Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, Aug. 27, 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 Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 Today's Deaths Dorothy E. Graham, 69, Wise Dixie Lee Cook Hamilton, 62, Russell County, Va. Billy Fayne Kilgore, 65, Myrtle Beach, S.C. James Dennis Blevins MARION – James Dennis Blevins, age 50, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, in Greenville, Miss. He was born in Marion to the late William Dudley and Virginia Sayers Blevins, and was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Kevin Blevins. He was employed as a foreman with J. Hall Erectors. Survivors include one daughter, Justina Renee Blevins, Atkins; two sisters, Connie Blevins Arndt and husband Ron, Kingsport, and Kimberly Blevins Williams and husband Mark, Seoul, Korea; two brothers, William Richard Blevins and wife Carol, Kingsport, and Jeffery Lynn Blevins and wife Sandy, Marion; several nieces and nephews also survive and special friends, Curtis Owens and Ronnie Carr. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, from the Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Steve Hutton officiating. Interment will follow in the Attoway Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. Bradley’s Funeral home, Marion, is serving the family of James Dennis Blevins. Roland Boyd GRUNDY – Funeral services for Roland Boyd 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. Roland Boyd, age 92, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Grundy. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Dorothy E. Graham WISE – Dorothy E. Graham, 69, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton. She was a member of the Tacoma Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Ida Renfro Whited, a brother, Elwood Whited, and a stepson, David R. Graham. Surviving are her husband, John W. Graham; one son, Timothy John Graham of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; one daughter, Tammy Lynn Graham of Myrtle Beach; one stepson, Steven P. Graham and wife Jan of Newport News, Va.; two stepdaughters, Carol G. Rice and Susan G. Gibbs and husband Darryl, all of Asheville, N.C.; six grandchildren; one great-grandson and one sister, Nellie Elkins of Tacoma, Va. Funeral services for Dorothy E. Graham will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with the Rev. David Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Dixie Hamilton RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. – Dixie Lee Cook Hamilton, 62, of the Gravel Lick community, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, in the Russell County Medical Center. Born Aug. 15, 1942, in Russell County, a daughter of the late Walter Franklin Lynthlin and the late Arvis Madeline Vance Lynthlin, she was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Carrol D. Cook, and a brother, Franklin (Boo) Lynthlin. Survivors include her husband, Tommy Hamilton; two daughters, Wanda Phillips and her husband Bob and Lois Cook, all of Lebanon; a son, Louis C. Cook and his wife Lisa, Cleveland; two grandchildren, Bobby Phillips and his wife Misty, Cleveland, and Brooke Cross and her husband Michael, Lebanon; a special great- granddaughter, Julieanna Cross, Lebanon; a sister, Twinkle Sweat, Sylacauga, Ala.; three brothers, Howard (Jay) Lynthlin, Jack (June) Lynthlin and Roger Lynthlin, all of Cleveland; also several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Roy Lee Wilson and the Rev. Cecil Musick officiating. Burial will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon. Pallbearers will be Curtis Simerly, Dale Simerly, Kenneth Stevens, Johnny Skeen, Eddie Cook, Dewey Cook, Ricky Breeding and Jim Rasnick. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, at the funeral home and at the home of Wanda and Bob Phillips, Green Valley Road, Lebanon, at any time. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the family of Mrs. Hamilton. Mary Hopkins Funeral services for Mary Ann Smith Hopkins 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. 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. Madeline M. Kessler ROANOKE – A memorial service for Madeline Mullins Kessler will be held 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. Madeline Mullins Kessler, 75, passed away Monday, Aug. 23, 2004, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack. Arrangements are by Oakey’s North Chapel and Crematory. Billy Fayne Kilgore MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Billy Fayne Kilgore, age 65, departed this life on Aug. 23, 2004, making his stay here on earth 65 years, 10 months and 14 days. Billy was born in Haysi on Oct. 9, 1938. He was the son and first born of Martin and June (Epling) Kilgore. During his high school years, he was in the Boy Scouts, under the leader of Erdman Mullins. He played basketball his last two years of high school. The team won the county championship for the first time in 17 years. Billy graduated from Haysi High School in 1956. He then went to Danville Technical Institute and completed a two-year course in refrigeration and air conditioning. Wanting to see some of the world, Billy went to Florida and worked at Hudson Pulp and Paper Mill at Palatka, and then he went to Winter Park and worked for Crawford Sheet Metal Company. Upon returning home to visit with his parents and younger siblings, Billy received a call from a friend he had gone to technical school with, Woody Reeves. He was informed that Pepsi Cola in Martinsville, Va., had a mechanics job opening. He applied and went to work for them in 1959. He did vending machine repairs for all of Henry County. Billy left Pepsi Cola and began working for Dupont in Martinsville on March 23, 1964. He spent the next 30 years and two months there until his retirement May 15, 1994. Since his retirement, he had been self-employed doing air conditioning, plumbing, roofing and carpentry work. One of his great joys of life was helping others. He recently said, "If I can’t work, life isn’t worth living." During his battle with cancer this year he continued working and helping others. Billy was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961. After basic training, he was sent to Germany. He spent eight months and then received honorable discharge. Billy bowled on a league some 30 years and had numerous trophies to show for his skill and dedication to the game. He had been secretary of several leagues through the years. He was president of the Henry County Bowling Association for a two-year term and had served on the board of this organization for several years. On April 4, 1998, he was inducted into the Henry County Bowling Hall of Fame. Billy was a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church at Horse Pasture, Va., on Route 58. He joined the church on March 2, 1997, and was baptized March 16, 1997. His greatest desire was to see all his family and friends accept the Lord as their own personal Savior. Survivors include his mother, June Kilgore; three children, daughter and namesake, Billie Lynn married Thaddeus Smith and they have four children, Brandi Nicole, Thaddeus IV "T.J," Zachariah Barrow and Victoria Rheannon, son, Johnny Fayne married Denielle and they have one daughter, Kambri Mishay; and daughter, Kristine Carol married David Allen Viers and they have three children, Andrew Todd, Jeremiah Clayton and Chelsea Renee; brothers, Joe Parkis married Jeraldine Large, Gary Keith married Chris, and Marty Chris; sisters, Marta Diana married Dennis Reedy and Rebecca Kay married Harold Fuller. The mother of his children, Gloria Carol, was a friend to the end. Although divorced, Billy and Gloria remained friends and helped each other out whenever they could. Gloria often took Billy for his treatments and, during this past month while in the hospital, she never left his side. He leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Billy. Billy was preceded in death by his dad, Martin Kilgore. The two of them this very day are celebrating their reunion in Heaven. Billy was a loving and dedicated son. He helped care for his dad during his illness and had made many trips back home to stay with and care for his mother over the past several years. He had been a wonderful brother, always willing to help whenever one of his siblings needed him. He was a loving and dedicated dad and papaw, always putting the needs of the children and grandchildren ahead of his own. Billy will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him. If we live our lives for Jesus, as Billy certainly did, we can see him again in Heaven. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Rev. Danny Sluss and Rev. Allen Viers officiating. Burial will follow in the Belcher Cemetery, Route 1, Haysi. Grandchildren and nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, at Haysi Funeral Home, where an evening service will be held at 7 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Brittany Vance HONAKER – Funeral services for Brittany Rachel Myrtle Vance "Stevens" 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. Brittany Rachel Myrtle Vance "Stevens," age 17, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, from injuries sustained in a automobile accident.