U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Ted Martin
Ted Martin, 75, of the Martin Mountain section of Drill, died June 29, 2006 in a Lebanon hospital.
Born April 26, 1931 in Drill, he was a son of the late Arch and Nancy Harris Martin.
He spent his early life in the area prior to moving to Cleveland, OH, where he worked as an engineer for River Terminal Railroad for 36 years, moving back to Martin Mountain in 1991. He was a member of Outreach Temple Church in Wysor Valley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Maude Crouse and Nellie Martin, and three brothers, Lee Martin, Clarence Martin and Edward Martin. In his generation he was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: wife of 55 years, Helen Arwood Martin; daughters, Judy Deskins of Lebanon, Patty Price of Rowe; sons, Joe Martin of Honaker, Billy Martin and Teddy Martin, both of Rowe; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. July 2 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Arvil Arwood, Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Peerman Lester officiating.
Interment followed in the Martin cemetery on Stinson Ridge.
James (Jay) Mitchell
James Charter (Jay) Mitchell, 75, of Bluefield, VA, died June 18, 2006 at Rock Springs Rehab., Pomeroy, OH.
Born Feb. 11, 1931 in Dry Fork, he was a son of the late Arthur W. Mitchell and Earrie Johnson Mitchell.
He was a retired street superintendent for the Town of Bluefield, VA, for whom he had worked for over 46 years. He was an avid hunter and coon dog breeder.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Rosa, Alma, Maybelle and Alice; three brothers, Arthur Jr., Thomas and Roy Lee; one daughter, Teresa Darlene; and his first wife and mother of his sons, Dorcus Roten Mitchell.
Survivors: sons, Cecil Mitchell and wife, Linda, Johnny Mitchell, and Steve Mitchell, all of Bluefield, VA, Pee Wee Mitchell and wife, Linda, of Green Valley, James (Butch) Mitchell, Jr. address unknown; brother, Otis Mitchell of Bluefield, VA; sister, Mary Jane Brewster of Bluefield, VA; longtime companion and friend, Madeline Burnett and children; eight grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted June 21 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA with Rev. Tony Ellis officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Edith Mae Pugh
Edith Mae Brewster Pugh, 80, of Bluefield, died June 26, 2006 in Bastian.
Born in Bluefield, VA, she was a daughter of the late Archie Brewster and Ethel Lee Spence Brewster.
She was a member of the Parkview Baptist Church in Bluefield, VA.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Gerald Blaine Pugh; two brothers, Gene Brewster and Roy Brewster; and two sisters, Gladys Neel and Grace Reynolds. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: husband, W.B. “Buck” Pugh; daughter, Sandra Jean Tiller and husband, Stanley, of Bland; grandchildren, Eric Tiller Jr., Staci Pugh, Michael Pugh and wife, Nora, Steve Pugh and Jessica, and Timmy Pugh; daughter-in-law, Sheri Nash of Bluefield, VA; and great grandchildren, Katherine, Michael, Lexie and Montana.
The funeral was conducted June 29 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA with Rev. Travis Hilton officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Flowers may be accepted or donations may be made to the Bland Co. Nursing and Rehab. Center, 12185 Grapefield Rd., Bastian, VA 24314.
Robert “Bob” Richardson
Robert “Bob” Coy Richardson, 67, of the Maple Gap section of Swords Creek, died June 26, 2006 in a Tazewell hospital.
Born Aug. 19, 1938 in Richlands, he was a son of Ida Altizer of Cedar Bluff and the late Robert Coy Reedy.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the United States Army.
Additional survivors: wife, Donna Gail Richardson of the home; his ex-wife, Barbara Carol Richardson of Doran; sons, Robert “Lanny” Richardson of Hickory, NC, Terry Dean Compton and wife, Kim, of Rosedale; grandchildren, Damion Hunter Richardson, Dakota Landon Richardson, Tara Ratliff and Shanna Ratliff; brothers, Robert “Bo” Reedy of Abingdon, Lowell “Red” Reedy of Hickory, Harold Richardson of Cedar Bluff; several nieces and nephews; and many loved ones.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. June 28 in the Honaker Funeral Home, Honaker, with Rev. J.C. Johnson and Rev. Jess Whited officiating.
Entombment followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon.
Military graveside honors were conducted by American Veteran’s Honor Guard Association of Richlands.
Jayden Lee Valach
Jayden Lee Valach, of Leckie, was born in Roanoke on Aug. 4, 2005. God took his angel home after a lifelong battle with complications brought on by liver failure on June 25, 2006 at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh as he was held in his mother’s arms and surrounded by family.
Although he was only with us 10 months, Jayden touched so many lives with his smiling personality and his enduring strength. He taught each of us so much during his short time here; we were truly blessed throughout the time we got to share with him here on earth.
Jayden is the son of Joe Valach and Kristi Brooks who dedicated their lives to their precious “Little Bird.” Including his parents, he is survived by his stepbrother, Jacob Farmer of Anawalt; maternal grandparents, Jerry and Debbie Brooks of Leckie; paternal grandparents, Bob and Mary Valach of Anawalt; maternal great-grandmother, Ethel Brooks of Leckie; and paternal great-grandfather, Joe Valach and wife, Patsy, of Pocahontas; aunts and uncles, Jody and Sherry Brooks and Jerry and Amanda Brooks, all of Bluefield, Susan and Jamie Bailey of Leckie, Steve Valach of Tuscaloosa, AL, Suzette Valach and fiancé Shaun Mitchell, Amy and Keith Dunn, and Charity Valach and fiancé Daniel Bishop, all of Princeton; and cousins Heather, JoJo, Coley, Kaleb, Brooke, Brett, and Kelsey.
