Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 5, 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 Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004 Today's Deaths William G. Clark Sr., Midway Cornelius Deel, 71, Vansant, Va. Philip C. Donahue, 65, Bristol Virginia Jerry Anthony Fleenor, 52, Bristol Tennessee Sharon Kay Johnson, 47, Wytheville, Va. Pamela Jean Poteat, 53, Jonesborough, Tenn. Teresa Ann Presnell, 40, Abingdon Arabell S. Rasnake, 84, Lebanon Kenny L. Rasnake, 81, Lebanon Clifford Eugene Ringley, 67, Bluff City John Wesley Salyer, 78, Bristol Tennessee Wanda Jane Taylor Testerman, 57, Whitetop, Va. Jack Walter Britts RICHLANDS – Funeral services for Mr. Jack Walter Britts will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Eddie Nash officiating. Entombment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Va. Nephews and men of the Richlands Presbyterian Church will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Short, June Horton, Gratton Webb, fourth floor staff of Clinch Valley Medical Center, Eugene Dye and Fred Sayers. Members of Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640 of Richlands and Disabled American Veterans Tazewell County Chapter 31 will conduct military graveside rites. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richlands Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 446 Richlands, VA 24641. Mr. Jack Walter Britts, age 80, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at a Richlands hospital, following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson Disease. Hurst- Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Cassie Varden Butler FAIR HAVEN, Mich. – Graveside services for Cassie Butler will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at the Colley Cemetery, Breaks, Va., with Alfred Fields officiating. Cassie Butler, age 84, began a new journey from her home on Monday, Aug. 30, 2004. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. William G. Clark Sr. MIDWAY – William G. Clark Sr., farmer and husband of Lily May McLemore Clark, died Monday, Aug 30, 2004. Born in Lexington, Ky., he was a son of the late William Foley and Dola Reynolds Clark. A graduate of Millersburg Military Institute, he attended both the University of Kentucky and Amherst College in New York. He had been a member of Midway Presbyterian Church, the Thoroughbred Club, Idle Hour Country Club and a former member of the Keeneland Club. An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he was an original member of the 456 Bomb Squadron, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals with Silver Clusters and the Purple Heart. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the DAV. In addition to his wife of 55 years, he is survived by four children, Sarah Margaret (Stewart) Blair, Blountville, Col. William G. Clark Jr., Versailles, Ky., Mary Elizabeth (Eugene) McBurney, Roanoke, and Patrick C. (Cathy) Clark, Camden, S.C.; five grandchildren, William G. Clark III, Edward C. Clark, May McBurney, Elizabeth Fellers and Sarah Jones; two great-grandchildren, Anna Clay Clark and Natalie Fellers. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Jean Hale. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Lexington Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Peggy Bright, with Gov. Brereton Jones giving the eulogy. A memorial service will also be held Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the V.A. Hospital on Cooper Drive. Memorials may be made to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Box 4118, Lexington, KY 40544; www.milwardfuneral.com. W.R. Milward Mortuary-Broadway is in charge of arrangements. Juanita Cross BLOUNTVILLE – The funeral service for Juanita Cross will be conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, in the Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Dwight Shaffer, minister, and Leland Houser, minister, officiating. The committal service will follow in the Glenwood Cemetery. Those who wish may make contributions to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, TX 78716-1150. E-mail condolences for the family may be sent at akardfh@peercom.net. Juanita Cross, age 82, passed away Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, in St. Mary’s Hospice, Knoxville. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Cross. Cornelius Deel VANSANT, Va. – Cornelius Deel, age 71, of Route 2, passed away Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Bart and Jocie Owens Deel. He was a retired miner, member of UMWA Local 7170, U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict and was of the Old Regular Baptist faith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Author, Harold and Herbert Deel. Survivors include his wife, Mazel Jean Deel; two sons, Michael (Deloras) Deel of Grundy and Blaine (Regina) Deel of Vansant; two daughters, Karen (Joe) Christian and Tammy (Jimmy) Yates, all of Vansant; six grandchildren, Christopher Deel, Joshua Yates, Zachery Yates, Brooke Deel, Tiffany Deel and McKenzie Deel; two brothers, Andy Deel of Freeport, Pa., and James Arville Deel of Tazewell; and five sisters, Martha Rife and Margaret O’quin, both of Haysi, Birchie Fuller of Tazewell, Elva Jane Dales of Ohio and Lona Blankenship of Grundy. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Elders Frank Newsome and David O’quinn officiating. Burial will follow in the Bart Deel Cemetery, Route 2, Haysi. The American Legion Post 164 of Grundy will conduct military graveside rites. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5, at Haysi Funeral Home, where an evening service will be held at 7 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Philip C. Donahue BRISTOL, Va. – Philip C. Donahue, age 65, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, at his home, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 15, 1939, a son of the late Emory and Maude Kilgore Donahue. Mr. Donahue was a lifelong resident of the Bristol, a retired employee with Sprint, with 37 years of service, and a member of the Bradley Street Baptist Church. Survivors include wife, Paulette Donahue; daughter, Angie McCready and husband, Jason; son, James P. Donahue; one very special grandson, Harrison McCready; brother, Wayne Donahue and wife, Floretta; nephew, Roger Donahue; great-nephew and great-niece, Sean and Sarah. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Bill Pealer, Rev. E.W. Ely and Rev. Dennis Burnett officiating. Entombment will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Glenwood Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be Paul Bridgeman, Gary Nash, Marvin Campbell, Hubert White, Don Caudill and Hugh Kilgore. A special thanks to Dr. Sue Prill, Dr. Bennett Cowan, Kathy Sharpe, npc., and staff, Cindy, Carol, B.J., and hospice nurse, Cathy Montgomery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Bradley Street Baptist Church, 2218 Bradley St., Bristol, VA 24201; or St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Monday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Vealah R. Ferguson BLOUNTVILLE – Graveside service for Vealah Ruth Richardson Ferguson will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Tri-Cities Memory Gardens. Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 57 Fairway Drive, Bristol, TN 37620-3009. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Vealah Ruth Richardson Ferguson, beloved mother, age 74, went to be with the Lord Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, after a lengthy illness. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jerry A. Fleenor BRISTOL, Tenn. – Jerry Anthony Fleenor, age 52, of 162 Basham Hill Road, passed away Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mr. Fleenor was born on Aug. 29, 1952, in Bristol Virginia, to the late Robert Fleenor and Phyllis Perkey Fleenor. He was a native of Bristol, moving to Fredricksburg, Va., and returning to the Bristol area three years ago. Mr. Fleenor was a window cleaner with City Wide Window Cleaning Co. Mr. Fleenor is survived by his wife, Deborah Fleenor; one daughter, Brandy Puckett of Bristol Tennessee; two sons, Cory and Matt Fleenor of Bristol Tennessee; two grandsons, Shawn Kelso of Bristol Tennessee and Cameron Fleenor of Fredricksburg; stepmother, Martha Fleenor of Bristol Tennessee; one brother, Bobby Fleenor and friend, Carol, of Woodstock, Ga.; three sisters, Yolanda Smith and husband Larry of Bristol Tennessee and Rhonda Hagy and Donna Neely, both of Bristol Virginia; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be held Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at 1 p.m. in the Wallace Cemetery in Cleveland, Va., with the Rev. Bob Robinson officiating. Pallbearers will be Gary Bernard, Bill Vaden, Beau Caldwell, Burt Maxwell, Kelly Powell and Mike Carrier. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jasper H. Hilliard BLUFF CITY – Funeral services for Jasper Hartley Hilliard will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday in Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Donnie Humphrey officiating. Burial will follow in Shipley Cemetery. Pallbearers: Robby Hockett, Larry Davis, Robby Watkins, Fred Brewer, Jimmy Malone and Wayne Malone. E-mail condolences may be made at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Jasper Hartley Hilliard, age 69, 523 Ryder Church Road, died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, in Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. Arrangements have been made through Weaver Funeral Home. Sharon Kay Johnson WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Sharon Kay Johnson, 47, died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, at Wytheville County Community Hospital, Wytheville. She was born in Bristol Tennessee, daughter of the late Floyd and Oleene Fields Taylor. She was preceded in death by one sister, Georgia Belle Taylor. She is survived by her husband, Roger Johnson; two daughters, Amanda Tate of Chilhowie and Tiffany Johnson of Wytheville; one sister, Brenda Casteel of Hickory, N.C.; one brother, Eugene Taylor Jr. of St. Paul, Va.; four grandchildren, Kayla Tate, Thomas Tate Jr., Johnny Tate and James Smith III; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Sharon Kay Johnson will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Woody Scott officiating. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood, or any time at the home of Eugene Taylor at Morefield. Online condolences may be sent to the Johnson family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Nannie McComas LEBANON – Funeral services for Nannie E. Stevens McComas will be held on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m. at Owens Funeral Service Chapel, with Rev. Tom Edwards officiating. Entombment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lebanon Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. before the funeral service. Nannie E. Stevens McComas, 80, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004. Owens Funeral Service, Lebanon, is in charge of arrangements. Mickey Dean Mullins CLINTWOOD – Funeral services for Mickey D. Mullins will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sunday from the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel, with Ministers Lynn Vanover, Manie Strouth and Verdel Mullins officiating. Burial will follow in the Creed Mullins Family Cemetery on George’s Fork. Active pallbearers are Seth Mullins, Wayne Moore, Wayne Browning, Rodney Mullins, Donnie Stanley and David Phipps. Honorary pallbearers are Walter Browning, Lloyd Mullins, Willard Moore, Ronnie Mooney, Donald Baker, Larry Rose, Larry Browning, John Mullins, Leon Meade, Bobby Hammons, Earl Steele and Danny Colley. Mickey Dean Mullins, age 46, died at Dickenson Community Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, after a lingering illness. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Pamela Jean Poteat JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. – Pamela Jean "Pam" Poteat, 53, passed peacefully on Friday, Sept. 3, at the Johnson City Medical Center, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was a native of Jonesborough, an employee with the Johnson City Power Board for 22 years, and a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesborough. She was a graduate of Jonesboro High School and attended Draughns College and East Tennessee State University. Pam is survived by her parents, F.B. and Ruby Saxon Poteat of Jonesborough; a daughter and son-in-law, Traci and Mike Gordon of Knoxville; two granddaughters, Madison and Mckenzie Gordon of Knoxville, a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Linda Poteat of Bristol; former sister-in-law, Mary Ella Helvey Poteat of Johnson City; a nephew, Jason Poteat and wife Lea Ann of Johnson City; aunts and uncles, including Becky and Lewis Sims of Jonesborough, Wallace and JoAnn Saxon of Cherryville, N.C., Jim and Maggie Poteat of Johnson City and John Poteat of Kingsport. Funeral services for Pamela Jean "Pam" Poteat will be 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home, with Rev. Joel Cook officiating. Graveside service will follow in Maple Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 1 until 3 p.m., prior to the funeral service. Pallbearers include Homer G’fellers, Gene Key, Steve Netherly, Bill Petty, Keith Toth and Doyle Walters. Honorary pallbearers are the employees of the Johnson City Power Board. Friends may also call at the residence of F.B. and Ruby Poteat. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donors make contributions to the American Cancer Society and/or the Building Fund for the First Baptist Church in Jonesborough. Condolences may be sent to the Poteat family online at www.dillow-taylor.com. Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, Tenn., (423) 753- 3821. Teresa Ann Presnell ABINGDON – Ms. Teresa Ann "Tea" Presnell, age 40, passed away Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, in Johnston Memorial Hospital. Ms. Presnell was a member of the Tumbling Creek Primitive Baptist Church. Survivors: her parents, Kenneth and Joann Presnell, Saltville; one sister, Crystal and husband Chris Dye, Bristol Virginia; niece, Alaina Kestner, Bristol Virginia; nephew, Cyrus Kestner, Bristol Virginia; and many, many special friends, including Gary and Donna Kestner, Bristol Virginia. Funeral services for Ms. Teresa Ann Presnell will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at Tumbling Creek Primitive Baptist Church, with the Elder Ked Stacy and Elder Jeff Weaver officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Clair Bottom Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cyrus Kestner, Gary Kestner, Ronnie Collins, Anthony Collins, Devon Collins, Chris Dye, Richie Collins and Jamie Collins. Honorary pallbearers will be The Mid Appalachian Support-Activity Group of Abingdon and Randy Delp of Saltville. The family will receive friends from 6 till 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Presnell family. Arabell S. Rasnake Kenny L. Rasnake LEBANON – Kenny L. Rasnake, 81, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, in the Russell County Medical Center, and his wife, Arabell Smith Rasnake, 84, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, in Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center from injuries received in an automobile accident. Arrangements are incomplete. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. and Mrs. Rasnake. Clifford E. Ringley BLUFF CITY – Clifford Eugene Ringley, age 67, went to be with the Lord Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center, after a brief illness. Mr. Ringley was born on Oct. 26, 1936, in Washington County, Va., to the late Hughie and Bessie Smith Ringley. He was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area and was retired from the Bristol Herald Courier and Serv-all. Mr. Ringley was preceded in death by one sister, Lakie J. Smith. Mr. Ringley is survived by two sisters, Betty Lane and husband Ellis of Bristol Virginia and Beulah Sullivan of Bristol Virginia; one special friend, Inez Vandyke of Bristol Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Randal Shaffer officiating. Burial will follow in the Sproles Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Patrick Lane, Charles Ringley, Sammy Hensley, Tony Fortner, Doug Elliott and Mark Winningham. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home or any time at the home of Betty and Ellis Lane, 121 Gouge St., Bristol, Va. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. John Wesley Salyer BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mr. John Wesley Salyer, age 78, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, at the Greystone Health Care Center. He was born in Lebanon and had lived in Hansonville until moving to Bristol. He was a retired employee of the Sullivan County Highway Department and was a U.S. Army veteran. John was an honorary member of the Seldom Seen Motorcycle Club. Survivors include his wife, Beulah Salyer; two sons, John Salyer of Blountville and James Salyer and special friend, Donna Cunningham, of Bristol Tennessee; his daughter, Rita Keen of Lebanon; a special daughter, Deborah Caywood of Blountville; one brother, Kenneth Salyer of Nashville; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Lisa Minton and Ashley, Shannon Keen, John "Little John" Salyer and Kelly, Kevin Keen and Abbi, Scott Salyer, Michael Salyer, Jenny Keen and Ben and Allen Salyer. A funeral service will be conducted Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at 6 p.m. in the Forest Hills Branch of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway in Abingdon, with Rev. Lester Sexton and Rev. Paul White officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. A committal service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Family and friends are to meet at the grave site before the service. Those wishing to express a memory or sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Forest Hills Branch of Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Salyer. Wanda Testerman WHITETOP, Va. – Wanda Jane Taylor Testerman, age 57, passed away Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at her residence. She was born March 24, 1947, at West, Va., to Edward and Florence Chappell Taylor. Surviving are her husband, Harold C. Testerman of the home; one son, Matthew Testerman, Whitetop; mother, Florence Taylor, Lansing, N.C.; one sister, Brenda Testerman, Annandale, Va.; several nieces and nephews and special friend, Jordan Matthew McCoy. The body is at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence, Va. Funeral service will be conducted Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at 11 a.m. in Whitetop Baptist Church, Whitetop. Interment will be in Byars Cemetery. Rev. T.A. Pennington and Rev. David Lyles will officiate. The family will receive friends Sunday night at the Whitetop Baptist Church from 7 to 9 p.m. Arrangements by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence. Jerry Bert Wolfe BRISTOL, Va. – Graveside services for Jerry Bert Wolfe will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, Abingdon, with Rev. Paul Price officiating. The family will meet at the cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Highlands Fellowship Veterans Honor Guard, Abingdon. Pallbearers will Justin Neece, Leon Salyer, Junior Wise, Charles Dollar, Darius Salyer and Jackie Christian. Online condolences may be sent to the Wolfe family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Jerry Bert Wolfe, age 55, was carried home by the angels to be with Jesus, Sept. 2, 2004, at the home of his sister, with his loving family by his side. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.