U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Betty Lois Sawyers
Betty Lois Maxfield Sawyers, 68, of Tazewell, died Nov. 18, 2005 at her home.
Born Feb. 13, 1937 in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Robert Nathan Maxfield and Georgia Maude Quesenberry Maxfield.
She was a member of the Tazewell First Assembly of God Church. Earlier in her life, she was an employee of the General Instrument Corporation and later worked as a certified nursing assistant until her retirement.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James William "Bill" Sawyers; one sister, Ruth Boothe; two brothers, Kenny Maxfield and Joe Maxfield; and one brother-in-law, Charlie Pruett.
Survivors: daughters, Lessie Frances Ball of Bluefield, WV, Connie Sue Jones and husband, Wayne, of High Point, NC, Mary Yvonne Meredith and husband, John Lee, of Thompson Valley, Georgia Lois Smith and husband, Lonnie, of Tazewell; sisters, Patsy Wilson and husband, Clyde, of Dry Fork, Nancy Pruett of North Tazewell, Peggy Cothery of Nevada, and Corine Osborne of Maryland; brothers, George Maxfield and wife, Stella, of Gratton, Richie Maxfield and wife, Belinda, of Maryland; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Doug Johnson officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Dorothy Marie Stevens
Dorothy Marie Ball Stevens, 77, of Council, died Nov. 14, 2005 in a Johnson City, TN hospital.
Born Aug. 17, 1928 in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late David and Gracie Bowen Ball.
A lifelong resident of the area, she attended the Swamp Church at Hurricane Creek.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Barnes Stevens; one daughter, Nancy Gay Owens; one sister, Delphia Ball; and one brother, Thurman Ball.
Survivors: daughter, Lilly Silcox and husband, Ron, of Clintwood; sons, Harold Stevens and wife, Tina, of Kentucky, Danny Stevens and wife, Tania, of Richlands, Christopher Stevens and wife, Debi, of Council, Bernard Allen Stevens, Roy Stevens, and Troy Stevens, all of the home; brothers, Bernard Ball and wife, Marsha, of Council; sister, Edith Helton of Honaker; ten grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson and Rev. Carson Powers officiating.
Interment followed in the Bowen cemetery at Council.
James Earl Yates
James Earl Yates, 63, of Lebanon, died Nov. 14, 2005 in the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Born Oct. 12, 1942 in Russell County, he was a son of Earnest D. Yates and the late Thelma Shephard Yates.
He was a retired Engineer with the Norfolk Southern Railway with 35 years of service. He was a member of Shekinah Ministries in Blountville, TN.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dallard Faye Yates.
Survivors: daughter, Erin Amanda Yates Hann and husband, Dylan A. Hann, of Radford; father, Earnest D. Yates of Lebanon; sister, Mollie Zell Yates of Lebanon; brother, Burl E. Yates and wife, Sandra J. Yates, of Youngsville, NC; nieces, Joy Vencill and husband, Gary Vencill, Susan Sutherland and husband, David Sutherland, Shannon Kiser and husband, Shayne Kiser, Jennette Yates and Sara Buckles; nephews, Jason Yates and wife, Kelli Yates, and Justin Yates; and great nieces, Roxann Buckles and Marissa Yates.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Danny Altizer officiating.
Burial followed in the Stinson Family cemetery.
Emogene R. Anderson
Emogene Rowe Anderson, 69, of Vansant, died Nov. 11, 2005 at the Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Artia Owens Rowe.
She was a member of the Vansant Baptist Church for the past 44 years and one of her great passions was singing in the choir. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, John F. Rowe and Harold Rowe.
Survivors: husband of 51 years, Howard Anderson; daughter, Kimberly and husband, Dennis Long, of Vansant; sons, Gary H. and wife, Anna Lou Anderson, and Bob Anderson, all of Vansant, Jeffrey L. and wife, Pauline Anderson, of Grundy; sister, Edna and husband, Ural Childress, of Belfast; brothers, Kermit and wife, Janice Rowe, and Ralph and wife, Madge Rowe, all of Grundy; grandsons, Chris Anderson, Todd and wife, Laken Anderson, Shane Anderson and Derek Anderson, all of Vansant, and Jeffrey Anderson II of Hickory, NC; granddaughter, Felicia and husband, Kris Rasnake, of Honaker; and great-grandchildren, Austin and Kristen Anderson of Vansant, and Brandon Anderson of Hickory.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Stan Parris, Evg. Michael Trent, Evg. Mike Rife and Rev. Mike Anderson officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
A song service was held at the funeral home Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of contributions to the Vansant Baptist Church, New Addition Building Fund, P.O. Box 649, Vansant, VA 24656.
June F. Asbury
June F. Asbury, 80, of Boissevain, died Nov. 5, 2005 in a Princeton Nursing Facility.
Born in Maybeury, she was a daughter of the late Dewey Farrington and Virginia Stuart Farrington.
She was a member of the Boissevain Baptist Church and was retired from J C Penny Co.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Lee Asbury.
Survivors: son, Dan Asbury and wife, Jane, of Christiansburg; grandson, Keith Asbury of Bowie, MD; sister, Ruby Collins of Boissevain; niece, Debbie Williams and husband, Butch, of Pocahontas; and nephew, Russell Collins of Alaska.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA with Rev. Danny Shortridge officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Draxie R. Blankenship
Draxie R. Blankenship, 81, of Cedar Bluff, died Nov. 11, 2005 in a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Pike County, KY, she was the daughter of the late Ross and Emily Smith Justus, both Kentucky natives.
