U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Charles David Lawson
Charles David Lawson, 64, of Cedar Bluff, died Feb. 9, 2004 at his home following a courageous extended illness.
Born in Raven, he was a son of the late Leo and Velma Green Lawson, both Tazewell County natives.
He had made his home in the Tazewell County area most of his life, was a 1957 graduate of Richlands High School, attended King College, and was a 1962 graduate of Emory and Henry College. He was former General Manager of WRIC Radio in Richlands and at the time of his death was a self-employed businessman. He was a member of the Richlands Lions Club, Tazewell County Airport Authority, Tazewell County Country Club, and a former member of the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce.
Survivors: former wife, Mary White Lawson of Paintlick; sons, Charles Fletcher Lawson and wife, Kimberly, of Richlands, John C. Lawson and wife, Lee, of Paintlick; sister, Mrs. Bob (Gayle) Elkins of Raven; brother, Carl Lawson of Columbia, SC; sister-in-law, Shirley Lawson of Cedar Bluff; grandchildren, Robert Jessee Lawson, Olivia Katherine Lawson, and Charles David Lawson; and many, many special friends.
The funeral will be conducted Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Paul Griffith and Rev. David Brannock officiating.
Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Tazewell County, 1808 Jefferson St., Bluefield, WV 24701 or the Richlands Teen Center, 1413 Front St., Richlands, VA 24641.
Naomi Jones Lockhart
Naomi Jones Lockhart, 67, of Bishop, died Feb. 6, 2004 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center in Bluefield, WV.
Born in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Clayburn H. and Grace Nunley Jones.
She was a member of the Horsepen Church of Christ.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, John Pyott Jones and Haynes Jones, and one sister, Louise Jones.
Survivors: husband, Leon C. Lockhart; son, Mark Andrew Lockhart of Midland; Patricia Rae Lamie of Tannersville; brother, C.H. Jones of Horsepen; sisters, Barbara Lockhart and husband, Cecil, of Horsepen, Martha Ann Wilson of Washington State, Delilah Farmer and husband, Lacy, of Nokesville, Janet Ruth Eldridge of Statesville, NC, Pearl Dehart of Shelbyville, NC, Helen Evans and husband, Darrell, of Norman, OK, Frances Mason and husband, Bobby, of Alexandria, Geraline Oldham and husband, Joe, of Houston, TX; and grandchildren, Briana Lamie and Benjamin Lamie.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Feb. 9 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Walter Schwitzerlett officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Tommy J. Owens
Tommy Joe Owens, 60, of Abingdon, formerly of Buchanan County, died Feb. 2, 2004, at the Veterans Hospital in Charleston, SC, following a short illness.
Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of Martha Ellen Adams Owens of Oakwood and the late Tom Owens.
He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a former miner and coal operator.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one sister, Vanessa Looney.
Additional survivors: his wife of 35 years, Penny Allen Owens; daughters, Sommer Lynn Chambers and husband, Bart, of Summersville, SC, Brandee Owens of Cathedral City, CA; grandsons, Tate, Reed and Alec Chambers, all of Summersville; brother, George Owens and wife, Betty, of Vansant; sisters, Nancy Hutchinson and husband, Gilbert, of Lawton, OK, Hannah Strunk and husband, Tom, of Stow, OH, Rosemary Bentley, Ellen Mabe and husband, Leff, and Vickie Hall, all of Manassas, Janie Owens of Oakwood; uncle, Joe Owens of Oakwood; aunt, Alberta Owens of Keen Mountain; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel in Keen Mountain with Rev. Jerry Wilson and Rev. Jim Fuller officiating.
In accordance with Mr. Owens’ wishes, the body has been cremated and burial private.
Pauline B. Prater
Pauline Baker Prater, 59, of the Left Fork of Paw Paw area of Hurley, died Feb. 6, 2004 at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Clarence and Omie Hurley Baker.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a member of Kelsa Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ferrell Prater, Sept. 4, 2001; son, Christopher Blaine Johnson; and four brothers, Leon, Peerless, Danny, Alvie Harold Baker.
