U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
FANNIE PEARSON
Fannie Inez Pearson, 81, of Big Stone Gap, died Thursday (May 4, 2000) at Lonesome Pine Hospital.
Mrs. Pearson was born May 29, 1918 in Dryden, a daughter of the late Sam and Nancy Ann Pearson.
A life long resident of Lee County, she was a member of the Deep Springs Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Ross Pearson, Calvin Pearson and Alvin Pearson; two sisters, Myrtle Pearson Davis and Elizabeth Pearson Sturgill; and daughter, Martha Church Davis.
Survivors include brother, Ervin Pearson of Dryden; sons and daughter-in-law, Robert and Iris Pearson of Rutherfordton, N.C. and Ray Church of Big Stone Gap; nine grandchildren, Sherrie and husband Raymond Hedrick of Jonesville, Tim and wife Lisa Pearson of Ewing, Darlene and husband Steve Nesbitt, Ray Church Jr. and wife Tammy, Lisa and husband Junior Gonzales, all of Vero Beach, Fla., Melinda and Geneva Church of Big Stone Gap; Billy and wife Diane Roberts of Rose Hill and James Roberts of Indiana; 12 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and four step great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Holding Funeral Home chapel, Big Stone Gap with the Revs. Ronnie Lawson and Rick Phillips officiating. Burial followed in Powell Valley cemetery in Dryden
Music was provided by the Singing Crawfords of Kingsport, Tenn.
Pallbearers were Danny Duff, Johnny Stidham, Bob Morelock, Tim Pearson, Raymond Hedrick and Tom Collins.
LILBURN O'QUIN
Lilburn O'Quin, 66, of Route 2, Haysi, died Sunday (May 7, 2000) in Clinch Valley Hospital in Richlands.
Mr. O'Quin was born in Dickenson County, a son of the late Malikiah and Minnie Jane Deel O'Quin. He was a retired coal miner and a member of United Mine Workers of America Local 7170. He was a member of Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church.
Mr. O'Quin was also preceded in death by a son, Juwayne O'Quin; three sisters, Sarilda Boyd, Snoda Owens and Emily Deel; and two brothers, Muncie and Floyd O'Quin.
Survivors include his wife, Lillie Mae O'Quin; son, Clance O'Quin of Haysi; daughters, Debbie Yates, Teresa Deel and Rita Belcher, all of Haysi, and Diania Lyall of Clintwood; sisters, Draxie Viers of Vansant, and Sarah Ann Deel of Prater; brothers, Lawrence O'Quin of Tazewell and Milton O'Quin of Haysi; and five grandchildren.
Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Haysi Funeral Home with Elders Freddie Ramey, Andy Deel and Aven Viers officiating. Burial will follow in the O'Quin-Deel cemetery, Route 2, Haysi.
Pallbearers will be sons-in-law and grandsons.
JUANITA K. REECE
Juanita K. Reece, 87, of Coeburn, died Friday (May 5, 2000) in Norton Community Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Coeburn, she was the daughter of the late Emmitt J. Kilgore Sr. and Earna R. Kilgore.
Mrs. Reece was a member of Mary's Chapel Church and Pocahontas Rebekah Lodge 24. She was a charter member of OES Chapter 153.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Willie Ashworth and her second husband, John A. Reece; a son, Gary Lynn Reece; and a brother, Willard Kilgore.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Galen and Diane S. Reece of Coeburn; brothers, Emmitt J. Kilgore Jr., the Rev. C.L. Kilgore and Verl W. Kilgore, all of Coeburn; two granddaughters Katrell T. Reece and Kala G. Reece, both of Coeburn; several nieces and nephews; and a special family friend, Jeff Proulex.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Estes Funeral Home chapel, Coeburn with the Revs. Marty Puckett and Les Ritchie officiating. Burial followed in Laurel Grove cemetery in Norton.
BERTHA R. ROSE
Bertha Ruth Rose, 71, of Caney Ridge, died Thursday (May 4, 2000) at her home.
A lifelong resident of Dickenson County and of the Holiness faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay Rose; her parents, John Lloyd and Martha Melissa Stanford Franks; her first husband, Junior Avery Rose; two sisters, Victoria Mullins and Virginia Beatrice "Bea" Carico; and a brother, Worley Franks.
