Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, December 2, 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 Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003 Today's Deaths Lillian V. Anderson, 71, Abingdon George Edward Colvard, 92, Bristol Tennessee Denver R. Dean, 81, Wise Walter Ralph Gaylor, 79 Carl Franklin Heath, Chilhowie Lena Myrtle Holt, 84, Bluff City Howard Lee Jones, 68, St. Paul, Va. Pauline Fields Lester, Glade Spring Helen Allison Orr, 100, Glade Spring Joseph Thomas Smith, 73, Bristol Tennessee Leon Sword, 66, Belfast, Va. Robert D. Tate, 30, Bristol Virginia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benjamin H. Adams Jr. DAMASCUS –The funeral service for Benjamin Harrison Adams Jr. will be conducted at 2 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. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Mr. Adams, age 81, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family of Mr. Adams. Emily M. Anderson The committal for Emily Myrtle Anderson 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. Mrs. Anderson, age 99, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Lillian V. Anderson ABINGDON – Mrs. Lillian V. Anderson, age 71, widow of Harry Herman Anderson, passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, in the Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Anderson family. Mary Cross Burke CASTLEWOOD, Va. – The funeral service for Mary Cross Sexton Burke 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. Mrs. Burke, 90, of the lower Reeds Valley community, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, in the Russell County Medical Center. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the family of Mrs. Burke. George E. Colvard BRISTOL, Tenn. – George Edward Colvard, age 92, passed away on Dec. 1, 2003, at Wellmont Hospice House. He was the son of the late Clarence and Kate Showalters Colvard and had lived most of his life in the Bristol area. He was retired from Raytheon and attended Fellowship Chapel. Mr. Colvard was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran serving in World War II and was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia H. Colvard. Survivors include children, Sandy Lawson and husband Bill and Linda Smith and husband Steve; grandchildren, Kimberly Lawson and husband Tim, Andrea Carroll and husband Rick, Keri Lawson and Scott Grant, and great-grandchildren, Joshua and Jordan Lawson and Mason and Lane Carroll. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. at Fellowship Chapel, with Rev. Scott Price officiating. Committal services on Friday will be private. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5-6:15 prior to the service. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, Tenn. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Gladys Hess Compton VENIA, Va. – Funeral services Mrs. Gladys Hess Compton will be conducted at 11 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. Mrs. Compton, age 84, passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, in Russell County Medical Center at Lebanon. Thayne Lee Counts MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Graveside services for Thayne Lee Counts (Lynn Davis) will be conducted at 1 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. Mr. Counts died at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, Nov. 28, 2003. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Denver R. Dean WISE – Rev. Denver R. Dean, 81, passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at his home. A lifetime resident of Wise County, he was the pastor of several Freewill Baptist churches in the area, the last being Bethel Chapel. He was a retired coal miner from the Old Ben Coal Co., Dixiana Mines, a member of the UMWA, a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army and was the recipient of the Bronze Star. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty R. Dean, and a granddaughter, Hannah Renee' Murray. Surviving are one son, Denver Richard (Ricky) Dean Jr. of Wise; three daughters, Dennis Castle of Big Stone Gap, Wilma Harlow of Sharpsburg, Ga., and Billie Schoenfeld of Bean Station, Tenn.; one brother, Ray Dean of Norton; two sisters, Georgia Chisenhall of Wise and Ruth Craft of Payne Gap, Ky.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Rev. Denver R. Dean will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Wise, with the Rev. Eddie Sturgill and Rev. Roger Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in the Wise Cemetery, Wise. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care, P.O. Box 349, Norton, VA 24273. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Bristol Doctor Dies at 79 Dr. Walter Ralph Gaylor, a beloved Bristol physician, died Sunday, November 30, 2003, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born January 31, 1924, in St. Louis, Mo., to Goldie and Charles Gaylor. >He served during World War II with the 369th Harbor Craft Co. in the Pacific. He received three Bronze Stars for actions in Luzon, South Philippines and New Guinea. After his discharge, he graduated from Washington University Medical School in St. Louis. He completed his residence in internal medicine at the University of Utah Medical School and Duke University Medical School. He was board certified in Internal Medicine. He continued his training in endocrinology at Duke University Medical School and Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Gaylor arrived in Bristol in 1955 and practiced here until his retirement in 1994. For a time, he was on the faculty of the James H. Quillen Medical School in Johnson City. For a number of years, he was the endocrinologist at Bristol Memorial Hospital. He served as Chief of Staff and on numerous comities during his career. He also was a fundraiser for the United Way among Bristol staff members. He received the Medical Staff Recognition