Survivors: daughters, Kathy and husband, James Patterson, of Lynchburg, Mary and husband, Randell Estep, and Hope Johnson, all of Hurley; son, Randy and wife, Rebecca Johnson, of Hurley; sisters, Lucille Burkes of Richlands, Sylvia Sullivan and Carol Davis, both of Hurley, Barbara Vandyke of Bristol, VA; brothers, Edison Baker of Haysi, Rufus Baker of Grundy; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. at Kelsa Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Hurley with Rev. Ronnie Hurley, Rev. Kenny Jackson, Rev. Jimmy Kerr, Rev. Ervin Hurley and Rev. E. C. Honaker officiating.
Burial followed in the Prater Family cemetery on Right Fork of Paw Paw, near Hurley.
Services were held at the church Feb. 7 and 8 and 7 p.m.
Grundy Funeral Home in Grundy was in charge of arrangements.
Nona E. Ratliff
Nona E. Clevinger Ratliff, 93, of the Poplar Creek section of Rt. 2, Grundy, died Feb. 4, 2004 at Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Bert and Candsada Wood Clevinger.
A lifelong resident of Buchanan County, she was a member of Bethlehem Old Regular Baptist Church No. 1 for 52 years. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James T. Ratliff, May 3, 1987, two daughters, two sons, five sisters, three brothers, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Survivors: daughters, Ruby Epling and Aileen Blackburn, both of Rt. 2, Grundy; sisters, Evelyn Clevinger of Rt. 2, Grundy; brother, Junior Clevinger of Tazewell; 48 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Elders Harve Creech, Frank Newsome, William McClanahan, Jimmy Blankenship and Billy Campbell officiating.
Burial followed in the Mudlick cemetery at Maxie.
Services were held Feb. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
William G. Robinette
William G. Robinette, 60, of Bluefield, VA, died Jan. 26, 2004 at Westwood Health Care Center in Bluefield, VA.
Born at Berwind, he was a son of the late James Robinette and Hazel Shupe Robinette
He was retired from the IRS having worked in Cincinnati and had published a book, "A Fish That Ran Up A Juice Pole, " and at the time of his death was working on a second book.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Askew Robinette.
Survivors: sister, Sandy Walther and husband, Gary, of Springville; brother, Jim Robinette and wife, Corky, of Concord, NC; stepson, Lane Askew of U.S. Navy in Hawaii; stepdaughter, Karen Leckner of Lorton; nieces, Melanie Atkins and Jennifer Davis; and nephew, Rick Walther.
Entombment was held in the Old Dominion Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum in Roanoke.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA was in charge.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia, P.O. Box 349, Norton, VA 24273.
Roger Robinson, Sr.
Born on Aug. 15, 1950 and raised in Amonate, Roger Lee Robinson, Sr., 53, has gone fishing and hunting with God on Feb. 5, 2004 at Heritage Hall Health Care in Tazewell. For 22 years, he made his home in the Gratton community of Tazewell.
He was the son of Geraldine Farne Robinson of Heritage Hall Health Care and the late Russell Winfred "Wimpy" Robinson, Sr.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one brother, Russell Winfred "Rusty" Robinson, Jr.
He proudly served his beloved country as an Army Spec. 5 stationed in Hawaii from July 15, 1970 to Feb. 19, 1972. He was a construction worker during the building of the East River Mountain and Big Walker Mountain Tunnels on US 77 in Virginia and West Virginia. He was a coal miner for 29 years. He worked for Olga Coal Company, Coalwood, WV, from 1972 to 1977 and for Consolidation Coal Company, Amonate Preparation Plant from 1977 to 2001. He was a member of the UMWA Local Union 2322.
