Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, May 20, 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 Thursday, May 20, 2004 Today's Deaths Thomas L. Baines, 32, Fall Branch Ewin Davidson, 91, Norton Clara Fritz, Abingdon Dorothy Sue Chapman Greenway, 53, Bristol Tennessee Ida Elizabeth Henderson, 93, Marion Frank Jessee, 85, St. Paul, Va. Iris Elizabeth McCracken, 65, Webster Springs, W.Va. Robert L. Murray, Wetumpkia, Ala. Lorena Boyd O’dell, 93, Bristol Virginia John Asher Starr, infant, Manchester, Tenn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas L. Baines FALL BRANCH – Thomas L. Baines, 32, died Tuesday evening, May 18, 2004, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center after injuries sustained in a farming accident. He was a lifelong resident of Fall Branch and employed with Angus-Palm in Greeneville. Tom was a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church. His mother, Hope Baines, preceded him in death in 1996. Surviving are his former wife, Peggy Silvers Baines, Limestone; father, D.L. Baines, Fall Branch; sisters, Patricia Yarborough, Exeter, R.I., Mary Helen Grindstaff and husband Keith, Bristol Tennessee, and Karen Simpson and husband Jim, Bristol Virginia; brother, Dewey L. Baines Jr. and wife Beth, Greeneville; brother-in-law, Lance Cpl. Daniel Silvers, Iraq, and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends. Calling hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Fall Branch Chapel of Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes. Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Fall Branch Chapel, with Rev. Joe Baker officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the Oak Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Oak Hill Baptist Church, 2501 Highway 81 North, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Ewin Davidson NORTON – Ewin "Tag" Davidson, 91, died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, in Norton Community Hospital. He was the son of the late Maud (Hunsucker) and William B. Davidson. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during World War II in the Philippines and New Guinea. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star. He was a retired coal miner, a member of the UMWA and Dixiana Local 8017. He attended the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in Coeburn. In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Bramble Davidson, "Doc" Davidson, Miles Davidson, Geoffrey Davidson, Doug Davidson and Pete Davidson, sisters, Ella Dorton, Mavis Horne, Bess Gibson and Jean Roberson, and an extended family son, Jack McElroy. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Davidson of Norton; sons, Ewin Davidson Jr., Michael John Davidson, Jeffrey Lynn Davidson and Jason Davidson, all of Norton; daughter, Linda Maud Davidson, Coeburn, and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Funeral Home Chapel, with Steve Mosca, minister. Burial will be in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Clara Fritz ABINGDON – Mrs. Clara Fritz died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Mrs. Fritz. Dorothy S. Greenway BRISTOL, Tenn. – Dorothy Sue Chapman Greenway, age 53, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at her residence. Mrs. Greenway was born on May 17, 1951, in Bristol Virginia, to the late Henry D. and Virgie A. Almaroad Chapman. She had lived all her life in the Bristol area, was a homemaker and a member of the Rock Hill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by one sister, Virginia Yocum. Mrs. Greenway is survived by her husband of 32 years, Larry Greenway; one daughter, Susan Jones and husband Ronnie; two sons, Larry W. Greenway Jr. and Rick Gibson and wife Tracy; one granddaughter, Jada Jones; three sisters, Elizabeth Seay and husband Ernest, Shirley Leonard and husband Paul and Linda Leonard and husband Ralph; one brother, Henry D. Chapman Jr.; special neighbors and friends, Annie Watson and Linda Wright, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held Thursday, May 20, 2004, at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Eddie Crusenberry, and Rev. Jimmy Epperson officiating. Graveside service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in the Cross Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Donnie Dowell, Jim Russ, Jason Hockett, Tony Bebber, Wayne Sams and Gary Cardwell. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. James Schrenker, Gary Wood, Hospice staff and Dr. Bockarosa. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 until 7:45 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home, or any other time at the home of her daughter, Susan Jones, 370 Patterson Hill Road, Lot No. 7, Blountville. The family would like to say a special thanks to the members of the Rock Hill Baptist Church and to her loving guardian angel, Cathy Montgomery. