U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
William "Elmer" Matney
William "Elmer" Matney, 80, of Spartanburg, SC, formerly of the Hale Creek Section of Buchanan County, died Nov. 4, 2003 at his home.
Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Alexander (Alec) and Nearvie Compton Matney.
He was a retired security guard for Island Creek Coal Company.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Campbell Matney; three brothers, Theodore (Speck) Matney, Lindburg Matney and Jimmy Matney; and one infant sister.
Survivors: son, Elmer B. (Dickie) Matney and wife, Tracey, of Florence, SC; daughters, Virginia Woofter and husband, Richard, of Spartanburg, SC, Darlene Stacy and husband, F.E., of Houston, TX; sister, Marie Keen of Dismal; brothers, Dennis Matney of Claypool Hill, Basil Matney of Cedar Bluff, Otis Matney of Fredericksburg; special nephew, Michael Matney of Hale Creek; and seven grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel in Keen Mountain with Rev. Boyd Coleman and Rev. Roger Null officiating.
Burial followed in the Matney Family cemetery at Hale Creek.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hale Creek Pentecostal Holiness Church, HC 67 Box 93, Oakwood, VA 24631.
Larry K. Melvin
Larry K. Melvin, 63, of Tazewell, died Nov. 6, 2003 at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, TN.
Born at Gratton, he was a son of Laura Mae Melvin of Tazewell and the late Carl Whitman Melvin.
He was a graduate of Tazewell High School with the class of 1957 after which he went to the Nashville Auto Diesel College in Nashville, TN, and graduated in 1958. He retired from Kersey American LaFrance as a machinist, in Bluefield, VA, and farming.
He was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Gratton and the American Herford Association. He was a loving husband and father and enjoyed the simple things that made life worthwhile.
He was preceded in death by two aunts, Violet Bourne and Louise Crouch, and one uncle, Simon Bourne.
Additional survivors: wife of 40 years, Carole C. Melvin; daughter, Kelly Hoge and husband, Monte, of Burkes Garden; son, Brian Melvin and his wife, Karen, of Gratton; brother, Douglas Melvin of Burkes Garden; aunts, Helen Bourne and Lettie Bourne, both of Tazewell; uncle, Henry Bourne of Tazewell; several cousins, nieces and nephews; and three grand dogs, Nikki, Maggie and Tanner.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Rodney Lawson officiating.
Burial followed at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Gratton.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions to his memory, may do so to the "A Child Shall Lead Them Food Pantry", P.O. Box 26, Tazewell, VA 24651, or to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.
Martha Elizabeth Plaster
Martha Elizabeth Plaster, 75, of Swords Creek, died Nov. 10, 2003 in a Lebanon hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late Joe and Nancy Shelton.
She attended the Richlands First Assembly of God Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey P. Plaster, three sisters and five brothers.
Survivors: daughters, Mrs. Darryl (Phyllis) Messer and Mrs. Danny (Carol) Cruey, both of Swords Creek; son, Jerald Plaster and wife, Barbara, of Swords Creek; sister, Shirley Hill of Raven; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Buddy Herald and Rev. Dennis White officiating.
Burial will follow in the Dye Family cemetery at Swords Creek.
Okey May Rife
Okey May Collins Rife, 88, of Whitewood, died at her home Nov. 4, 2003 following a lengthy illness.
Born at Pilgrims Knob, she was the daughter of the late Luther F. and Watie M. Collins.
She was of the Pentecostal Holiness Faith. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family in her generation.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Maggie Stevens; six brothers, Aundes Collins, Auburn Collins, Estil Collins, Lloyd Collins, Kenneth Collins and one infant brother; and one grandson, Fredrick Travis Rife.
Survivors: husband, Luther Clarence Rife; daughter, Mrs. Adlai (Bonnie) Mullins of Pilgrims Knob; sons, Earl Rife and wife, Barbara, of Vansant, Freddie Rife and wife, Mary, of Patterson; grandsons, Jeffrey Rife, Nicholas Rife, Richard Rife, Aaron Mullins, Jeremy Mullins and Brannon Mullins; great-granddaughter, Payton Lynn Mullins; special Hospice nurse, Sandy Duty; special caregivers, Carol Honaker, Ashley Moore, Jill Horn, Yvonne Keen; and second floor nursing staff at Clinch Valley Medical Center.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Nov. 6 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel in Keen Mountain with Rev. Bobby Raines, Rev. Joe Horn and Rev. John Godbey officiating.
Entombment followed in the Clinch Valley Mausoleum in Richlands.
A service was held at the funeral home Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
William "Dale" Woodall
William "Dale" Woodall, 41, of Abingdon, died Nov. 9, 2003 at a Abingdon hospital.
Born at Richlands, he was a son of Pauline Keen Woodall of Tazewell and the late William Dale "Bill" Woodall.
He had made his home in Abingdon for the past seven years. He was a graduate of Tazewell High School, Class of 1980. He was a former employee of Wal-Mart. He was of the Pentecostal faith.
Additional survivors: wife, JoAnn Yates Woodall; daughter, Anya Woodall of the home; son, Hunter Woodall of the home; and sisters, Katrina Dye and husband, Doug, of Claypool Hill, and Beverly Farmer and husband, Jimmy, of Rosedale.
The funeral will be conducted Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Tazewell with Pastor Barry Absher and Rev. Mike Altizer officiating.
Entombment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Rev. Joe Edd Addison
Rev. Joe Edd Addison, 68, of the Baptist Valley Community of Cedar Bluff, died Oct. 30, 2003 in a Bluefield hospital following a long illness.
Born in Richlands, he was the son of the late Earl Addison, Sr. and Evelyn Williams Addison.
Living most of his life in Baptist Valley he was a minister and the former pastor of the Apostolic Tabernacle at Baptist Valley. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the U.M.W.A. He had enjoyed many years of ministering, song writing and recording and had shared the stage with George Jones, Tammy Wynette, the Singing Rambos and many others.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margarett Ella Burress Addison, four brothers, Earl Addison, Jr., Tom Addison, Ken Addison and Elmer Addison.
Survivors: sons, Danny P. Addison and wife, Vicki, of Baptist Valley, Dwayne D. Addison and fiancée, Jennifer Dobbs, of Bluefield, WV; sister, Dorothy Horn of Rural Retreat; and grandchildren, Ashton Earl Addison and Angela Lynnette Addison.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Kenny Pruitt and Rev. Randy Fielder officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
A. C. Ball
A.C. Ball, 65, of Rt. 1 Pounding Mill, died Nov. 1, 2003 at his home following a long illness.
Born in Tazewell County, he was the son of Rosa Bell Ball Lester of the Paintlick section of Tazewell County.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a disabled coal miner. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 9696 at Bluefield, VA.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Roger Lester, and his grandparents, Roy and Carrie Ball.
Survivors: daughters, Deborah Harman and husband, Larry, of Paintlick, Faye Hall and husband, Ronnie, of Albemarle, NC, Virginia Ruth Hughes of Mt. Airy, NC; sons, Ronnie Ball and wife, Debbie, of Tazewell, William Ball and wife, Kristi, of Dallas, NC, Steve Ball and wife, Dana, of Richlands; mother and stepfather, Rosa and George Lester of Paintlick; brother, R.J. Lester and wife, Ann, of Belfast; seven grandchildren; and special friend, Dale Brown.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Roger Lester and Rev. Squire Horne officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool.
Casey-Short V.F.W. Post 9640 and Tazewell Co. Chapter 31 D.A.V. conducted military graveside rites.
Agnes B. Barrett
Agnes B. Barrett, 77, of Port Penn, DE, formerly of the Mudfork community of Tazewell County, died Oct. 30, 2003 at her home.
Born in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Lula Jane Billips.
She retired from the Governor Bacon Health Center in Delaware City after 18 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Mudfork. Her family remembers her as a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed doing embroidery and ceramics, listening to country music, and was an excellent cook.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Clifton M. Barrett, on July 30, 2002.
Survivors: sons, Zarro B. Barrett of Delaware City, DE, Michael M. Barrett of Port Penn, Rex A. Barrett of Millsboro, DE; daughters, Emogene B. Hartman of Port Penn, Patsy A. Gentry of Laurel Bloomery, TN; brothers, Bruce Billips of Baltimore, MD, Basil Billips of Richmond, Earl Billips and Glen Billips, both of Mudfork; sisters, Dorothy Billips of Abbs Valley, Jackie Billips of Port Penn; five grandchildren; 12 step grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Johnny Elmore officiating.
Entombment will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Bluefield, VA.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
Victoria (Vic) Brown
Victoria Mae (Vic) Brown, 81, of Cedar Bluff, died Nov. 2, 2003 in a Richlands hospital following a long illness.
Born at Danville, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Cross Dunn and Margaret Miller Dunn.
She had lived in Cedar Bluff most of her adult life and was a homemaker and a member of the Cedar Bluff Presbyterian Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, George Dunn and Clifford Dunn.
Survivors: husband, Silas Lee Brown, Jr.; son, David Lee Brown and wife, Mary Jane, of North Tazewell; daughter, Mary Margaret Trent and husband, Timothy, of Cedar Bluff; sister, Dixie Louise Price of Medford, OR; brother, Robert Dunn of Tacoma, WA; grandchildren, Lee Brown of Bluefield, VA, Bradley Brown of Tazewell, John-Walker Trent, Caitlin Trent and Levi Trent, all of Cedar Bluff; great-grandchildren, Andrew Brown, Wesley Brown and Emmalyn Brown; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. in the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Eddie Nash and Rev. R.B. Lambert officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens cemetery at Claypool Hill.
