U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Clinton Blankenship
Clinton Blankenship, 72, of the Little Prater area of Grundy, died June 30, 2004 at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy, following an extended illness.
Born in Dickenson County, he was a son of the late King Solomon and Sis Coleman Blankenship.
He had been a resident of Buchanan County most of his life, a graduate of Grundy High School and was of the Regular Baptist faith. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving with the 3rd Armored Combat Battalion and remained in the Army Reserve until his Honorable Discharge on June 11, 1960.
He was a retired employee of Harman Mining Corporation with 36 years of service and a member of the United Mine Workers of America District 2028, and a member of the John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion. He will be missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ethel Deel and Eula Fay Hill, and one brother, Lawrence Blankenship.
Survivors: wife of 47 years, Shelby Deel Blankenship; daughters, Annette and husband, Arthur "Skip" Boyer of Grundy, Shelia and husband, Allen Long of Manassas; sons, Gary and wife, Delores Blankenship of Honaker, Ferlin and wife, Kathy Blankenship of Abingdon, Ricky and wife, Treva Blankenship, of Hoytville, OH; sisters, Opal Jackson of Harman, Pauline Baker of Warren, MI, Ollie Blankenship and Imal Eichler, both of Bristol, VA; brothers, Earnest Blankenship of Vansant, Buford Mullins of Harman; grandchildren, Scottie Long, Michelle Cappel, Carla Ball, Samantha Nicole Ball, Taylor-Jo Blankenship and Clinton Allen Blankenship; and great-grandchildren, Anthony Blake Hurley, Alexis Michelle Cappel and Amanda Brooke Cappel.
The funeral was conducted July 3 at 11 a.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Elders Frank Newsome, David O’Quinn, Toby Bailey, Billy Campbell, William McClanahan, Roger Coleman, Howard Daniels, Mike Justice and Freddie Ramey officiating.
Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Services were held at the funeral home July 1 and 2 at 7 p.m.
Full military rites were conducted at the funeral home at 11 a.m. by members of the John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion.
James Douglas "Bubbles" Dennis
James Douglas "Bubbles" Dennis, 50, of Tazewell, died July 4, 2004 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell.
George D. Deskins
George D. Deskins, 91, of Stoney Ridge Road in Bishop, died July 4, 2004 at Golden Age Retirement Home at Claypool Hill.
Born in Bishop, he was a son of the late Arthur Jacob Deskins and Pearlie Mae Crigger Deskins.
He was a member of the Alexander United Methodist Church at Bishop. He was a retired coal miner and member of the UMWA Local #6025 of Bishop, and was a former employee of Deskins Supermarkets of Tazewell.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Cloeva Jean Robinson Deskins; one son, Danny Deskins; two sisters, Agnes Dowell and Dixie Bundy; and two brothers, Jay Deskins and Freeman Deskins.
Survivors: son, Tommy Deskins and wife, Ginger, of North Tazewell; brother, Lundy Deskins of Orlando, FL; sister, Evelyn Wilburn of Douglas Lake, TN; and grandchildren, Dee Deskins and husband, Martin Holbrook, of Richmond, Steve Deskins of North Tazewell, Kevin Deskins of Voykins and Hilliary Deskins of Courtland.
Graveside services and entombment will be conducted July 7 at 2 p.m. in Grandview Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Bluefield, VA with the Rev. Kenny Fields officiating.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell is in charge of arrangements.
William C. Griffey
William Clyde Griffey, 63, of Swords Creek, died June 29, 2004 at his home.
Born in Kentucky, he was a son of Laura Blankenship Smith of Hurley and the late Hurshel Hughes Griffey.
He had spent most of his life in the Virginia area, having lived at Swords Creek for the past four years. He was a member of the Christian Service Center at Harman and was a disabled coal miner.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Rebecca Jane Griffey; stepfather, Tom Smith; stepmother, Audrey Griffey; brothers, J. C. Griffey and Jack Smith; and two sisters, Shirley Hubbard and Arlene Griffey.
Additional survivors: wife, Opal Bernice Griffey; sons, Clyde Earl Griffey of Swords Creek, Timmy William Griffey of Kentucky; sisters, Janice Justice, Ruby Cline and Connie Dotson, all of Hurley, Kathy Meadows and Barbara Lester of Keen Mountain, Tonya Matney of Grundy, Betty Blackburn of Bristol, TN, Bonnie Church of Slate Creek and Della G. Martin; brothers, Pim Griffey of Harman, Junior Griffey, Jerry Smith and Donald Griffey, all of Hurley, Jimmy Griffey of Mouthcard, KY, Bobby Griffey of Grundy and Ronnie Smith of Roanoke; grandchildren, Chadrick Griffey, Chandler Griffey, Cassandra Griffey, Samantha Griffey and Brian Griffey; and great-grandson, Ryan Griffey.
The funeral was conducted July 2 at 11 a.m. in the Christian Service Center at Harman with Pastor Pim Griffey, Pastor Paul McClanahan and Pastor Ronald Lester.
Interment followed in Knollkreg Memorial Park at Abingdon.
Honaker Funeral Home in Honaker was in charge of arrangements.
Paul Grose
Paul Grose, 58, of Raven, died July 3, 2004 at a Kingsport, TN, hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Raven, he was a son of the late Clarence E. and Elsie Quick Grose, both Tazewell County natives.
He was a lifelong resident of the Raven area and was a 1966 graduate of Richlands High School. He was a former employee of Bailey Lumber Company in Richlands and was of the Pentecostal Faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Charlotte Lee Grose.
