U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
George Alexander Higginbotham
George Alexander Higginbotham, 68, of Newport News, formerly of Tazewell, died Nov. 16, 2003 at his home in Newport News.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell is in charge of arrangements.
Bryon "Fred" Owens
Bryon Eugene "Fred" Owens, 24, of Honaker, died Nov. 16, 2003 at his home.
Born in Richlands, he was a son of Barbara Mickles Owens Taylor of Honaker and the late David Lee Owens.
He was a lifelong resident of the Honaker area. He was of the Pentecostal faith and was a 1998 graduate of Honaker High School.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Basil Owens, and his maternal grandparents, Ruley and Betty Mickles.
Additional survivors: sons, Preston Gilbert Owens of Cleveland, Daniel Bryon Owens of Council; stepfather, George P. Taylor, Jr. of Honaker; brothers, Danny Lee Owens of Rosedale, David Matthew Owens of Honaker; sisters, Susan Renee Owens and Carrie Waldron, both of Honaker; stepbrothers, George Perry Taylor, III and Clyde Taylor, both of Honaker; stepsister, Melissa Diane Musick of Honaker; paternal grandmother, Jean Owens of Honaker; and step-grandmother, Margie Owens of Honaker.
The funeral will be conducted Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Larry Tiller and Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Thelma C. Smith
Thelma Celina Smith, 78, of the Red Root Ridge section of Raven, died Nov. 12, 2003 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Wallace Matthew and Trula Irene Smith.
She was a life long resident of the Raven area and was a member of the Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church on Red Root Ridge.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Winfred Robert Smith in 1990; one son, Allen Eugene Smith; one daughter, Janus Charlene Smith; one grandson, Jeffrey Scott Smith; two sisters, June Ratliff and Willie Smith; one brother, Perry Smith; two half-brothers, Raymond Smith and Farley Smith; and her step-mother, Bendy Smith.
Survivors: daughters, Christine Ann White, and husband, Harry, of Swords Creek, Judy Karen Bandy, and husband, Robert, of Raven; sons, Paul Matthew Smith, and wife, Carolyn, of Fairmont, WV, Daniel Lee Smith, and wife, Jane, of Raven, Wendell Robert Smith, and wife, Anita, of Wardell; sisters, Mary Jeanette Altizer of Cedar Bluff, Juanita Looney of Lebanon, Ada Pinion of Raven, Ella Cornett of Roanoke, Lois Hoggard of Lenoir, NC; half-brothers, Tom Smith and Wallace Matthew Smith, Jr., both of Raven, Crobie Smith of Whitewood; half-sisters, Molly Williams of Pennsylvania, Peggy Johnson and Bonnie Proffitt, both of Raven; 12 grandchildren; one foster granddaughter; and 13 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Elder Ronnie Beavers and Elder Robert Whitt officiating.
Interment followed in the Simmons Family cemetery on Red Root Ridge near Raven.
Buelah L. Sullivan
Buelah Lea Charles Sullivan, 78, of the Race Fork area of Hurley, died Nov. 11, 2003 at her home following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Paris and Rose Elizabeth Williams Charles.
She was of the Holiness faith. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was a retired employee of Hurley Elementary School. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Johnny Sullivan, July 21, 1969, two sons and three brothers.
Survivors: daughters, Sandra "June" England of Hurley, Pauline and husband, Jesse Garrington, and Deborah V. and husband, Kennith Viers, all of Morganton, NC, Vickie Lynn and husband, Terry Rife, of Tazewell; sons, Donnie Ray and wife, Elsie Sullivan, of Maxie, Paul Hubert and wife, Paulette Sullivan, of Vansant; sister, Meadie Mae Littleton of Springfield, OH; brothers, Claude Charles of Hurley, Ralph Charles of Columbus, OH; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Harold Lane and Rev. Larry Rife officiating.
Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock.
Services were conducted at the funeral home Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Henry T. Sweeten
Henry Theodore Sweeten, 85, of Raven, died Nov. 11, 2003 at his home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Hacket, AR, he was the son of the late A.J. and Clemmie Mae Goins Sweeten.
He lived in McCurtain, OK, before moving to Raven in 1979.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Irea Lovell Sweeten; one daughter, Wanda Stout; two brothers, Mack Sweeten and Robert Sweeten; one grandson, Kevin Lindsey; one infant daughter; and one infant son.
Survivors: wife of 24 years, Rachel Keen Sweeten; daughters, Patricia Stephens, Irene Robinson and Anne Lindsey; sons, Mack Sweeten, Albert Sweeten and David Sweeten, all of Oklahoma; step-daughters, Betty Burke, and Sylvia Ratliff; stepsons, Jack Keen, Benny Keen and Bob Keen; sister, Lenora Sweeney of South Greenville, MO; a very dear and special care person, Sherry Smith of Richlands.
Friends called Nov. 13 at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff.
The body was taken to the Mallory Funeral Home in McCurtain.
Burial was held Nov. 15 in the Milton cemetery in McCurtain.
Paul Beech
Paul Beech, 49, of Bluefield, VA, went to be with his Lord Nov. 5, 2003 at his home following a short illness.
Born at Richlands, he was a son of Franklin Delano Beech of Ashville, NC, and Maxine Johnson McBride of the Crockets Cove Community in Tazewell County.
