U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Valerie C. Church
Valerie Charlene Church, 44, of Richlands, died July 25, 2004 at a Bristol, TN, medical center following a lengthy illness.
Born in Richlands, she was a daughter of Pauline Goss Church of Richlands and the late Luther Church.
She was a 1978 graduate of Richlands High School and a graduate of Southwest Virginia Community College. She was a former employee of MSHA Office at Richlands, and a volunteer at Cedar Bluff Elementary School. She was a lifelong resident of the Richlands area and visited the Doran Baptist Church.
Additional survivors: sister, Gloria Goins and husband, Michael, of Bluefield, VA; brother, David Church and wife, Teresa, of Doran; nieces, Selina Rose, Jessica Church, Erin Goins, and Cherub May; nephews, Jamie Church, Brent Goins, and Corwin Blankenship; and special friends, Joy Gross, Gabby Fuller, Barbara White, and Patty Watson.
The funeral was conducted July 28 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Pastor Randy Shields officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Norman J. Compton
Norman Johnson Compton, 88, of Council, departed this life July 26, 2004 at the home of his daughter, following an extended illness.
Born in Council, he was the son of the late Robert and Maggie Taylor Compton.
He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was a member of Corinth Baptist Church at Council.
He was a U.S. Army veteran having served in World War II.
He was a retired Buchanan County Schools Maintenance Department employee.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ada Hale Compton in 1985; one son, Jack Benny Compton in 2003; one grandson, Gregory Johnson Compton in 1981; and one sister, Cora Electa Compton Terry in 1994.
Survivors: daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Al Lewis of Lincoln, NE, Glenda Kay and James D. Fletcher of Council; daughter-in-law, Jama Compton of Lincoln; grandchildren, Robert Wade Compton, Kimberly Robertus and Kelly Jeffries, all of Lincoln; and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 29 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Troy Harris and Rev. Clyde Lambert officiating.
Interment followed in Russell Memorial cemetery at Lebanon.
Military graveside honors were conducted by John Ratliff Post #164 of American Legion of Grundy.
Pauline H. Corns
Pauline Hess Corns, 69, of Bristol, VA, died July 31, 2004 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Ted and Lena Wyatt Hess, both Tazewell County natives.
She attended Richlands High School and was a retired employee with Electrolux Corp. in Bristol, VA. She made her home in the Bristol area the past 35 years, was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Bristol and the Bristol Family YMCA.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph Darrell Hess.
Survivors: husband, Bill Corns; daughter, Rhonda Puckett and husband, Doug, of Abingdon; son, Eddie Corns and wife, Debbie, of Bristol, VA; sisters, Alice Palmer of Richlands, Mrs. Randall (Louise) Johnson and Mrs. James (Lois) Vandyke, both of Bristol, VA, Mrs. Paul (Kathy) Griffith of Doran, Brenda "Patty" Hess of Hillsville; brother, Phillip Hess and wife, Edith, of Cedar Bluff; grandchildren, Ashlee Puckett and Meghan Corns; sisters-in-law, Reba Dye of Swords Creek, Ruth Cole of Abingdon; several nieces and nephews; and a very special friend, Elaine Wright.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church on Lee Highway in Bristol, VA with Rev. Jeff Carico, Rev. Paul Griffith, and Dr. Andrew E. Spence officiating.
Entombment service was Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Mountain View cemetery Mausoleum in Bristol.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Assembly of God Church 1400 Lee Highway, Bristol, VA 24201 or Hospice House, 280 Steeles Rd. Bristol, TN 37620.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands was in charge of arrangements.
Elsie L. Goodman
Elsie Layne Goodman, 85, of Keen Mountain, died July 27, 2004 at Buchanan General Hospital.
Born in Pike County, KY, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Williamson.
She had been a resident of Buchanan County most of her life. She was the former owner and operator of "Elsie's Cafe'" for more than 50 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Rosie Chapman.