Survivors: sister, Donna Dye of Raven; brother, Sammy Grose and wife, Brenda, of Raven; niece, Amy Dye and fiancé, Randy Keen; nephews, Kenny Dye and Mark Grose; great nieces, Heather Marie Lester and Rebeccah Grose; great nephews, Harold Dakota Lester and Justin Grose; and special friends, Ellen Richards, Crystal Bradshaw, and Harold Lester.
The funeral will be conducted July 7 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Carl Robinson and Rev. Joe Gross officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
R.M. Jewell, Jr.
R.M. Jewell, Jr., of Arvada, CO, formerly of the Richlands area, died July 5, 2004 in Arvada.
Born in Tazewell County, he was the son of Gladys Jewell of Claypool Hill and the late Robert Jewell.
He had spent most of his life in the Richlands area prior to moving to Colorado 20 years ago. He was a former electrical engineer in the Richlands area and was a Grundy Sr. High School Class of 1964 Graduate and a graduate of SVCC. He was a U.S. Air Force Vietnam Veteran.
Additional survivors: wife, Donna Best Jewell; daughter, Misty Jewell and husband, Ron Orringer, of Colorado; sister, Carol Jewell Yates of Hiwassee; and granddaughter, McKina Jewell.
At the family request, funeral services will be private.
Obituary submitted by Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands.
Diana F. Keen
Diana Fay Keen, 54, of Bristol, VA, died July 3, 2004 at her home.
Born in Blackberry, KY, she was a daughter of Melda Smith Coleman of Honaker and the late Ernest Coleman.
She had lived in Bristol for the past four years, moving there from Swords Creek. She was employed at the Ball Corporation in Bristol, VA. She was an ordained minister with the Mind of Christ Ministry.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by one son, Leslie "Scrooge" Coleman, and one bother, Ronnie Joe Coleman.
Additional survivors: daughters, Ronda Whited Stevens and husband, Michael, and Lisa Reynolds and husband, Foxy, all of Swords Creek; sons, Timothy Keen and wife, Nancy, of Hickory Junction, Harold Keen and wife, Tammy, of Oakwood; grandchildren, Kayla Keen, Justin Reynolds, Josh Keen, Whitney Reynolds, Brittany Coleman, Kandee Wallace, Chance Keen and Samuel Stevens; step-grandson, Jacob Coleman; sisters, Ernestine Bennett of Roanoke, June Bond of Swords Creek, Judy Keen of Keen Mountain, Lou England of Pennsylvania; brother, Ray Coleman of Rowe; special friends, Ball Corporation and Nora Bishop; and many additional special friends.
The funeral was conducted July 5 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Sister Nora Bishop and Rev. Leo Hess officiating.
Interment followed in Essaw-Rife cemetery on Keen Mountain.
Jennings Lockhart
Jennings D. Lockhart, 83, of Tazewell, died July 3, 2004 at Tazewell Community Hospital following a long illness.
Born at Maxwell, he was a son of the late Elisha Robert and Minnie Jane Lawson Lockhart.
He was a member of the Thompson Valley Presbyterian Church and the Tazewell Presbyterian Church where he had formerly served as Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon, Elder, and Trustee. He graduated from Tazewell High School and attended Bluefield College. He retired from Acme Super Markets with 32 years service.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two daughters and a son-in-law, Mary Jane L. Sillers and husband, Bill, and Linda L. Bowen; two grandchildren, William Clay Sillers and Cara Elizabeth Sillers; one brother, Bernard Lockhart; and one sister, Leolia L. West.
Survivors: wife, Elizabeth Sorah Lockhart; sister, Louise L. Angles of Tazewell; son-in-law, Jim Bowen of Charlottesville; grandsons, Jimmy Bowen and wife, Jill, of Beaver Creek, OH, Eric Bowen and wife, Katherine, of Mouth of Wilson, Chad Sillers of Austin, TX, Ryan Sillers of Evanston, IL; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was conducted at 2 p.m. July 5 at the Tazewell Presbyterian Church with Dr. James H. Grant and the Rev. Eddie Nash officiating.
Burial was private.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Timothy T. Marshall
Timothy T. Marshall, 87, of Bishop, died July 5, 2004 at his home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell.
Jeremy D. McCoy
Jeremy Davis McCoy, 19, of Pounding Mill, died June 27, 2004 at a Chattanooga, TN, hospital from injuries received due to an automobile accident.
Born at Tazewell, he was the son of Gary J. McCoy of Pounding Mill and the late Sharon Kay Wright McCoy.
He had made his home in Tazewell County all his life. He had attended the Tazewell County Vocational Center. He was a customer assistant for Magic Mart at Tazewell. He attended The Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Tazewell.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Arbutis and Kenneth Moore, and maternal grandfather, Bob Wright.
Survivors: father, Gary J. McCoy of Pounding Mill, and maternal grandmother, Irene Wright of Tazewell.
The funeral was conducted July 1 at 1 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Minister Bobby Ball officiating.
Interment followed at the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Alexander Meadows and Isaiah Meadows
Alexander Heath Meadows and Isaiah Dean Meadows, infant twin sons of Frances Heath and Laura Clemons Meadows of Bluefield, VA, died July 3, 2004 and 4 at Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands.
They wee preceded in death by maternal grandmother, Nancy Jean Wilson.
Additional survivors: paternal grandparents, Allen C. and Peggy Meadows of Mavisdale, and maternal grandfather, Thomas Clemons of Bluefield, VA.
The funeral was conducted July 6 at 1 p.m. at Robinson Fork Pentecostal Holiness Church on Garden Creek with Ministers Jerry Matney, Michael Justus and Carl Smith officiating.
Burial followed in Whitt cemetery on Rowe Mountain in Rowe.
Services were held at the church July 5 at 7 p.m.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.
