Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, November 21, 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 Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 Today's Deaths William Franklin Bingham, 63, Salem Virginia Lee Bondurant, 88 Vickie L. Carter, 48, Blountville June Colley, 82, Haysi William R. Estep, 78, Wise Tronie Stewart Fleenor, 63, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Merrel Sue French, 63, Clintwood Betty Jane Taylor Gent, 71, Lebanon Mildred Jeanette Guy, 70, Bristol Tennessee Margaret Dale Hockett Henderson, Abingdon Shirley Faye Hopson, 47, Grundy Marvin Patrick, 59, Abingdon Billy Richardson, 49, Marion Tracy Howard Shumate, 66, King, N.C. Clifford Stephens, 72, Abingdon Tyler Ray Stringer, seven months, Bristol Tennessee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William F. Bingham SALEM – Will-iam Franklin Bingham, 63, died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, in the VA Medical Center, Salem. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Sarah B. Sword and Vivian Parsons. Survivors include two sisters, Hazel Tolman, Atlanta, and Georgia and Charlotte Ralfalski, Imlay City, Mich., also several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in Knollkreg Memorial Park, Abingdon, with Rev. Timothy Bird officiating. Interment will follow. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Family and friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is serving the Bingham family. Virginia Bondurant Virginia Lee Bondurant, 88, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Bristol Nursing home. She was born in Winston-Salem, a daughter of the late Charles S. and Lue Harp Lee, and moved to Bristol in 1941 as a nurse with Kings Mountain Hospital. She was the widow George N. Bondurant and was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She is survived by a brother, Bryant W. Lee and his wife Marissa of Winston- Salem; a sister-in-law, Jean Lee of Greensboro, and numerous nieces and nephews of California and North Carolina. The funeral service will be conducted at 10 o’clock Saturday morning in the Heritage Chapel of Memories at Glenwood Cemetery, with the Rev. Dr. Paul Hamilton Fuller IV officiating. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-blevins.com. Mrs. Bondurant is in the care of Oakley-Blevins Funeral Home, 417 Lee St., Bristol, Va. Vickie L. Carter BLOUNTVILLE – The burial for Vickie Lynn Lambert Carter will be held 1 p.m. Friday at the Rooty Branch Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Jones, Eddie Booher, Gary Barringer, Gary Crosswhite, Dr. Ronald Turk and Dr. Darrell Pierce. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. Carter, age 48, of 595 Hwy. 394, went to be with the Lord Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, in the Holston Valley Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Calvin Lee Castle CASTLEWOOD – Committal services for Calvin Lee Castle will held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, in the Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Military rites will be conducted by Highlands Fellowship Veterans Honor Guard of Abingdon. The family will meet at the funeral home and go in procession to the cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Online condolences may be sent to the Castle family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Mr. Castle, 78, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Ann Briscoe Clawson BLUFF CITY – Funeral services for Ann Briscoe Clawson will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Mike Sproles officiating. Burial will follow in the Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Harry Eleas, Keith Crussell, Jeff Turner, Billy Barnett, Billy Robins and Darrell Robins. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. Clawson, age 61, died peacefully at her home after a long illness Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003. Weaver Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Clawson. June Colley HAYSI – June Colley, age 82, of Route 1 (Bartlick), passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at her home. Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of Maude Fuller Mullins and the late Jim Mullins. She was retired from Celanese Plastic Co. and attended the Freewill Baptist church. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter R. Colley Jr., two sisters, Lois Mullins and Violet Presley, and four brothers, Roy, Ronnie and Hal Thomas and Johnny Mullins. In addition to her mother, she is survived by a son, Don Moore of Haysi; two granddaughters, Donna and husband Kevin Curtis of Knoxville and Toni and husband Tim Jarvis of Derbyville, Ohio; four great-grandchildren, Chray, Cody, Jarob and Jobe; four sisters, Lockie and husband Charles Bowman and Sally Willis and friend Charles Damron, all of Columbus, Ohio, Earlene and husband Ira Mullins of Haysi and Sharon and husband Harry Mullins of Galloway, Ohio, and two brothers, James and wife Marylou Mullins of Grove City, Ohio, and Larry and wife Zetta Mullins of Abingdon. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Rev. Danny Sluss officiating. Burial will follow in the Mitchell-Senter Cemetery, Route 1, Haysi. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, where a song service will be held at 7 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Malcolm L. Dutton ABINGDON – Funeral services for Malcolm L. Dutton will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, in the Campbell Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Herbert Bailey and Rev. Jerry A. Eggers officiating. Burial will follow in Knollkreg Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Paul Kingsley, Jack Weaver, Gary Roark, Dr. Robert Hill, Carl Gentry and Frank Blair. The family will receive friends any time at the home of Gary and Gayle Dutton, 26459 Honey Locust Road, Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Mr. Dutton, age 80, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, at the Grace Healthcare and Rehabilitation of Abingdon. Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of the arrangements. William R. Estep WISE – William R. (Bob) Estep, 78, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at his home. He was a retired correctional officer from Camp 18 in Coeburn, a veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, serving in the U.S. Army, and was of the Freewill Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Estep, who passed away Jan. 20, 1999. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Michelle and Patrick Eugene Gilley Sr. of Wise; three sisters, Oma Bledsoe, Pauline Dingus and Gladys Estep, all of Coeburn and three grandchildren, Halee Gilley, Samuel Gilley and Patrick Eugene Gilley Jr. Funeral services for William R. Estep will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with the Rev. Palmer Blevins officiating. Burial will follow in the Boatwright Cemetery in Fort Blackmore, Va.. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Norton VFW Post 4301 of Norton. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Tronie S. Fleenor PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Tronie Stewart Fleenor, age 63, of Pigeon Forge Care and Rehab in Pigeon Forge, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003. She was born March 22, 1940, in Bristol Virginia and lived in Seymour, Tenn. She was a member of the Eusebia Presbyterian Church in Seymour and she was the widow of Gene A. Fleenor. She was also preceded in death by her father, J.T. Stewart, and a sister, Lisa Stewart. Survivors include two daughters, Tanya Kee and husband William and Kimetha Fleenor; mother, Erma McCroskey Stewart; sister, Genevieve Dillow; four grandchildren, Cliff, Stewart, Zach and Caleb, and two nieces, April Dillow and Teri Roberts. Funeral services will be conducted at noon Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Robert Williamson officiating. Burial will follow in the Fleenor Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers will be friends. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 11 to noon Saturday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Merrel Sue French CLINTWOOD – Merrel Sue French, age 63, passed away at Dickenson Community Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, after a lengthy illness. A life-long resident of Dickenson County, she was the daughter of the late Lee and Gustie Hill. Preceding her in death, other than her parents, were husband, Covey J. French Sr., son, Covey French Jr., brothers, Ralph, Ray and Herman, sisters, Maggie Hill and Pauline Jackson, and son-in-law, Jerry Rose. Survivors include husband, Larry French, McClure; sons, Mackie French, Coeburn, Clinton French, Clintwood, and Danny French, McClure; daughters, Brenda Rose and Peggy McFall, Clintwood; brothers, Darrell Hill and Carrol Hill, Clintwood, and Harold Hill McClure; sister, Lillian Fleming, Clintwood, and six grandchildren, Mellisa French, Shamberly French, Jodi McFall, Dakota McFall, Kent French and Denny French. Funeral services for Merrel S. French will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, from the Hill Ridge Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Tam Hill officiating. The body will be taken to the church Friday, where friends may call after 6 p.m., with a service at 7 p.m., with Rev. Darrell Milligram. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow in the Malloy Smith Cemetery, Route 1, McClure. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Frances Mary Fuller NORTON – Funeral services for Frances Mary Fuller will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton, with the Rev. Beecher Dunsmore officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery in Norton, with VFW Post 4301 of Norton conducting military honors. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Miss Fuller, 93, died Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003, at Norton Community Hospital. Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home of Norton is serving the Fuller family. Betty Gent LEBANON – Mrs. Betty Jane Taylor Gent, age 71, passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, in a Richmond hospital. Born Sept. 16, 1932, in Tazewell, she was a daughter of the late James Harvey and Frances Taylor. She was a member of the East Lebanon Free Will Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Levi Gent. Survivors include her son, W.L. Gent of Lebanon; three daughters, Mrs. Ronnie (Billie) Gilbert of Lebanon, Mrs. Dean (Jackie) Lynch of Richmond and Mrs. "Dickie" (Lisa) Cox of Bristol Virginia; one sister, Virgie Osborne of Cleveland, Ohio; four grandchildren, Ms. Paige Lynch, Mr. Cody Lynch, Ms. Taylor Cox and Ms. Madison Cox; three step-grandchildren, Mr. Ronnie Gilbert II, Mr. Terry Gilbert and Ms. Robbie Iseminger; one special niece, Linda Garrett; one special cousin, Hansel Lai, and many friends and family also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Darrell Fletcher officiating. Interment will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon Pallbearers will be Dickie Chaney, Danny Chaney, Jimmy Taylor, Herman Gent, Clyde Garrett and Matthew Ketron. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Mildred J. Guy BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mildred Jeanette (Jean) Guy, age 70, of 107 Mildred Guy Road, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, at her residence. She was the daughter of the late Margaret Louise Graybeal and retired from Triad Packaging in Bristol. Survivors include children, Louise Roark and husband Wiley, Arlene Smithson and husband Ricky, Wanda Gragg and husband Jerry, Bobby Guy and Stephonie Klimpel; grandchildren, Ricky Roberts and wife Rhonda, Melissa Renfro and husband Jeff, Leeann Guy, Eric Gragg and Ashley Gragg; two great-grandchildren, Collin King and Clay Roberts; sisters, Charlotte Bowers of Bristol, Wanda Camper and Nellie Campbell; brothers, Wayne Graybeal, Martin Graybeal, William Graybeal and Herman Graybeal, and very special friend, Liz Short. Mrs. Guy was preceded in death by two brothers, Ervin Graybeal and Roger Graybeal. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at 8 p.m. in the Rooty Branch Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Howard Campbell officiating. Committal services will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Vanover Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at the church. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Margaret Henderson ABINGDON – Margaret Dale Hockett Henderson died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, in the Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul R. Henderson. Margaret recently received the honor of the placement of a statue that portrayed Hestia, the Greek Goddess of the Hearth. Margaret was recognized for her valuable work in the community. Margaret Henderson was a graduate of the Johnston Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and had advanced studies in nursing at the College of William and Mary. She started the first nursing program for the Giles County Health Department in the early 1940s. She came to Washington County Health Department as one of the first nursing supervisors for the Virginia Department of Health. She was instrumental in the piloting of the first home health and mental aftercare programs in Virginia. Margaret Henderson was active in the Virginia Nurses Association, a charter member of the Mattie Roundtree Stephenson Woman’s Club and the Glenrochie Country Club. Margaret was a member of the Barter Theatre Donor’s Circle and the William King Regional Arts Center. She was a member of the Abingdon Baptist Church, where she served as chair person of the Linda Rice Circle and the altar flower committee. Margaret served on the town of Abingdon Board of Zoning Appeals for 23 years. She spent many of her retirement years traveling and enjoying her many friends. Margaret Henderson is survived by her cousin, Doris James Fleenor, several other relatives and a multitude of friends. A graveside service will be held at Knollkreg Memorial Park Mausoleum, Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at 2 p.m., with Dr. Steven Pollard officiating. A reception will follow immediately in the fellowship hall of the Abingdon Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the flower fund at the Abingdon Baptist Church, 361 West Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of the arrangements. Shirley Faye Hopson GRUNDY – Shirley Faye Hopson, 47 years of age, of the Poplar Creek section of Route 2, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport following a brief illness. Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Dollie Hess Smith. She was a 1975 graduate of Grundy Senior High School, a student at Southwest Virginia Community College, where she would graduate in May, a member of the NASCAR Bowling League of Sandy Valley Lanes, a housewife and student and enjoyed planting flowers and crafts. She is survived by her husband, Tony Eugene Hopson of Grundy; two daughters, Tonya Faye Hopson of Wytheville and Mrs. Tom (Arena Lynn) Jones of Clinchco; five sisters, Nancy Ramey of Grundy, Pauline Cash of Afton, Va., Allene Yates of Prater, Va., Molly Smith of Grundy and Peggy Hopson of Grundy; three brothers, Ralph Smith of Rural Retreat, Va., Woodrow Smith of Keen Mountain, Va., and Clarence Smith Jr. of Vansant, Va. She was preceded in death by one son, Tony Eugene Hopson Jr., three brothers, Carson Ray Smith, Bill Smith and Ernest Smith, and one sister, Phyllis Jackson. Funeral services for Shirley Faye Hopson will be conducted Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003, at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Ronald Rose officiating, with burial to follow at Stiltner Cemetery on Poplar Creek, near Grundy. Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel after 6 p.m. Friday and there will be services Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. Active pallbearers: family and friends. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements. Gonzella Milhorn BLUFF CITY – The family of Gonzella King Milhorn will receive friends from 5 until 7:45 Friday evening at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with the funeral service to follow at 8 o’clock. Rev. Ken Lytton, Rev. Walt Simmerman and Rev. John Cowell will officiate. The committal service and burial will be at 11 o’clock Saturday morning in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steve King, Allen Earhart, Gerald Malone, Dennis Milhorn, Jeff Tester, Chuck Rush, Roger Morrison and Dicky King. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Memorial contributions may be sent to Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church, 1041 Elizabeth Chapel Road, Bluff City, TN 37618. Mrs. Milhorn, 96, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, at Johnson City Medical Center. Mrs. Milhorn is in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Mary Mullins HAYSI – Funeral services for Mary Mullins will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, with Elders Frank Newsome and David O’quinn officiating. Burial will follow in the Mullins Cemetery, Bartlick. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. on Thursday, where an evening service will be held at 7 p.m. at Haysi Funeral Home. Mrs. Mullins, age 82, of Route 1, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, at Mt. View Health Care in Elkhorn City, Ky. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Sarah Musick CLEVELAND, Va. – Mrs. Sarah Ellen Gilbert Musick, age 91, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, in a Lebanon hospital. Born Dec. 8, 1911, in Russell County, she was a daughter of the late Garland and Ellen Musick Gilbert. She was a life-long resident of the Cleveland area and was a member of the Crabtree Chapel Church of Cleveland. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Burton Musick, one daughter, Dora Ellen Hiner, two small sons, Beecher Musick and James Musick, one son-in-law, Wendell Hibbitts, five brothers and four sisters. Survivors include two daughters, Christine Hibbitts of Manassas, Va., and Geraldine Hibbitts and her husband Kenneth of Culpeper, Va.; three sons, Beauford Musick and his wife June of Gainesville, Va., Thurman Musick and his friend Ester Stamper and Robert E. Musick and his wife Dana, all of Cleveland; son-in-law, Harold Hiner of Warrenton, Va.; one sister, Georgia Powers and her husband Clarence of War, W.Va.; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Cecil Musick and Rev. Virgil Musick officiating. Interment will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon. Pallbearers will be Wayne Musick, Stan Musick, Beauford Musick Jr., Mack Castle III, Robbie Meadows, Pete Zier and Quentin Hibbitts. Honorary pallbearers will be Edgar Gilbert, Edward Lowe, Larry Rasnake and Floyd Kerns. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Friday. Marvin Patrick ABINGDON – Mr. Marvin Patrick, age 59, died Wednesday. There are no known immediate survivors. A graveside service will be conducted Friday at 10 a.m. in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Farris Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Daryle G. Perdue BRISTOL, Va. – Funeral services for Daryle G. Perdue will be conduced Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the Mausoleum Chapel in Mountain View Cemetery, with Rev. Harold Tinsley officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Cancer Outreach, 470 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210. Online condolences may be made at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Mausoleum Chapel in Mountain View Cemetery. Mr. Perdue, age 55, of 1801 King Mill Pike, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 2003, at his home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Billy Richardson MARION – Billy Richardson, age 49, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, in Francis Marion Manor Nursing Home. Billy was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Emmett and Gretchen Carroll Richardson. He is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Dr. Emmett Jr. and Sylvia Richardson of Marion and Carroll and Alice Richardson of Kingsport, and two nieces and four nephews, Debbie Noe, Anne Richardson, Ric Richardson, Brent Richardson, Jim Richardson, and Ryan Richardson. Funeral Services will be held Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Marion, with Rev. Buddy Miller, Rev. Don Smith and Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating. Burial will follow in Round Hill Cemetery, Marion. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 115 South Church St., Marion, VA 24354. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service is serving the Richardson family. Tracy H. Shumate KING, N.C. – Tracy Howard Shumate, 66, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, in North Carolina Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Williams Funeral Home Chapel, Chilhowie, with Dr. William Marr and Rev. Bobby Blevins officiating. Burial will be in the Davis Family Cemetery, Chilhowie. The family requests that memorials be made to your local or regional American Lung Association. The family will receive relatives and friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie. Clifford Stephens ABINGDON – Mr. Clifford (Ralph) Stephens, age 72, formerly of Doran, Va., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at his home. Born Oct. 18, 1931, in McDowell County, W.Va., he was the son of the late William (Bill) and Annie Louise Goodman Stephens. Clifford was a long-time resident of Doran and was owner and operator of the Doran Market. As a young man, he was postmaster of the Doran Post Office and later worked as a heavy equipment operator. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a graduate of Richlands High School Class of 1949. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, James Walter Stephens, one sister, Alice Coleman and one nephew, Alvin Dotson. He is survived by his nephew, Donald L. Perkins, with whom he resided in Abingdon; two brothers, Harold Stephens and wife Shirley of Powhatan, Va., and Charles A. Stephens and wife Madeline of Mayer, Ariz.; four sisters, Jeanette Dotson and husband R. Lee of Wooster, Ohio, Ann Watkins and husband Val of Hamilon, Ohio, Juanita Coleman and husband William (Bill) of Glen Allen, Va., and Roberta Long of Homosassa, Fla.; one brother-in-law, Andrew (Sam) Coleman of Glen Allen; one sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Liz) Stephens of Richlands, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, with Mr. Val Watkins and Rev. Jack Jenkins officiating. Interment will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Casey- Shortt VFW Post 9640 and Tazewell County Chapter 31 DAV. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. In lieu of flowers, it is the family’s request that donations be made to Virginia Hospice Care, P.O. Box 257, Rural Retreat, VA 24368. E-mail condolences may be sent by going to www.singletonfuneralservice.com. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Stephens family. Tyler Ray Stringer BRISTOL, Tenn. – Tyler Ray Stringer, seven months old, 216 Carolyn Circle, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at his residence. He was born March 27, 2003, and was the son of Thomas Allen Stringer and Alexis Walk. Also surviving are grandparents, Jacqueline Walk, Roger Louthian, Joseph and Constance Warren, Mamaw Kathy, Mark Walk, Debbie Hines, Peggy and Bob Walk, Doris Springs, Thelma J. Carrier and Linda Chatman, and brother, Torrey Stringer. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, in the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel, with Rev. Johnny Dillard officiating. Pallbearers will be Michael Shelton, Quinton Hatcher, Anthony Stringer, Shane Stringer, Robbie Gilmer and Calvin Cox. Honorary pallbearers will be Aaron Warren, Michael Bare, Lucas Hunsucker, Jeff Hunsucker, Jeff Taylor and Johnathan Dickie. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service in the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family would like to wish a special thanks to Weaver Funeral Home and Glenwood Cemetery. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Luther M. Talbert CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The graveside service for Dr. Luther M. Talbert will be conducted Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the Greenfield Baptist Cemetery, Meadowview, with Dr. Robert Seymore. A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, at 5 p.m. in the Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Luther Talbert Infertility Trust Fund, c/o South Trust Bank, Tryon Road, Cary, NC 27511. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Dr. Luther M. Talbert died peacefully Nov. 17, 2003, at his home. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Talbert family. Mary Aline Wells NORTON – The family of Mary Aline Wells will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. John Ellington officiating. Entombment will be take place Saturday in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum, Claypool Hill, Va. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Mrs. Wells, age 93, peacefully departed this life on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003. Leonard Lee Wood BRISTOL, Va. – Funeral services for Leonard Lee Wood will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the Clintwood Funeral Home, with Ministers Lynn Vanover and Gary Stanley officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Memory Garden, Abingdon. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Wood, age 73, passed on into Heaven’s eternal rest on Tuesday night, Nov. 18, 2003, at Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center after a lingering illness. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.