The funeral was conducted June 28 at noon at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with the Rev. Daniel Parish officiating.
Burial followed at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell.
Mark Anthony Edwards
Mark Anthony Edwards, 50, of Cedar Bluff, died July 18, 2006 following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Born May 18, 1956 in Dayton, OH, he was the son of Joyce Ann Bostic of Vansant and the late Leo Parkis Edwards.
He was a mechanic for Jewell Smokeless and attended the Church of Christ at Claypool Hill.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one nephew, Brian Leo Hall.
Survivors: mother and step-father, Joyce Ann and Ransom Bostic of Vansant; wife, Martha Sue Edwards; son, Matthew Parkis Edwards of the home; daughter, Melinda Dawn Atwood of Charlotte, NC; brothers, Mitchell Edwards of North Tazewell, Charles B. Edwards of Maxie; sisters, Betty Owens of Grundy, Tansy Hatfield of Patterson; step-brothers, Herman and Randy; step-sister, Janice; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. July 21 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Evangelist Bob Smith and Brother Bill Neeley officiating.
Burial followed in the A.J. Edwards cemetery at Prater.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the A.J. Edwards cemetery, c/o Allean Sykes, 332 Rakes Ridge Road, Birchleaf, VA 24220.
Eula Gay Gamble
Eula Gay Gamble, 77, of Lebanon, died July 20, 2006 in a Lebanon hospital.
Born June 9, 1929 in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Grover and Gladys Rasnake Wilson.
A lifelong resident of the area, she was of the Baptist faith. She had formerly been employed by Russell Manufacturing as a seamstress.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Gamble; three sons, Mark Gamble, Jack Gamble, and John Clinton Gamble; and several brothers and sisters.
Survivors: daughter, Gail Sykes of Bristol, VA; sons, Clyde Gamble of Glade Springs, Wayne Gamble of Speedwell, TN, Mack Gamble of Abingdon, Foster Gamble of the home, Rush Gamble of Lebanon; brothers, Garfene Wilson and Clyde Wilson, both of Dayton, OH, Rev. Giles Wilson of Council; sisters, Mary Love of Dayton, Wilma Rash of Lenoir, NC, Brenda Harris of Honaker; 15 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. July 23 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Walter Statzer officiating.
Interment followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon.
May Belle Herald
May Belle Herald, 79, of Tazewell, died July 18, 2006 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born Jan. 29, 1927 at Pounding Mill, she was a daughter of the late Garnett George Herald and Blanche Etta Anderson Herald.
She was a member of the Riverside United Methodist Church in North Tazewell, where she served as a lay speaker.
Survivors: sisters, Virginia Kinder of Tazewell, Elizabeth Gay Beavers of Cedar Bluff, Garnette Jackie Minton of Falls Mills, Judith Davis of West Melbourne, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 7 p.m. July 20 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Kenneth Gillespie officiating.
Committal and interment services were conducted at 11 a.m. July 21 at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Lena Virginia Linkous
Lena Virginia Linkous, 76, was called home by her Lord July 17, 2006. She left this world unexpectedly and peacefully, passing away at her home in Denton, TX.
She was born Nov. 3, 1929 in Harford County, MD, and spent the first 71 years of her life there. In 2002 she moved to Texas to be near her family. She was the daughter of the late Everett and Lottie Lester Linkous.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband and love of her life, Walter Witten Linkous; a daughter, Sue Ann Linkous; and her sister and best friend, Leila Mae Linkous Graham.
Left to cherish her memory: daughter, Niki Linkous Scoggins and special son-in-law, Sam Scoggins; grandsons, Troy Scoggins, Kevin Scoggins, Matthew Scoggins, Zach Scoggins and Link Scoggins; and great-granddaughters, Rachel Scoggins and Jessica Scoggins, all of Texas.
A memorial service, in her honor, was held July 20 at 2 p.m. at the DeBerry Funeral Chapel in Denton, TX.
For those who choose, the family requests memorial contributions be made to your local Adult Literacy Programs.
Shirley Jean Boyd Matney
Shirley Jean Boyd Matney, 62, of Abingdon, formerly of Vansant, died July 17, 2006 in North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston Salem, NC, following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of George Ellis Boyd of Council and the late Hattie Victoria Tiller Boyd.
She had been a resident of Buchanan County several years prior to moving to Abingdon. She was a member of Little Prater Church of Christ and attended First Christian Church in Abingdon. She was a graduate of Council High School Class of 1962, was a former School Bus Driver for Buchanan County School System and a licensed Beautician.
She was a volunteer at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon and enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Beverly Boyd, and one brother, E. E. Boyd.
Survivors: husband, Ellis Fred (Shy) Matney of Vansant; sons, Terry Ellis and wife, Cammie Matney, and Shawn Allen Matney and special friend, Summer Moore and daughter Emily, all of Abingdon; stepdaughter, Anita Lynn Gross of Tazewell; sisters, Norma Gay and husband, Hershel Potter, of Tazewell, Vicky Dee Boyd of Greenville, TN; brothers, Vernal Lee and wife, Thelma Boyd, of Council, Michael Keith and wife, Robin Boyd, of Vansant; special grandchildren, Colin Clay and Tristan Ellis Matney of Abingdon; and several special nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral was conducted July 20 at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evgs. Michael Trent, Mike Rife and Dennis Wheeler officiating.
Entombment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
The family suggests that expression of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the Heavenly Helpers-Relay for Life Cancer Team, P.O. Box 1016, Grundy, VA 24614.
