivor, Va.; a daughter and son-in-law, Fay S. and Larry Buchanan, both of Castlewood; three brothers, Ronald Adkins of Castlewood and Guy Adkins and Harry Lee Adkins, both of Ohio; six sisters, Lucinda Teasley and Ginger Eggiman, both of Ohio, Vickie Adkins, Daisy Ward and Tammy Shenault, all of Coeburn, and Oma Jean Bruce of Texas; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, in the Coeburn Church of God of Prophecy with the Rev. Samuel Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens, Coeburn. The family will receive friends Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, 11 a.m. till time of service at the Coeburn Church of God of Prophecy. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Coeburn, is in charge of arrangements. Bernice Washington Ms. Bernice Innetta Washington, lovingly called Tootie, 73, departed this life and went to live with her Heavenly Father Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, at Wellmont Systems-Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 11, 1929, in Welch, W.Va., and had made her home in Bristol since an early age. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful worker in her church, community and civic organizations. She was a graduate of Douglass School, completed training in cosmotology at Virginia Academy of Hairstyling and served as an instructor there for several years. She was united in holy matrimony to Melvin McClanahan and from this union were two children. She was later united in marriage to Albert "Snook" Washington, who preceded her in death. She was one of the oldest members of New Hope Baptist Church where she worked faithfully and untiringly for over 60 years. She served as vice-chairman of the Trustee Board, director of the Senior Choir, member of the Women's Choir, past director of the usher board, Women's Missionary Society, served on the Mother's Board, coordinator of Pastor's Aide and the Ada B. Circle of the Mission Department. She was a former member of the Twin City Chapter 58 Order of Eastern Star, the Daughters of Isis, past president of the NAACP and an instructor of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ministers and Deacons Union of Southwest Virginia. She was owner/operator of Innetta's Beauty Shop, Bristol, and a member of the Paramount Study and SocialClub. She was preceded in death by husband, Albert Washington; parents, Rev. Mack M. and Ethel Swan Montgomery; brother, Posie A. Montgomery; and sisters, Mrs. Ada B. Smith and Ms. Inez Walker. Survivors: sons, Richard Kentwood McClanahan, Newport News, Va., and Gerald Steven McClanahan, Bristol Virginia; grandson, Robert Kentwood McClanahan; two nephews; three nieces; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Calling hours will be 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, at New Hope Baptist Church with funeral services at noon. Rev. William J. Reid will officiate. Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tenn. Arrangements especially for Mrs. Bernice Innetta M. Washington have been made through Robinson Mortuary Inc.