U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Jacob "Jay"/"Shorty" Cornwell
Jacob Preston "Jay"/"Shorty" Cornwell, 82, of Tazewell, went to be with the Lord May 19, 2004 following a brief illness at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born in Thompson Valley, he was a son of the late Nick Lee Cornwell and Lillie Mae Vanhoozer Cornwell.
He was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Henry Cornwell. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: wife of 62 years, Alverta Rudd Cornwell; sons, Rev. Daniel Cornwell and wife, Carol, of North Tazewell, Mike Cornwell and wife, Sandy, of Thompson Valley; daughters, Linda Mitchell and husband, Clifton, and Edith Kitts and husband, Bill, all of Tazewell; grandchildren, Bernard Cornwell and wife, Kay, Billy Kitts, George Kitts, and Angela Cornwell, all of Tazewell, Scott Cornwell and wife, Regina, of Princeton, WV; and great-grandchildren, Nikki, Nathan, Zach, Austin, Lindsey and Brandon.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. May 23 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Daniel Cornwell, the Rev. Bernard Cornwell, and the Rev. Arthur Mitchell officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Grace Full Gospel Church, P.O. Box 522, North Tazewell, VA 24630.
Isabelle M. Douthit
Isabelle Mahood Douthit, 93, of Bluefield, VA, died May 20, 2004 at Westwood Health Care Center.
Born in Bluefield, VA, she was a daughter of the late Clarence Hoge Mahood and Annie Belle Porter Mahood.
She was a member of the Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church in Bluefield, VA, where she was a member of the Mary McGuire Circle and was a former employee for the Tazewell County School System, having worked in the cafeteria at Dudley Elementary, Logan Street and Graham Intermediate Schools.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Derrill Eugene Douthit; three brothers, Joe Mahood, William Mahood and C.H. Mahood Jr.; and one sister, Ruth Bond.
Survivors: son, Darrell E. "Buzzy" Douthit Jr. and wife, Linda, of Bluefield, VA; daughters, Eleanor Kensinger and husband, Donald C., of Bluefield, Alice Gray and husband, James, of Mechanicsville, Cynthia Thomas and husband, Stewart, of Fishersville; brother, James A. Mahood of Bluefield; sisters, Elizabeth Mahood of Bluefield, VA, Shirley Hudzinski of Durham, NC, Nancy Gilbson of Radford; grandchildren, Justin and Ryan Douthit; great-grandson, Connor Douthit; and special friends, Kay Staples and Kathleen Presley.
The funeral was conducted May 24 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Larry Ramey officiating.
Entombment followed in the Grandview Mausoleum.
Donations may be made to the Virginia United Methodist Church, 1901 Va. Ave., Bluefield, VA, or to the Bluefield, VA, Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 170, Bluefield, VA 24605.
Mary Ellen Hankins
Mary Ellen Hankins, 75, of Baptist Valley Road, Cedar Bluff, died May 24, 2004 in a Tazewell health care facility following a lengthy illness.
Born in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late James and Ella Martin.
She was a member of the Yost Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Marvin Martin, Ovie Martin, Roy Martin, Noah Tom Martin, and two sisters, Lelia Sarver and Pearl Stevenson.
Survivors: husband, George Ed Hankins; sons, Michael Hankins and wife, Cheryl, of Thompson Valley, Wayne Hankins and wife, Teresa, of Baptist Valley, Daniel Hankins of McGuire Valley; daughter, Jane Matney of Hawks Addition, Tazewell; sister, Margie Bucklen of Richlands; grandchildren, Ryan Hankins, Joshua Hankins, Aaron Brown, Ashley Hankins, Mary Ann Matney and Megan Matney; and special niece, Francis Coleman.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. May 27 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Ralph Bostic and Rev. Max Linkous officiating.
Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. May 26 at the funeral home.
Mary Jane Hankins
Mary Jane Keesee Hankins, 83, of Roanoke, formerly of Tazewell, died May 19, 2004 at Roanoke hospital following a lengthy illness.
She was born at Tazewell County and was raised by Belle Harman Hurt after the death of her parents, Kyle and Katherine May Keesee.
She had made her home in Tazewell her entire life and the past four years in Roanoke. She was a beautician being owner and operator of Jane’s Beauty Shop. She was of the Presbyterian faith.
She was the widow of Robert D. "Bob" Hankins. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Walter Keesee, John Keesee and Pete Keesee and son-in-law, Donald Taylor. She was the last member of her immediate family.
Survivors: daughters, Carolyn Sue Hankins of Roanoke, Barbara Taylor of Greer, SC; and grandchildren, Jonathan Davis Taylor, Mary Kathryn Noel Taylor and Colleen Grayce Taylor.
Graveside services were conducted May 23 at 2 p.m. at Maplewood cemetery at Tazewell with Rev. Kenneth Gillespie officiating.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Walter (Tom) Hicks
Walter (Tom) Hicks, 72, of Falls Mills, and formerly from Northfork, died May 17, 2004 at a Bluefield hospital.
Born in Wythe Co., he was a son of the late Joseph Roger Hicks and Bessie Carnell Hicks.
He had worked as a miner for over 25 years at Eastern Associated Coal in Keystone. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the UMWA in Keystone.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Tommy Roger Hicks; four brothers, Glenn Hicks, Harold Hicks, Clifton Hicks and J.C. Hicks; and one sister, Ruth Hicks.
