Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, June 29, 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, June 29, 2004 Virginia Kestner Cannon, 80, Kingsport Kathleen Collins Greer, 75, Erwin Mary H. Kilgore, 76, Dearborn, Mich. Chastin James Parker-Dotson, Infant, Mendota Gregory V. Pennington, 36, Konnarock, Va. Elizabeth Josephine Fugate Howell Ramsey, 77, Erwin Effie Wheeler Rogers, 90, Bristol Virginia Roberta A. Burnett BRISTOL, Va. – Graveside service for Roberta A. Burnett will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Roberta Alice Burnett, age 89, of Carriage Hills Condos, 1875 Lee Highway, Apartment 66, a very loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmther and sister, went to be with the Lord Friday, June 26, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Virginia K. Cannon KINGSPORT – Mrs. Virginia Kestner "Gin" Cannon, age 80, went home to be with the Lord at 2:51 p.m. Sunday, June 27, 2004, at her residence following a brief illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by East Lawn Funeral Home. Kathleen C. Greer Kathleen Collins Greer 75, died Sunday, June 27, 2004, at the Center on Aging and Health Care in Erwin. She was born in Lee County, Va., (Rose Hill), came to Kingsport at an early age and she had also resided in Bristol Tennessee and Bristol Virginia. She was a member of Kingsport Moose Lodge 972. Mrs. Greer retired from Pete Moore Appliance as a bookkeeper with over 15 years of service. Kathleen attended Clouds Bend Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Pratt; her second husband, Alonzo Greer; daughter, Kathy Buchella; two grandchildren, Leslie Norton and Johnny Hoss II; great-grandson, Kason Robert Mulky; her parents, Bige and Birdie Collins; sisters, Eula V. Lee and Haze Pridmore; and brothers, Wilburn Collins, Jim Collins, Olin Collins and Max Collins. Surviving are er daughters, Shirley Holmes and husband Darwin, Kingsport and Peggy Bowman and husband Ronald, Bristol Virginia; sons, James "Butch" Pratt and wife Dee, Gray, Tenn., and Dennis Pratt and wife Kathy, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.; step-children, Roger Greer, Ronnie Greer, Joyce McClellan and Judy Rogers; grandchildren, Jamie Pratt, Jason Pratt, Tim Pratt, Angie Simerly, Kathleen Bowman, Tracy Pratt and Katie Jackson; great- grandchildren, Joseph Brendal, Anthony Simerly, Kierstyn Simerly, Kylie Pratt and Joshua Holmes (Little E); sister, Wanda Earnshaw and husband Bill, Hertford, N.C.; several step- grandchildren; and special niece, Maurine Snodgrass and husband Henry, Riva, Md. Calling hours are Tuesday, June 29, 2004, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport. Funeral services will be conducte in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday, June 29, 2004, at 7 p.m., with Harold McNabb, chaplain of Hospice, officiating. Graveside services will be Wednesday, June 30, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, Bristol Virginia. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the funeral home by 10 a.m. Memorial may be made to Ronald McDonald House, 535 Alabama Ave., Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail at cartertrentfh@earthlink.net. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is in charge of arrangements. Polly Sue Gregory ABINGDON – A funeral service for Mrs. Polly Sue Gregory will be conducted Wednesday, June 30, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Farris Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Jerry Eggers officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Graham Gregory Jr., Elmer Greer Jr., Aaron Heath, Jamie Rust, Derek Stevenson and Tommy Large. Those wishing to express a memory or sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Ms. Polly Sue Gregory, age 73, died Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Ms. Gregory. Larry W. Jackson RICHLANDS – Funeral services for Mr. Larry Wayne Jackson will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Dannie Short and Rev. Rick Pruitt officiating. Interment will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. James H. McVey, Dr. M.V. Pillai, Jessee Jackson and Kermit Cantrell. Mr. Larry W. Jackson, age 55, passed away Friday, June 25, 2004, at the home of his son, Derrick Jackson, in King, N.C., 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.hurstscottfuneralomes.com. Mary H. Kilgore DEARBORN, Mich. – Mary H. Kilgore, 76, died Saturday, June 26, 2004, at her home. She was born in Dante, Va., daughter of the late James and Emma Boatright Marshall. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie Kilgore; and one son, Lonnie J. Kilgore. She is survived by two daughters, Frances Boldizar of Detroit and Brenda Gail Ensley of Dearborn, Mich.; three sons, Ronnie Kilgore of Taylor, Mich., Donald Kilgore of Canton, Mich., and Robert Kilgore of Troy, Mich.; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mary H. Kilgore will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Brother Russell Dingus officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2004, at Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Online condolences may be sent to the Kilgore family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Chastin Parker-Dotson MENDOTA, Va. – Chastin (Chase) James Parker-Dotson, infant son of Jessica LeAnn Parker and Ricky Carles Dotson Jr., went to be with the Lord on June 26, 2004. Survivors, besides his parents, include his grandparents, James and Denise Hutchinson, Chastin (Cassy) and Jeff Fleenor, Rick Dotson Sr., Lisa Hasenmiller and Jackie Parker; great-grandparents, Linda and Larry Fleenor, Janis and Jessee Koster, Howard L. Pruitt Jr. Carolyn Whittaker and Dorothy Francisconi; uncles, Tony Schilaker, Danny Rule, David Francisconi and Jason Fleenor; aunts, Becky Kromer, Beth Hutchinson, Samantha Hutchinson, Jessica Fleenor, Morgan Fleenor, Danielle Forster and Erin Jackson; special friends, Caprice Fleenor, Shelby Osborne, Carol Hollingshead and Daniel Brewer. A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2004, in Forest Hills Memory Gardens, with Rev. William T. Arnold officiating. Thoseattending the funeral service are asked to assemble at the cemetery by 1:50 p.m. Wednesday. Those wishing to send messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Chastin (Chase) James Parker Dotson. Gregory Pennington KONNAROCK, Va. – Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington, age 36, of the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st U.S. Cavalry Division, heroically entered into Heaven’s Kingdom on Monday, June 21, 2004, after a mortar attack on his camp, inside one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces in Baghdad, Iraq. Three additional soldiers in his unit also perished in the attack. He was born in Smyth County, Va., and had lived in Konarock most of his life. He is the son of Aulbin and Jewel Hall Pennington of Konnarock. Staff Sgt. Pennington was a 1986 graduate of Holston High School in Damascus and upon graduation, enlisted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, and in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was deployed to Iraq in March of this year. Staff Sgt. Pennington was a highly decorated soldier, having received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was a member of the Azen Baptist Church in Konnarock. In addition to his parents, he is also survived by his wife, Janet L. Pennington; two brothers, Hank Pennington, of Seven Mile Ford, Va., and Walter Pennington, of Marion; three sisters, Rotha Widener, of Chilhowie, Vicky Widener, of Marion and Teresa Parsons, of Grant, Va.; his father-in-law and moter-in-law, Roy Thomas Jr. and Betty G. Thomas, of Chilhowie; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service for Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington will be conducted at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2004, at Holston High School, 21308 Monroe Road, Damascus, with Brother Tommy Tester, Rev. Greg Arnold and Rev. Jim Lundy officiating. Capt. Todd Cavalier will deliver a personal eulogy at the service. The family will receive friends immediately following the funeral service until 9 p.m. Wednesday at Holston High School. The Highlands Fellowship Veterans Honor Guard from Abingdon will stand guard during the funeral and visitation. The committal service and interment will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2004, at Azen Cemetery in Konnarock. The U.S. Army Honor Guard from Ft. Lee, Va., will present military rites and serve as pallbearers. The family, clergy, military honor guard and friends will all meet at Holston igh School at 10 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web page at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family of Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington. Elizabeth Ramsey Elizabeth "Betty" Josephine Fugate Howell Ramsey, 77, formerly of 225 E. Valley Drive, Bristol, Va., died Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the Center for Aging and Health in Erwin, Tenn. Born Sept. 17, 1926, in Newhall, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Montague B. Fugate and Mollie Elizabeth Johnson Fugate. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Roy F. Howell, and by her second husband, Mose B. Ramsey. She was a long-time resident of Berind, W.Va. Mrs. Ramsey was a graduate of Big Creek High School Class of 1944 in War, W.Va., and studied with the Eastman School of Music. She was a long-time piano teacher in Bristol Virginia and also in Blountville. She served as organist and pianist for many local churches in the area. She was a member of Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church in Bristol Virginia, and a member of the Henley Sunday School Class, where she served as pianist for several years. She was a charter member of Berwind Chapter 141, Order of the Eastern Star and later affiliated with Border City Chapter 142, Bristol Tennessee. She was survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hicks and her husband, James H. Hicks of Erwin; one sister, Anna F. Horne of Bristol Tennessee; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Hicks Rosenbaum and her husband, James Travis Rosenbaum, of Unicoi, Tenn.; and one nephew, Richard B. Wolfer, of Bristol Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 6 until 7:30 Tuesday evening, June 29, 2004, at Oakley-Blevins Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 7:30 p.m. in the Blevins Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Blevins Funeral Home, with Rev. Dale Bittinger officiating. The committal service will be conducted at 1 o’clock Wednesday afternoon in the Heritage Chapel of Memories Mausoleum in Mountain View Cemetery, Bristol Virginia, with Rev. Malcolm Wansley officiating. Pallbearers will be Richard Wolfer, Travis Rosenbaum, Jimmy Rosenbaum, Chris Rosenbaum, Maynard Hall and Norman Fugate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church, History/Archives Committee, 327 Mary St., Bristol, VA 24201. The family would like to say a special thanks to the nursing staff at the Center for Aging and Health in Erwin for their care and love during this time. Condolences and memories may e sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-blevins.com. Mrs. Ramsey and her family are in the care of Oakley-Blevins Funeral Home, 417 Lee St., Bristol, Va. Effie W. Rogers BRISTOL, Va. – Effie Wheeler Rogers, age 90, of 113 Crockett St., passed away Monday, June 28, 2004, at her residence. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Weaver Funeral Home. Joseph Wesley Surber CHILHOWIE – Mr. Joseph Wesley Surber, age 84, died Sunday, June 27, 2004, in the Frncis Marion Manor. Mr. Surber was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Shortt Surber; brothers, Thomas and Thurman; and sister, Helen Call. Survivors: four sons, Thomas Surber, Chilhowie, Edward Surber, Germantown, Md., James Surber, Chesapeake Beach, Md., and William Surber, Fredrick, Md.; four daughters, Pauline Mobley, Germantown, Grace Holmes, Bristol Virginia, Carol Brown, Tazewell, Va., and Louise Miller, Odessa, Fla.; two brothers, McKinley Surber, Saltville and Jimmy Surber, Saltville; nine sisters, Katie Kestner, Prince George, Va., Sue Cannon, Martinsville, Va., Barbara Henninger, Richmond, Juanita Barnes, Richmond, Nancy Turbyfill, Greeneville, Tenn., Faye Fransisco, Lebanon, Lilly Greer, Chilhowie, Bonnie Ball, Morristown, Tenn., and Vena Keister, Strasburg, Va.; several nieces and nephews; 27 grndchildren; and several great- grandchildren. Funeral services for Joseph Wesley Surber will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2004, at D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, with Rev. Jerry Creasy officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgedale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Holmes, Kenneth Holmes, Thurman Holmes, Roscoe Greer, Tim Greer and David Holmes Jr. The family will receive friends from 7 till 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Surber family.