U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Julia G. Whitley
Julia Gray Whitley, 92, of Emporia, died July 27, 2004.
Born in Yards, she was the daughter of the late Irene Patterson Wallace and Alexander Andrew Wallace.
She graduated from Pikeville College in Pikeville, KY. She was a retired teacher from the Buchanan County School System where she taught school at Garden Elementary School at Oakwood for 20 years. She was a past member of Garden United Methodist Church where she played piano for many years and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of Ebeneezer United Methodist Church, Bluefield, VA, and most recently Main Street United Methodist Church of Emporia, where she attended until her health failed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Garnet Whitley Sr.; four brothers, Larry Wallace, Lester Wallace, Thurman Wallace and Renoir Wallace; and one sister, Zanie Wallace.
Survivors: daughters, Pat Pearson of Emporia and Brenda Klassen (Vyron) of Placentia, CA; sons, Joe Garnet Whitley Jr. of Emporia, Reese J. Whitley (Bonnie) of Bedford; grandchildren, Ned Pearson, Julia Pearson, Joseph Whitley, Jay Whitley (Michelle), Jennifer Whitley, Martin Klassen (Ari) and Michelle Lind (T.R.); and six great-grandchildren.
A graveside funeral led by the Rev. Steve Aker of Ebeneezer United Methodist Church, Bluefield, VA, was conducted July 31 at 10 a.m. in Grandview Memory Gardens at Bluefield, VA, with interment immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to Greensville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Emporia, VA 23847.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Owen Funeral Home in Jarratt.
Mary Wilson
Miss Mary Ruth Wilson, 85, of the Daw Rd. section of Cedar Bluff, died July 29, 2004 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Richlands, she was a daughter of the late James Hatcher and Ollie Alice McGraw Wilson, both Tazewell County natives.
She was a lifelong resident of the Cedar Bluff area and was a member of Layman's Chapel in Richlands.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Bonnie Yvonnie Wilson and two brothers, Rueben and Frank Wilson. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: very special friends who cared for her for several years, Jim and Debbie Lockhart of Cedar Bluff; and special caregivers, Dr. Susan Robins, Evelyn Short, Trula Lockhart, Betty Blankenship, Edith Burge, Maude Richardson and Preferred Home Health Nurses.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Coy Richardson officiating.
Interment followed in the Hankins cemetery in Richlands.
Dorothy Brown
Dorothy Horn Brown, 79, of the Contrary section of Keen Mountain, died July 24, 2004 following a short illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Walter Fleming Maze and Sarah Rebecca Evelyn Steel Horn.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of the Holiness Church and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Taylor Jeffery Brown, Sr., and three sisters, Betty Ann Horn, Rachel Sproles and an infant sister.
Survivors: daughter, Linda Yates of Keen Mountain; son, Taylor Jeffery, Jr. and wife, Wilma J. Brown, of Keen Mountain; sister, Lizzie Thomas of Vansant; brothers, Balford Horn and Lawrence Horn, both of Tazewell; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 27 at 11 a.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Revs. Luther Bowman, Jack Ward and Johnny Godbey officiating.
Burial followed in the Esaw Rife cemetery at Keen Mountain.
Services were held at the funeral home July 26 at 7 p.m.
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 will be conducted July 28 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Pastor Randy Shields officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Laura N. Cox
Laura Nell Cox, 93, of Bluefield, VA, went home to be with her Lord Jesus July 16, 2004 in a Princeton hospital.
Born in Gratton, she was a daughter of the late James Eldridge Yost and Sally Catron Yost.
She was a member of the Square St. Pentecostal Church in Bluefield, VA. She was retired from Sealy Mattress Co. and was former manager at Purcells Dept. Store in Bluefield.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, D.B. Witter, C.S. Perry and J.E. Cox; one daughter, Betty Witter White; one sister, Mamie Lou Thompson; three brothers, William (Bill), James Kyle and Walter Ray Yost; one granddaughter, Beverly Ann Witter; and one great-granddaughter, Burkie Rhea.
Survivors: son, Everett Vernon Witter and wife, Nellie Ann, of Waldorf, MD; stepdaughters, Judy Cox Collins and husband, B.H., of Tennessee, Jane Cox Perry and husband, John, of Bluefield, VA; special adopted daughter, Linda Snuffer and husband, Danny, of Newhall, WV; brother, A.E. Yost and wife, Effie, of Bluefield, VA; sister, Alice Yost Boykin of Fredrick, MD; very special friends, Imogene and John Kabai, Janie Lewis, Helen and Nathan Kitts, and James Ward; a host of good neighbors and friends; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and 20 nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted July 20 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Michael Barnett officiating and music provided by Rev. Brenda Miller.
Burial followed in the Concord cemetery in Gratton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Assembly Pentecostal Holiness Church, Square St., Bluefield, VA.
Patricia M. Estep
Patricia Maxine Estep, 38, of the Paw Paw Section of Hurley, died July 22, 2004 at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of Ruby Scarberry Estep of Hurley and the late Garland Estep.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of Kelsa Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. She was a home schooled student completing the 12th grade.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Beatrice Estep, and one brother, Jeffery Estep.
Additional survivors: sisters, Bertha Allen of Hurley, Joanne Lester and husband, Ronald Jay, of Stopover, KY, Edna Justice and husband, Terry, of Freeburn, KY; brothers, Orville Estep and wife, Lucrettia, Dallas Estep and Scottie Estep, all of Hurley; several nephews and nieces; and one great-niece.
The funeral was conducted July 26 at 11 a.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Hurley, Rev. Michael Casey and Rev. Douglas Maynard officiating.
Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock.
Services were conducted at the funeral home July 24 and 25 at 7 p.m.
