U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Frances G. Etter
Frances Gwendolyn Etter, 71, of Richlands, died March 20, 2004 in a Richlands hospital following a long illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Ulys and Emma Sparks Cole.
She was a retired nurse and was a member of the Trinity Tabernacle at Raven.
She was preceded in death, in addition to her parents, by one sister, Ann Williams.
Survivors: husband, Garland Etter; son, Alan Etter of Washington, DC; daughters, Kathy Anderson and husband, Danny Anderson II, of Pounding Mill, Kim Meadows and husband, Jeff, of Claypool Hill; brothers, Ed Cole of Hillsville, Hubert Cole of Richlands; and six grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted March 23 at 11 a.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. James Horton officiating.
Burial followed in the Clinch Valley Memorial cemetery at Richlands.
Ila B. Gillespie
Ila B. Gillespie, 80, of Newman, GA, and formerly from Bluefield, died March 8, 2004 in Georgia.
Born in West Graham, she was a daughter of the late Isaac Brooks and Nannie French Brooks.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. William Gillespie; one brother, Roy Brooks; and one sister, Mae Brooks.
Survivors: son, William Gillespie Jr. and wife, Julie, of Newman; daughter Judith G. Hall and husband, William, of Ann Arbor, MI; sisters, June Melcher, Nancy Pochick and Bernice Burnette, all of Bluefield, WV; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted March 12 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Mike Harrison officiating.
Burial followed in the Maple Hill cemetery.
Kermit L. Jessee
Kermit Lee Jessee, 62, of North Tazewell, died March 20, 2004 at a Tazewell hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Amonate, he was a son of the late James Robert and Ellen Pearl Minton Jessee.
He was a lifelong resident of the Tazewell area. He was disabled and was a former employee of Tazewell Industries. He attended Calvary Baptist Church of Wittens Mill.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Darrell Jessee.
Survivors: wife, Janice Louise (Tate) Jessee; daughter, Donna (Jessee) Christian and husband, Michael, of Charlotte, NC; son, Bobby Jessee of North Tazewell; stepdaughters, Teresa Hamilton and husband, Mike, of Abingdon, Pam Couch of Lebanon; stepson, Rev. D.J. Couch and wife, Joann, of Dungannon; special granddaughter, Izzabella Christian; special care taker, Teresa Brewster; six step-grandchildren; and many friends and family.
The funeral was conducted March 22 at 2 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel of Tazewell with Rev. Max Linkous, Dr. Chuck Trent and Johnny Elmore officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Helen D. Justice
Helen Delcie Whitt Justice, 86, of Swords Creek, died March 18, 2004 in a Bristol, TN, hospital following an illness of several months.
Born in Russell County, she was the daughter of the late William Floyd and Dora Ethel Dye Whitt, both Russell County natives.
She had made her home in the Horton Ridge section of Swords Creek and was a former nurses aid at the Clinch Valley Clinic Hospital for over 15 years. She was of the Pentecostal Holiness Faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Winfred Elmer Justice, three brothers, one sister, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Survivors: daughters, Phyllis Miller and husband, Gary, of Thomasville, NC, Joan Ball and husband, Herbie, of Stokesdale, NC, Joyce Harmon and husband, Tom, of Swords Creek; sons, Earl Justice and wife, Peggy, of Chesterfield, Carl Justice and wife, Marlys, of Homestead, FL, Mike Justice and wife, Ann, of Rosedale, Larry Justice and wife, Mary, of Salisbury, NC; sisters, Olaf Boyd and husband, Clarence, of Swords Creek, Dorothy Pearl Stevens of Smyrna, GA; brothers, Jack Whitt and wife, Dorris, of Tarpon Springs, FL, Ronald Whitt and wife, Loretta, of Mechanicsville, George Whitt and wife, Maxine, of Swords Creek; special grandson and caretaker, Brian Wright; 16 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and five step- great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted March 21 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Bro. Greg Harmon and Bro. Dennis White officiating.
Interment followed at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Angela M. Justus
Angela Michelle Justus, 41, of the Roseann area of Rt. 1, Grundy, died March 16, 2004 at the home of her father from injuries sustained in a house fire.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of Roy Justus, of Rt. 1, Grundy and the late Ellen Alice Looney Justus.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, was of the Pentecostal faith, a graduate of Hurley High School class of 1981 and was a Registered Nurse. She was a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, neighbor and friend.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Catherine Cline Looney, and paternal grandparents, Miles and Canzatie Murphy Justus.
Survivors: father, Roy Justus of Rt. 1, Grundy; stepmother, Phyllis Justus of Rt. 1, Grundy; daughter, Samantha Lynn Mounts and husband, Bobby Blankenship, of Grundy; sister, Melissa Ann Justus and husband, Mike Blankenship, of Hurley; brothers, Victor Darrell (Dusty) and wife, Pam Justus, of Rt. 1, Grundy, Roy Russell (Rusty) Justus and Neil Brice Justus, both of Radford; grandsons, Christopher Amos Ray and Matthew Donald Ray Blankenship; nephew, Nathan Justus; nieces, Mackenzie Blankenship and Madison Justus; paternal grandfather, Earnest Looney of Rt. 1, Grundy; two stepsisters; three stepbrothers; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
The funeral was conducted March 20 at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Darrell Davis officiating.
Burial followed in the Looney cemetery at Roseann, Rt. 1, Grundy.
Services were held March 19 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sherman Keene
Sherman Keene, 73, of Raven, died March 19, 2004 at his home.
Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Harvey and Linda Hinkles Keene.
He was a lifelong resident of the area, he was of the Free Will Baptist faith and a disabled coal miner. He was a United States Army Veteran, having served in the Korean Conflict.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Kathleen Smith and three brothers, Robert Keene, Walter Keene and Clyde Keene.
Survivors: sister, Mazie Hibbitts of Harman; brothers, Otis Keene of Oakwood, Andrew Keene of Abingdon, Herman Keene of Texas; special companion, Edna Justus of the home; special sons, Tommy Stiltner, Donald Justus, Bobby Justus, Randy Justus and Jeffery Sturgeon; special daughter, Cheryl Sexton; and special grandchildren, Melissa Justus, Shawn Justus, Joshua Justus, Jeffery Sturgeon, Jessica Sturgeon and Austin Sturgeon.
The funeral was conducted March 21 at 1 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating.
Interment followed in the Smith cemetery near the home.
Military graveside honors where conducted by American Legion Post 164 of Grundy.
Kathleen R. Leonard
Kathleen Rachel Leonard, 84, formerly of Bluefield, VA, died March 14, 2004 at Valley Health Care Center in Chilhowie.
Born in Lebanon, she was a daughter of the late Isaac Leonard and Caroline Rachel Parks Leonard of Lebanon.
She was a graduate of Concord College and taught school in Fairfax County and Tazewell County. After returning from Fairfax Co., she taught at Jewell Ridge Elementary until her retirement.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, James Rance Leonard, Alexander Leonard and Kent I. Leonard, and four sisters, Lucy Leonard, Mamie Leonard, Drucilla Leonard Speer and Myrtle Leonard Brown.
Survivors: brother, Henry Taylor Leonard; nieces, Hope Leonard Eaton, Sharon Leonard Short, Caroline Pelton, Peggy McMasters, Nancy Uram, Rachel Flanagan, Dora Louise Wilcox, Pamela Whitworth and June Cushman; nephews, Benny Rance Leonard, Douglas Brown, Henry Taylor Leonard II, Christopher Rance Leonard, Alexander Leonard, Jr., Charles Leonard, James Leonard and Bruce Leonard; and several great and great great nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted March 17 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Larry Murphy officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Joann Mounts
Joann Mounts (Nevada Joann Mounts) born Sept. 12, 1929 in Las Vegas, NE, died Dec. 20, 2003 in Lynchburg.
Her daughter, Teresa Jayne Turley Holfer, preceded her in death.
She taught in elementary schools in Virginia and West Virginia for 38 years before retiring in 1998 to Cedar Bluff.
Survivors: son, William Turley III and wife, Margaret, of Forest; brother, Paul Allen Mounts of Linchfield, SC; and sister, Lita Trent Dorman of San Diego, CA.
A memorial service was conducted March 21 at 2 p.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Jack Jenkins officiating.
Zell L. Neel
Zell Laverne Bowling Neel, 95, of Bluefield, VA, died March 16, 2004 in Richlands.
Born in Cedar Bluff, she was a daughter of the late John Blair Bowling and Grace Wyatt Bowling.
She had resided for most of her life in Bluefield, VA, and for the past year had lived with her daughter in Richlands. She was a member of over 70 years at the Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church, (formerly West Graham Methodist Church). Over the years she had served as the Sunday School Secretary and Treasurer, Building Fund Treasurer, Treasurer of the United Methodist Women and the Circle. She was also former treasurer of the former West Graham Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles R. Neel.
Survivors: daughter, Betty N. Cook and husband, Raymond, of Richlands; son, Dr. Richard E. Neel and wife, Binnie, of Cornelius, NC; brothers, Clyde W. Bowling of Bluefield, VA, W. Ralph Bowling of Chesapeake; grandchildren, Cynthia N. Maple and husband, Richard, of Cornelius, Dr. Jeffrey R. Neel and wife, Niki, of Charlotte, NC; foster grandson, Richard Jessee of Roanoke; great-grandchildren, Wesley P. Maple of Cornelius, Christian T. Neel of Charlotte; and foster great-granddaughter, Victoria Jessee of Scottsdale, AZ.
At the request of the deceased, a graveside service was conducted March 18 at 11 a.m. at the Maple Hill cemetery in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. David Brannock and Rev. Larry Murphy officiating.
Donations may be made to the Va. Ave. United Methodist Church, 1901 Va. Ave., Bluefield, VA 24605.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA, was in charge of arrangements.
Arthur Lawson "Buddy" Rose
Arthur Lawson "Buddy" Rose, 61, of North Tazewell, died March 15, 2004 at Princeton Community Hospital.
Born in Tazewell, he was a son of the late Arthur Gilbert Rose and Rhoda Louise Helmandollar Rose.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Lucille Rose Havens, and one brother, Charlie Wayne Rose.
Survivors: brothers, James Estil Rose of Bluefield, VA, Gilbert L. Rose and wife, Bernice, of Tazewell, Clark Allen Rose and wife, Brenda, William Richard Rose and wife, Carol, and Michael S. Rose and wife, Shirley, all of North Tazewell; nephews, Tommy Rose, Terry Rose, Randy Rose, Rick Rose, Mike Rose, Eddie Rose, Charlie W, Rose, Jr., Caleb Rose, and Daryl Kinder; and nieces, Stephanie Musick, Carrie Monk, and Michelle Lester.
The funeral was conducted March 18 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Danny Cornwell officiating.
Burial followed at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Gratton.
