U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Andy Guest dies at 61
Delegate served 28 years
Apr 03, 2001
Outdoor sportsmen and Virginia's horse-breeding community had a strong and steadfast friend in state Del. Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. The 61-year-old delegate, who retired in 1999, died Monday after a long battle with cancer.
During his 28 years representing Warren County at the General Assembly, the Republican Mr. Guest championed causes of pari-mutuel betting and of land and wildlife conservation.
"Andy devoted his adult life to public service," said Mr. Guest's wife, Mary Scott Guest. "He served his country, his state, his community and his family with honor, dignity and devotion."
He was "a steward of the environment," Gov. Jim Gilmore said, lauding the seven-term delegate for working "tirelessly to ensure conservation efforts remained a priority for the Commonwealth."
A banker and farmer by profession, Mr. Guest was a 1964 graduate of Yale University. He also served in the Marine Corps reserves and proudly sported a Marine Corps seal tattoo on his upper arm.
First elected the House of Delegates in 1971, Mr. Guest was the Republican floor leader from 1986 to 1991.
U.S. Sen. George Allen, who served with Mr. Guest in the House of Delegates called his former colleague a pioneer.
"He plowed the ground," said Allen. "He was a Republican when there weren't many Republicans."
Even as he faced down the then-overwhelming Democratic majority in Richmond, said Allen, "He wouldn't flinch from all the slings and arrows. He was one who loved the land and loved the people. He would stand like a stone wall for those principles."
One principle that made Mr. Guest so effective, speculated Alson H. Smith, was his ability to work with his Democrat peers.
"He was one of the most effective and respected members on both sides of the aisle," said Smith, a Democrat, who served the same region as Mr. Guest and who was a longtime friend. "There was no one in the Virginia legislature more effective at bringing [Republicans and Democrats] together."
Allen recalled that his first year as governor was also a pivotal year for Mr. Guest.
The 1994 session was a physical and emotional roller coaster ride for the rugged outdoors-loving lawmaker. Cancer, first diagnosed years earlier in his lymph nodes, had returned. Without immediate treatment, doctors gave Mr. Guest little chance of long-term survival.
At the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals he underwent a grueling course of chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant that left him weakened and vulnerable to infection.
Even from a hospital bed, Mr. Guest kept his mind on the assembly session across the street. He missed 35 days of the session but participated through absentee votes. He even sponsored four bills and a number of budget amendments.
His only complaint as he listened to the floor debates? "I can't holler back at'em."
The real appeal of the session, Mr. Guest said, next to the privilege of serving his constituents, was that it never ceased to be "intellectually fascinating."
After completing treatment, Mr. Guest returned to the floor to an emotional show from his colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
He served as co-chairman of the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee during his final assembly session in 1999.
During that session Mr. Guest shocked his peers with a short, emotional retirement announcement from the floor of the House.
"I don't know how to say goodbye and I'm not going to," said Mr. Guest with tears in his eyes. Other members on both sides of the aisle cried openly.
Mr. Guest is perhaps best remembered for his support of the 1988 pari-mutuel betting bill that made possible the Colonial Downs horse track in New Kent and four pari-mutuel betting parlors elsewhere in the state.
The bill passed and was approved in a statewide referendum. Mr. Guest had sponsored similar legislation 10 years earlier.
Both the bill and the referendum faced stiff opposition from groups opposed to state-sanctioned gambling. Said Mr. Guest of his critics: "Perhaps I have more faith in the individual citizens of the commonwealth than those who feel they have to act on [citizens'] behalf to protect them from themselves."
This was Mr. Guest's hallmark, that he had little patience for "nanny government," Allen said. "He was common sense."
Mr. Guest is survived by his wife, Mary Scott Derrick Guest; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Looney of Middleburg; two sons, Raymond R. Guest III of Bradenton, Fla., and William G. Yarborough III of Asheville, N.C.; three sisters, Elizabeth Guest Stevens of Washington, Virginia Guest Valentine of Richmond, Laetitia Guest Oppenheim of Paris; and a brother, Achille Murat Guest of Fredericksburg.
A funeral will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Cunningham Chapel in Millwood, with burial following at the Old Chapel cemetery in Millwood.
ALDERMAN
Delores H. Alderman, 61, of Richmond, went home to be with her Lord January 4, 2002. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie Hobson and Lola Henry; sister, Carolyn M. Lanzarone; and nephew, Tony Shaw. She is survived by her devoted husband of 42 years, Marvin E. "Mark" Alderman; niece, Danielle D. Lanzarone; two great-nieces, Carolyn Olivia Miles and Mia Elaina Vasquez; loving friends, Judy Basham and Sherry Seay. Mrs. Alderman was a member of Cosby Memorial Baptist Church and retired with 22 years of service from McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Rd., where the family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and where funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m. Monday followed by interment in Dale Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
ALLEN
John Thomas Allen, 87, of Caret, died Thursday, January 3, 2002. He was preceded in death by his son, Raymond Franklin Allen. He is survived by his devoted companion, Christine Bristow of Topping; two daughters, Elsie A. Tignor of Milford and Audrey A. Mitchell of Caret; two brothers, Stanley Allen and William Allen, both of Richmond; three sisters, Nettie Moore, Ellen Moore and Bessie Tignor, all of Caret; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the Marks-Bristow Funeral Home, Tappahannock. Interment Upper Essex Baptist Church Cemetery, Caret. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Upper Essex Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 225, Caret, Va. 22436.