He loved life and his work as a mechanic.
He was preceded in death by one son, Samuel Franklin Beech, and one sister, Betty Sue Beech.
Additional survivors: wife, Sally Beech; sons, Paul Matthew McBride and Elijah Shannon McBride, both of the home; daughter, Clara Gladys McBride of the home; sisters, Karen Jackson and her husband, Larry, of Asheboro, NC, Joyce Glover of Lincolnton, NC, Patsy Glover of Denver, NC, Shirley Beech of Baptist Valley, Katrine Arms and her husband, William, of Wytheville; brothers, Robert Beech and Kenneth Beech, both of Bishop, Frank Beech and Preston Beech; 17 nieces and nephews; 13 great nieces and nephews; and special friends, Clarence Mitchell, Deborah Luther, Vickie Candler, Chris Peak, William Patton, Tammi Patton and Clarence McBride.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Love of Jesus Tabernacle in Adria with Clarence McBride Jr. officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Nora M. Casey
Nora Marie Dye Casey, 87, of the Long Branch section of Swords Creek, died Nov. 5, 2003 in a Richlands hospital.
Born in Swords Creek, she was a daughter of the late Joshua Bud and Eliza Mae Mays Dye.
She was a lifelong resident of the Swords Creek area and was of the Holiness faith. She was a member of the Rebekah’s Lodge #62 of Richlands, Osage Council #34, Casey-Shortt Post 9640 VFW Auxiliary, and DAV Auxiliary Chapter #31.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Peggy Gaynelle Blankenship; one son, Trudy Garland Casey; two grandsons, Zandel Darnell Bostic and Eddie Ray Blankenship; five brothers; and one sister. In her generation, she was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: husband, Curtis Casey; daughters and sons-in-law, Nila Jenette and Thurman Bostic of Honaker, Mavis Lee and Ralph Wingler of Chapmansville, WV, Katie Juanita and David Osborne of Catawba, NC; sons and daughters-in-law, Carlies and Debbie Casey and George Douglas and Barbara Casey, all of Swords Creek, Carson Eugene Casey of Claremont, NC; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Dannie Short and Rev. Phillip Cook officiating.
Interment followed in Clinch Valley Memorial cemetery at Richlands.
Kenneth B. Gillespie
Kenneth Boyd Gillespie, 95, of Tazewell, died Nov. 6, 2003 in Tazewell.
Born at Beech Fork in Tazewell County, he was a son of the late Robert G. and Ava Kassandra Stevenson Gillespie.
He was a lifelong resident of Tazewell County and was a charter member of the Tazewell Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was a self-employed mechanic and was the owner and operator of Gillespie’s Garage for more than 40 years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ada May Harrison Gillespie, and four brothers. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: sons, Dennis W. Gillespie and wife, Carrie, of Pearisburg, Robert H. Gillespie of Jacksonville Beach, FL; grandchildren, Clay Gillespie of Warner Robins, GA, Christopher Gillespie of Arlington, Elizabeth Gillespie-Mathis of Louisa, Beth Nelson of Jacksonville, FL; and seven great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. at the Tazewell Wesleyan Methodist Church in Tazewell with the Rev. Terrance Rick and the Rev. Timothy Forrider officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Anita A. Hess
Anita Ann Stevens Hess, 45, of Abingdon, died Nov. 5, 2003 at her home.
Born in Vermont, she was a daughter of the late Richard and Ann Matthews Stevens.
She had lived in the Abingdon area for 20 years and had been a waitress at Shoney’s for 18 years. She was a member of the Little Storehouse Baptist Church in Abingdon.
Survivors: husband, Isaac Hess; brothers, Dickie Stevens of Richmond, Johnny Stevens of Danville, Dwayne Stevens, Jimmy Stevens, Bobby Stevens and Danny Stevens, all of South Carolina; sisters, Phyllis Owens and Dawn Weed, both of South Carolina; stepdaughter, Suzanne Hess Dowdy of Tazewell; step-grandson, Josh Dowdy of Tazewell; and special aunt and uncle, Chuck and Shirley Matthews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Tim Townes, Rev. Rex Malory and Rev. Bill Owens officiating.
Interment followed in Russell Memorial cemetery at Lebanon.
Hazel Olive Hylton
Hazel Olive Hylton, 92, of Tazewell, died Nov. 4, 2003 in a Lebanon health care facility following a lengthy illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Wick and Alta Stevenson Ferrell.
She attended Tazewell Assembly of God Church in Tazewell.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Otis H. Hylton; one son, John Clarence Hylton; three brothers, Clarence Ferrell, Josh Ferrell and Harry Ferrell; seven sisters, Flora French, Mary Honaker, Margie Moore, Caroline Davis, Margaret Wilkes, Rachel Robinson and Jean Boyd and two infant sisters.
Survivors: daughters, Geneva Joyce of Cedar Bluff, Mrs. J.A. (Opel) Bandy of Richlands; foster daughter, Virginia Ruth Howell of Martinsville; sons, Robert Andrew Hylton of Chicago, IL, Otis Hylton, Jr. of Pounding Mill; brother, Sam Ferrell of Pulaski; sister, Maize Boardwine of Pulaski; 14 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; three foster grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Max Linkous and Rev. Bill Fletcher officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
