Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, February 24, 2004 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, Feb. 24, 2004 Elmer Leroy Brooks, 85, Atkins, Va. Noel Madison Fleming, 81, Clintwood Mary Magdalene Shelton Hall, 69, Atkins, Va. Nona Marie Hawkins, 90, Clintwood Juanita Poston, 74, Abingdon Lois Jean Newberry Ratliff, 65, Haysi Betty Scott Roberts, 65, Granite City. Ill. Pearl Davidson Sluss, 88, Big Stone Gap Jean Bundy Sorensen, 85, Monterey, Calif Clifford Monroe Worley, 65, Lexington, N.C. Elmer Leroy Brooks ATKINS, Va.– Elmer Leroy Brooks, age 85, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at his home. He was born in Smyth County to the late Oscar and Flossie Tibbs Brooks and was a truck driver with B.C. Umbarger Trucking. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in World War II. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Maynard Brooks and John L. Brooks. Survivors include: wife of 50 years, Mamie Brooks; two sons and daughters-in- law, Gerald and Carolyn Brooks, Walkertown, N.C., and Roger and Debbie Brooks, Tennessee; one daughter, Teresa Widener, Atkins; one brother and sister-in-law, James and Tootsie Brooks, Marion; one sister, Pearl Neel, Atkins; five grandchildren, Shanon Brooks, Michael Davis, Chris Brooks, Crystal Aker and Randal Brooks; four great-grandchildren, Kendall Brooks, Meagan Brooks, Alex James and Hailey Armbrister; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday from the Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion, with Rev. Larry Brooks and Rev. Eddie Beck officiating. Graveside services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Rosewood Memorial Gardens in Rural Retreat. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the Brooks family. Mae Ethel Childs COEBURN– Mae Ethel Childs, 99, of the Tacoma Community, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, in the Norton Community Hospital, Norton. Surviving are a daughter, Jeanette Donelson of Tacoma, Va.; a sister, Bernice Evans of Abingdon; 10 grandchildren; 16 great- grandchildren; and four great- great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Friday in the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Coeburn. Ruby L. Dolinger CHILHOWIE– Ruby Lucille Dolinger, 79, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in Smyth County Community Hospital, Marion. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Howard Dolinger. Survivors include one son, Glen Roy Dolinger and wife Jane, Marion; one daughter, Linda Dolinger Dollyhigh and husband Johnny, Bahamas; six brothers and five sisters-in-law, Carl and Doreen StJohn, Robert StJohn, Henry and Bonnie StJohn, Paul and Joan StJohn, Fred and Jeanette StJohn and Cecil and Joyce StJohn; one sister and brother-in-law, Mary and James Hamm; one granddaughter, Julia Golding and husband Jay; four great-grandchildren, Mikie, Robert, Anna Dollyhigh and Amber Golding. Funeral services will be conducted 8 p.m. Tuesday in Williams Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Grosses Creek Cemetery, with Rev. Johnny Dollyhigh officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Williams Funeral Home. Family and friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is serving the family of Ruby Lucille Dolinger. Darrell Duty DUTY, Va.– Funeral services for Mr. Darrell Clifford Duty will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson and Rev. Darrell Sutherland officiating. Interment will follow in the Harris Cemetery on Comb’s Ridge, Va. Pallbearers will be Loman Presley, Robert Tiller, Garrett Barton, Allan Hilton, Bradley Thomas, Don Haywood, Gary Dunford and Darrell Boyd. Honorary pallbearers will be Josh Tiller, Daniel Barton, Donald Harris, Billy Harris, James Harris, Donald Ray Harris, Bob Childress, Glen Musick, Conward Musick, Denford Musick, Chester Ball and Leroy Ball. Mr. Duty, age 51, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, in a Richlands hospital. Asa Edward Farmer CLINTWOOD – Funeral services for Asa Edward Farmer will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the Mullins Funeral Home Chapel, with Clergymen Bobby Joe Phipps and Tim Jayne officiating. Burial will be in the Farmer Family Cemetery, Route 3, Clintwood. Friends and neighbors will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers: Joseph E. Wolfe, Richard Edwards, Glenn Lawrence, John L. Delaney, John Hamilton, Burns McFall, Roy Fletcher, Merle Mooney and John O’Quinn. Mr. Farmer, age 82, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at Heritage Hall in Clintwood. Mullins Funeral Home is serving the Farmer family. Nellie Fleenor BRISTOL, Va.