Wilma Sue Keen
Wilma Sue Keen, 60, of Raven, died July 22, 2004 at her home following a long illness.
Born in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of Thelma Asbury Cline of Raven and the late Clayton B. (Jack) Cline.
She was a former employee of Hunter Paving Co.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Jackie Donald Cline and Freddie Lee Cline, and one stepdaughter, Sandy Gail Keen.
Additional survivors: husband, Joseph Henry Keen; daughter, Angela Fay Lester of Raven; son, Randy Lester of Raven; stepdaughter, Barbara Sue Keen of Drill; stepsons, Billy J. Keen of Bristol, TN, Grady Keen and Johnny Ray Keen, both of Richlands; sister, Norma Keen of Raven; brother, Clayton B. Cline, JR. of Raven; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 25 at 2 p.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Raymond Peery, Rev. James Horton and Rev. Giles Ball officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Lorene E. Lawson
Lorene Estelle Lawson, 77, of Titusville, FL, and formerly of Bluefield, VA, died July 16, 2004 in an Orlando hospital.
Born in Bland, she was a daughter of the late George and Clara Heldreth.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Eugene S. Lawson; two sisters, Elizabeth Goff and Zola Phillips; and one brother, Clifford Heldreth.
Survivors: sons, Fred Lawson of Titusville, Jerry Lawson of Raleigh, NC; daughters, Peggy Flowers of Orlando, FL, Brenda Lawson of Raleigh, NC; brother, Neil Heldreth of Bluefield, VA; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 21 at 3 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Charlie Drake officiating.
Burial followed in the Maple Hill cemetery.
Imogene P. Lester
Imogene Penley Lester, 67, of Council, died July 22, 2004 in a Durham, NC, hospital.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Rufus and Victoria Tiller Penley.
She was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a member of the Russell Fork Church and a retired cook, having been employed at Council High School.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three infant sisters and one infant grandson.
Survivors: daughters, Lesia Ann Conley of Tazewell, Darla Dawn Bostic and husband, Russell, of Council; son, William Lester, Jr., and wife, Crystal, of Greenville, TN; sisters, Venella Combs of Council, Fontelle Shortridge of Rowe, Trula Presley of Woodbine, GA; brothers, Chester Penley and Jamie Penley, both of Council; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 25 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with Rev. Denver Barton officiating.
Interment followed in Tiller Town cemetery at Council.
Della Mae Looney
Della Mae Looney, 70, of Tazewell, departed this life on July 23, 2004 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born at Glade Spring, she was a daughter of the late Emory and Virgie Rash.
She had lived in Harmon for over 30 years and was a member of the Harmon Memorial Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard D. "Buster" Looney; one daughter, Betty Looney Monk; one granddaughter, Alisha Isley; one step-great-granddaughter, Adrienne Crabtree; two sisters, Hazel Lester and Barbara Cronin; three brothers, Ralph, Ernie, and Clarence Wayne Rash; mother in-law, Sidney Looney; and three brothers-in-law, Ernie Matney, Douglas and Guy Looney.
Survivors: beloved sister, Brooksie Matney and brother, Larry Rash; loving mother to her children, Brenda Isley and husband, Larry, of Roanoke, Margaret Blevins and husband, Reggie, of Stuart, Mary Pruett and husband, Bill, Anson Looney and wife, Sissy, Aaron Looney, Arlene Matney and husband, Randy, Ashton Looney, and Regina Kiser and husband, Darryl, all of Tazewell; son-in-law, Les Monk of Tazewell; grandson, Jarrod Monk, who also made his home with her, other grandchildren, Joshua Isley, Jason, Brittany and Bethaney Pruett, Rebekah, Joey and Haley Pruett, Heather Crabtree, Lance and Nathan Looney, Ashlen, Abbie and Luke Looney, Chris Dye, Audra and Logan Matney, Matthew Looney, Christopher Kiser and wife, Mindy, and Allie Kiser; great-granddaughter, Laken Crabtree; step-grandchildren, Keith and Beth Blevins; sisters-in-law, Mary Belcher, Marie Anton, Irene Hendricks (formerly of Tazewell), Tina Rash, Helen and Emaline Looney; and brothers-in-law, Billy Mac Looney, Burley T. Looney, Jr., Joseph Hendricks, Jr. and Joe Cronin.
The funeral was conducted July 26 at 11 a.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Lee Blackburn officiating.
Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Deward Taylor
Deward Taylor, 82, of Honaker, died July 22, 2004 in a Charlottesville hospital.
Born in Honaker, he was a son of the late Nathan and Annie C. Hess Taylor.
He was a lifelong resident of the area and attended Swords Creek Block Church and Pine Creek Holiness Church. He was a United States Army veteran, having served in World War II. He was a member of the Casey-Shortt DAV Chapter of Richlands and VFW 9343 Post of Honaker. He was a retired coal miner and Virginia Department of Transportation employee.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl Taylor, Clyde Taylor and Cecil Taylor, and one son-in-law, Darrell White.
Survivors: wife, of 57 years, Ethel Plaster Taylor; daughters and sons-in-law, Dora and Gary Street of Honaker, Melissa and Glen White and Margaret White, all of Swords Creek; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Patricia Taylor of Honaker, Larry and Cathy Taylor of Wendell, NC, Darrell and Carol Taylor of Swords Creek; sisters, Bessie Kirk of Marion, Visie Shrader of Alexandria, Gladys Hess of Culpeper, Flossie Hess and Tina Lockhart, both of Honaker; brother, Garland Taylor of Honaker; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted July 25 at 2:30 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with Rev. Carl Robinson, Rev. Mike Ward and Rev. Jim Richardson officiating.
Interment followed in Russell Memorial cemetery in Lebanon.
Military graveside honors were conducted by Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640 and DAV Chapter 31 of Richlands.