Survivors: husband, Cletis Goodman; daughters, Thelma Griffith of Elk Garden, Vada Marie Pittman and husband, Ralph, of Vansant; sons, Charles Junior Layne of Miami, FL, Donald Eugene Layne and wife, Ruth, of Culpepper; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 31 at 2 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Service in Keen Mountain with Rev. Stan Parris officiating.
Interment followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Friends called July 29 and 30 at the funeral home. A song service was held July 30 at 7 p.m.
Ellen Mae Johnson
Ellen Mae Honaker Keen Johnson, 78, of Pilgrim Knob, died July 29, 2004 at her home following a long illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Hobart and Elizabeth Mullins Honaker.
She was a member of the Pilgrim Knob Church of God.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her late husband, Garland B. Johnson; two sisters Hannah Hawkins and Lorene Honaker; and four brothers Herman Honaker, Sherman Honaker, Marion Honaker and Bill Honaker.
Survivors: daughters, Nellie Smith and husband, Russ, of Tazewell, Betty Jackson and husband, Jake, of Pounding Mill; sons, Garret Keen and wife, Dawn, of Waterloo, IN, Charles Keen of Portsmouth; brothers, Les Honaker of Tazewell, George Honaker of Hurley; sisters Marie Mullins of Slate Creek, Mildred Hess of Tazewell, Thelma Murphy of Mavisdale; six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. Aug. 1 in the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain with Revs. Troy Lester, Charles Hubbard, Junior Rife and Brandon Curtis officiating.
Burial followed in the Antioch cemetery at Keen Mountain.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Virginia P.O. Box 349, Norton, VA 24273.
Laura A. Keen
Laura Ann Keen, 49, of Raven, died July 27, 2004 in Buchanan County following injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Bruce and Mary Stevens Barton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers.
Survivors: husband, Elmer Carl Keen; daughters, Serena Sisk and husband, David, of Oakwood, Sabrina Stevens and husband, Chad, of Keen Mountain; sons, Jamie Keen of the home, Elmer Lee Keen and wife, Denise, of Belmont, NC; brothers, Gary Barton and Billy Barton, both of Council, Ray Barton and Winfred (WC) Barton, both of Lebanon, Jeffery Barton of Charlotte, NC; sister, Evelyn Crabtree of Honaker; and eight grandchildren.
In accordance to her wishes the body was cremated.
A memorial service was held at 5 p.m. July 30 at Garden Creek Church of Christ at Garden Creek with Rev. Rusty Owens officiating.
Buchanan Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Herman Perry, III
Herman Boyd Perry, III, of Springfield, died July 24, 2004.
He was the son of Herman B. Perry, Jr. and Clara Pauline Perry.
Survivors: wife, Lori Perry; stepchildren, Emily Marshall and Nick Naydock; and grandson, Brian Marshall.
A mass of Christian burial was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Arlington July 28 at 10 a.m.
Interment followed at Fairfax Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Demaine Funeral Home, Springfield-Annadale Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Ernest Sawyers
Ernest Sawyers, 88, of Pounding Mill, died July 27, 2004 at his home following a brief illness.
Born in Pike County, KY, he was a son of the late Jim and Vernie Thacker Sawyers, both Pike County natives.
He was a retired miner and a member of the United Mine Workers of America. He was an avid farmer, and a former employee of S & S Corporation. He made his home in the Pounding Mill area the past 50 years and was a member of the Cornerstone Church in Richlands.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Marie Williams Sawyers, Jan. 4, 2004; two sisters, Cordie Matney and Hazel Sawyers; two brothers, Clayton Sawyers and James Sawyers; and one half-sister, Anita Rose.
