Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 15, 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 Monday, September 15, 2003 Today's Deaths Grace Estelle Thomas Hamm, 67, Chilhowie Ford Patterson Murph, 80, Kingsport Inez Schoch Powers, 100, Clinchburg, Va. Larry B. Smith, 55, Clintwood Joe Lewis Spurrier, 76, North Tazewell, Va. Raymond C. Taylor, Bristol Tennesee Charles Edward Webb, 75, Charlotte, N.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grace T. Hamm CHILHOWIE -- Grace Estelle Thomas Hamm, 67, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2003, at her home. She was the daughter of Pansy Harris Thomas and the late Lee Thomas. Besides her father, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherry Stamper, and a granddaughter, Savannaha Stamper. Besides her mother, she is survived by her husband, James Howard Hamm; three sons, Howard (Sonny) Hamm, Phillip Hamm and Danny Hamm, all of Chilhowie; two daughters, Judy Hamm Haga, Konnarock, Va., and Michelle Hamm Clatterbuck, Marion; two brothers, Donald Thomas, Saltville, and Jimmy Thomas, Marion; three sisters, Jean Thomas, Marion, Mary Feeny, Martinsville, and Kay Hutton, Chilhowie, and 10 grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Williams Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Gene Little officiating. Burial will be in the Grosses Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Williams Funeral Home. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is in charge of arrangements. Teresa Lunsford NORTON -- Funeral services for Teresa Gay Lunsford will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday in Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Robert Fultz Jr., Rev. Eddie Fultz and Dr. Tom Renfro officiating. Burial will follow in the American Legion Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Freedom of Worship Church, P.O. Box 386, Norton, VA 24273. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Mrs. Lunsford, 57, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, in Norton Community Hospital. Lee Roy Mitchell HAYSI -- Funeral services for Lee Roy Mitchell will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Elders Jerry Newsome, Eddie Newsome, Danny Yates, David O'quinn and Earl Dean Yates officiating. Burial will follow in the Blankenship Cemetery. Pallbearers will be James Deel, Brad Deel, Blaine Deel, Roby Fuller, Jimmy Yates and Doug Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell, age 63, of Route 2, passed away Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, at his residence. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Van Clovis Mullins CLINTWOOD -- Funeral services for Van Clovis Mullins will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at the Clintwood Funeral Home, with Brother Louis Mullins officiating. Burial will follow at the Mullins Family Cemetery, Route 2, Clintwood. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Mr. Mullins, age 67, passed away Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, at his home. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Ford Murph KINGSPORT -- Ford Patterson Murph, 80, went to be with the Lord early Sunday, September 14, 2003, at Indian Path Medical Center. He was a native of Concord, N.C., and resided in Kingsport most of his life. Mr. Murph retired from Tennessee Eastman Chemical Company after 45 years. He was U. S. Army veteran serving during World War II. Mr. Murph was a member of the Charles DeWitt Byrd Post 3382 of the VFW and the American Legion Post 3/265. He was a member of Crossroads United Methodist Church. His parents, H. B. Murph Sr. and Laura Stough Murph, stepmother, Myrtle Murph, sister, Catherine Deifenderfer, half sister, Sara Alice Murph, and nephew, Charles Deifenderfer, preceded him in death. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Noleka N. Murph; son and daughter-in-law, Mark W. and Jo Ann Murph, Johnson City; daughter and son-in-law, Lanna M. and Stan Taylor, Anderson, S.C., and grandchildren, Shanna E. Elgin, Belton, S.C., Jaeda Burkey, Johnson City, and David Murph, Johnson City. Calling hours will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport. Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Mark Fleenor and Rev. Ray Mullins officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Oak Hill Memorial Park by Charles DeWitt Byrd Post 3382 of the VFW. Memorial contributions maybe made to Crossroads United Methodist Church, 200 Bays Cove Trail, Kingsport, TN 37660 or the American Heart Association P.O. Box 985, Kingsport, TN 37662. Inez Schoch Powers CLINCHBURG, Va. -- Mrs. Inez Schoch Powers, age 100, passed away Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Eugene Schoch and John Powers, two sons, Milton and Marvin Schoch, and one daughter, Mildred Beavers. She is survived by two sons, Glen A. Schoch, Clinchburg, and Clifford Schoch, Baltimore; daughter, Dorothy Hoover, Richmond; sister, Pearl Holdiway, Marion; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services