BEARD
Mrs. Barbara
Green Beard, retired postmaster of the Ashland station, departed this life January 2, 2002. She is survived by her loving parents, William and Josephine Green; sisters, Patricia and Vivian Green; brother and his wife, William F. and Venus Green; nieces and nephews, aunt and uncle, cousins, other relatives and friends; among them devoted friend, Joyce Manning. Her remains rest at the W.S. Watkins & Son Funeral Home. After 10 a.m. Monday her remains will rest at the Mosby Memorial Baptist Church where funeral services will be conducted at 12 noon, Rev. Barry T. Young officiating. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery.
BESS
Departed this life January 4, 2002 Mrs. Bertha R. Bess of Richmond. The staff of W.S. Watkins & Son Funeral Home is serving her family.
BRYANT
Col. Ruby Ficklin Bryant, 95, of Warsaw, died on January 3, 2002. She was the daughter of the late William Lawrence Bryant and Laura Jeter Sydnor of Emmerton, Va. She is survived by a sister, Dora Bryant McBath of Farnham; nephews, Charles Ficklin Bryant of Warsaw and Robert Luttrell McBath Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.; nieces, Mary Elizabeth Bryant of Richmond, Mary Elizabeth Barrack of Morattico, Martha Jane Davis of Sharps and Nancy Ann Chesser of Matthews, N.C. She was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Shackleford Bryant; and two brothers, William Elwood Bryant and Alexander Rockwell Bryant. Col. Bryant, who served as Chief of the Army Nursing Corps, distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service in successive positions of responsibility during her career, which spanned 30 years. She was awarded the prestigious Legion of Merit Award on July 20, 1942. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 7, at Calvary United Methodist Church, Emmerton, Va. Burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 6, at the Welch-Marks Funeral Home, 10300 Richmond Rd., Warsaw. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to the Army Medical Department Museum Foundation, P.O. Box 8294, San Antonio, Texas 78208 or the Richmond County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 55, Warsaw, Va. 22520.
CHAVIS
Departed this life January 4, 2002, Ralph L. "Chicken" Chavis of 3125 Carolina Ave. Remains rest at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home, 2011 Grayland Ave. Funeral notice later.
COHEN
Harry S. Cohen, 78, of Richmond, son of the late Louis J. and Mary Weiner Cohen, died January 3, 2002. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Irene Bridge Cohen; and son, Kenneth A. Cohen. He is survived by his wife, Muriel S. Cohen; son, Frank D. Cohen and his wife, Janice M.; daughters, Jeanne E. Decker and her husband, Michael J., and Linda C. Cohen; two sisters, Bertha Rolfe and Lillian Dworsky; five grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Gottlieb, Charles and Elizabeth Cohen and Katherine Decker. Mr. Cohen was president of Southern Distributors, Inc. He loved his family, his business, playing cards, fishing, and his Virginia Tech Hokies. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday at the Bliley Funeral Home's Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Ave. Interment Greenwood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Congregation Beth Ahabah or the American Cancer Society.
CONLAN
Mary Vaughan Conlan, of Richmond, widow of David Nelson Conlan, died Wednesday, January 2, 2002. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Conlan Armstrong and Susan Conlan Weigert; seven grandchildren, Charis, Amelia and Matthew Armstrong, Erich, Elizabeth, Eleanor and David Weigert; also a niece, Evelyn Briggs. A graveside service will be conducted 3 p.m. Saturday at Westhampton Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Richmond Humane Society.
COURTNEY
James Welford Courtney, 89, of Lyells, died on Friday, January 4, 2002. Mr. Courtney was a retired service technician of 38 years for Tidewater Telephone Co. and Continental Telephone Co., a member of Beulah Baptist Church, Warsaw Bauman Lodge No. 332 AF&AM, and Westmoreland Royal Arch Lodge No. 41. Survivors are his wife, Lue Vennia S. Courtney; three stepsons, Frank Matthew "Junior" Yeatman III of Montross, George W. Yeatman of Kilmarnock, and Ryland Edward Yeatman of Warsaw; two brothers, Bernard Courtney of Mechanicsville and Hurbert Courtney of Washington; two sisters, Pearl Samuel of Montross and Annie Headley of Callao; several stepgrandchildren and six stepgreat-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Beulah Baptist Church, Lyells. Interment in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Welch-Marks Funeral Home, 10300 Richmond Road from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with a Masonic Memorial Service at 8 p.m. Saturday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to Westmoreland County Rescue Squad.