– Funeral services for Mrs. Nellie Goodman Fleenor will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, in Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Richard Mullan officiating. Burial will follow in Gunnings Cemetery. Nephews and great-nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at Akard Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 105 North St., Bristol, VA 24201, or Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family of Mrs. Fleenor at akardfh@peercom.net. Mrs. Fleenor, age 92, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in Wellmont Hospice House. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Fleenor. Virgie Hawks Fleenor BRISTOL, Va.– Funeral services for Virgie Mae Hawks Fleenor will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, in Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Walt Simmerman officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kenny Hobbs, Jimmy Hobbs, Phillip McCroskey, Kent Tignor, Dale Ryan and Ryan Fleenor. E-mail condolences to the family may be sent at akardfh@peercom.net. Mrs. Fleenor, 74, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in Bristol Regional Medical Center. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Fleenor. Noel M. Fleming CLINTWOOD– Noel Madison Fleming, age 81, went to his heavenly home Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. He was a member of Cumberland Church of the Brethren. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan Dotson Fleming of Clintwood; four children, Kathy Fleming of Weber City, Gary Fleming and wife Deborah of Clintwood, Teresa Fleming and Johnny Greg Mullins of Clintwood and Patrick Fleming and wife Jennifer of Gray, Tenn.; three sisters, Florence Buchanan of Clintwood, Irene Rice of Sunbury, N.C., and JoAnn Lee of Virginia Beach; nine grandchildren, Zachary, Megan, Erin, Maggie, Taylor, Brittany, Tommy, Nicholas and Jackson; several nieces and nephews; and many friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Mullins Funeral Home Chapel, with clergymen Lester Mullins and Harold Rose officiating. Burial will be in the Fleming Family Cemetery, Baker Ridge Section, Clintwood. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers: Bob Fleming, Roger Fleming, Wayne Hughes, Paul Fleming, Harry Lee Strouth and Stan Austin. The family will receive friends at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the Mullins Funeral Home Chapel, where a service will be held at 7 p.m., with clergyman Cliff Bowman officiating. Mullins Funeral Home is serving the Fleming family. Mary Magdalene Hall ATKINS, Va.– Mary Magdalene Shelton Hall, age 69, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, in the Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion. She was born in Smyth County to the late Anderson J. and Laura Mae Shelton and was a certified nursing assistant. Survivors include: husband, Perry A. Hall; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Ron Boardwine, Marion, and Connie and Charles Blizzard, Marion; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ralph and Barbara Hall, Atkins, and David and Linda Hall, Marion; one brother, Sidney Allen Osborne, Atkins; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, many friends and church family also survive. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday from the Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion, with Rev. Grady Byrd officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Groseclose. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the Hall family. Nona Marie Hawkins CLINTWOOD– Nona Marie Hawkins, age 90, passed away at Bon Secour-St. Mary’s Hospital, Norton, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2004. A lifelong resident of Dickenson County, Mrs. Hawkins was a member of the George’s Fork Freewill Baptist Church. Her parents, Benjamin Harrison "Fish Hook" and Mertie Jane Swindall Mullins; husband, Clyde "Shotgun" Hawkins; stepmother, Savannah Rose Mullins; son, Arlie Hawkins; granddaughter, Diana Carol Hawkins; grandson, David Allen Hawkins; sister, Vinna "Tootsie" Keel; and brothers, Guy "Fish Hook," Gamelil, Charles, and Robert Mullins, all preceded her in death. Surviving are a son, Douglas O. Hawkins and wife Alpha, Clintwood; daughter, Eulala Mullins and husband Herbert, Clintwood; sisters, Flossie Kelly, Pound, and Nettie Carico, Zetta Stanley and Nora Lee Moore, all of Clintwood; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren survive. Funeral services for Nona M. Hawkins will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, from the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Lewis Mullins officiating. Burial will follow at the Hawkins Family Cemetery, Route 2, Clintwood. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with a song service to follow at 7 p.m. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Nancy Hill BRISTOL, Tenn.– The burial for Nancy Irene Roller Hill will be held 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kenny Shumate, Tim Allen, David Steele, Rob Countess, Saul Zimmerman, Paul Sandidge, Brad Cole, Jeff Caldwell and Sam Schraeger. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. Hill, age 78, of 3340 Avoca Road, went to be with Lord Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in her home. Leonard H. Hunnell CASTLEWOOD – Graveside services for Mr. Leonard H. Hunnell will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Va., with the Rev. Dannie Short officiating. Interment will follow immediately following the service. Mr. Hunnell, age 49, formerly of Richlands, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, at Dickensonville Rest Home in Castlewood following a lengthy illness. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Walter Kennedy Sr. ABINGDON – A funeral service for Mr. Walter William Kennedy Sr. will be conducted Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at 6 p.m. in the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service located on the grounds of Forest Hills Memory Gardens, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon. Rev. Brandon Canter will officiate the service. The family will receive friends following the service. A committal service will be conducted Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens, with military rites by the Patton-Crosswhite VFW Post 6975. Honorary pallbearers will be Clinton Bailey, Mike Lewis, Gary Fields, Ronnie Grubb, Sam Graybeal and Larry Crane. The family requests that memorial contributions in memory of Walter be made to the Washington County Fire Department and Rescue Squad, 15222 Lee Highway, Bristol, VA 24202. Those wishing to express a memory or sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mr. Kennedy Sr., age 59, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at his home. Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Kennedy. Carter Lee Owens HAYSI – Funeral services for Carter Lee Owens will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Elders Jackie Yates, Freddie Ramey and Ralph Mullins officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens, Abingdon. Brothers-in-law will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Dickenson County School bus drivers and members of the Haysi Kiwanis Club. Mr. Owens, age 55, passed away Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at Indian Path Hospital in Kingsport. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Juanita Poston ABINGDON– Mrs. Juanita Poston, age 74, passed away Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, in the Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was a native of Saltville and was preceded in death by her husband, John Richard Poston. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Billy Murray, Abingdon; and sister in Indiana. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, in Forest Hills Memory Gardens Mausoleum, with Rev. John E. Massey Jr. officiating. There will no visitation in the funeral home. Those attending are asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:55 a.m. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Poston family. Cynthia Pridemore BRISTOL, Tenn.– Graveside service for Cynthia "Cindy" Gail Pridemore will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. from the Glenwood Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse Wright, Brandon Darnell, Davey Puckett, Mike Brooks, Robert Nelson, Jerry Nelson, Johnny Pruitt, Timmy Burchfield, Shannon Linkous, Bobby Nelson and Josh Nelson. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Cynthia "Cindy" Gail Pridemore, age 17, of 188 Wampler Road, went to be with the Lord Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in the Holston Valley Medical Center. She is also survived by a cousin, Malaika Freeman. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Lois N. Ratliff HAYSI– Lois Jean Newberry Ratliff, age 65, of Route 2, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon following a long illness. She was born Dec. 5, 1938, in Buchanan County, daughter of the late Willie and Dorothy Newberry. Lois attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind for five years and was liked by all. She was a member in the Clinchco Congregation and served as a dedicated witness to Jehovah God for 48 years. Survivors include her husband of 42 years, Charles Douglas Ratliff; four daughters and sons-in-law, Debra Jo Clevinger of Route 2, Haysi, Paula Ann and David Ehlers of Lenoir, N.C., Sonja Leigh and Michael Wickham of Cartersville, Ga., and Norma Kay and Immanuel Gilbert of Acworth, Ga.; five grandchildren, Charles Timothy (Anna) Clevinger, Emily, Alexander and Brent Wickham, and Lindsey Ehlers; a brother, Ronald Dean and Donna Newberry; plus many spiritual brothers and sisters. A funeral discourse will be given on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home at 11 a.m., by Brother David Giltinan, minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Burial will follow in the Fuller Cemetery, Haysi. The family will receive relatives and friends at Haysi Funeral Home on Tuesday, Feb. 24, after 5 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Betty Scott Roberts GRANITE CITY, Ill.