Award on his retirement. Dr. Gaylor was a member of the B’nai Sholom Congregation, where he taught Sunday School for many years and was a life member of the Board of Directors. Survivors include his wife, Dr. Sylvia Katz Gaylor of the home, his brother-in- law, George Katz and numerous cousins. Graveside services will be conducted by Rabbi Brian Nevins-Goldman at 3pm, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at the B’nai Sholom Congregation Cemetery, corner of Bradley and Floyd streets in Bristol, Virginia. A memorial service will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make memorials to your favorite charity. E-mail condolences may also be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State Street, Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800 is serving the family of Dr. Gaylor. Carl F. Heath CHILHOWIE – Carl Franklin "Frank" Heath went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003. He was born Oct. 29, 1931, to the late Gilbert and Margret Heath. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all who knew him. He was an active member of Chilhowie Christian Church, an honorary member of the Chilhowie Fire Department and a devoted employee of Chilhowie High School and took great pride in assisting the Warrior Band and many other activities, including the children of CHS for many years. He was preceded in death by one brother, Cecil Allen Neikirk. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Allen Thomas Heath; two sons, Frankie Allen Heath of the home and Larry J. Thomas and fiancée Jennifer Widener of Chilhowie; two daughters and sons-in-law, Teresa and husband Johnny Thomas and Barbara Lynn and husband Roger Cannon of Meadowview; one goddaughter, Mary Frances Mills, and two beloved grandchildren, Hunter Thomas and Maggie Cannon. He is also survived by three nephews, Richard and wife Vickie Neikirk, Georgia, David Neikirk, California, and Larry and wife Leah Neikirk, Louisiana. He is also survived by many friends and loved ones throughout the community. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Chilhowie Christian Church, with Revs. Frank Branson and Jerry Eggers officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Sulphur Spring Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his three nephews, Richard Neikirk, David Neikirk and Larry Neikirk and members of the Chilhowie Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sulphur Spring Cemetery, c/o Shirley Hutton, P.O. Box 353, Chilhowie, VA 24319, Chilhowie Fire Department, P.O. Box 502, Chilhowie, VA 24319, Trust Fund, Frankie Allen Heath, c/o Barbara Heath, P.O. Box 463, Chilhowie, VA 24319, or Fund for the Frank Heath Family, c/o Bank of Marion, Chilhowie Branch, P.O. Box 1560, Chilhowie, VA 24319. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Chilhowie Christian Church prior to the service. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is in charge of arrangements. Lena Myrtle Holt BLUFF CITY – Lena Myrtle Holt, age 84, 661 Weaver Branch Road, died Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at the Johnson City Medical Center following a brief illness. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date. Tetrick Funeral Home-Bluff City Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Howard Lee Jones ST. PAUL, Va. – Howard "Buster" Lee Jones, 68, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon. He was born Feb. 14, 1935, in Russell County, Va. He attended and finished at Arty Lee School. He resided most of his life in Atlanta until three years ago, when he moved to St. Paul. He was a faithful member at Longs Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Dante, Va. He was preceded in death by his mother, Joella Sensabaugh, his father, Easter Sensabaugh, and his wife, Essie Jones. He is survived by one daughter, Cynthia Ellis and husband Rev. Jimmy of Clincho; two sons, Arthur Taylor and friend Paulette Smith of Knoxville and Kurt Jones of St. Louis, Mo.; two sisters, Yvonne Douglas of Atlanta and Angeline Reese of Atlanta; two grandchildren; one great-grandson; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Graveside services for Howard "Buster" Lee Jones will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in Temple Hill Memorial Park, with the Rev. Jimmy Ellis officiating. Interment will follow in the Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. The funeral procession will leave the funeral home for the cemetery at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The Jones family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Online condolences may be sent to the Jones family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Pauline F. Lester GLADE SPRING – Mrs. Pauline "Polly" Fields Lester passed away Dec. 1, 2003, in Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. Mrs. Lester was born Dec. 12, 1920. She was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Lester, her parents, Joseph and Margaret Fields, brothers, Leo Fields, W.E. "Dooley" Fields, Ed Fields, Ardine "Chink" Fields and Robert Fields, and sister, Gladys Fields. Survivors: two sons, William C. Lester Jr. of Glade Spring and Joseph Lester and wife, Sharon of Glade Spring; one daughter, Lynn Teaters and husband Donnie of Chilhowie; four grandsons, J.W., Billy and Jessie Teaters and Joseph Lester Jr.; four sisters-in-law, Pearl Fields of Pembrooke, Va., Ruth Wright and Mildred Lester of Glade Spring and Mary Gillenwater of Saltville; one brother-in-law, Ted Lester and wife Doris of Glade Spring, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Lester will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at Henderson Funeral Home, with Rev. Tim Bird officiating. Interment will follow at Elizabeth Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Fred W. Lester, Fred M. Lester, John David Lester, Cecil Lester, Carlos Henderson, Buckey Hutton, Jim Hutton and David Ryburn. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Lester family. GLADE SPRING – Helen Allison Orr, age 100, died Dec. 1, 2003, at Winterhaven Assisted Living in Charlottesville. She was born April 26, 1903, in Glade Spring, the daughter of Fannie and Benjamin Curtis Allison. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James Frank Orr, who died Nov. 24, 1992. She attended Stonewall Jackson College in Abingdon and graduated summa cum laude from Queens College in Charlotte, N.C., in 1926. In 1954, she received a master’s of library science from East Tennessee State and was a librarian at Emory & Henry College from 1955 to 1982. Until recent years, Mrs. Orr lived in Glade Spring, where she was a life-long Presbyterian and active member of Old Glade Presbyterian Church, serving in many capacities as church school teacher, circle leader, Women of the Church and flower committee. She served as president of the Women of the Church of Abingdon Presbytery. She was a charter member of the Glade Spring Book Club. She gained much enjoyment from gardening, particularly growing roses, which she shared with many in her community. Mrs. Orr is survived by her two children, Dr. William Orr and his wife Betsy of Charlottesville and Betty Orr Hutton, Chapel Hill, N.C.; five grandchildren, Ronald Hutton of Mebane, N.C., Cynthia Hutton Ferrell and her husband Will of Richmond, Allison Orr, Benjamin Orr and Catherine Orr of Charlottesville, and three great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Katherine and Quin Ferrell of Richmond. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Glade Spring Presbyterian Church at Old Glade, with visitation at the church at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, with Rev. Timothy Bird officiating. Pallbearers will be Henry Hutton, John Kelly, C.E. "Ned" Allison, Ronnie Fore, Joe Fore and Eddy Eastridge. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Session of the Glade Spring Presbyterian Church. Interment will be in Glade Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Glade Spring Presbyterian Church at Old Glade, 33234 Lee Highway, P.O. Box 336, Glade Spring, VA 24340. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is in charge of arrangements. Mildred Potts BLOUNTVILLE – The family of Mildred Mize Potts 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 p.m., with Dr. Clay Austin officiating. Graveside services will be held at 11 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. Mrs. Potts, age 81, died Sunday morning, Nov. 30, 2003, at Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol Tennessee. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Potts family. Joseph Thomas Smith BRISTOL, Tenn. – Joseph Thomas "J.T." Smith, age 73, passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at the Quillen Dishner VA Medical Center. He was a life-long resident of the Bristol area and was a son of the late Bob Smith and Hattie Arnold Smith and stepmother, Margaret Smith. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a retired employee of Fleenor Farms and he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Leadbetter Smith. Survivors include stepdaughter, Geraldine Hurst, Kingsport; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert "R. J." and Dorothy Smith, Bristol Tennessee, and Johnny and Karen Smith, Meadowview; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Janie and Jerry Shaver, Bristol Tennessee, and Linda and Ricky Hall, Abingdon; several nieces and nephews and special friends, Shirley Widner and Cecil Baumgardner. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Mark Baumgardner officiating. Burial will follow in the Cold Spring Cemetery. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Leon Sword BELFAST, Va. – Leon Sword, 66, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 1, 2003. Born on March 14, 1937, in Russell County, Va., he was the son of the late Walter and Dona Vencill Sword. Leon was an electrician and had done numerous jobs throughout Southwest Virginia. He was a member of the Belfast Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Sawyer Sword; a son, Jeff Sword; and daughter and son-in-law, Suzy and Henry Ray, all of Belfast; granddaughter, Allie Ray, and two special cousins, Aleta Mercer and Polly Cox. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Mutter, Bill Vencill, Steve Mercer, Clyde Wilson, Dick Barnette, Michael Duty and Jimmy White. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Belfast-Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department, Dr. Stefani, Dr. H.C. Scott and Dr. Larry Mitchell. A graveside service will be conducted on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Russell Memorial Cemetery, Lebanon. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at 8 p.m. at Owens Funeral Service Chapel, with Rev. Robert Layell and Rev. Peggy Dalton officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday after 6 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Belfast Methodist Church or the Belfast-Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department. Owens Funeral Service, Lebanon. Robert D. Tate BRISTOL, Va. – Robert D. "Robbie" Tate, age 30, of 1554 Elm St., passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1973, in Bristol Tennessee, and was the son of the late Danny Harvey Tate and Clara Mae Tate. He is survived by son, Jacob Collins; several aunts, uncles and cousins and maternal grandmother, Mary Naomi Helton. A memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Mike Leonard officiating. At Robbie’s request, his body will be cremated. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Rd., Bristol, TN 37620. The family will receive friends prior to the service and other times at the home of his grandmother, 117 Beaver St., Bristol, VA 24201. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.