Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, June 10, 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, June 10, 2004 Today's Deaths Rubye Curtis Cuddy, 74, Bluff City Gordon B. Halstead, 98, Peru, Vt. Doug L. Ingle, 42, Bluff City Frederick A. Kessinger, 79 Tammy K. Lifford, 42, Abingdon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craig Alan Booker Funeral services for Craig Alan Booker will be held Sunday, June 13, 2004, at Hood Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 612 5th St., Bristol, Tenn., at 7 p.m. Viewing will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church, with the Presiding Elder Raymond Dixon officiating. Interment will be Monday in the National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tenn., at 1 p.m. Military rites will be conducted by Post 40 DAV Honor Guard. The cortege will assemble at the Robinson Mortuary at 12 noon to go to the cemetery Monday, June 14, 2004. In lieu of flowers, family requests that donations be made to the Building Fund of the Hood Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 612 5th St., Bristol, Tenn. Mr. Craig Alan Booker passed in St. Perdro, Calif., May 28, 2004. Robinson Mortuary Inc., 333 Spencer St., Bristol, Va., is serving the family of Mr. Craig Alan Booker. Mamie L. Breeding CLEVELAND – The funeral services for Mamie Lester Breeding will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Rhea officiating. Burial will follow in Russell Memorial Cemetery. Nephews and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mamie Lester Breeding, 92, died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at her home. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the Breeding family. Rubye Curtis Cuddy BLUFF CITY – Rubye Curtis Cuddy, 74, died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was born in Bristol Tennessee, a daughter of the late Alvin S. and Berta Hobbs Moore. She graduated from Bluff City High School and worked for Raytheon for 27 years. She was a lifelong member of Woodlawn Baptist Church. She was the widow of Bill Curtis and David Cuddy, and was also preceded in death by two brothers, H. Fred Moore and Charles A. Moore. Survivors include five sons, William A. "Bill" Curtis of Bluff City, David Curtis of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Jeffrey H. Curtis of Bluff City, Daniel "Danny" Curtis and his wife Lisa of Bluff City and Charles "Chip" Curtis and his wife Robin of Meadowview; a sister, Ardis DeArmond of Morristown, Tenn.; a brother, Eugene Moore and his wife Fern of Tazwell, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren, Stephanie Arnold, Brandi Curtis, Brianna Curtis, Levi Curtis, Chase Bowers, Brian Curtis, David Worsham, Nick Worsham, Jason Curtis, Josh Curtis, Michael Curtis, Craig Hudson and Christopher Curtis; five great-grandchildren; a special aunt, Beatrice Nelson; four special friends, Jim and Nancy Gilbert and Margaret Turner and Jan Trivette, and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 until 7:45 Thursday evening, June 10, 2004, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with the service to follow at 8 o’clock. Rev. Donnie Humphrey, Pastor Bill Nelson and Rev. Tommy Wilson will officiate. Friends may also visit at the home of Danny Curtis, 204 Possum Creek Road, Bluff City. The committal service and burial will be conducted at 11 o’clock Friday morning, June 11, 2004, at Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Brian Curtis, David Worsham, Nick Worsham, Jason Curtis, Josh Curtis, Michael Curtis, Craig Hudson, Christopher Curtis and very special friend, Jimmy Mains. The family wishes to express special thanks to Dr. Cook and the emergency room staff at Johnston Memorial and Dr. McSharry and CCU staff at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mrs. Cuddy and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Paul Randall Dutton CLINTWOOD – Funeral services for Paul Randall Dutton will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004, from the Clintwood Funeral Home, with Rev. Ray Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Sowards Cemetery, Flemingtown. Pallbearers are Greg Dutton, Terry Dutton, Jerry Dutton, Eric Phipps, Farrell Reed and Waylon Bolling. Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Dean Mullins, John Earl Phipps, John Vanover, Kenny Mullins and Teddy Dutton. Paul Randall Dutton, age 62, died at his home, Route 3, on Monday, June 7, 2004. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Paul Glendon Fields NICKELSVILLE – The funeral service for Paul Glendon Fields will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel in Lebanon, with the Rev. Darrell Fletcher and the Rev. Larry Beavers officiating. Entombment will follow in the Tower of Prayer Mausoleum in Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Bevins, Billy Boger Jr., Billy Boger III, Jackie Boger, Troy Glenn, Buster Dean and Paul Stallard. The deacons of Free Hill Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends 1-3 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004, prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Free Hill Baptist Church, c/o Jimmy Williams, Route 2, Nickelsville, Va. 24271. Paul Glendon Fields, 79, died with a brief and courageous battle with lung cancer, Sunday, June 6, 2004, in Wellmont-Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the family of Mr. Fields. Gordon B. Halstead PERU, Vt. – Gordon B. Halstead, 98, died peacefully at his home in Bennington on June 8, 2004. A longtime resident of Peru, Mr. Halstead was the husband of 76 years of Helen Honsinger Halstead, who survives him. He was born in Mount Kisco, N.Y., the son of Rita Storm and George W. Halstead. He graduated from Syracuse University, received an M.A. from the University of Michigan and undertook doctoral studies at Columbia University. A committed activist, Mr. Halstead took part in many of the great causes of the 20th century. He was a prolific contributor to the letters to the editor pages of newspapers across the globe for over 70 years. His subjects touched upon civil rights, issues of peace and freedom, social justice, nuclear proliferation and environmental concerns. A persistent voice for peace and justice, Mr. Halstead founded the Vermont Chapter of the United Nations Association. At the age of 86, he ran for the Vermont Legislature from Bennington County, one of the oldest candidates for political office in the country. Mr. Halstead began his career at Lucknow Christian College in Lucknow, India, in 1928. This was a tumultuous time in Indian history and Mr. Halstead expressed his solidarity with Mahatma Gandhi and the movement for Indian independence. In 1932, Mr. Halstead, his wife and young child were asked to leave India by the British government. In 1986, the Indian government invited the Halsteads to return to India as honored guests. Mr. Halstead was the director of the Lima, N.Y., Center for the National Youth Administration. This was a little-known project of the New Deal that provided unemployed urban youth with an opportunity to receive a technical education while being paid. The project was discontinued with the commencement of the Second World War. Other educational jobs included teaching for the Bronxville, N.Y., public schools, Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Windham College in Putney, Vt., and acting headmaster of the Stowe School in Stowe, Vt. During the Second World War, Mr. Halstead worked in Oak Ridge, Tenn. That employment came to an end when Mr. Halstead discovered that his employment was related to the development of the atomic bomb. He then joined the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in Washington, D.C. Other employment involved starting the East-West Foundation with Pearl Buck, The Foundation for Medical Education and the Foundation for Integrated Education. In 1949, Mr. Halstead and several associates started Tourinns, the first motel chain in the United States. At the time, it was a totally new concept, building motor-oriented hotels one day’s drive apart along major highway routes. Holiday Inns modeled their motels on Tourinns. After retiring to Peru, in 1968, Mr. Halstead and his wife organized and led India Travel Seminars for a number of years. Mr. Halstead is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter, Welthy Soni-Myers and her husband Paul of Peru; sons, Dr. Lauro S. Halstead and wife Jessica of Washington and Dr. Scott Halstead and his wife Edna of North Bethesda, Md.; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and a large extended family of nephews, nieces, cousins and close friends. A memorial service is planned for mid-August at the family home, Storm Acres, in Peru. Contributions may be made in Mr. Halstead’s memory to an organization of your choice. Doug L. Ingle BLUFF CITY – Doug L. Ingle, age 42, died Monday, June 7, 2004, as the result of an accident on Interstate 81. He was a lifelong