Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, July 23, 2003 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/Page/TRI_FrontPage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Herald Courier Wednesday, July 23, 2003 Today's Deaths Tony Allen Canter, 46, Bristol Tennessee Ruth Currie Hargis, 78, Blountville Ralph Allen Hughes, 64, Abingdon Alexander Dempsey McCroskey, infant, Bristol Virginia Kerry McGlothlin, 53, Swords Creek, Va. Jack (J.C.) Sword, 64, Bristol Virginia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Danny Lee Absher NORTON -- Danny Lee Absher, 51, of 1494 Kentucky Ave., Southeast, died Sunday, July 20, 2003. Born to the late Clarence and Della Greear Absher, he was a lifelong resident of the Ramsey community. He was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Burchell Cowden. Danny is survived by a daughter Nikki Absher and her mother, Linda Absher of Norton; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ray and Wanda Absher, Gene and Shirley Absher, Jerry and Brenda Absher, Melvin and Delores Absher, and Darrell and Kathy Absher, all of Norton; and sisters and brother-in-law: Anna Ruth Cowden and Dee Dee and Terry Jones, all of Norton; Loretta McCullough, Sandusky, Ohio; Betty White, Elabell, Ga.; Barbara Gilley, Lyons, Ga.; and Tammy Wells, Savannah, Ga. Also surviving are a host of nieces, nephews and friends, including special friends, Mike, Jimmy Lee, Hobert, Tim, Dude and Spidell. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Ralph McFarland officiating. Burial will be in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home of Norton is serving the Absher family. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Christine Anderson ABINGDON, Va. -- A funeral service for Mrs. Christine Anderson will be conducted Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at 1 p.m. in the Farris Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Larry Bales and Rev. James Beaver officiating. Burial will follow in the Knollkreg Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from noon until 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. Anderson, age 61, died Monday, July 21, 2003, at her home. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Anderson. Bertie M. Baldwin GRUNDY -- Bertie Mullins Baldwin, 72 years of age, went to be with the Lord Monday, July 21, 2003, at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy. Born in Buchanan County, Va., June 6, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Jeff Mullins and Minnie Osborne Mullins. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, former owner/operator of Baldwin's Exxon and was a charter member of the Church of God at Slate. She always encouraged her family to serve the Lord, loved to read and talk on the phone with her many friends and was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Richard Baldwin, Jan. 23, 1988; and four sisters, Retha Mullins, Ocie Mullins, Orpha Mullins and Gracie Rowe. She is survived by three daughters: Patricia (Pat) Jackson and husband Ralph, and Sharon Osborne and husband Ray all of Grundy; and Karen Sue Daniels and husband Reece of Sevierville, Tenn.; two sons: Dillard Mullins and wife Delsie of Grundy; and Gregory H. Baldwin of Columbia, S.C.; two brothers, Burton Mullins and wife Marie and Ernest Mullins and wife Kathleen, all of Grundy; special niece, Joyce Mullins Lester and husband Virgil of Big Rock, Va.; and former daughter-in-law, Ida Baldwin of Grundy. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Bertie Mullins Baldwin will be held Friday, July 25, 2003, at 1:00 p.m. at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, with Sister Beulah Shortridge, Reverends Jeffery Mullins, Wade McGeorge, Billy Ward and Jerry Ward officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Va. Active pallbearers will be Alvin Mullins, Johnny Sexton, Mike Underwood, Elza Mullins, Brad Deaton and grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Benny Blankenship, Ella Mae Mullins, Mike Malito, Jill Matney, Virginia "Gen" Mullins, Raymond Baldwin, Leon Keene, Jenny Ramey and the ladies of the Church of God at Slate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 6:00 p.m. Wednesday. Services will be held Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The family of Bertie Mullins Baldwin is being served by Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy. Everett Reed Booher BRISTOL, Va. -- Everett Reed Booher, age 80, of 3565 Cove Creek Road, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2003. He was born in Washington County, Va., the son of the late George W. and Rosie Bell Fleenor Booher. He had lived in Washington County all of his life working as a farmer. Mr. Booher was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Lee Bays Booher. Survivors include: sons, Bobby Wayne Booher of Bristol Virginia, Reed Junior Booher of Bristol Virginia, Jerry Donald Booher of Blountville and Tony Allen Booher of Mosheim, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2003, at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ellis Necessary officiating. Commital services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Statzer Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandchildren and friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6-7:45 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfu-neralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Tony Allen Canter BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Tony Allen Canter, 46, died Monday, July 21, 2003. He was a life long resident of Bristol, a talented automobile mechanic, a NASCAR fan, and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Bernice and Jack Booher of Bristol Tennessee; two daughters, Wendy Hodge and Misty Aufdencamp; a son, Michael Allen Canter; a sister, Patricia Ann Steele; a half brother, Dwayne Canter; seven grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Gail Wiles. He was preceded in death by his father, Allen Knox Canter; and a granddaughter, Latasha Hodge. Tony's family and friends will gather at 11 o'clock Thursday morning at Oakley- Cook Funeral Home to celebrate his life. Pastor Sammy Trinkle and Pastor Jimmy Gross will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home and at other times at the home of Bernice and Jack Booher. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to a favorite charity. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mr. Canter and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Beatrice Cooke NORTON -- The family of Beatrice Cooke will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be conducted 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Isom Cemetery on Powell River Road in Norton. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.ha- gyfawbush.com. Mrs. Cooke, 85, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, in Norton Community Hospital. Ruth C. Hargis BLOUNTVILLE -- Ruth Currie Hargis, 78, died Monday, July 21, 2003, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was born in Key West, Fla., a daughter of the late Arnold M. and Annie Gladys Pierce Currie, and was the widow of Virgil Edmund Hargis. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Hargis; a son, Virgil E. Hargis Jr.; and a son-in-law, Bobby Harless. She had lived in Blountville for the past 25 years and was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Survivors include four granddaughters, Julie Hargis, Nancy Hargis and Mara Hargis, all of whom lived with Mrs. Hargis and whom she raised, inspired, educated and loved as her own daughters, and Mellisa Hargis of Florida; and a special friend, Hilda McMahon of Key West. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Wednesday evening at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 10 o'clock Thursday morning at the graveside in Gunnings Cemetery with Pastor Donald Fichtelman officiating. Pallbearers will be Buddy Harless, Terry Harless, Ricky Harless, Jimmy Harless, Jason Linkous, Joe Parker, Steve Harvey and Brent Hulse. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley- cook.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to a favorite charity. Mrs. Hargis and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Ralph Allen Hughes ABINGDON -- Mr. Ralph Allen Hughes, age 64, died Monday, July 21, 2003, from injuries sustained in a farming accident. He was born on February 8, 1939, in Washington County, Va. He was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Hughes; a grandson, Christopher Hughes; and his father-in-law, Maben Howard Compton. He was a retired-disabled coal miner and was a U.S. Army veteran. He is survived by his wife, Lois Hughes; his mother, Mary Fannie Hughes; a daughter, Michele Lynn Goodson of Abingdon; three sons, Richard Hughes, Timothy Hughes and Michael Hughes, all of Abingdon; a sister, Clara Mabe of Abingdon; three brothers: Kenneth Hughes of Abingdon; J. D. Hughes of Los Angeles; and Larry Hughes of Lebanon; his mother-in-law, Zora Mae Compton of Honaker; three grandchildren, James Brian Hughes, Hannah Renee Hughes and Abigail Victoria Hughes; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at noon Thursday, July 24, 2003, in the Farris Funeral Chapel with Rev. Harless Hess and Rev. David Harless officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Casket bearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. Thursday until the time of the funeral service. In place of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to them, 426 Arnold St., Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Mr. Ralph Allen Hughes. Alexander McCroskey BRISTOL, Va. -- Baby Boy Alexander Dempsey McCroskey, infant son of Steven and Alicia McCroskey, passed away Saturday July 19, 2003, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Baby McCroskey was preceded in death by one grandfather, Bill Nelson. Baby McCroskey is survived by one sister, Shayla McCroskey; grandparents, Dawn Malone, Mike McCroskey and Judy Shaffer; great-grandparents, Jack and Barbra Malone; great-great-grandmother, Newland Haire; aunts, Angela Sinard, Jennifer Cooper, Kelly McCroskey and Melisha Gideon; uncles, David Sinard, Rodney Shaffer, Brandon Shaffer, Michael Sullivan and Bryon Nelson; and several cousins. Graveside service will be held Thursday, July 24, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. from the Mountain View Cemetery with the Rev. Amy Yeary Holmes officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 until 8:00 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Kerry McGlothlin SWORDS CREEK, Va. -- Mr. Kerry McGlothlin, age 53, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 22, 2003, in an Abingdon hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. E-mail condolences may be sent to singleton@netscope.net. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the McGlothlin family. Harold Rush HAYSI -- The funeral service for Harold Ernest Rush will be Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Haysi Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Jim Viers and Rev. John Whitner officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon. Active and honorary pallbearers will be members of the Haysi Kiwanis Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Haysi area churches, the Dickenson County rescue squads and fire departments, Haysi Kiwanis Club, Haysi High School or Wellmont Hospice House. Mr. Rush, age 79, died Monday, July 21, 2003, at Wellmont Hospice House, Bristol Tennessee. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Gertrude C. Silcox EDEN, N.C. -- Graveside services for Gertrude Carter Silcox will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2003, in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood, with Rev. John Kiser officiating. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The Silcox family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Online condolences may be sent to the Silcox family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Mrs. Silcox, 79, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at Morehead Nursing Center, Eden. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Evelyn K. Swiney BRISTOL, Tenn. -- The funeral service for Evelyn Kendrick Swiney will be conducted at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the Paul Cook Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. Rev. Jack Stevens will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Private burial will follow in Shelby Hills Cemetery. Those who wish may send memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, c/o Jack Mallin, 57 Fairway Drive, Bristol, TN 37620. Condolences and memories may be sent via e-mail by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mrs. Swiney, 66, died Thursday, July 17, 2003, in Davenport, Fla. Arrangements especially for Mrs. Swiney have been made through Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Jack Sword BRISTOL, Va. -- Jack (J.C.) Sword, age 64, of E 13 Eastridge Apartments, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at his residence. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge. Opal V. Venable MEADOWVIEW -- A graveside service for Mrs. Opal Vivian Venable will be conducted Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the Knollkreg Memorial Park with Rev. Ronnie Blevins officiating. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Family and friends are to meet at the funeral home by 10:40 a.m. for a procession to the cemetery. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. Venable, age 84, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Venable.