Survivors: daughter, Mrs. Jim (Betty) Rasnick of Steelesburg; sons, Billy Sawyers and wife, Iva, and Rev. Tex Sawyers and wife, Juanita, all of Richlands, Rick Sawyers and wife, Susan, of Tazewell; half-brothers, Bobby Sawyers of Lick Creek, KY, Paul Sawyers of Grapevine, KY; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 29 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Ray Sawyers officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Mary V. Sayers
Mary Virginia Thompson Sayers, 81, of Mudfork, went to be with her Lord July 27, 2004 at a Bristol, TN, hospital.
Born at Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Leck Andrew and Helen Faye Melvin Thompson.
She made her home in Tazewell her entire life. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She was of the Christian faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, James Clarence Sayers on April 19, 2002, and one sister, Stella Shelton.
Survivors: daughters, Virginia Carol Sayers Parker and husband, Randy, of Springville, Linda Rose Sayers Etter and husband, Doug, of North Tazewell, Ella Jean Sayers Hill and husband, Al, of Tazewell, Roxie Faye Sayers Hill and husband, Claude, of Abbs Valley; sons, Frank James Sawyers and wife, Dianna, and Leck Andrew Sayers and wife, Susie, all of Tazewell; sisters, Roxie Blankenship of Dobson, NC, Cora Brown of Gratton, Faye Lambert of Thompson Valley; brothers, Ralph Thompson of Gettysburg, PA, Richard Thompson of Cliffield, Fred Thompson of Thompson Valley; 26 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
The funeral was conducted July 31 at 2 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Tazewell with Rev. Kenneth Gillespie officiating.
Interment followed at Mt. Olivet cemetery, Gratton section of Tazewell.
Doddie C. Sparks
Doddie Carol Sparks, 38, of the Baptist Valley section of North Tazewell, died July 31, 2004 in a Charlottesville hospital.
Born in Grundy, she was the daughter of Ronnie Alfred and Ruth Nevale Ramey Scott of Mouthcard, KY.
She had made her home in the Baptist Valley area for the past 11 years and was a graduate of Feds Creek High School and SVCC. She was a Certified Nursing Assistant, beautician and housewife. She was a volunteer for the North Tazewell Elementary Read Aloud program and a cheerleading coach of the Tazewell Lions Midget League team. She was a member of the Riverside Methodist Church.
Additional survivors: husband, William Brian Sparks; daughter, Tayler Maria Sparks of the home; mother-in-law, Joyce Sparks of North Tazewell; sisters, Sherry Ann Dales of Mouthcard, KY, Shanna Maria Allen and husband, Kenneth, of Phelps, KY; and brothers, Dusty O'Brian Scott and wife, Samantha, and Jody Dean Scott and wife, Robin, all of Mouthcard.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. J.C. Steele officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Sam T. Tatum
Sam T. Tatum, 79, of Richlands, died July 26, 2004 at a Veterans Hospital in Mt. Home, TN, following a brief illness.
Born in Steelesburg, he was a son of the late Robert and Sarah Lowe Tatum, both Tazewell County natives.
He was a retired mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service in Richlands for 27 years and was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers. He was a World War II U. S. Army Veteran with the 41st Infantry Division and was a lifetime member of the Casey-Shortt VFW Post #9640 of Richlands. He was a lifelong resident of the Richlands area and was a member of the Richlands Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Dolly Davis; one brother, James "Bud" Tatum; three half-sisters, Sally Harris, Dora Davis, and Hulda Davis; and three half-brothers, Robert Davis, E. G. Tatum and Fred Tatum.
Survivors: wife, Mary H. Puckett Tatum; sons, Bob Tatum and wife, Maxine, of Richlands, Jerry Tatum and wife, Gail, of Wardell; brother, Joe H. Tatum of Wardell; and grandchildren, Travis Tatum, Brett Tatum, Lorrie Tatum, Rowe Tatum and Gary Lee Tatum.
The funeral was conducted July 29 at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Larry Ratliff officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Members of the Casey-Shortt VFW Post #9640 of Richlands and the Disabled American Veterans Tazewell County Chapter #31 conducted military graveside rites.