for Mrs. Powers will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Mahanaim Cemetery, with Rev. Scott Spence officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Powers family. Larry B. Smith CLINTWOOD -- Larry B. Smith, age 55, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, at the Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital, Norton. He was life long resident of Clintwood and a 1969 graduate of the Clintwood High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during the Vietnam conflict. He was a member of the Lick Fork Freewill Baptist Church and was preceded in death by a sister, Janice Abraham. He is survived by his wife, Jequita Smith; one son, Warren Allen Smith, Taylorsville, N.C.; one daughter, Rachelynne Chyela Smith, Clintwood; two granddaughters, Bailey Cheyann Smith and Cynthia Bryanna Smith, and one brother, James A. Smith, Clintwood. Funeral services for Larry Smith will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, at the Clintwood Funeral Home, with Minister Terry Price officiating. Burial will follow at the Phipps Memorial Cemetery, Clintwood. Pallbearers will be Josh Dingus, James Hubert Smith, Richard Smith, Russ Fleming, Ricky Mullins and Vester Woods. Honorary pallbearers: Albert Large, Rufus Horton, Glen Stanley, Art Mayes, Houston Chester, Ronnie Mooney and Mickey Mullins. Friends may call after 6 p.m. at the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel, with a song service at 7 p.m. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Joe Lewis Spurrier NORTH TAZEWELL, Va. -- Joe Lewis Spurrier, age 76, of 312 King St., died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, at his home following a long illness. Born Dec. 30, 1926, in Vivian, W.Va., he was a son of the late James Ira and Ruby Nuckolls Spurrier. He was member of the Central Church of Christ in Baptist Valley, Va. Mr. Spurrier was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, the American Legion Post 0133 of Tazewell, Va., and the Tazewell Moose Lodge. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Joseph (Jay) Ira Spurrier and Lewis Benton (Bud) Spurrier, and two brothers, George Spurrier and Junior Spurrier. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marjorie (Mickey) Dalton Spurrier; one son, James Lee Spurrier of North Tazewell; daughter-in-law, Teri Spurrier of Tazewell; granddaughters, Heather Baker and her husband Clyde of Bluefield, W.Va., and Joanna Spurrier of Abbs Valley, Va.; three sisters, Lila Lee Snead of Limestone, Tenn., Marge Tamaska and her husband Joe of Kettering, Ohio, and Hope Mills; three great-grandchildren, Russell Baker, Jessica Baker and Jean Baker, all of Bluefield, and aunt, Bill Tate of Bristol Virginia. The family will receive friends at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m. Monday. Sept. 15, 2003, where a funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m., with Walter Schwitzerlett officiating. Committal services and entombment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, at Grandview Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Bluefield, Va. Pallbearers will be Terry Long, Clyde Baker, Rocky Hill, Howard Cordle, Tommy Williamson and Rocky Hill Jr. Those attending the committal service are asked to meet at the funeral home by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003. Raymond C. Taylor BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Raymond C. "Dink" Taylor, master sergeant (retired), of 172 Crescent Drive, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, at the Wellmont Hospice House. He was born in Bristol Virginia the son of the late Raymond C. Taylor Sr. and Evelyn Sheffey Taylor. He was a retired master sergeant with the U.S. Air Force and after his retirement was employed by Tri-City Bank and Murray Guard. Mr. Taylor was a member of Central Holston Christian Church. Survivors include wife of 39 years, Carolyn Lambert Taylor; son, Michael B. Taylor and wife Tracy of Bluff City; daughter, Holly Taylor Warren and husband Jimmy of Piney Flats; granddaughter, Jennifer Warren; grandsons, Zachary Kiser, Christopher Kiser, Benjamin Taylor and Jeremy Ray Taylor, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Ken Kehrer officiating. Committal services will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the National Cemetery in Mountain Home, Tenn. Military honors will be presented by the Highlands Fellowship Honor Color Guard. The family will receive friends on Monday from 5-6:45 prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Holston Christian Church Building Fund, 261 Sand Bar Road, Bristol, Tenn., or to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele's Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Phyllis I. Warren BRISTOL, Va. -- Phyllis I. Warren, captain MSC USN (retired), 73, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. She was a native of Bristol Virginia and was the daughter of the late James Garland and Lola Wheeler Warren. She