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Thomas Halbert BRISTOL, Tenn. – Thomas "Bubba" Halbert, 51, passed away Sunday, May 16, 2004. He was born Feb. 19, 1953, in Mobile, Ala. Survivors include his wife, Linda Halbert; son, Steven Johnson; grandson, Jack Johnson; sister, Beth Holmann; brother, Jim Payne, and many, many friends. Services will be held at the Halbert home, 403 Leslie Court, Bristol Tennessee, on Thursday, May 20, at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to Mountain Regional Organ Donors Services, 100 KLM Drive, Suite 2, Gray, TN 37615. Ida E. Henderson MARION – Ida Elizabeth Henderson, age 93, passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2004, in the Francis Marion Manor. Survivors and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Bradley’s Funeral Home of Marion. Frank Jessee ST. PAUL, Va. – Frank Jessee, 85, died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at Heritage Hall in Big Stone Gap. He was born in Dante, Va., son of the late Hampton and Fannies Edders Jessee. He retired from Porters Auto Sales in St. Paul after twenty years. He was a miner and worked for Clinchfield Coal Company. He was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a member and past deacon of First Baptist Church in St. Paul. He is survived by his wife, Alta Rose Jessee; one son, Gary Jessee and wife Yvonne of Big Stone Gap; two grandchildren, Cari Marie Jessee and Von Franklin Jessee, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Frank Jessee will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 22, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Lee Kidd and Rev. Mike Moore officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Pallbearers will be men from First Baptist Church, St. Paul. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Online condolences may be sent to the Jessee family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Orville B. Jessee LEBANON – Orville Buford Jessee, 70, passed away Tuesday, May 18, 2004, in the Russell County Medical Center. Born April 22, 1934, a son of the late Carlos B. Jessee and the late Cora Little Jessee, he was a retired crane operator. He was a member, deacon and former Sunday School superintendent of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Gilmer, Vernon, Clyde, Elihu, Arnold and Lester Jessee. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Lois Couch Jessee; a daughter and son- in-law, Teresa Willis and Steve Willis, Castlewood; a son and daughter-in-law, Buford (Tubby) Jessee Jr. and Christine Jessee, Lebanon; six grandchildren, Brandon Willis, Stevi Leann Willis, Buford (B.J.) Jessee III, Kelly Jessee, William Jessee and Audra Jessee; a sister and brother-in-law, Margaret (Toots) Fields and Buford Fields, Castlewood; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert (Ken) Jessee and Lois Jessee, Covington, Va., and Ellis Jessee and April Jessee, Castlewood; his mother-in-law, Audrey Couch, Castlewood; also several nieces, nephews, special friends and neighbors. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Travis Shortt and the Rev. Bobby Turner officiating. Entombment will follow in the Valley View Mausoleum in Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood. Nephews will serve as pallbearers and the deacons of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Thursday, May 20, 2004, at the funeral home. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Jessee. Iris E. McCracken WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. – Iris Elizabeth McCracken, age 65, of 77 Holly River Road, died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, in Webster County Memorial Hospital, Webster Springs. Visitation will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, 2004, in Dodd & Reed Funeral Home. Service will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, 2004, in the funeral home, with Rev. Wendell Gum, Webster Springs, officiating. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, in Mountainview Cemetery, Meadowview. Franklin S. Mullins BRISTOL, Va. – Funeral services for Franklin Shane Mullins will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at the Peuther Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, Caney Ridge Section of Clintwood, with Pastor Joe Glenn Sluss officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon. Pallbearers will be Jackie and Shawn Sullivan, D.J. Mullins, Jonathan and David Bryan O’quin, Fred Perry and crew of Underground Utilities Specialists and Daniel "Perkins" Mullins. Honorary pallbearers: uncles, cousins and deacons of Peuther Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Peuther Chapel Church, on Caney Ridge, where a song service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Military graveside services will be conducted by Clintwood DAV Chapter 35, VFW Post 8979 and American Legion Post 227. Franklin Shane Mullins, age 25, formerly of Haysi, passed away May 14, 2004, due to a job-related accident. Mullins Funeral Home and staff are serving the family. Robert L. Murray WETUMPKIA, Ala. – Robert L. (Shorty) Murray died Sunday, May 16, 2004, in Wetumpkia. He was a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, retiring as chief master sergeant. Born in Bristol Virginia, to John C. and Cora Murray, he was preceded in death by his wife, Charmie Booher Murray. Survivors include two sons, Mike Murray of Tampa, Fla., and Bob Murray (U.S. Navy) of Bartlett, Tenn.; one brother, Alvin Murray of Bristol Virginia; one sister, Clara M. Worley of Bristol Tennessee; five grandchildren; two great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Information provided by Weaver Funeral Home. Lorena Boyd O’dell BRISTOL, Va. – Lorena Boyd O’dell, age 93, of Grand Court, passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2004, in the NHC Health Care of Bristol. Mrs. O’dell was born on Sept. 26, 1910, in Bluff City, to the late Robert Andrew and Julia Ellen Green Boyd. She had lived all her life in the Bristol area, was a homemaker and a member of the Euclid Ave Baptist Church. Mrs. O’dell was also a fifty-year charter member of the Weaver Pike Homemaker Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Parks O’dell, one brother, Lawrence Boyd, and by one granddaughter, Julia Ann. Mrs. O’dell is survived by two daughters, Joanne O. Perry and husband Ross of Lewisburg, W.Va., and Carolyn O. Hooker and husband Roger of Suwanne, Ga.; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held Friday, May 21, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Bob Jones and Rev. O’dell Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Weaver Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Floyd Jones, Charles Boyd, John O’dell, Malcolm O’dell, George O’dell, E.D. Perry, Jack Coffey, Windell Aldridge and Herbert Boyd. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of service in the Weaver Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Euclid Avenue Baptist Church Ridgecrest House or Young at Heart Funds, 900 Euclid Ave., Bristol, VA 24201. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Norman J. Sproles Sr. BLUFF CITY – Graveside service for Norman Jessie Sproles Sr. will be held Thursday, May 20, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel, with the Pastor Walt Simmerman officiating. Military honors will be rendered by the Highlands Fellowship Church Honor Color Guard. Burial will follow in the Shelby Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Wellmont Hospice House 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620, or to the Elizabeth Chapel’s Louise Sproles Women’s Circle, 1041 Elizabeth Chapel Road, Bluff City, TN 37618. Norman Jessie Sproles Sr., age 89, of 409 Exide Drive, went to be with the Lord Monday, May 17, 2004, in the Wellmont Hospice House. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. John Asher Starr MANCHESTER, Tenn. – John Asher Starr, infant son of Veronica Bandy Starr and Bart Starr of Manchester, died Monday, May 3, 2004, in Erlanger Medical Center. He was preceded in death by great-grandparents, George and Willie Starr, John and Annie Patterson and Ralph and Esther Whiteside. In addition to his parents, he is survived by grandparents, C.L. and Carol Bandy of Glade Spring and George and Joyce Starr of Cleveland, Tenn.; great- grandparents, Clarence and Norma Bandy of Hico, W.Va.; aunts and uncles, Bill and Vicki Cullop of Roanoke, Charles Bandy of Sapporo, Japan, Joe and Tara Starr of Cleveland and Scott and Jennifer Starr of Rome, Ga., and cousins, Ashlyn, Haley and Owen Starr of Rome and Sidney Starr of Cleveland. Private services will be held in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens, Coffee County, Tenn., with Dr. Brenton Cox officiating. The family asks that donations be made to the First Baptist Church. Mildred W. Van Kirk KONNAROCK, Va. – Mildred Ruby Weaver "Millie" Van Kirk, age 80, passed away Sunday, May 16, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. She was a native of Whitetop, Va., and had lived in Beltsville, Md., for many years, before returning to Konnarock in 1997. She was a daughter of the late Wade Walker Weaver and Mattie Kathryn Baldwin Weaver. She was preceded in death by one son, James Kenneth Van Kirk, and one sister, Wilma W. Barr. Mrs. Van Kirk graduated, earning her teaching certificate, from Radford State Teachers College and taught school in Damascus, Md. She moved on to a career in the Aerospace Industry and became a purchasing agent for Maryland Electronics, where she met Mike. They wed in July 1943, and had four children. Millie worked at Fairchild Industries as a contract administrator/purchasing agent, where she retired in 1992. She was co-owner and operator of Valley Grocery and Laurel Valley Café in Konnarock. Mike and Millie received an outstanding parents award for volunteer services to the Civil Air Patrol in 1963 and continued to work with her children in their interests and endeavors. Those who knew Millie knew her as a great friend, mother to all and a community supporter, giving timeless effort to her community, visitors, friends or any one in need. She is survived by her husband, Malcolm J. "Mike" Van Kirk of Konnarock; two sons, Stephen "Steve" Van Kirk and his wife Karen of Mt. Airy, Md., and Malcolm R. Van Kirk of Frederick, Md.; one daughter, Wanda Carol Mallory and her husband David of Gillette, Wyo.; four brothers, Wade Astor Weaver, Carver Harold Weaver and Stephen Kelley Weaver, all of Konnarock, and Richard Phillip Weaver of Smyrna, Del.; six grandchildren; two great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, at the Garrett Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Wil Robertson officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Valley Cemetery, Troutdale, Va. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 20, 2004, at Garrett Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus, Va., is serving the family of Mrs. Van Kirk. Mildred B. Wallace EMORY – The interment and committal service for Mrs. Mildred Ballou Wallace will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Baptist Cemetery in Glade Spring. Casket bearers will be the following nephews: Danny Broyles, Joe Taylor, Andy Wallace, Jeff Wallace, Herbie Wallace and Rick Cuddy. In place of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association, 207 N. Boone St., Suite 1050, Johnson City, TN 37604. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. Mildred Ballou Wallace, age 80, died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at the Grace Healthcare Center. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Mrs. Mildred Ballou Wallace.