He loved nature, the outdoors and was an avid and relentless fisherman and hunter. His prized trophy was a 16-pt. buck which garnered him honors and placed him in the state record in 1999. He was a member of the Tazewell County Sportsman’s Club, Burkes Garden. He was also a member of the Tazewell Masonic Lodge No. 62 AF & AM.
Left to cherish his love of life are his wife, Norma Robinson; daughter and son-in-law, Kzenia Maharani and David Cleveland; grandson, Richard Kent Garrison all of Germany; son, Roger Lee Robinson, Jr. of Richlands. He is also survived by two brothers, Danny (Nancy) Starling of Cedar Bluff, John Allen (Sandy) Stevens of Hardy, KY; sisters, Lana (Charles) Haywood of South Carolina, Rita Carol (Bill) Beavers of North Tazewell; an adopted sister, Elizabeth (Curtis) Coleman and very special friends, Dennis and Peggy Evans, and their children, Justin and Samantha of Dundalk, Ontario, Canada, and Dr. and Mrs. Ed Tolosa of Tazewell. Also grieving his loss are his nieces and nephews: Shelly Gay Robinson of Zuni, Joshua Daniel Starling of Cedar Bluff, David Wayne Dale, Carl Clifford Dale, and Roger Eugene Dale, all of Tazewell, Jacob Ashley and Arian Makayla Stevens of Hardy, Christopher Charles Haywood of Richlands, and Leslie Anne Horne of Tazewell.
His life and light were celebrated at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell Feb. 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Christian services were celebrated by Father Dan Brady following the visitation at 8 p.m.
Mausoleum chapel services with Masonic and Military Graveside Rites were held at 11 a.m. Feb. 10 at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
At the time of his death Roger and his wife Norma were planning to adopt two young orphan children from the Philippines, brother and sister, 10 year old Andrei, and 8 year old Michelle Lagasca.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the children’s trust fund in care of Norma Robinson, Rt. 3, Box 287-A, Tazewell, VA 24651.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home, of Tazewell, was in charge of arrangements.
Orin K. Tabor
Orin Kenneth Tabor, 84, of Bluefield, VA, died Jan. 22, 2004 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
Born in Tazewell County, he was a son of the late Luther Tabor and Pearl Reynolds Tabor.
He was retired from the Norfolk & Western Railroad after 40 years of service and had served in the U.S. Army during WWII.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Katie Baldwin, Margaret Husky, Nell Mullins, Zelma Tabor and Ida Tabor, and two brothers, Chester "Bud" Tabor and Joseph Tabor.
Survivors: nephews, Steve Dilts and wife, Gloria, of Rocky Gap, Phillip Diltz and wife, Sherrie, of Browns Summit, NC, Dave Dilts and wife, Jean, of Titusville, FL, and Frank Gillespie and wife, Connie, of Springhill, FL.
Memorial services were conducted Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Charles Addington officiating.
Burial followed in the Maple Hill cemetery.
Donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Blue Ridge Chapter, One Morton Dr., Suite 106, Charlottesville, VA 22903.
Mary M. Tiller
Mary Marie Owens Tiller, 79, of Abingdon, went to be with the Lord Feb. 4, 2004 in a Bristol, TN, hospital.
Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of the late Rufus and Margaret Sutherland Owens.
She had lived in Abingdon for the past 23 years, moving there from Dickenson County. She was a member of the Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church at Abingdon.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Tiller, several brothers and sisters and one grandson. In her generation, she was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: sons, Clell Tiller of Bowie, MD, Edd Tiller of Gray, TN, Wayne Tiller of Abingdon, Jerl Tiller of Bee, Danny Tiller of Bristol, VA; daughters, Vivian Tiller of Bowie, Kathy Breeding of Honaker, Pearl Harris of Haysi, Peggy Owens of Bristol, VA, Norma Lawson of Abingdon; 18 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with Elder Joel Turner and Elder Don Stacy officiating.
Interment followed in the Frank Smith cemetery on Big A Mountain.