resident of the area and a graduate of John Battle High School. He was an employee of Mountain Empire Oil Company of Johnson City and a relief driver of Kyte Construction Company of Bristol. He was of the Methodist faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Hursal R. Ingle, his maternal grandfather, J. Emmett Helbert, and paternal grandparents, James and Eliza Ingle. Survivors include his best friend and fiancée, Kathy Humphrey of the home; daughter, Bobbi Jo "Jodi" Ingle of Bristol Virginia; stepdaughter, Jamye Humphrey of the home; one son, Nicholas "Nick" Ingle of Bristol Tennessee; his mother, Norma Ingle of Bristol Virginia; his maternal grandmother, Hattie Helbert of Bristol Virginia, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. The funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 10, in the Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Floyd Horne officiating. The committal service and entombment will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday in the Mountain View Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel. Pallbearers will be Lee Wade, Gerald Welch, Dean Shipley, Mike Shipley, Gary Miller, Larry Fleenor, Terry Kyte, Mark Roark, Tommy Sandefur and Josh Horne. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday at Akard Funeral Home, prior to the service. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mr. Ingle. Mardee C. Kelly KNOXVILLE – Mardee C. Kelly, age 82, departed this life after a lengthy illness on Monday, June 7, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was a former resident of Meadowview and belonged to Mahanaim United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas King Kelly; and her granddaughter, Caitlyn Cerny. She leaves behind to cherish her memory: daughter and son-in-law, T.K. and Terry Barnett of Meadowview; daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Chuck Cerny of Knoxville; grandchildren, Justen Kelly Dick and wife Sarah Seeley Dick of Pikeville, Ky., and Lindsay Kelly Farris and Charles Anthony Cerny III, both of Knoxville; sister, Jacqueline Spencer of Bradenton, Fla.; several nieces; and a nephew. She served as a seaman in the U.S. Navy and will be sadly missed by many friends in Virginia, Knoxville and Chattanooga. She was an avid gardener and loved working with flowers. The family and friends will meet on Thursday at the Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel at 1:45 p.m. and proceed to the cemetery for a 2 p.m. graveside service and interment, with Rev. Nathan Malone officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Mahanaim United Methodist Church, c/o Tom Yates, 30343 Old Saltworks Road, Meadowview, VA. Arrangements by Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home, 2300 W. Adair Drive, www.lynnhurstchapel.com. Frederick Kessinger Frederick A. (Fritz) Kessinger, 79, died June 7, 2004, in Weems, W.Va. Born in Rome, N.Y., he served three years in the Army field artillery during World War II, including duty in the Philippines. He attended Stanford University, Illinois College and the University of Arizona in the field of journalism. As a young newsman, he served with the United Press in Tucson, Phoenix and Portland, Ore., as a reporter and editor with the Tucson Daily Citizen and as editor of F-D-C Reports (The Pink Sheet). Mr. Kessinger also served in the position of press secretary to U.S. Sens. Ernest W. McFarland, D-Ariz., Carl Hayden, D-Ariz., and Morris K. Udall, D-Ariz., and as a legislative specialist in the National Park Service. From 1971 until his retirement, he was vice president for government relations at the Animal Health Institute in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kessinger’s memberships included the National Press Club, the National Democratic Club, the Capitol Hill Club, the Senate Press Secretaries Association (serving as president in 1963) and the Potomac River Jazz Club. Surviving are his wife, Lisa Sevier; three daughters, Claire K. Mathey of Buchanan, N.Y., Tina Kessinger of Ocean Springs, Miss., and Santa Fe, N.M., and Julia Sevier of Santa Monica,. Calif.; brother, Dr. Peter R. Kessinger of Kailua, Hawaii, and a grandson. Funeral services will be private. Tammy K. Lifford ABINGDON – Tammy K. Lifford, age 42, passed away on Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. Arrangements are incomplete. Garrett Funeral Home, Damascus, is serving the family of Mrs. Lifford. Crockett Lowery BRISTOL, Tenn. – Funeral service for Rev. Crockett Lowery will be held Thursday, June 10, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Charity Pentecostal Tabernacle, with the Rev. Jimmy Epperson, Rev. Jessie Estep and Rev. Eddie Reed officiating. Burial will follow in the Rooty Branch Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons and sons-in- law. Honorary pallbearers will be Carmon Gene Sparks Jr. Charlie Hicks, Jody Hicks, Kelly Hicks, Nathaniel Lowery and Michael Lowery. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Rev. Crockett Lowery, age 65, of 541 VI Ranch Road, went to be with the Lord Sunday, June 6, 2004, in the Wellmont Hospice House. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. James H. McMillan BLUFF CITY – II Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, The Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." Pastor James H. McMillan, 53, 378 Beulah Land Drive, went to be with the Lord Sunday morning, June 6, 2004, at his home. Pastor James H. McMillan was born Feb. 12, 1951, to Rose McMillan-Gomez and the late Christopher C. McMillan Sr. He was educated in Philadelphia at Ben Franklin High School, after which he attended North Carolina A&T University. He then pursued a career in theater, stage, screen and television, in which he appeared in shows such as "In The Heat of The Night," and movies such as "Six Pack" and various other television shows and movies. At an early age, he was baptized in the name of Jesus and then later God filled him with the Holy Ghost, calling him into the ministry and then later giving him a vision to lead lost souls to Christ. He started by evangelizing on the East Coast, from Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida. After successfully leading many souls to Christ, God called him to the pastoralship. In 1995, he founded and was pastor of Kingdom Life Ministries House of Prayer, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Church, 381 Glenwood Road, Bristol, Tenn. He leaves to cherish his memories his wife, Theodorsia McMillan; a son, Jade McMillan, Greensboro, N.C.; four daughters, Jameelah McMillan, Los Angeles, Khori McMillan, Bluff City, Tiffany Hamilton, Washington, D.C., and Tena (Eric) Easter, Washington; a mother, Rose Gomez, Bristol Tennessee; three siblings, Christopher C. (Debrah) McMillan Jr., Bristol Tennessee, Franklin (Iris) D. McMillan Marietta, Ga., and Melvie (Walter) Haines, Charlotte, N.C.; three grandchildren and a host of family, including uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, saints and friends. Funeral services for Pastor James H. McMillan will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Lee Street Baptist Church, with the diocesan bishop, Aaron H. Redd Sr., officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m Saturday at the church. The committal will follow in the Cox Grove Cemetery, Crumpler, N.C. Robinson Mortuary is serving the family of Pastor James H. McMillan, phone (276) 669-5155, fax 669-4831, e-mail robinsonmortuary@earthlink.net. Gloria J. Rector BLOUNTVILLE – A graveside funeral service for Gloria Jean Rector will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004, in Fall Hill Cemetery, with Pastor Bob Neace officiating. Interment will follow the service. Those attending the funeral service are asked to assemble at the funeral home by 10 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. There will be no viewing or visitation at the funeral home. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Gloria Jean Rector, age 50, died Monday, June 7, 2004, at the Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Gloria Jean Rector. Hetty Sutherland CLINTWOOD – The family of Hetty Sutherland will receive friends after 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Clintwood Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, June 11, at the funeral home, with Minister Darrell Davis officiating. Pallbearers are Freddie Mullins, Gary Mullins. Larry Mullins, Richmond Short, Russell Sutherland and Leonard Douglas Swindall. Honorary pallbearers are her nephews and grand-nephews. Hetty requests that there be no flowers, except one pink rose, and that donations be made to the charity of your choice. Burial will follow in the William Sutherland Memorial Cemetery, Fairview, on Frying Pan Creek, Dickenson County. Local genealogist and historian, Hetty Sutherland, of Dickenson County, Va., died June 6, 2004, at the age of 102. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.