She had made her home in Buchanan County most of her life prior to moving to Tazewell County 14 years ago. She was of the Holiness faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Burton Smith; her second husband, Harrison Blankenship; one daughter, Dorothy Childress; two sons, James and Bob Smith; five sisters; and four brothers.
Survivors: daughter, Wilma Faye Harris of Lynn Springs; sons, Leamon Smith and wife, Rebecca, of Cedar Bluff, Charles Smith and wife, Kathleen, of Lebanon, Jerry Smith and wife, Colene, of Honaker; sister, Gladys Anderson of Chicago, IL; special friends, Margaret Blankenship and the Independent Nurses of Belfast; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Mike Roberts, Rev. Clyde Rose, and Rev. Michael Justus officiating.
Interment followed at the Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon.
June (Libby) Buchanan
June Elizabeth (Libby) Tolliver Buchanan, 56, of Cedar Bluff, died Nov. 10, 2005 at her home following a brief illness.
Born June 9, 1949 in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Lena Elizabeth Johnson Tolliver.
She was a school teacher and taught 31 years at Raven Elementary School.
Survivors: husband, Graham Newton Buchanan; brothers, James Thomas Tolliver and wife, Denise, and Rev. Timothy Wayne Tolliver, all of Raven; step children, Jeff Buchanan and wife, Jean, of Jonesboro, TN, Jann Smith and husband, Bill, of Blue Ridge; step-grandchildren, Nicholas Smith and Matthew Smith; nieces and nephews, Brad and Darla Baldwin, Eli and Seth Baldwin, Leigh Tolliver Collins, Chace Thomas Collins, Amy Elizabeth Spencer, Randy Spencer, Noah Scott Spencer, Tommi Denise Tolliver, Greta Leigh Hurst, Jeff Hurst, Addie and Bailey Hurst; and cousin, Jeff Wingo.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Regina Lee Burkett
Regina Lee Burkett, 61, of Bluefield, VA, died Nov. 5, 2005 at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Born in Bluefield, VA, she was a daughter of the late Lester S. Burkett and Edith Neal Burkett.
She had worked for many years at the Western Sizzlin Steak House in Bluefield, VA and prior to that had worked many years at Fisher-Trenton Pharmacy. She had been a hard worker all her life, was very thoughtful of others and was willing to help as she was needed.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Larry Burkett.
Survivors: daughter, Julia Green of Bluefield, VA; grandchildren, Devin Lee Green and Kristin Rhea Green; brother, Steven Burkett of Charleston, WV; sister-in-law, Reba Burkett of Bluefield, VA; and nephew Timothy Allen Burkett of Richmond.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA with Rev. Tony Ellis officiating.
Burial followed in the Maple Hill cemetery in Bluefield, VA.
Jerry Wayne Elswick
Jerry Wayne Elswick, 47, of Pounding Mill, died Nov. 9, 2005, at his home following injuries sustained in an accident.
Born Nov. 16, 1957 in Buchanan County, he was the son of Frank and Estelle Clevinger Elswick of Abingdon.
He was owner of JIT Repair Service. He was a member of Freedom Ministries in Richlands and had traveled to several foreign countries on mission work. He was active in church youth programs for several years. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Additional survivors: wife, Rebecca Davis Elswick; stepdaughter, Bethannah Grace Stiltner of the home; sister, Rebecca Jane Keen of Chilhowie; nieces, Sarah Davis of Grundy, Miranda Hutton of Burlington, NC; nephew, Matthew Keen of Chilhowie; and several aunts and uncles.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Pastor Mickey Hale and Pastor Thomas Horton officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a mission fund of a church of your choice.
Roy Lee Goss
Roy Lee Goss, 75, of Raven, died Nov. 11, 2005 at his home following a sudden illness.
Born in Jewell Ridge, he was the son of the late Lee Ira and Sally Mitchell Goss, both Buchanan County natives. He was a retired coal miner and was of the holiness faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Lawrence; three brothers, Steve, Ted and James Harvey Goss; two grandchildren, Sydney and Benjamin Plaster.
Survivors: loving wife, Mary Ann Lakey Goss; daughter, Anita Plaster and husband, Chuck, of Raven; sister, Pauline Lowe of Bristol, TN; nephew, Ora Lee Lawrence of Cedar Bluff; and grandchildren, Logan and Madison Plaster.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Charles Casey and Rev. Dennis White officiating.
Interment followed at the Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill.
James W. Guinn
James William Guinn, 77, of Swords Creek, formerly of Doran, died Nov. 13, 2005 in a Richlands hospital.
Born May 22, 1928 in Russell County, he was a son of the late William and Dora Price Guinn.
A lifelong resident of the Russell and Tazewell county areas, he was a retired coal miner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Guinn; one son-in-law, Albert Jones; one step-grandson, Jamie Jones; five sisters; and one brother.
Survivors: daughter, Judy Jones of Swords Creek; grandson, Jonathan Jones of Swords Creek; granddaughter, Taffy Burks and husband, Christopher, of Damascus; sister, Millie Guinn of Roanoke; and one brother, Harold Guinn of Roanoke.
The funeral will be conducted Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Phillip Cook officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Colton M. Matney
Colton Michael Matney, one-day-old infant son of Michael and Sharon Osborne Matney, of Oakwood, died Nov. 11, 2005 at Johnson City, TN.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Jimmy Edward Matney.
Additional survivors: grandparents, Mack and Lois Osborne and Rose Cantrell, all of Raven; uncle, Randall Cantrell of Johnson City; aunt, Sheila Jackson and husband, Kenny, of Raven; special cousins, Brett and Brianna Jackson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Randy Webb officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
A song service was held Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
