Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, December 1, 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, December 1, 2003 Ben Adams, 81, Damascus Mary Cross Sexton Burke, 90, Castlewood Jill Bowman Childs, Bluff City Gladys Hess Compton, 84, Venia, Va. Thayne Lee Counts (Lynn Davis), Murfreesboro, Tenn. Elizabeth Ann Price Harding, 55, Exeter, Va. Philip Allen Martin, Castlewood Georgia Lucille Miller Mountain, 81, Glade Spring Joe Alex Musser, 91, Rural Retreat, Va. Mildred Mize Potts, 81, Blountville Benjamin H. Adams Jr. DAMASCUS – Ben Adams, age 81, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. He was a native of Damascus and had lived in Lynchburg, Va., for 31 years before moving back to Damascus in 1984 when he retired from General Electric. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and the Delta Nu Alpha Traffic Club. He was a member of West Lynchburg Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Ginny Adams; two sons, Ben Adams, of Damascus, and David Adams and his companion, Connie, of Lynchburg; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, in the Garrett Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Jane Ayers officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Alvarado, Va., with the Highlands Fellowship Honor Color Guard conducting military graveside rites. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at Garrett Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family of Mr. Adams. Emily M. Anderson A memorial service for Emily Myrtle Anderson will be held in Weaver Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at 8 p.m., conducted by Pastors Dennis Burnette and Kevin Sproles. The committal will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at the Knollkreg Memorial Park in Abingdon. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, our mother would appreciate your making a contribution in her name to your church. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Monday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Emily Myrtle Anderson, age 99, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mary Cross Burke CASTLEWOOD, Va. – Mary Cross Sexton Burke, 90, of the lower Reeds Valley community, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, in the Russell County Medical Center. Born March 27, 1913, in Russell County, Va., a daughter of the late Noah Cross and Mittie Suits Cross, she was the widow of her first husband: Stafford James Sexton; and her second husband: Edward Burke. She attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by two sons, Ralph Cross Sexton and Clifford Sexton; also five sisters; and three brothers. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Jim Delp, Lebanon; a son and daughter-in-law, James and Janie Sexton, Kingsport; seven grandchildren, Ryan Delp, Lebanon, Melissa Sexton Dingus and husband Mark, Shawna Sexton Armstrong and husband Kevin, and Jamie Sexton, all of Kingsport, Justin and Mike Sexton, of Arizona, and Randy Sexton, of Texas; also five great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Bobby Turner and Mr. Jamie Sexton officiating. Burial will follow in Russell Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Ryan Delp, Jim Delp, Jamie Sexton, Mark Dingus, Kevin Armstrong and Elmer Saddler. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Chafin, Lloyd Johnson, Ralph Taylor, Mike Fields, Gaines Taylor, Harry Jessee, Ronnie Jessee and Jimmy Farmer. The family will receive friends noon-2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, prior to the service at the funeral home. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the family of Mrs. Burke. Jill Bowman Childs BLUFF CITY – Jill Bowman Childs died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, at her home after an extended illness. She was under the care of Wellmont Hospice. Mrs. Childs had been a resident of Sullivan County for 37 years. She attended public schools in Johnson City and graduated from East Tennessee State University with a BS in health and physical education. She was a teacher at Bristol Virginia Junior High School and later in the Panama City, Fla., public school system. Mrs. Childs is survived by her husband, Lester H. Childs Jr. of Broadmore Assisted Living in Bristol Tennessee; her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Marvin Blizard of Springfield, Va.; and a nephew, Robert E. Blizard of Gaithersburg, Md. The entombment service will be conducted at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon in the Heritage Chapel of Memories at Glenwood Cemetery, with Dr. W.A. Johnson officiating. There will be no funeral home visitation, but friends may call at the home following the service. Mrs. Childs is