COVINGTON
Anne Cogbill Covington, 81, of Richmond, passed away January 3, 2002. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl M. Covington and a granddaughter, Karen Guy. She is survived by her daughters, Carol C. Murphy and her husband, Joseph A. and Betty C. Breeden and her husband, Frederick H. Jr.; grandchildren, Linda Lehman, Debra Eiser, Michael Breeden, and Nancy Johnson; great-grandchildren, Nicole and Christopher Lehman, Dylan, Haley and Aaron Eiser, Brittany and Kaitlynn Johnson, Jared Breeden and Melinda Romito; and one sister, Joyce Currie and her husband, James. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Rd., where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, and where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday. Interment Dale Memorial Park.
COX
Milton D. Cox Jr., age 85, of Richmond, died January 2, 2002. Mr. Cox was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Mechanicsville, Washington Henry Masonic Lodge No. 344 AF&AM and Order of the Eastern Star Mechanicsville Chapter No. 138. He spent 26 years as a service engineer with Honeywell and served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary B. Cox of Richmond; his daughter, Beverly A. Cox of Warminster, Pa.; a son, Robert J. Cox of Albuquerque, N.M.; two stepsons, Ron Hunt of Richmond and David Hunt of Newport News; a sister, Martha Cherry of Rockville, Ind.; a brother, Robert J. Cox of Rosedale, Ind. Remains rest at the Laburnum Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 2110 E. Laburnum Ave., where the family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Funeral services 11 a.m. Saturday at the Messiah Lutheran Church, Mechanicsville. Interment Washington Memorial Park. A Masonic memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Masonic Home of Virginia, Messiah Lutheran Church, or the Alzheimer's Foundation.
DOWNS
Evelyn Donner Downs, 66, of Chesterfield, passed away Friday, January 4, 2002. She was preceded in death by sisters, Thelma Banton and Lillie Mae Donner; and a brother, William J. Donner Jr. She is survived by her husband, Wilmer Downs; daughters, Rose Sampson and Rachel Downs-Lewis; sisters, Virginia Wright, Gladys Mann, Mildred Britt, Becky Donner and Betty Cluff; brothers, Fred E., Raymond G., Thomas P., Graham L. and Lee R. Donner. Family will receive friends at the Morrissett Funeral Home, 6500 Iron Bridge Rd. (Rt. 10) from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. A funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment Sunset Memorial Park.
FARLEY
Martha Greer Farley, 88, of Richmond, widow of Russell G. Farley, died January 2, 2002. She is survived by her daughter, Jean Allbritton Cameron; four grandchildren, Cynthia Lynne Jessee, Linda Marie Cameron, Margaret LaVal Dealey, all of Richmond and Christopher Wayne Cameron of New Orleans, La.; and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Farley was a retired inspector for Liggett-Myers. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bliley Funeral Home's Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Ave. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery.
GREEN
DeWayne Mac Green, 38, died January 4, 2001 at MCV. He was a native of Wisconsin and had been a resident of Richmond for 25 years. He was employed by East Coast Fire Protection as a sprinkler fitter. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Green; and a stepdaughter, Janie Marks; his mother, Arleene Schroeder, all of Highland Springs; his father, Harry
Green of Oregon; his sister, Dannette East; two brothers, Bart
Green and his wife, Shelly and Kurt
Green and his wife, Amy, all of Richmond; four nephews, Bart
Green Jr., Paul Grosz, Stephen and Joey East; one niece, Kathleen Green; other friends and relatives; and his beloved dog, Ebony. A memorial service will be held at home of his brother, Kurt Green, 409 Evanrude La., Sandston, Va. at 2 p.m. on January 8. "Always will be Tigger in my eyes."
HAMILTON
Orville P. "Ham" Hamilton, 80, of Richmond, widower of Billie L. Hamilton, died Friday, January 4, 2002. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Jane S. Hamilton; six children, Janet L. Messinger of Pittsburgh, Pa., Thomas W. and James R. Hamilton, both of Richmond, Carolyn J. Linthicum of Portsmouth, John D. and Jane M. Pestick, both of Richmond; 12 grandchildren, Lisa, Angie, Chrissy, Matthew, Meghan, Patricia, Joel, B.J., Christina, Janice, Bobby and Kelli; four great-grandchildren, Ashley, Jessica, Jeffrey and Jeffrey; two sisters, Louise Hayden and Delores Strunk; a brother, Vernon Hamilton, all of Kentucky; also many dear and loving friends. Mr. Hamilton was a long-time member and former Deacon of West End Assembly of God and was actively involved in more than 25 mission constructions trips on four continents. The family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 Parham Rd. Funeral service 1 p.m. Monday, West End Assembly of God. Interment Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to West End Assembly of God, Missions Department.
