Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, Aug. 26, 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, Aug. 26, 2004 Today's Deaths James Dennis Blevins, 50, Marion Roland Boyd, 92, Grundy Mary E. Brown, 77, Bristol Tennessee George W. Davidson, 86, Chilhowie Mary Ann Smith Hopkins, 78 Madeline Mullins Kessler, 75, Roanoke Kathleen P. Martin, 84, Bristol Tennessee Dewey W. Peters, 84, Middletown, Ohio James Kester Presnell, 91, Bristol Tennessee Brittany Rachel Myrtle Vance, 17, Honaker James Dennis Blevins MARION – James Dennis Blevins, age 50, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, in Greenville, Miss. Survivors and funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion. Roland Boyd GRUNDY – Roland Boyd, age 92, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Grundy. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Columbus and Mary Elizabeth Bowman Boyd. He was a retired miner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Holly, Fred, Lawrence, Bill, Glen and Claude Boyd, four sisters, Walcie Coleman, Zettie Woods, Margie Belcher and Ida Rowe. Survivors include one brother, Marcus Boyd of Vansant, Va.; one sister, Carrie Branham of Florida; one stepdaughter, Wanda McClanahan of Grundy; four stepgrandchildren, Jimmy, Richard, Jamia McClanahan and Krissy Charles; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Shayna and Corey McClanahan; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, at Coleman’s Chapel, with the Rev. Darrell Thacker officiating. Burial will follow in the Boyd Family Cemetery, Grundy. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, at Coleman’s Chapel, where an evening service will be held at 7 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mary E. Brown BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mary E. "Judy" Brown, 77, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was born in Bristol Virginia, a daughter of the late Albert and Florence James Collins. She was a lifelong resident of Bristol, a graduate of Bristol Virginia High School and was retired from Unisys. She is survived by her husband, Edward M. Brown; a daughter, Laura Ann "Susie" Wingate of Bristol; three sons, Jimmy Brown and Billy Brown, both of Bristol, and George Michael "Mike" Brown of Bluff City; a brother, Jack Collins of Bristol; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be conducted at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, Aug. 26, 2004, in the Heritage Chapel of Memories at Mountain View Cemetery, with Mr. Gary Barnett officiating. Entombment will follow. Condolences and memories can be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-blevins.com. Mrs. Brown and her family are in the care of Oakley-Blevins Funeral Home, 417 Lee St., Bristol, Va. Annisteen Burchett HAYSI – Funeral service for Annisteen "Bug" Burchett will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Rev. Danny Sluss officiating. Burial will follow in the Willis Cemetery, Haysi. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Annisteen "Bug" Burchett, age 76, passed away Aug. 23, 2004, at Dickenson Community Hospital in Clintwood. Haysi Funeral is in charge of the arrangements. Arthur Earl Cook CROOKSVILLE, Ohio – Funeral services for Mr. Arthur Earl Cook will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Paul McNalley and Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Arthur Earl Cook, age 82, formerly of Rowe and Venia, Va., passed away Monday, Aug. 23, 2004, in a Zanesville, Ohio, nursing facility. George W. Davidson CHILHOWIE – Mr. George W. Davidson, age 86, died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, in Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna L. Davidson, daughter, Betty Sue Davidson Harris, and son, Gerald Timothy Davidson. He was veteran of the Korean War, serving in the CCs. Survivors: two sons, George R. "Bobby" Davidson of Chilhowie and Jerry Lee Davidson of Inwood, W.Va.; two daughters, Opal Williams of Red Jacket, W.Va., and Linda Kay Davidson of Frederick, Md.; five brothers, Roy Davidson, Deck Davidson, James L. Davidson Jr. and Thomas Davidson, all of Saltville, and Curtis Davidson of German Town, Md.; three sisters, Elizabeth Roberts of Saltville, Edna Brewster of Marion and Nannie Anders of Silver Springs, Md.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services for Mr. Davidson will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at Henderson Funeral Home, with Rev. Dale Strange officiating. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Davidson family. Mary Hopkins Mary Ann Smith Hopkins, age 78, a resident of The Cambridge House, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hopkins was born Dec. 10, 1925, in Johnson City, a daughter of the late Vernie William and Gertrude Loveless Smith, and had made her home in Bristol for the past 40 years. She was a homemaker, a member of West Hills Christian Church and the widow of Roy R. Hopkins. Survivors include her children, Jerry Hopkins and wife Connie Ooten-Hopkins, Roy Kenneth and wife Sharon Hopkins, Peggy Large and husband Danny; four brothers, Billy Jack Smith, Robert G. Smith, Paul Thomas Smith and Charles Edward Smith; one sister, Dotty Cloyd; five grandchildren, Jeremy B. Richter, Brandon Richter, Tina Hopkins, Laura Hopkins and Elizabeth Hopkins; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Gary Knapp, minister, officiating. Burial will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in Monte Vista Cemetery in Johnson City. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to West Hills Christian Church Building Fund, 116 Elm St., Bristol, TN 37620. E-mail condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Friday at Weaver Funeral Home and other times at the home of Kenny Hopkins 104 Stafford St., Apartment D7, Bristol, Tenn. Madeline M. Kessler ROANOKE – Madeline Mullins Kessler, 75, passed away Monday, Aug. 23, 2004, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack. Madeline, the daughter of Logan and Hattie Childress, was born near Clintwood on Nov. 18, 1927, and lived there until 1994, when she moved to Roanoke. She lived a full, joyous and loving life and will be sorely missed. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 36 years, Arthur Mullins, a sister, Emma Buchanan, and an infant child, Bonita Mullins. She is survived by her husband of 13 years, Frank Kessler; son, Arthur Garrett Mullins of Bradenton, Fla.; daughter, Rosemary Mullins of Roanoke; stepdaughters, Beth Short of Seminole, Fla., and Sue Rothgeb of Oxford, Ohio; four grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Gerald Childress of Roswell, N.M., Byran Childress of Manquin, Va., and Kenneth Childress of Clintwood; sister, Vicey Quillen of Leesburg, Va.; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Summerdean Brethren Church, Roanoke, at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, and at the Clintwood United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Foundation or the American Cancer Society are welcome. Arrangements are by Oakey’s North Chapel and Crematory. Mark R. Lee BLUFF CITY – Funeral services for Mark R. Lee will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Eastern Heights Cemetery. Pallbearers will be friends. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mark R. Lee, age 20, of 4115 Weaver Pike, passed away Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004, at the Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Kathleen P. Martin BRISTOL, Tenn. – Kathleen P. Martin, age 84, passed away on Tuesday Aug. 24, 2004, at Appalachian Christian Village. She was born in Washington County, Tenn., a daughter to the late William Addie and Dinsmore Pickle, and had lived in Bristol for over 40 years. Ms. Martin was a retired hairdresser and was a member of Central Christian Church. She also served in the Bristol Eastern Star Chapter 28 for over 50 years and was the widow of Howard Martin. Survivors include sister, Adelaide McInturff of Johnson City. She was also preceded in death by sisters, Dorothy Feathers and Mildred McKamey. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, at the Central Christian Church at 3 p.m., with Dr. Ross Dampier and Minister Jeff Noah officiating. Entombment will follow at Glenwood Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be nephews and friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-2:45 p.m., prior to the service. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Dewey W. Peters MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – Dewey W. Peters, 84, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the Middletown Regional Hospital. He was a resident of Middletown since 1956. He was born July 27, 1920, in Benhams, Va. He was a self-employed auctioneer for the past 20 years and previously was a preacher, welder for Brown-Singer, a truck driver/owner and operator of Motor Freight Corp. and was also the assistant chief of police for the South Lebanon Police Department. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gracie Mae Peters in 1995, three brothers, John C., Conley and Baxter (Pete) Peters, and his parents, George Washington and Julie (Cresong) Peters. He is survived by his wife of seven years, Jean Peters; two daughters, Mildred Laube of Middletown and Patty (Rick) Williams of Middletown; three sons, Wally (Linda) Peters of Middletown, Tommy (Glenna) Peters of Middletown and Ronnie (Tara) Peters of Middletown; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, George (Shirley) Summers of Bristol Tennessee; and two sisters, Elizabeth (Tommy) Clark of Kingsport and Pauline Rutledge of Benhams. Visitation will be on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. at the Baker-Stevens Funeral Home and funeral services will be on Friday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m., also at the Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with Reverend Lamar Ferrell officiating. Burial will be in the Butler County Memorial Park in Trenton, Ohio. James K. Presnell BRISTOL, Tenn. – James Kester Presnell, age 91, of 716 Beidleman Creek Road, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was the son of the late Counce and Victoria Guy Presnell, and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area. He was retired as a staff sergeant from the U.S. Air Force, with 23 years of service. He was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Presnell. Survivors include daughter, Geneva Heath and husband Cecil of Bristol Tennessee; son, Council "Bill" Presnell; four grandsons; one granddaughter; six great- grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held on Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Shipley Cemetery, with Buddy Chapman officiating. Military honors will be presented by Highlands Fellowship Honor Color Guard. Grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. There will be no formal visitation at the funeral home. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Brittany Vance HONAKER – Brittany Rachel Myrtle Vance "Stevens," age 17, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, from injuries sustained in a automobile accident. Born Jan. 22, 1987, in Richlands, she was a daughter of Keith and Victoria Vance Stevens of Honaker. She was a lifelong resident of the Tazewell and Russell County areas and was a senior at Honaker High School. She was of the Holiness faith. "May God keep her safe in his Arms." She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Estil Stevens. In addition to her parents, survivors include one sister, Jantana Stevens of the home; one brother, Keithie Stevens of the home; maternal grandparents, Andrew and Norma Vance of Red Ash, Va.; paternal grandmother, Gaylene Reynolds of Lenoir, N.C.; paternal stepgrandmother, Barbara Stevens of Honaker; many family, friends and loved ones also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Dannie Short and Rev. Homer Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in the Frank Smith Cemetery on Big A Mountain, Va. Pallbearers will be Jorge Calderon, Chris Phillips, Andrew Hagy, Randall Stevens, Junior Stevens and Lee Hess. Honorary pallbearers will be Alvie Hess and Darrell Stevens. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Thursday.