was a graduate of Virginia High School, Virginia Intermont College, the University of Kentucky and the University of Berkeley. She was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, from which she retired after 28 years of dedicated service. She was a naval officer and an honorary master chief petty officer. In 1961, at age 32, she earned her master of science degree in microbiology from the University of Kentucky, where she also completed her undergraduate studies and chose the Navy over the Army and the Air Force. While stationed in Oakland, Calif., from 1973 to 1981, she was selected to become not only an honorary chief petty officer, but also senior chief, then master chief. She rose to become a plankowner in the newly established Navel Medical Command, European Region, London, in 1983. Upon her return in 1985 from overseas, she served at the Naval Health Sciences Education and Training Command as the executive officer. She was one of the first women to attain the rank of captain in the Medical Service Corps and was the executive officer and, at the same time, the commanding officer of the Naval School of Health Sciences from Oct., 1988, to May, 1989. Her last tour of duty was at NSHS, where she served as a department head, executive officer, commanding officer and again as the executive officer. A news article published the day of Capt. Phyllis Warren's retirement ceremony, Aug. 31, 1989, reflects testimonials of her character and dedication. "It is only when others speak of Warren that the impact of her being a female captain is understood." NSHS Administrative Officer Lieutenant Commander James McDonough, MSC, USN, stated, "She is the senior female officer in the Medical Service Corps. Currently, there are only two other females in the MSC who hold the rank of captain." One of the other female captains, Capt. Sallee Kafer, MSC, USN, remarked, "She paved the way for the rest of us to follow." As seems fitting, it was the command Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Robert Grimm who was able to sum up Warren most succinctly, "She is without a doubt the fairest, most sincere, most loyal person that I know." In other words, she was a walking advertisement for all that is good about the Navy. Capt. Warren is survived by cousins, Eunice M. Wheeler of Bristol Virginia, Herman L. and Betty Wheeler of Bristol Virginia, Toni and Lonnie Ward of Bristol Tennessee, Vickie and John Warden of Bristol Virginia, Kevin and Diane Wheeler of Bristol Virginia. Jan and Lisa Wheeler of Chattanooga, Tenn., Marcie, Micki, Steve, Matthew, Josh, Melanie, Jason R., Trevor, Todd, Angie and Jason, and many special friends. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the graveside in Shelby Hills Cemetery, with military rites. Pallbearers will be Mark Harless, Steve Blair, Matthew Wheeler, Jason Wheeler, Jason Warden and Josh Holland. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at Akard Funeral Home or at anytime at 40 Virginia Dr., Bristol, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Bristol Humane Society, P.O. Box 1586, Bristol, VA 24203 or Theatre Bristol, 506 State St., Bristol, TN 37620. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423)989-4800, is serving the family of Miss Warren. Claude Edward Webb CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Claude Edward Webb, age 75, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, at his residence. He was born on Sept. 8, 1928, in Bristol Tennessee, the son of the late Walter James and Maxie Cox Webb. He was a driver with Johnson Motor Lines in Charlotte from 1958 until 1980. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a driver, retiring in 1993. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Watauga Lodge 622 and a member of the Oasis Shrine Temple. Survivors include wife, Olivene Webb; daughters, Lynn Dixon and husband Gary of Waxhaw, N.C., Anita Jackson and husband Jerry of Charlotte and Gail Barksdale and husband Greg of Marion, N.C.; brothers, James W. Webb, Billy Jack Webb and Allen Webb, all of Bluff City, and grandchildren, Jason Jackson, Jeremy Jackson, Alexis Barksdale and Sarah Barksdale. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at 11 a.m. at McEwen- Charlotte Chapel. Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery with Masonic rites. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Crippled and Burned Children, c/o Oasis Temple of Shrine, 604 Daniel Burnham Way, Charlotte, NC 28213. Arrangements by McEwen Funeral Services, Charlotte. Information provided by Weaver Funeral Home. Eva Jean Webb LEBANON -- The funeral service for Eva Jean Webb will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with Pastor Jean Layell and the Rev. Larry Beavers officiating. Burial will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Mrs. Webb, 71, of Route 3, went to be with our Savior, Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, in the Russell County Medical Center. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Webb.