in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Gladys Hess Compton VENIA, Va. – Mrs. Gladys Hess Compton, age 84, passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, in Russell County Medical Center at Lebanon. Born Oct. 4, 1919, in Venia, she was a daughter of the late Elijah Henry "Doll" and Mary Ellen Harris Hess. A lifelong resident of the area, she was a charter member of Venia Chapel Free Will Baptist Church for 61 years, where she served as a Sunday School teacher for 37 years. She also served as a clerk or assistant clerk for the Sandy Valley Association and the Buchanan County Conference for over half of her life. She was a member of the Council Senior Citizens and the former Venia Community Club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Nora Ellen Compton; one infant grandson, David McGlothlin; one son-in-law, Ryland Ball; three brothers, Elmer Hess, Dewey Hess and Hobert Hess; and three sisters, Ethel Shope, Hattie O’Quinn and her identical twin, Dora Harris. Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Kinzer Compton of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Raymond and Joyce Compton of Roanoke; four daughters and three sons-in-law: Helen Ball of Council, Va.; Faye and Rean McGlothlin of Vansant, Va.; Annie and Earl Ball of Council; and Rema and Danny B. Harris of Honaker; two sisters: Myrtle McGlothlin of Venia; and Cora Clayton of Sunbury, Ohio; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and one step-great-great-granddaughter; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and neighbors also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with her nephews, Rev. Russell Harris, Rev. Guy Harris and Rev. Troy Harris officiating. Interment will follow in the Hess Cemetery at Venia. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Lonnie Ball, Leslie Ball, Kennie Ball, Marlie Ball, Barrett McGlothlin, Mike McGlothlin, Greg Ball and Randy Ball, grandson- in-law, Gary Huffman, great-grandsons, Joseph Harrigan, Brandon McGlothlin, Jeremiah Ward, Ethan Ball and Jared Bostic. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Venia’s Chapel Church and Sunday School, Emory Hess, Eddie McGlothlin, Curtis Austin and Dr. Michael Ulrich. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6:00 p.m. Monday, where an evening service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m., with Rev. Clyde Lambert officiating. Thayne Lee Counts MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Thayne Lee Counts (Lynn Davis) died at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, Nov. 28, 2003. Formerly of Dickenson County, he was the son of the late Fitzhugh and Bernice Colley Counts. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army and of the Catholic faith. He is survived by his aunt, Mrs. Elmer (Emily) Colley, Norton; and a host of cousins. Graveside services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Vanover Cemetery on Baker Ridge, with Father Robert Rademacher officiating. Family and friends will meet at the Clintwood Funeral Home at 12:30 p.m. to form the procession to the cemetery. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Linda Ruth Dishman DANTE, Va. – Funeral services for Linda Ruth Dishman will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Troy Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Pallbearers will be Roger Dishman, Wayne Fields, Jock Fields, Larry Fields, Richie Salyers, Roger Gullett and Scott Steffey. Online condolences may be sent to the Dishman family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Linda Ruth Dishman, 58, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. John Richard Easley BRISTOL, Tenn. –The funeral service for John Richard "Dick" Easley will be conducted at 11 o’clock Monday morning in the Heritage Chapel of Memories in Glenwood Cemetery, with Dr. Gordon Turnbull officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. The burial in Shelby Hills Cemetery will be private. Memorial contributions may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 701 Florida Ave., Bristol, TN 37620, or to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mr. Easley, 78, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Wellmont Hospice House. Mr. Easley is in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Hugh Hagan Funeral services for Hugh Hagan will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, in the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel, with Ministers Dr. Ross Dampier, Jeff Noah and Niles Kitzmiller officiating. Entombment will follow. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Those who desire may make memorials to Central Christian Church, 424 Melrose St., Bristol, TN 37620, or to a favorite charity. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel. Mr. Hagan, age 88, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Elizabeth P. Harding EXETER, Va. – Elizabeth Ann Price Harding, age 55, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Wellmont-Lonesome Pine Hospital at Big Stone Gap, Va. Born in Imboden, Va., she was a life-long resident of Exeter. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aaron William Price and Myrtle Marie Horner Price. Survivors include: one son, Jeffrey Harding, Mount Carmel, Tenn.; one daughter, Sheila Hamblin, Exeter; two granddaughters, Tesia Hall, Exeter, and Faith Hamblin, Exeter; two grandsons, Shawn Hamblin, Exeter, and Mikey Randolph, Exeter; six brothers: Ronnie Price, Port Clinton, Ohio; Harold "Butch" Price, Clarksville, Tenn.; Bill Price, Big Stone Gap; Robert "Pete" Price, Indianapolis; Jim Price, Exeter; and Aaron Price Jr., Big Stone Gap; three sisters: Rita Robinette, Imboden, Va.; Marlene Bush, Exeter; and Merry Pease, Exeter; son-in-law, Mike Randolph, Exeter; and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call 5-8 p.m. Monday at Holding Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday from the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Aaron Price III officiating. Burial will follow in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Price, Robert "Pete" Price, Bill Price, Harold "Butch" Price, Aaron Price and Jim Price. Holding Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Willie B. Hicks PINEY FLATS – Funeral service for Willie B. Hicks will be 2 p.m. Monday at the East Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, with Dwight Shaffer officiating. Graveside service and entombment will follow in the Tri-Cities Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Haskel King, Roy King, Robert King, Steve Neal, Clyde Smith and Gary Killebrew. Honorary pallbearer will be H.D. Fickle Jr. Please visit us online to place a condolence to the family at www.mem.com. Willie B. Hicks, age 89, went to be with her Lord Friday at her residence. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Hicks family. Jewie Graham Jones Graveside services for Jewie Graham Jones will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Glenwood Cemetery, with Rev. Walt Simmerman and Rev. William Slagle officiating. Pallbearers include Steve Wagner, David Miller, Chance Allison, Jerry Rogers, Steve Graham, Jerry Graham, Larry Graham, Ronnie Graham and Jimmy Phipps. The family will receive friends on Monday, Dec. 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Jewie Graham Jones, age 80, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, while in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Philip Allen Martin CASTLEWOOD – Philip Allen Martin died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon, after the effects from a long illness. He was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., son of the late Sidney and Adeline Cooper Martin. Philip grew up and attended schools in southern California. After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Ticonderoga. Later in life he met and married Delaine and they made their home in Manhattan Beach and in Downey, Calif., before moving to Southwest Virginia in 1977. Phil loved living in Southwest Virginia. He never wanted to leave Virginia. Philip loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, boating, water skiing and jet skiing. He made his home in Castlewood for 26 years. After a career in banking, Phil later worked for Mountain Empire Older Citizens in Big Stone Gap, Va. Phil was liked by all who knew him and he will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Delaine; two sisters: Linda Tonkins and her son, Josh; and Leslie Spivak and her husband, Bobby and her children, Todd and Dayna; mother and father -in -law, Glenn and Lorraine Lucas; sister and brothers-in-law, Donna and Mike Sandstrom, Diane and Ron Skeber, Debra A. Phillips and Dallas and David Rudder; several nieces and nephews who loved him, David Hodge, Julie Linkous, Jimmie Hodge, Bill Sandstrom, Sonia Sandstrom, Kristin Skeber, Kelly Skeber Raile, Kate Skeber, Ryanne Phillips, Erika Phillips, Cole Phillips, Joyce Kilgore Scheerer, Jason Kilgore and Ross Rudder; along with great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral services for Philip Allen Martin will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with the Rev. Con Edwards officiating. Entombment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood, with military graveside rites by Highlands Fellowship Veterans Honor Guard, Abingdon. Pallbearers will be Mike Sandstrom, Ron Skeber, David Rudder, Bill Sandstrom, Robert "Bo" Lee and Richard Hayes. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, in Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 9 East Church Ave., Roanoke, VA 24011 or the Mountain Empire Older Citizens, 1-A Industrial Park Drive, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219. Online condolences may be sent to the Martin family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Georgia M. Mountain GLADE SPRING – Georgia Lucille Miller Mountain, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 29,. 2003, in Smyth County Community Hospital, Marion. She was the widow of Edward William Mountain. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Sarah Elizabeth Crabtree Miller; one son, Joe Maiden Mountain; two brothers, Paul Miller and Ira Miller; and two sisters, India Quillen and Susie Hodges. She was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church. Survivors include one son, William Edward Mountain and wife Adenia, Sylvania, Ohio; two daughters: Rebecca Davis and husband Leonard, Piney Flats, Tenn.; and Doris Mountain, Jacksonville, Fla.; and one daughter-in-law, Beverly W. Mountain, Chilhowie. Also, she is survived by eight grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Mount Olivet Cemetery, with Dr. Jack Garland and Rev. David Sizemore officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie. Joe Alex Musser RURAL RETREAT, Va. – Joe Alex Musser, age 91, of the Groseclose Community, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at his home. He was born in Wythe County, Va., the son of the late John Marco and Victoria Johnson Musser. Mr. Musser was preceded in death by his first wife, Edna King Musser; his second wife, Dorothy Stoots Musser; three brothers, John Robert Musser, William Franklin Musser and Ernest Lee Musser; two sisters, Stelle Mae Holston and Josie Dale Havens; a special niece, Carolyn Kitts, Seabolt; and a stepdaughter, Frances Powell. He is survived by three special nieces, Minnie B. King of Groseclose and Mary Kitts Hoover and Lealer Marie Bridgeman, both of Atkins, Va.; stepchildren: Evelyn Kincaid of Hudson, N.C.; Virginia Ann Jones of Marion; Shirley Hutton of Vinton, Va.; Karen Shumate of King, N.C.; and Garland Stoots Jr. of Ocala, Fla.; four sisters: Carrie Lee Kegley of Falling Waters, W.Va.; Margie Irene Sexton of Bel Air, Md.; Emma E. Riggleman of Broadway, Va.; and Dorothy M. Turner of Fulks Run, Va.; several step-grandchildren; and other nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at the Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Roger Crigger officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Groseclose. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday evening at the Lindsey Funeral Home. Lindsey Funeral Home, Rural Retreat, is in charge of arrangements. Mildred Potts BLOUNTVILLE – Mildred Mize Potts, age 81, died Sunday morning, Nov. 30, 2003, at Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol Tennessee. She was a native of Hart County, Ga., and had lived in Blountville since 1974. She was preceded in death by parents, Paul and Annie Pruitt Mize; her husband, Robert L. Potts; and a sister, Paula Bennett. Mrs. Potts was a member of First Baptist Church in Blountville, where she was active in the Senior Adult Ministry, the Senior Adult Choir and Sunday School. She was a member of Alpha- Omega Ministries and enjoyed bowling with the Bristol Tennessee Senior Bowling League for many years. She is survived by three daughters: Annette Crosby and husband Sam, Lakeland, Fla.; Martha Potts, Blountville; and Sandy Mills and husband Tom, Blountville; granddaughter, Ashley Mills, Blountville; sister, Caroline Chandler, Bowman, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at First Baptist Church of Blountville, followed by the funeral service at 8:00 p.m., with Dr. Clay Austin officiating. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at East Lawn Memorial Park in the Garden of The Good Shepherd. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Blountville, P. O. Box 117, Blountville, TN 37617. Please visit our online site at www.mem.com and place your condolence to the family. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Potts Family. Charles Earnest White BRISTOL, Va. – Burial for Mr. Charles Earnest White will be Monday at 1 p.m. in Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery in Stuarts Draft, Va. Pallbearers will be family. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to Boy Scout Troop 3, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 701 Florida Ave., Bristol, TN 37620. E-mail condolences may also be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Mr. White, age 60, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, in Bristol Regional Medical Center. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, is serving the family of Mr. White.