Survivors: wife of 53 years, Mary Elizabeth Thomas Hicks; sons, Randall Eugene Hicks and Walter Tomas Hicks Jr., both of the home; special friend, Thelma Thomas of Oakvale; sisters, Gladys Freeman of Max Meadows, Mildred Smitters of Charlottesville, Opal Hall of Pulaski, Gladys Rosenbalm of Austinville, Helen Sincere of Florida; grandsons, Brandon and Dwayne Hicks; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted May 20 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with Tom Reid officiating.
Burial followed in the Woodlawn Memorial Park cemetery in Bluewell.
Nell M. Lorraine
Nell Mercer Lorraine, 80, of Milton, DE, formerly of the Belfast Mills section of Russell County, died May 20, 2004 at her home following a brief illness.
Born at Saltville, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Robert and Mae Crabtree Mercer.
She was formerly employed by Russell County Medical Center and the Richlands Medical Supply.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William R. (Bill) Lorraine; three sisters, Louella Mercer Vicars, Leanne Jane Mercer and Pearl Mercer Sandefur; and six brothers, Arnold Crabtree Mercer, Ernest Lafayette Mercer, Russell Ayers Mercer, James Robert Mercer, Clyde Shanter Mercer and Billy Graham Mercer.
Survivors: daughter, Peggy Ann Peake of Rehoboth Beach, DE; son, James L. Cregger of Lewes, DE; brother, John Preston (J.P.) Mercer of Belfast Mills; grandson, James William Peake; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted May 26 at 11 a.m. at the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill with Rev. Robert Layell officiating.
There will be no public visitation at the funeral home and those attending the graveside service are ask to meet at the cemetery by 11 a.m. May 26.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adam St., Lewes, DE 19958 or to the Milton Public Library, 121 Union St., Milton, DE 19968.
Singleton Funeral Service is serving the family.
Fredrick "Elmer Lee" Meade
Fredrick "Elmer Lee" Meade, 74, of the Drill section of Honaker, went to be home with the Lord May 21, 2004 in a Lebanon hospital.
Born June 3, 1929 in Drill, he was a son of the late William and Lettie Mae Sykes Meade.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was a disabled coal miner and a member of the UMWA. He was a member of the House of Prayer at Council. He was a loving husband and dedicated father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Flossie Mae Dotson Meade; one infant daughter, Doris Gay Meade; one brother, R. J. Meade; and one sister, Frances "Tootsie" Lester.
Survivors: wife, Linda Sue Meade; daughters, Cathy Meade of Honaker, Connie Fletcher and husband, Eddie, of Rowe, Kay Meade of Drill, Elizabeth Whitt and husband, Christopher, of North Wilkesboro, NC; sons, Jeffery Meade of Swords Creek, Robert Meade and Christopher Meade, both of the home, Jackie Meade and wife, Rachel, and Willard Meade and wife, Chloe, all of Drill, Ronnie Meade and wife, Barbara, of Bristol, VA; brothers, Thurston Meade and Tommy Meade, both of Drill, Junior Meade of Old Town, FL; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one step-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted May 24 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Evangelist Donna Johnson and Rev. Peerman Lester officiating.
Interment followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon.
John Thomas Brentley Meadows
John Thomas Brentley Meadows, 16, of North Tazewell, was dead on arrival at a Tazewell hospital May 22, 2004 from injuries sustained in a one vehicle accident at Cliffield.
Born in Abingdon, he was a son of Jamie Mash Meadows Hess of North Tazewell and Thomas Meadows of State Farm.
He was a lifelong resident of the Richlands area and attended the Raven Assembly of God Church. He was a sophomore at Richlands High School where he was a member of the J. V. Baseball Team, the RHS Golf Team and a Junior Gold Member in Bowling. He was a loving and caring son, brother, and grandson. He was a friend to many and will always be remembered.
He was preceded in death by one aunt, Sue Fredrick; one uncle, Michael McVey; and maternal grandfather, Buford Mash.
Additional survivors: step-father, Teddy Hess of North Tazewell; brother, James Nicholas Alan Meadows of the home; half-sisters: Cienna Rife of Richlands, Jasmine Hess of the home; paternal grandparents, Elmer and Norma Meadows of Pounding Mill; maternal grandmother, Bernice Mash of Rt. 1 Cedar Bluff.
The funeral will be conducted May 26 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Buddy Herald and Rev. Roger Monk officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Brentley Meadows Scholarship Fund, c/o First Sentinel Bank, P. O. Box 1050, Richlands, Virginia 24641.
Gaynell "Nellie" Miller
Gaynell "Nellie" Miller, 84, of Swords Creek, died May 20, 2004 in a Lebanon nursing facility.
Born in Buchanan Co., she was a daughter of the late Floyd and Naomi Perkins Lockhart.
A livelong resident of the area, she was the oldest member of the Miller Creek Community Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos "Pete" Miller; one son, Cecil Miller; two brothers, Lee Lockhart and Dee Lockhart; one sister, Freda Cordle; two sons-in-law, Herman Hess and Bradley Strouth; and one grandson-in-law, Doug Hubbard.
Survivors: daughters, Peggy Hess and husband, Rev. Leo Hess, Betty Keen and husband, Dean, Judy Hess and Ola Gay Strouth, all of Swords Creek; sons, Dewayne Miller and wife, Ona Mae, of Swords Creek, David Miller and Sandy of Rosedale; daughter-in-law, Audrey Miller of Honaker; sisters, Gladys Hubbard of Tazewell, Thelma Miller and Evelyn Perkins, both of Richlands, Arbutus Plaster of Bristol, TN, Mae Richardson of Honaker; brothers, Carter Lockhart of Swords Creek, Dallas Lockhart of Honaker; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted May 23 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. David Perkins and Rev. Edward Dye officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
