Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, October 26, 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 Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003 Today's Deaths Hiram Love Bailey, 89, Gray, Tenn. William Vance Blevins, 66 Rhonda Jean Brady, 39, Madison, Ga. Marlin Henry Honaker, 39, Buford, Ga. Frank Lawrence Jr., 81, Blountville Ray E. Manuel, 82, Damascus Gary Vonn Rhymer, 52, Bristol Tennessee Arthur Lee Sexton, 61 Kenneth Eugene Thompson, 60, Olney, Texas Helen Marie Kelly Ward, 88, Saltville -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiram Love Bailey GRAY, Tenn. – Mr. Hiram Love Bailey, age 89, 348 Old Gray Station Road, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, in the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tenn. Mr. Bailey was a Unicoi County native having lived in Gray since 1986. He was a son of the late James D. and Essie Bailey. Mr. Bailey was a World War II Army veteran having served in the European Theater. He retired from Hoover Ball as mechanic in 1978, after 19 years of service. Mr. Bailey was a member of the Erwin Church of Christ, where he had served as an elder for several years. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Frankie Bailey, two brothers and three sisters. Survivors include his wife, Rachel Peters Bailey; five sons and four daughters- in-law, Carl M. and Margaret Bailey, Johnson City, Luther W. “Joe” and Jeanne Bailey and Alvin Bailey, all of Gray, Jess C. and Marylyn Bailey and Raymond and Faye Bailey, all of Erwin; three daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia L. and Gene Bailey and Hazel L. and Michael Jeter, all of Gray, and Marie N. and Charles Nave, Blountville; stepbrother and sister-in-law, Milton and Nellie Cole, Bakersville, N.C.; 22 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, great- great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral service for Mr. Bailey will be held at 8 p m. Monday from the Erwin Church of Christ, 710 Rock Creek Road, Erwin. Minister Clayton Winters, Minister Phillip Mullins and Minister Dan Bailey will officiate. Music will be provided by the Erwin Church of Christ Congregation. Graveside service and interment will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Roselawn Memory Gardens, Johnson City. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and are requested to assemble at the church by 7:30 p.m. Monday and at the cemetery by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Family, ministers and friends may gather at the cemetery by 10:50 a.m. Tuesday. The body will be placed in the church by 3 p.m. Monday. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church and other times at the residence, 348 Old Gray Station Road, Gray, and at the residence of a son, Mr. Jess C. (Marylyn) Bailey, 904 Mountain View Road, Erwin. Erwin Memorial Funeral Home, 1015 N. Main Avenue, Erwin, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. (423) 743-1380. Violet Baker CLINTWOOD – Graveside services for Violet Baker will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Baker Cemetery, Baker Ridge Section, Clintwood. Pallbearers: grandsons, Kenny Newberry, Jeff Newberry, Greg Baker, Mike Baker, Chuck Baker, Shane Baker, Alex Baker and Josh Baker. Honorary pallbearers: Russell Phipps, Leonard Fletcher, Effie Molinary, Ron Phipps, granddaughters, Tammy Canter, Kim Newberry, Rhonda Lee Poston, Robin Davis, Melissa Hayes, Christy Fleming, Misty Stanley, Tina Hillman, Amy Lynn Smith, Stephanie Jean Martin and Jennifer Ann Baker. Mrs. Baker, age 84, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003. William V. Blevins William Vance “Bill” Blevins, age 66, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at his home. He was a native of Bristol Virginia, son of the late Paul Vance and Janie Anderson Blevins. He was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps serving in Korea and Vietnam and a 2-year retiree of Raytheon. He attended Vance Bible Church. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Debra A. Blevins; daughter, Tammara B. Hamilton, Lexington, Va.; sons, William V. Blevins Jr. and wife Cheryl D. Blevins, Lynchburg, Va., Dean Ryan Blevins, Bristol Tennessee, Kevin Ashley Blevins, Jacksonville, Fla., and William Russell Blevins, Savannah, Ga.; grandchildren, Crystal Gail Jansen and Jacob Mitchell Jansen, and great- grandson, Orlando Johnson. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday in Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Greg Kain and Mike Davis officiating. Graveside military honors conducted by U.S. Marine Reserve will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers: Gene Whitaker, William Gregory, Larry Mullins, Eddie Guffey, David Walworth and Ben Hamilton. Honorary pallbearers: Dave Davis and Jon Jones. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Rhonda Jean Brady MADISON, Ga. – Rhonda Jean Brady, 39, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, in Atlanta. Mrs. Brady was a former resident of Coeburn. Survivors include her husband, Virgil Brady Jr.; her parents, James Luther and Mary Louise Sturgill Ellis; daughter, Lindy Marie Brady, Madison; son, Justin Ray Brumitt, Norton; three brothers, Robert Ellis, John Ellis and Huey Lee Ellis, all of Coeburn, and several nephews and several nieces. Funeral services for Rhonda Jean Brady will be held Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Estes Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Clifford Bowman officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Coeburn. Visitation will be held at Estes Funeral Home on Monday after 6 p.m. Estes Funeral Home Inc., (276) 395-2441. Victoria Carr BRISTOL, Tenn. – Entombment service for Victoria “Vicki” Carr will be 4 p.m. Sunday in Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacon board of Fellowship Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. Carr, age 77, went to be with her Heavenly Father Friday, Oct. 24, 2003. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Virgie E. Church CLINTWOOD, Va. – Virgie Elizabeth Church, age 96, went home to be with the Lord at the home of a daughter in South Point, Ohio, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003. She was the daughter of the late Aaron Lee and Martha Jane Vanover Church. She was born in Dickenson County, Va., March 25, 1907, the daughter of the late Aaron B. Vanover and Jane Hall Vanover and was a member of the Pound Fork Primitive Baptist Church in Clintwood for 57 years. Other than her parents, her husband, Elder Volley Church, a son, Kendall Church, brother, Edwin Vanover, and three grandchildren, Glenda S. Riley, James Church and Kenneth Church, preceded her in death. Surviving are two sons, Haster and Avery Church, Columbus, Ohio; six daughters, Ina Jean Hill and husband Shelton, Clintwood, Velva Mullins and husband Bill of Wise, Connie Sharon Mullins and husband Roger of South Point, Edna Brooks and Lorene Carter, both of Clintwood, and Nettie Riley of Stewartstown, Pa.; one sister, Velva Vanover of Clintwood; 36 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Virgie E. Church will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, from the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel, with Elders Roger Fuller, Ronnie Rose and Joel Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Phipps Memorial Cemetery, Clintwood. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and deacons of the church will serve as honorary pallbearers. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Myra R. Cross BRISTOL, Tenn. – Myra Ruth Cross, age 93, went to be with the Lord Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at her home. She was born July 24, 1910, to the late Azor Wilson Taylor and Martha Greer Taylor and was the widow of Ralph Cross. She was a charter member of Bethel View Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for nearly 40 years. Mrs. Cross was the oldest living member of Bethel View Baptist Church. Survivors include four daughters, Joann Cooper and husband Ralph, Judy Tolbert and husband John, Carolyn Harr and Barbara Hurt; one son, James Cross and wife Betty; 13 grandchildren; 21 great -grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Committal services will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel. Honorary pallbearers will be David Rice, John Tolbert, Keith Cooper, Ralph Cooper, Mike Tolbert, Scott Harr, Tim Harr, Randy Harr, Tony Cross and Harold Cross. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Marlin H. Honaker BUFORD, Ga. – Marlin Henry Honaker, 39 years of age, formerly of Buchanan County, passed away Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at his home from an apparent heart attack. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of Hattie Yates Prater, Vansant, Va., and the late Lloyd Q. Honaker. He was a resident of Buchanan County several years and was of the Baptist faith. He was a graduate of Hamilton High School and was a fork lift operator. Mr. Honaker is survived by his mother, Hattie Yates Prater, Vansant; one half- sister, Yvonne Lynn Roncelle, War, W.Va., and seven aunts, Rebal Keen, Christine White, Roxie Sain, Allene Yates, Pinkie Rife, Helen Marr and Catherine Goodman. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frenchman Yates, and paternal grandparents, Tom and Lottie Honaker. Funeral services for Marlin Henry Honaker will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003, at 1 p.m. at the Rowe Pentecostal Holiness Church on Garden Creek, with Revs. Ancil Childress and E.C. Honaker officiating, with burial to follow in the Richard and Nancy Coleman Cemetery on Sunset Hollow, Route 1, Vansant. Friends may call at Rowe Pentecostal Holiness Church Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. with services Sunday and Monday evenings at 7 p.m. Active pallbearers will be family and friends. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements. Josephine Ann Horn KING, N.C. – Funeral services for Josephine Ann Horn will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Joe Horn and Rev. Randy Webb officiating. Interment will follow in the Salyers Cemetery on Smith Ridge, Va. Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mrs. Horn, age 60, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003, at her home in North Carolina. Jenner Johnson Graveside services for William Jenner Johnson IV will be Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at 11 a.m. in East Lawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Freddy Dillard, David Cox, Alan Ensor, Mike Murray, Darrel Gillespie, Lewis Markham, Jeremy Carr and Bo Carr. Honorary pallbearers: Chris Bowen, Jerramie Bowen, Steve Price, Lloyd Baker, Ken Hale, Pat Hilton, Eric Waskowski, David Whaley, Doug Street, Danny Edwards, Harley Horton, Chris Blair, Shannon Carr, Fred Cope, Phil Hileman and Lil P. Hileman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Scholarship Fund for daughter Aleisha, c/o of Bank of Tennessee, 1708 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport, TN 37664. Please visit our Web site at www.mem.com to place your tribute to Jenner’s life or a condolence to the family. Mr. Johnson, age 44, was called home to Heaven Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23, 2003, in the presence of his family at Indian Path Medical Center after a sudden illness. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Johnson family. Memelee Moore Jones SALTVILLE – Mrs. Memelee “Mem” Moore Jones, age 82, passed from this life Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at Valley Health Care Center in Chilhowie. She was the widow of William Thomas Jones. Born April 25, 1921, in Smyth County, she was the daughter of the late Dewey Lee Moore and Estella Smith Moore. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Genevieve Moore Callen, and two brothers, Marvin Dewey Moore and James Shannon Moore. She was a member of the Madam Russell United Methodist Church in Saltville. Survivors: one son, William Harry Jones of Columbia, S.C.; three brothers, Morris Everett Moore of Martinsville, Va., Ronald David Moore of Collinsville, Va., and Thomas Sanders Moore of Andrews, N.C.; three granddaughters, D’Jana Backman, Patty Henderson and Vickie Jones, all of Lexington, S.C.; seven great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Jones will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, at Henderson Funeral Home, with Pastor Janet Richardson officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Rose Cemetery in Glade Spring. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Jones family. Frank Lawrence Jr. BLOUNTVILLE – Frank Lawrence Jr., age 81, of 455 Central Heights Road, passed away Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003, at 1:50 a.m. at the Indian Path Medical Center. Junior was born March 1, 1922, in Chapel Hill, Tenn., and was a son of the late Frank Lawrence Sr. and Mattie (Forbes) Lawrence. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and was retired from Times DC. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Lillian Rickman. Junior is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Christine (Rodefer) Lawrence of the home; his daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Randy Whitaker of Blountville; his sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Nancy Lawrence of Tullahoma, Tenn., James B. and Donna Lawrence of Hermitage, Tenn., and Jack and Kathy Lawrence of McDonough, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at the East Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 8 p.m. Monday in the East Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Stan Anderson officiating. Family and friends will meet at the Immanuel Cemetery for a graveside service at 11 a. m. Tuesday. Please visit us online at www.mem.com to place a condolence to the family. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Lawrence family. Ray E. Manuel DAMASCUS – Ray E. Manuel, age 82, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003, at Grace Health Care in Abingdon. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family Mr. Manuel. Walker McMurray BLOUNTVILLE – Family and friends of Walker “Jr.” McMurray will meet at Gardner’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church and will proceed to the McMurray family cemetery, Hiltons, at 2 p.m. Sunday for a graveside service, with full military honors conducted by the American Legion Post 3/265. Pallbearers will be nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Neeley, Dwight Johnson and Eddie Burk. Please visit us online at www.mem.com to place a tribute to the family. Mr. McMurray, age 67, went to be with his Lord at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003, in the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Mountain Home, Tenn., following a period of declining health. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the McMurray family. Avrie Clarence Mullins CLINTWOOD, Va. – Funeral services for Avrie Clarence Mullins will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday from the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel, with ministers Joe Glenn Sluss and Clinus Reed officiating. Burial will follow in the Patton Mullins Cemetery, Caney Ridge. Military graveside services will be conducted by VFW Post 8979, DAV Chapter 35 and American Legion Post 227 in Clintwood. Mr. Mullins, age 70, died at Wellmont Bristol Regional Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003. James W. Neeley DAVENPORT, Va. – Funeral services for James W. “Nidge” Neeley will be conducted 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Rev. Troy Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the Breeding Cemetery, Davenport, where American Legion Post 164 of Grundy will conduct military graveside rites. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Neeley, age 60, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003, at Heritage Hall Health Care in Grundy. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Gary Vonn Rhymer BRISTOL, Tenn. – Gary Vonn Rhymer, age 52, passed away on Saturday Oct. 25, 2003, at his residence. He was the son of Clinton Glenn and Anna Bill Bowers Rhymer and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include wife of 33 years, Karen Jean Allender Rhymer; daughters, Christine Lynn Rhymer and Traci Erin Rhymer Chafin and husband Brian, all of Bristol Tennessee; brother, Clifton Vance Rhymer; sisters, Patsy Bentley, Jeraldine Davis, Connie Holcomb and Renee Smith, all of Bristol Tennessee, and grandchildren, Chanse Chafin and Seth Chafin. He was preceded in death by a sister, Lonnie Hale. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Paul Rouse and Rev. Jimmy Epperson officiating. Committal services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Tri-City Memory Gardens. Honorary pallbearers include Ralph Pendergrass, Haynes Jenkins, Bill Sons, Richard Hodge, Bobby Goodson, Bruno Rampazzo and John Ross. The family will receive friends on Monday 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. Arthur Lee Sexton Arthur (Bill) Lee Sexton, 61, passed away Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003, in the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleveland and Nora Sexton, three brothers, James, Garland and Rutherford, and two sisters, Bonnie and Georgia. Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Edwina Eileen and William Minor of Coeburn; a grandson, Nathan Minor of Coeburn; a brother, Fred Sexton of California; a sister, Beulah Osborne of Pound, Va.; a close friend, Geneva Sexton of Coeburn, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening, with Pastor Jim Smith and Pastor Gary Hill officiating. Graveside services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at the Sexton Cemetery, Coeburn. The family and friends will meet at the graveside for services. The family will receive friends Sunday evening after 6 p.m. until time of services at the Sturgill Funeral Home, Coeburn. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Coeburn, is in charge of arrangements. Kenneth E. Thompson OLNEY, Texas – Kenneth Eugene Thompson, age 60, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, at an Olney hospital. Mr. Thompson was born Feb. 11, 1943, in Tazewell, Va., to the late Floyd Lee and Grace Lester Thompson. He was a retired U.S. Air Force administrative technician. Mr. Thompson was a past member of the Odd Fellow Lodge in Anadarko, Okla. He moved to Olney in 2000 from Anadarko and was a member of the Church of God. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Thompson; two sons, Kenneth E. Thompson Jr. and Chad Thompson; one daughter, Tracie Thompson; one brother, George L. Thompson of Bristol Tennessee; two sisters, Margaret Alice Snavely and special brother-in-law Sam Snavely of Bristol Virginia and Betty Louise Hahn of Wilmington, Del.; two nephews and six nieces. Graveside services were held Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003, in the Restland Cemetery in Olney. Information courtesy of Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, Tenn., (423)989-4800. Helen Ward SALTVILLE – Helen Marie Kelly Ward, age 88, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at her home in Saltville. Born Dec. 16, 1914, daughter of the late William Monroe Kelly and Clara Isabel Gilbert Kelly, the oldest and last of four daughters, she was also preceded in death by two daughters, Shelby Lorraine Burch and Daphne Rhea Ward. Mrs. Ward was a member of McCready United Methodist Church, a cook at the McCready Head Start for many years, where she was known to the children as “grandmother” or “Miss Ward.” Survivors: two daughters, Joan Puckett and husband George, Southern Pines, N.C., and Grayson MacDonald and husband Bob, Charlotte, N.C.; two sons, Robert Leslie Ward and wife Nellie, Fincastle, Va., and Blaine Ward and wife Pat, Saltville; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at Henderson’s Funeral Home, with Rev. John Roe officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabeth Cemetery in Saltville. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6 till 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the McCready United Methodist Church Building Fund. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Ward family. June Sheffield York BRISTOL, Va. – Funeral services for June Sheffield York will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, at 3 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Joe Hudson officiating. Committal services will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers include Ron Dupriest, Dale Whitman, Paul Whisman, Ron Smallwood, Glen Goad and Gene Kistner. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. York, age 82, passed away on Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.