Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 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 Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004 Today's Deaths Alma Elizabeth White Elkins Mary Evelyn Akers Hurley, 66, Grundy Hermie Mullins Jackson, 84, Bristol Tennessee Geraldine Moore, 56, Coeburn Alma Mullins, 66, Honaker Eddie Mutter Sr., 56, White, Ga. Rebecca Preston Reeves, 52 Jeanette Catherine Baker Sexton, 73, Norton Georgia Faye Brooks DANTE, Va. – Funeral services for Georgia Faye "Duke" Brooks will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Brother Joe Bailey officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Pallbearers will be family. Honorary pallbearers will be Herman Brooks and Jerry Brooks. Online condolences may be sent to the Brooks family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Georgia Faye "Duke" Brooks, 68, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at Holston Valley Medical Center, Kingsport. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Ann Hoofnagle Cline GROSECLOSE, Va. – Funeral services for Ann Hoofnagle Cline will be held Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel, with Rev. Grady Byrd officiating. Entombment will follow in Rose Lawn Mausoleum, Marion. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Ann Hoofnagle Cline died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, in Smyth County Community Hospital. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Cline- Hoofnagle family. Alma Elkins Alma Elizabeth White Elkins passed on to her Heavenly home on Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, with her family near. This was the final bout in a courageous battle with cancer. She was a native of Erwin, Tenn., an avid traveler before making her permanent home in Tacoma, Va., and was a former resident of Washington, D.C., and Bermuda. Alma was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Erwin, and most recently attended Trinity Life Center Church in Coeburn. She found great joy in contributing to the missionary work that is being kept alive in Africa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fieldon David and Minnie Engle White, her husband, Harry Byrd Elkins, and a sister, Lucille Pate. Surviving are a daughter, Debra Austin of Coeburn; two granddaughters, Angela Austin-Blevins and Alison Austin-Short, both of Coeburn; two great- grandchildren, Jared Blevins and Madison Short of Coeburn; three sisters, Hilda White and Lena Justice, both of Erwin, and Thelma Shipley of Kingsport; a brother, Lowell White of Johnson City; also several cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. We will truly miss her love of life, family and God. Funeral services for Alma Elkins will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Coeburn, with Pastor John McCarroll and Rev. Mitchell Elliott officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Coeburn. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Coeburn is in charge of arrangements. Mary Hurley GRUNDY – Mary Evelyn Akers Hurley, 66 years of age, of the Slate Creek area, passed away Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Tennessee, following an extended illness. Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late John Henry and Pinkie Robinson Akers. She had been a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a member of Victory Baptist Church and a graduate of Grundy High School. She was a retired receptionist for Dr. Y.S. Murthy’s office, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and was a homemaker. Mrs. Hurley is survived by her husband, William Denford Hurley, Grundy; two sons, William Denford Hurley Jr. and wife Lisa Michelle, Grundy, Gerald Wayne Hurley and wife, Deena Marie, Grundy; three sisters, Lillian Ann White and Judy Carol Lester, both of Abingdon, and Janet Sue Horn, Grundy; one bother, Bobby Rufus Horn, Grundy. Also survived by four grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Jean Akers, one brother, John Henry Akers Jr., and one great-grandchild. Funeral services for Mary Evelyn Akers Hurley will be conducted Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at 1 p.m.. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel, with Minister Larry Ratliff and Evg. Mike Rife officiating, with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va. Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m., with services at 7 p.m. Active pallbearers will be William Delford Hurley III, Bradley Douglas Hurley, Chadwick Clinton Hurley, Jeremy Wayne Hurley, Eugene Childress and Danny Davidson. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Clint Sutherland, Dr. Y.S. Murthy, family and friends. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, is in charge of all arrangements. Hermie M. Jackson BRISTOL, Tenn. – Hermie Mullins Jackson, 84, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2002, at her home. She was born in Bart Lick, Dickenson County, Va., a daughter of the late Vergie and Levi Mullins, and was the widow of Bascom Jackson. She had been a member of West Hills Christian Church since moving to Bristol 43 years ago. Survivors include her daughter, Brenda Gideon of Bristol Tennessee; grandchildren, April Hayden and her husband Chris, John Gideon, Jr., Clayton Gideon and his wife Melisha, Andrew Gideon and Joan Leonard; three special sisters-in-law, Marcella Mullins, Okie Hoops and Della Jackson; ten great- grandchildren. Mrs. Jackson had several nieces and nephews whom she loved like they were her own children. She was preceded in death by her oldest grandson, Todd Leonard. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Sunday evening at Oakley- Cook Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon in the Heritage Chapel of Memories in Glenwood Cemetery, with Dr. Gary Knapp, minister, officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley- cook.com. Mrs. Jackson and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tennessee. Geraldine Moore COEBURN – Geraldine (Jerrie) Moore, 56, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 in the Wellmont Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center, Kingsport. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Orbin and Kate Noel. Surviving are her husband, Tony Moore; two sons, Buck Moore and Gary and his wife, Jackie Moore, all of Coeburn; two daughters, Sherrie and her husband, Charlie Bower, of Coeburn, and Karen and her husband, David Beaver, of Charlotte, N.C.; her stepmother, Shirley Noel of Coeburn; three brothers, Eugene Noel of Tappahannock, Va.; Ronnie Noel of Nickelsville, Va. and Dwayin Noel of Kingsport; a sister, Lori Fannon of Charlotte, N.C.; two stepbrothers, James Burke of Florida and David Burke of Georgia; eleven grandchildren, Ryan Bower, Samantha Bower, Megan Moore, Patience Moore, Tiffany Moore, Bradley Moore, Emily Moore, Ashlee Nester, Kristin Nester, David Beaver and Katilyn Beaver. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday in the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Coeburn, with the Rev. Glen Hurd officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens, Coeburn. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Sunday at the Sturgill Funeral Home, Coeburn. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Coeburn, is in charge of arrangements. Alma Mullins HONAKER – Mrs. Alma Mullins, age 66, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, in a Bristol Tennessee hospital. Born Aug. 19, 1938, in Buchanan County, Va., she was a daughter of Ruth McGlothlin Welch Street of Rowe, Va., and the late Fred Welch. A lifelong resident of the area, she attended Rowe Free Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Swords Creek Block Church. She was a retired office manager with Georgia Pacific. She was one of the founding members of the Friends of the Library at Honaker, and a member of the Redbud Committee. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by one infant son, Steven Michael Mullins. In addition to her mother, survivors include her husband, Alonzo Mullins; one daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Rick Foleno of Hiltons, Va.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Joel and Rebecca Mullins of London and Chris and Amber Mullins of Blacksburg, Va.; one stepdaughter, Rita Harris and husband, Bill, of Peachland, N.C.; one stepson, Walter D. Mullins and wife, Carol, of Statesville, N.C.; one sister, Sharon Owens and husband, Ronald, of Rowe, Va.; one brother, Darrell Welch and wife, Joann, of Prattsville, Ala.; two grandchildren, Jonathan Mullins and Aleisha Page; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Carl Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Sunday. Eddie Mutter Sr. WHITE, Ga. – Mr. Eddie Mutter Sr., age 56, passed away on Friday, Sept. 24, 2004. Mr. Mutter was born Aug. 30, 1948, in Wise County Va., to George Everett and Virginia Hall Mutter. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart. Mr. Mutter owned and operated M&M Concrete. He was a Mason and member of the Church of God. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Mutter of White; sons, Eddie Mutter Jr. and William Joseph Mutter, both of Canton; daughters, Mashell Mutter of White, Virginia Young of Adairsville, Angela Mutter and Megan Leighann Mutter, both of White; mother, Virginia Sargent of Virginia; brother, William Heath of Pennsylvania; sisters, Marie Staton of Ellijay, and Debbie Wells of Monticello, Ga.; 16 grandchildren also survive. Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004 from the Sosebee Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Greg Foster and Rev. Ray Branham officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill City Cemetery. The family will receive friends all day on Sunday at the funeral home. Sosebee Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Rebecca P. Reeves Rebecca Preston Reeves, age 52, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at her residence in the Lodi community. She was born in Washington County and was the daughter of the late Thomas (Hal) Reeves and Aileen Hope Preston Reeves. Rebecca was a graduate of Liberty Hall High School and King College. She had lived and worked in the Bristol area for a number of years prior to her death. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Walter and Etta Lowery Preston, and her paternal grandparents, Thomas E. and Martha DeBusk Reeves. She is survived by one aunt, Helen E. Reeves, also of the Lodi community. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at Knollkreg Memorial Park, Abingdon. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Reeves family. Jeanette Sexton NORTON – Jeanette Catherine Baker Sexton, 73, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at the Norton Community Hospital in Norton. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by a son, James David Baker, an infant grandson, David Sexton, and an infant granddaughter, Denisha Powers. Surviving are her husband of 36 years, Albert Wayne (Bones) Sexton; three daughters, Wanda (Rex) Brickey of Norton, Brenda Baker of Bristol Virginia and Linda Absher of Norton; six sons, Don (Linda) Baker of Wise, Chad Baker of Norton, Richard "Bean" (Rita) Baker of Wise, Phillip "Flip" Baker of Norton, Randy (Pam) Baker of Wise and Larry "Scott" (Mariska) Sexton of Norton; her mother, Bessie Baker Damron of Wise; two sisters, Jo Ann Baker of Big Stone Gap and Betty (Albert) Snodgrass of Marion, Ill.; two brothers, J.D. (Resona) Baker of Forest Hill, Md., and Connie (Shirley) Potter of Norton; eight grandchildren, Terri Lee Willis, Donna Baker, James David "Jamie" Baker, Donald "Wayne" Baker Jr., Nikki Absher, Catherine Sexton, Brandon Sexton and Joey Baker; four stepgrandchildren, Aaron Looney, Aletha Looney, Bobby Lee Salyers and Hubert Anthony Salyers; four great-grandchildren; several aunts, an uncle, nieces, nephews and a host of friends and loved ones. Funeral services for Jeanette Sexton will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with Rev. Joe Dearry and Rev. Tony Nunley officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Leonard Sykes BRISTOL, Tenn. – The funeral service for Leonard Sykes will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at the graveside in Glenwood Cemetery, with Rev. Gary Chenoweth officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Patton- Crosswhite VFW Post 6975. E-mail condolences for the family may be sent to akardfh@peercom.net. Leonard Sykes, age 91, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at his residence. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mr. Sykes. Bruce Taylor Sr. BRISTOL, Tenn. – Graveside services for Bruce "Jack" Taylor Sr. will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Shipley Cemetery, with Rev. Cass Farrior officiating. The family would like to express a special thanks to Wellmont Hospice nurses and aides. Those desiring may make memorials to Virginia Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund or to Wellmont Hospice House. Bruce "Jack" Taylor Sr., age 77, 538 Lakeview St., died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, in Wellmont Hospice House. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Belle B. Webb BRISTOL – The family of Belle Blankenship Webb will receive friends from 2 until 2:45 Sunday afternoon, Sept. 26, 2004, in the Heritage Chapel of Memories of Mountain View Cemetery. The funeral service will follow at 3 o’clock, with Rev. James Oxendine officiating. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial contributions to Virginia Avenue Methodist Church, 1127 Virginia Ave., Bristol, TN 37620. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Belle Blankenship Webb, 82, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at Wellmont Hospice House. Mrs. Webb and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn.