U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
George "Bill" Shelton
George William "Bill" Shelton, 73, of Bellville, OH, died Oct. 11, 2003 in his home following a short illness.
Born in Red Ash, he was the son of George Washington and Mabel Exie Proffitt Shelton.
He moved to the Mansfield area in 1950. An Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of Irvin Hiskey Post #535 American Legion, Bellville, and the Bellville Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He had worked 34 years as a millwright with the Ohio Brass Company in Mansfield, retiring in 1979. He was an avid citizens band radio operator, and had attended the Stiving Road Freewill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Otis and Walter Shelton, and two sisters Hazel Keen and Phyllis Lester.
Survivors: wife, Lela R. Tate Shelton, whom he married
December 26, 1951; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas E. and Ginger Shelton of Bellville; grandchildren, Jeanie and husband, Dwayne Brown, and Eric Shelton, all of Rocky Point, NC; great-granddaughter, Mary Catherine Brown; brothers and a sister-in-law, Herman and Valerie Shelton of Mansfield, Cecil Shelton of Garden Creek; sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Roscoe VanDyke of Doran; sisters-in-law, Dixie Shelton and Erma Shelton, both of Johnsville; brothers-in-law, McKinley Keen of Mansfield, Robert Lester of Baptist Valley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home with The Rev. Harold Nickell officiating.
Burial followed in Bellville cemetery, where American Legion Post #535 held military graveside honors.
Corrine F. Smith
Corrine Ferrell Smith, 70, of Spencer, died Oct. 12, 2003 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Russell County, she was the daughter of the late Keith and Myrtle C. Gillespie Ferrell, both Russell County natives.
She had made her home in South Carolina most of her life prior to moving to the Spencer area five years ago. She was a homemaker and was of the Pentecostal Faith.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: husband, Jerry Lee Smith; daughters, Myrtle Ann Monk and husband, Wayne, of Swords Creek, Dottie Owens of Ridgeway; sons, Mike Jackson and wife, Linda, of Swords Creek, Dennis Jackson and friend, Kay Burton, of Clauddille; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The funeral will be conducted Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Raven Assembly of God Church in Raven with the Pastor Barry Absher and Phyllis Simmons officiating.
Interment will follow at the Ferrell Family cemetery on Long Branch near Raven.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements.
Bennie Curtis Steele
Bennie Curtis Steele, 62, of Richlands, died Oct. 8, 2003 at his home following a long illness.
Born in Kentucky, he was the son of the late Curtis and Roxie Sloane Steele.
He was a hair designer.
Survivors: his life partner, John McCracken (aka) Johnny Mack of Richlands; daughters, Adria Steele and Shawn Monell, both of Topeka, KS, Tamera Foster of New Jersey; son, Bennie Steele, Jr. of North Carolina; brothers, Robert Steele of Pin Hill, KY, Randy Steele of Roanoke; sisters, Julia Evans and Wanda Hashemzadeh, both of German Town, MD; special caregiver, Emmitt (Buck) Sergant of Richlands; special friend, Jimmy Ray Summers of Richlands; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Disposition will be private.
Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Steele family.
Hartsell "J. C." Strouth
Hartsell "J. C." Strouth, 70, of Cedar Bluff, died October 10, 2003 at a Bristol, TN, hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Russell County, he was a son of the late Hassell Strouth and Mary Gross Strouth Goodie, both Tazewell County natives.
He was a lifelong resident of the Cedar Bluff area, was a former coal miner and was of the Holiness Faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Patty Hale, and one half-brother, Bradley Strouth.
Survivors: wife, Frances Marie Helton Strouth; daughters, Remona Dales and husband, Greg, of Cedar Bluff, Carolyn Vance of Doran; son, David Wayne Yates of Rosedale; sisters, Mildred "Sis" McCowan of Doran, Priscilla "Shell" McGlothlin and husband, Stanley, of Raven; brother, David Goodie and wife, Teresa, of Bristol, VA; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Grady McGlothlin, Rev. Mike Altizer, Rev. Joe Gross, and Rev. Darrell Sutherland officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Connie A. Vandyke
Connie Addison Vandyke, 57, of Statesville, NC, died Oct. 5, 2003 in Charlotte, NC, unexpectedly following a brief illness.
Born in Richlands, she was the daughter of Douglas W. Lawson of Richlands and the late Margaret Melda Blanton Lawson.
She graduated from Richlands High School and was the General Manager of Hillcrest Construction. She was a longtime resident of Statesville and a member of Troutman Church of God.
