Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 6, 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 Saturday, September 6, 2003 Today's Deaths Effie O. Compton, 83, Lebanon Ida Looney Brown Hatfield Jarrell, 88, Bloomington, Ill. Nelle C. Johnson, 86, Abingdon Rebecca E. Kell, 91, Seven Mile Ford, Va. Gary Brown Mottern, 53, Moorehaven, Fla. Pansy Robinette, 90, Bristol Tennessee Cleve Shipley, 80 Clarence Sturgill, 75, Marion Carl James Welch, 81, Bristol Tennessee Willie Williams, 90, Big Stone Gap -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jake Bentley BLUFF CITY -- Funeral services for Jake Bentley will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at the Rooty Branch Cemetery, with Pastor Wayne Lambert officiating with military honors conducted by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975 of Bristol. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mr. Bentley, age 79, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jeffrey Lee Byrd KINGSPORT -- Funeral services for Jeffrey Lee Byrd will be held Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. in the East Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Home, with Dr. Craig Frye officiating. Interment will follow in Tri-Cities Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers, who are asked to meet at the funeral home by 1:15 p.m. Sunday, will be Landon Bellamey, David Billington, Brett Finney, Jerry Pratt, Willy Ramearan and Toby Sells. Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Cloud, Craig Campbell and Billy Sells. The family has requested for those who prefer, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be given to the Jeffrey Byrd Memorial Fund, c/o Appalachian Community Credit Union, Attn: 56025, P.O. Box 3220, Kingsport, TN 37664. The family will receive friends Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, from 5 until 8 p.m. in the East Chapel of the funeral home. The family will also receive friends anytime at Jeffrey's home, 701 Rock Springs Road, and also at his mother's, Carol Campbell, 203 Gilmer Park, Johnson City. Condolences may be made online at www.appalachianfuneralhome.com. Mr. Byrd, age 39, 701 Rock Springs Road, went to be with the Lord, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003, in a plane crash in Blountville. Appalachian Funeral Home, 800 E. Watauga Ave., is serving the Byrd family. Marvin G. Collins MARION -- Marvin G. Collins, age 59, died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, in Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion. Mr. Collins was born in Marion to the late Walker and Cora M. Shrader Collins and was preceded in death by a grandson, Jonathon Barrett, and his brother, Sam Collins. He worked at P & T Concrete for over 20 years and attended the Mitchell Valley House of Prayer. Survivors include wife of 41 years, Erma Ruth Collins; one son and daughter-in- law, Johnny and Lisa Collins, Marion; one daughter, Sharon and Walter Barrett, Rich Valley; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Shirley Collins, Marion, and Woodrow and Mary Ann Collins, Marion; one sister, Ellen Taylor, Chilhowie; one sister-in-law, Flossie Collins, Marion; three grandchildren, Randy Collins, Brian Collins and Dennis Barrett; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends also survive. Funeral services will be held at 2 Sunday from the Bradley's Funeral Home Chapel in Marion, with Rev. Dennis Turley officiating. Interment will follow in Rosewood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7 - 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Bradley's Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the Collins Family. Effie O. Compton LEBANON -- Effie O. Compton, age 83, passed away Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at Heritage Hall Health Care at Grundy. Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Morgan and Alafair O'quinn Owens. She was the widow of Corbett Compton and had been a member of Cranes Nest Primitive Baptist Church for approximately 50 years. Mrs. Compton was also preceded in death by a son, Clinard, a daughter, Jeanete McMahan, three sisters, Pearl Viers, Nancy Deel and Lydia Compton, and five brothers, Rene, John, Arvil, Rufus and Earn Owens. She is survived by three daughters, Flornia Owens and husband Clyde of Route 1, Vansant, Merlene McCoy and husband John of Defiance, Ohio, and Geneva Hill and husband Danny of Lebanon; one son, Amos Compton and wife Shirley of Abingdon; two sisters, Easter Compton of Vansant and Vertie Deel of North East, Md.; 19 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and a son- in-law, Robert McMahan of Pennsylvania. The funeral service will be held Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at 1 p.m. at Haysi Funeral Home Chapel, with Elders Elmer Brown, Price Viers, Frank Viers and Joel Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Bostic Cemetery, Route 1, Vansant. Grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, after 5 p.m., where a service will be held at 6 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. James William Fern PINEY FLATS -- The committal for James William "Jimmy" Fern will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sunrise Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the Highlands Fellowship Honor Color Guard. Pallbearers will be Jeff Fern, John Massouras, Mike Cameron, James Hatcher, Jimmy Roberts and Doug Ball. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Fern, Dr. Gerry Boccarossa, Dr. Wiles, William Cleaver, P.A. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mr. Fern, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Ida Jarrell BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Ida Looney Brown Hatfield Jarrell, age 88, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in Bloomington. Born in Virginia, she was a daughter of the late Albert Ball and Margaret Duty Looney. In addition to her parents, brothers Henry, William, Earl and Joel Looney and M. F. Ball, sisters, Rosie O'quinn, Becky O'quinn, Florence Boyd and Mary Brown, and a grandson, Tony Sexton, preceded her in death. Mrs. Jarrell was the last surviving family member of her generation. She is survived by a son, J.W. Brown; three stepdaughters, Virginia Sexton and husband William of Bloomington, Frankie Sexton of Atlanta and Lorraine Conti and husband Sandro of Columbus, Ohio; a grandson, Gary Sexton; a granddaughter, Sandra Swift and husband Carl; a special niece, Lucy Rasnake of Bee, Va., and several other nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be Saturday, September 6, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Haysi Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Denver Barton officiating. Burial will follow in the Duty Cemetery at Bee. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family received friends after 6 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home, where a song service was held at 7 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Nelle C. Johnson ABINGDON -- Nelle C. Johnson, age 86, a resident of Abingdon, went to be with the Lord Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was a lifelong member of the Shady Grove United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the church choir and WMU. She was very active with Abingdon Senior Citizens and was a volunteer for the American Heart Association and the March of Dimes. Nelle was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Andrews and Belle Victoria Blevins, a daughter, Loretta J. Warren, a son, Bobby Allen Johnson, and a brother, Rex Andrews. Surviving are two sons, John E. Johnson of the home and Troy P. Johnson of Abingdon; three daughters, Annabelle Poe and husband Boyd of Abingdon, Judy Bowman and Shelby Miller, both of Oregon; one sister, Gladys Friesland and husband Arthur of Abingdon; a special son-in-law, Paul (Dick) Warren of Abingdon; one grandson; 18 granddaughters; two step-granddaughters; 11 great grandchildren; one special granddaughter-in-law, Laura Poe; three step-great- grandchildren; one special great-great-grandson, Tyler Bralley; five godchildren; special friends, Ruby Harless and sisters, and many loving friends. Funeral services for Nelle Johnson will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, in the Shady Grove United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Don Watkins and the Rev. Gary Harless officiating. Burial will follow in the Sinking Spring Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Harless, Sam Otey, Rickie Henry, Bo Boyd, Luther Bussey and David McCall. Honorary pallbearers will be Dewey Roe, Gilbert Grubb and the men of Shady Grove United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at Campbell Funeral Home on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 7-9 p.m. The family will be at the residence of Annabelle and Boyd Poe, 19387 Lake Road, Abingdon. Flowers are appreciated but those who wish may make memorial contributions to Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 329 Whites Mills Road, Abingdon, VA 24210. The family would also like to express their deep appreciation to the caregivers, Jill, Beverly, Mary, Sylvia, Jennifer, Shirley and Kim, and also the 3rd Floor staff at the Johnston Memorial Hospital. Those wishing to leave an expression of sympathy online may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of arrangements. Rebecca E. Kell SEVEN MILE FORD, Va. -- Rebecca E. Kell, age 91, widow of Henry A. "Lon" Kell, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in the Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion. She was born in Smyth County to the late William Marshall Doane and Nannie Elizabeth Harris Doane and was preceded in death by four sisters, Onie Mae DeBord, Virginia Doane, Mary "Sis" Carrico and Ruth Olinger. Three brothers also preceded her in death, David "Boody" Doane, Henry M. Doane and Henry "Bud" Doane. She was a member of the Chilhowie Church of God. Survivors include one daughter, Lou Verne K. Robinson, Marion; one son and daughter-in-law, Henry A. "H.A." and Gaynell Kell, Marion; half sisters, Betty June Weaver, Chilhowie, Dorothy Toliver, Meadowview, and Nancy Moore, Abingdon; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Chilhowie Church of God, with Rev. James Whitten and Rev, Kenneth Barnes officiating. Interment will follow in Middle Fork Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7- 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Bradley's Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is serving the Kell family. Gary B. Mottern MOOREHAVEN, Fla. -- Gary Brown Mottern, age 53, passed away on Aug. 22, 2003, at North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, Fla., after a brief illness. Gary was a native of Bristol Tennessee and a graduate of East High School. He moved to Florida in the early 70's and established his own business, Mottern Projection and Sound Inc., from which he retired. Gary was the son of Mack H. Mottern, Bristol Tennessee, and the late Helen Brown Mottern. Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Ann Mottern, his mother, Helen Brown Mottern, paternal grandparents, Haskell and Evelyn Mottern, and maternal grandparents, Jake and Ora Brown. Gary was an active member of the Mapel Grove Baptist Church in Lakeport, Fla., and an honorary deputy of the sheriff's department in Moorehaven. Gary is survived by his daughter, Lisa Marie Mottern, Deerfield Beach, Fla.; father, Mack H. Mottern, Bristol Tennessee; brother, Steven Mottern and wife Debbie, Kansas City, Mo.; special aunt, Elizabeth (Susie) Barnett and husband Frank, Bristol Tennessee, and special sister-in-law, Gloria Bagley and husband Larry, Pompano Beach. Also surviving are several nieces and cousins. A memorial service will be conducted at Poplar Ridge Christian Church in Piney Flats on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at 3 p.m. There was a memorial service conducted on Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at Maple Grove Baptist Church in Lakeport. Interment will be in the Shelby Hills Cemetery, Bristol Tennessee. Memorials may be sent to Maple Grove Baptist Church, 120 E. State Road, 78 NW, Lakeport, FL 33471 or Poplar Ridge Christian Church, 206 Poplar Ridge Road, Piney Flats, TN 38786 or American Diabetes Association Memorial and Honor Program, P.O. 2680, North Canton, OH 44720. Information courtesy of Weaver Funeral Home, Bristol Tennessee. Pansy Robinette BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Pansy Robinette, age 90, a resident of Bristol Nursing Home, passed away Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Robinette was born on Sept. 7, 1912, in Shady Valley, Tenn., a daughter of the late Grover C. and Lilly Thompson Walker. Mrs. Robinette had lived most of her life in the Bristol area, was retired from Calvary Baptist Church and was a seamstress at Jacobs Creek Job Corps. She was a member of the Women's Circle Group at Marthina Chapel, and was preceded in death by her husband, Preston George Robinette. Mrs. Robinette is survived by three daughters and one son-in-law, Louise White, Carolyn Woods and Elizabeth Mueller and husband Joe; five sons and daughters-in- law, Ray Robinette and wife Barbara, Allen Robinette and wife Peggy, Fred Robinette and wife Ann, Robert Robinette and wife Judy and George Robinette and wife Kathleen; sister and brother-in-law, Rose Campbell and husband Haskel; 27 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; 58 great-great-grandchildren and 10 great- great-great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Dewey Kerr officiating. Graveside service will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Tri-Cities Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 until 7:45 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Louise Rutherford HONAKER -- Funeral services for Mrs. Louise Elizabeth Jamison Rutherford will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Mike Ward and Rev. Chris Musick officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Casket bearers will be Byron Jones, Bryan Rutherford, Phillip Rutherford, Dennis "Dink" Shortt Jr., Edward "Ed" Popyk, Travis Ratliff, Mike Wilson, Harry Robert Campbell, Herbert Jamison and Harry Salsberry. Honorary casket bearers will be employees of Modern Chevrolet Sales Inc. and members of the Eastern Star. Flowers will be deeply appreciated, but memorials may be made to the Honaker First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 748, Honaker, VA 24260, New Garden Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 966, Honaker, VA 24260 or the charity of your choice. Mrs. Rutherford, age 91, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at her home. Cleve Shipley Cleve Shipley, 80, died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at Cleveland Care and Rehabilitation Center in Cleveland, Tenn., after a brief illness. Born in Sullivan County, Tenn., he had resided in Fall Branch since 1946. He retired from Tennessee Eastman Company with over 40 years of service, having worked in the Chemicals Division. Mr. Shipley was a member of Fall Branch United Methodist Church, Kingsport Moose Lodge 978 and a member of the Shipley Brothers Bluegrass Band. He had also sung in the Eternals Gospel Group. Preceding him in death were his parents, Thomas Birdsie and Ida Shipley, his wife, Eunice W. Shipley, a son, Dwain Shipley, and three brothers, Claude, Cecil and Clay Shipley. Surviving are one daughter, Sandra (Sandy) Sodemann, Cleveland; four brothers, Robert Shipley, Chester "Cotton" Shipley, Clarence "Bill" Shipley and Birdsie "June" Shipley, all of Kingsport; several nieces and nephews and a brother-in- law, Howard Wayne Wheelock and wife, Peggy, Abingdon. Calling hours 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Fall Branch Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Don Brummett officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Joe Shipley, Tom Shipley, Mike Shipley, Donald Shipley, Keith Shipley, Bobbie Shipley, Johnny Travis and R.J. Duncan. Honorary pallbearers will be Dwight Morrison, James "Mutt" Morrison, Roy Lee Dykes and Kermit Davis Jr. Memorial contributions may be made to Fall Branch United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Jerry Deakins, 272 Melody Lane, Fall Branch, TN 37656. Clarence Sturgill MARION -- Clarence "C.R." Sturgill, age 75, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in Francis Marion Manor. Mr. Sturgill was of the Protestant faith. He worked for Marion Laundry Company for many years and was retired from Smyth Equipment Company. Mr. Sturgill was a veteran of the Korean conflict, having served in the U.S. Army, and was a member of VFW Post 4667. He was also an avid fisherman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence R. and Mary G. Sturgill, and a brother, Billy Sturgill. Mr. Sturgill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sadie Powell Sturgill of Marion; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Twyleene and Joe Sayers and Glenna and Henry Evans, all of Marion; one brother and sister-in-law, Charles "Whitie" and Polly Sturgill of Marion, and several nieces and nephews also survive. Graveside services will be held Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Round Hill Cemetery, Marion, with Rev. William T. Wing III officiating. At his request, there will be no visitation. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Hospice of Southwestern Virginia, 600 West Ridge Road, Wytheville, VA 24382 or to Children's Home of the Highlands, P.O. Box 545, Wytheville, VA 24382. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service is serving the Sturgill Family. Carl James Welch BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Carl James Welch, age 81, passed away Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at his residence. Mr. Welch was a native of Gilbertsville, N.Y., was the son of the late Charles and Inza Welch, and of the Holiness faith. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving during World War II, and was a retired mechanic. He was preceded in death by one sister, Lawanda Hulbert. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Dorothy Emmert Welch; one daughter, Linda Trivette of Bristol Tennessee; three sons, Gary L. Welch of Abingdon, Dennis Welch of Bristol Tennessee, and Michael Welch of Bluff City; one sister, Genny Dzuibek of Norwich, N.Y.; two brothers, Charles W. Welch of South New Berlin, N.Y.; David Welch of Red Creek, N.Y.; also surviving are six grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, in Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Jessie Neal and Rev. Jimmy Epperson officiating. Military graveside services will be 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, in the Ordway Cemetery, conducted by Highlands Fellowship Church Veterans Honor Color Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Morrell, David Blevins, Louis Watson, Louis Smith, Gary Rosenbalm, Rex Gentry, Lee Roy Dixon, Don Rasnick, Roncie Emmert, Richard Welch and Kermit Belvins. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Sunday prior to the service at the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Weaver Funeral Home, 630 Locust St., Bristol, TN 37620. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Welch. Gaynell C. Wicks RAVEN, Va. -- Mrs. Gaynell Cantrell Wicks, age 59, of Mill Creek Road, passed away Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at her home following a brief illness. Born in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late Jessie William and Gladys Newberry Cantrell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Mrs. Oma Horn. She is survived by her husband, Otis Roscoe Wicks; one son, Terry Wicks of Freeburn, Ky.; one daughter, Kathy Miller and husband Kennith of Raven; two brothers, Kermit Cantrell of Richlands and Charlie Cantrell of Warsaw, Ind.; one sister, Mrs. Virgil (Alice) Rose of Claypool Hill, Va., and two grandchildren, Jakob Wicks and Brandon Lee Miller. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, with Rev. Dennis White officiating. Burial will follow in the Newberry Cemetery at Raven. Pallbearers will be John Hall, Alfred Wicks, Edgar Wicks, Ralph Whited, Roger Whited, Donald Miller and Joey Miller. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. E-mail condolences may be sent to singleton@netscope.net. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Wicks family. Willie Williams BIG STONE GAP -- Willie Williams, 90, passed away Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at Norton Community Hospital. He was born in Scott County, lived most of his life in Big Stone Gap and had lived in Pound for the past five years. He was a retired coal miner and a member of UMWA District 28, Local 6354. He was a member of West End Baptist Church in Big Stone Gap. He was preceded in death by his wife, Geneva June Williams, and a daughter, Angela Owens. Surviving are three sons, Philip Williams, Charlottesville, Francis Williams, Pound, and Danny Williams, Piney Flats; one daughter, Kim Shores, Big Stone Gap; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Holding Funeral Home in Big Stone Gap. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday in the Holding Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Holding Funeral Home is in charge.