– Betty Scott Roberts, age 65, died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at her residence. She was a native of Abingdon and was an elementary school teacher in the Granite City area for 27 years until her retirement. She was the daughter of the late H.B. Roberts and the late Mary Scott Roberts. Survivors include: two sons, Scott R. Yarbrough of Napa, Calif., and Ed Yarbrough of Yuba City, Calif; and two grandchildren. Private memorial services were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, in Knollkreg Memorial Park, Abingdon, with the Rev. Robert R. Tolar Jr. officiating. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.campbell- funeralhome.com. Campbell Funeral Home of Abingdon was in charge of arrangements. Pearl Davidson Sluss BIG STONE GAP– Pearl Davidson Sluss, 88, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at the Ridgecrest Manor in Duffield, Va. She was a former employee of Carmines Restaurant in Big Stone Gap as a waitress and she was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Clarence Davidson and William Sluss; two daughters, Vickie Stidham and Jeanette Wilson; and one son, Clarence Wayne Davidson. Surviving are one son, Jimmie L. Davidson of Harlingen, Texas; son-in-law, Ralph Stidham of Big Stone Gap; one sister, Stella Huff of Pennington Gap, Va.; nine grandchildren, Mike Wilson, Connie Sampson, Jeffrey Wilson, Larry Wilson, Missy Lamb, Amelia Church, J.L. Davidson, Wayne Stidham and Shane Stidham; and 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Pearl Davidson Sluss will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with the Rev. Roy Smith officiating. Burial and graveside committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at the American Legion Cemetery in Big Stone Gap. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. till time of services at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise in charge of arrangements. Jean B. Sorensen MONTEREY, Calif.– Jean Bundy Sorensen, 85, passed away Feb. 20, 2004, at her home. Jean Bundy was born May 11, 1918, to Mary Lynch and Patrick H. Bundy, in Lebanon, Va. She graduated from James Madison College in 1939. Jean taught high school mathematics in Pulaski, Va., and then worked for American Airlines in Washington, D.C., where she met and married Edwin Sorensen in 1948. She and Ed spent over 20 years in Summit, N.J., where they raised their daughter, Karen. Jean was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and was known for her helpfulness and generosity towards neighbors, family and friends. She was an avid gardener and accomplished seamstress, a Girl Scout leader and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society. She was an active member in the (Summit) Central Presbyterian Church Women’s Association, and she and Ed directed the Sunday School junior high program for several years. Jean also played in the church’s hand bell choir. Following retirement, Jean and Ed lived in Abingdon, Va., the Netherlands Antilles and eventually Clearwater, Fla. Jean was preceded in death by her husband in 1993 following 45 years of marriage. She moved to Monterey in 1996, to be close to her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. Jean is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Tom Wilson, and her three grandchildren, Hilary, Kelsey and Drake. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Monterey, 501 El Dorado St., Monterey, CA 93940; Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church, 136 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Lillian C. Spitzer BRISTOL, Tenn. – The family of Lillian C. (Lelo) Spitzer will receive friends Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at the Virginia Avenue Methodist Church from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be a memorial service held at a later date in April. At Miss Spitzer’s request, the body was donated to the Quillen Dishner College of Medicine. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Miss Spitzer, age 101, of 401 Taylor St., passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Clifford Monroe Worley LEXINGTON, N.C.– Clifford Monroe Worley, 65, died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004. A resident of 909 Ernest Snider Road, he was a native of Bristol Virginia, a son of Gladys Crewson Worley. He was retired from Sunbeam Bakery with 33 years of service and worked with Brayton International for 11 years after his retirement and was a member of Community Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Mary Feathers Worley; daughters, Rita Payne of Thomasville and Connie Simpson of Lexington; son, Darrell Worley of Sophia; brother, Eugene Worley of Lexington; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at the church. Online condolences may be made through www.cumbyfuneral.com. Cumby Funeral Home in Archdale is in charge of arrangements.