Additional survivors: husband, James E. Vandyke; daughters, Tracy A. Blevins of Charlotte, NC, Cindy A. Strange of Laurens, SC; sisters, Belinda S. Vandyke of Troutman, Mellissa K. Worrell of Hillsville; brother, Jeffery W. Lawson of Richlands; grandson, Ethan A. Bevins of Charlotte; stepdaughter, Brandy M. Vandyke of Statesville; and stepson, Adam McAlfresh of Statesville.
The funeral was conducted Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. at Troutman Church of God with the Rev. Conner Lambert officiating.
Interment followed at Iredell Memorial Gardens cemetery.
Nicholson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Sylvester R. Wilson
Sylvester R. Wilson, 82, of Richlands, died Oct. 12, 2003 at a Tazewell hospital.
Born in Tazewell County, he was a son of the late John L. and Dillia Addison Wilson, both Richlands natives.
He had made his home in the Richlands area most of his life and was a former employee of General Shale. He was a World War II U. S. Army Veteran serving as Sergeant in the 330th Infantry.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Della Lester Wilson; three sisters, Nanny Belle Wilson, Gladys Wilson and Jennie Moore; and three brothers, James M. Wilson, Kelly S. Wilson and Henry D. Wilson. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: nieces, Peggy Addison of Richlands, Patsy Allison of Kingsport, TN; several great nieces and nephews; friends and neighbors; and employees of Tazewell Community Hospital and 3rd Station Nurses at Heritage Hall Nursing Home.
Graveside services will be conducted Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. at Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill with Rev. Darrell Sutherland officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements.
Gracie N. Winningham
Gracie Neel Winningham, 79, of North Tazewell, went to be with Jesus Oct. 12, 2003.
Born in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Bill and Nannie Bell Harman Neel.
She attended the Tazewell First Assembly of God Church. She was a very active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 331 of Bishop.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Isaac Clustia (Bonny Blue) Winningham; two brothers, Henry Neel and Jasper Neel; two sisters, Rose Harless, Claire Belle Sutton and her husband, Paul; and one nephew, Kenneth Ray Neel.
Survivors: daughters, Gail Sparks of Cleveland, OH, Pat Williams and husband, George, of North Tazewell; sons, James Winningham and wife, Ellen, and Leon Winningham and wife, Sharon, all of Martinsville; sister, Mary Bailey and husband, H.A., of Decatur, GA; sisters-in-law, Garnetta Neel of North Tazewell, Doris Neel of Radford; special niece, Thelma Matney and husband, Lawrence, of North Tazewell; special nephew, Billy Neel of Chester; and special caregivers, Tazewell Home Health and Dr. Anthony Peraltha. She was a loving grandmother, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother of fifty six and aunt to many nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be conducted today at 11 a.m. at the Tazewell First Assembly of God Church in Tazewell, with the Rev. Doug Johnson officiating.
Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
The family received friends at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell Oct. 14 and will receive friends Oct. 15 one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lucy B. Belcher
Lucy Blankenship Belcher, 78, of Oakwood, celebrated her home going Oct. 16, 2003 at her residence in Oakwood.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Rev. David Blankenship and Nora Bailey Blankenship.
She had spent most of her life in the Buchanan County area and was a member of the Oakwood Full Gospel Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Faye Blankenship Street, and two brothers, Ovil Blankenship and Pat Blankenship.
Survivors: husband of 57 years, William R. Belcher Jr.; sons and daughters-in-law, Ronnie and DeeDee Belcher of Oakwood, Donnie and Ruth Belcher of Rowe; sisters, Dorothy Harman of Tazewell, Trula Harman and Ruby Cox, both of Oakwood; brothers, Arthur Blankenship of Lebanon, David Blankenship Jr. of Cedar Bluff, James Harlon Blankenship of Belfast, Bill Blankenship of Norton; grandchildren, Ronna Belcher, Matthew Belcher, Mark Belcher and Ashlee Belcher; special caregivers, Nita Asbury, Margaret Hayes, Crystal and Cecilia; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Oakwood Full Gospel Church at Oakwood with Pastor Jerry Harman and Rev. Claude Crigger officiating.
Entombment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Honaker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Floyd H. Corns
Floyd Harless Corns, 86, of Honaker, died Oct. 17, 2003 in a Lebanon nursing facility.
Born in Swords Creek, he was a son of the late John and Martha Dye Corns and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Corns; three brothers, Roy Corns, Jess Corns and George Corns; and one sister, Susie Corns.
Survivors: sisters, Artie Compton and Jettie Vance, both of Lexington, OH; special sister-in-law, Ruby Brown of Honaker; special nephew, Terry Dean Corns of Honaker; and several additional nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Kenny Taylor and Rev. Carter Wells officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