Survivors include daughters, Barbara Puckett and Martha Ann Allen, both of Muncie, Ind., Wanda Honaker and Leisa Mullins, both of Bristol Tennessee, Patsy Ruegamer of Mary Ester, Fla., and Brenda Hill of Caney Ridge; sons, Justin "Buck" Rose of Caney Ridge and Jimmy Rose of Blountville; a sister, Pauline Kilgore of Bland; three brothers, Wiley Franks of Castlewood, Jerry Franks of Mount Airy, Md., and Benny Franks of Baltimore; sons-in-law, Acy Puckett, Richard Hill, Dana Ruegamer and Charles Mullins; and daughter-in-law Ann Rose; 17 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Estes Funeral Home chapel with the Revs. Lester Mullins and Richard Hill officiating. Burial followed in Edwards cemetery in Coeburn.
CHARLES R. SMITH
Charles R. Smith, 62, of Roda, died Thursday (May 4, 2000) at his residence.
Mr. Smith was a life long resident of the area, he was a self employed carpenter.
He was a member of Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Cora Lee Smith; a sister, Brenda Faye Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara JoAnne Yardley Smith; son, Donald Earl Smith of Roda; daughters and sons-in-law, Buffy Stacy, Sherry and Sam Davidson, and Charlee and Michael Wells, all of Big Stone Gap, Robin Lee Smith of Roda; brothers, Donald Edward Smith of Port Orchard, Wash., Robert Lee "Smiley" Smith of Big Stone Gap, Arnold Eugene "Slick" Smith of Capitol Heights, Md.; sister and brother-n-law, Clara Ruth and Noah Vernon of Derby; five grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name with the Rev. Eddie Clifton officiating. Burial followed in Powell Valley memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap
Family and friends served as pallbearers.
Gilliam Funeral Home, Big Stone Gap was in charge of arrangements.
JOYCE TAYLOR
Joyce Violet "Mamma" Taylor, 74, of Wise, died Thursday (May 4, 2000) at St. Mary's Hospital, Norton.
Mrs. Taylor was of the Freewill Baptist faith and a devoted homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey Taylor; her parents, Charlie and Lena Mullins Pilkenton; two grandsons, Richard C. Taylor and William C. "Chris" Taylor Jr.; four sisters, Dolly Moon, Pauline Perry, Willie May Taylor and Vonda Pilkenton; and two brothers, William Columbus Pilkenton and Charles Edward Pilkenton.
Survivors include sons, William C. Taylor of Wise, James E. Taylor and Kenneth D. Taylor, both of Manassas; daughter, Rena F. Willis of Manassas; brother, Richard Pilkenton of Wise; sister, Freda Moon of Gastonia, N.C.; godson, James Dorton; aunt, Ellen Robinson of Florida; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Sturgill Funeral Home chapel, Wise, with Evangelist Lester Baker and the Rev. Ricky D. Mullins officiating. Burial followed in the family cemetery in Pound.
LILLIE VANDERGRIFF
Lillie May Vandergriff, 81, of Big Stone Gap, died Saturday (May 6, 2000) at Lee County Community Hospital in Pennington Gap.
Mrs. Vandergriff was born in Lee County and lived most of her life in Big Stone Gap. She was a member of the Big Stone Gap Church of God. She was the former wife of Charles Vandergriff.
She was preceded in death by a son, Bill Monroe Vandergriff; a daughter, Betty Sue Mullins; her parents, Pat and Elizabeth Scott Johnson; five brothers and one sister.
Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Jean and Robert Hill of Dundalk, Md.; son, Charles Donald Vandergriff of Fairfax; 11 grandchildren; eight grandchildren; sisters, Hazel Cooper of Minnow, Ohio and Ollie Young of Dryden; son-in-law, Elmer B. Mullins of Goose Creek, S.C.; daughters-in-law, Susie stone and Ernestine Vandergriff, both of Big Stone Gap; several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are from 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday at Holding Funeral Home in Big Stone Gap.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Revs. Robert Hill and Robert C. Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap. Family will serve as pallbearers.
MARGIE L. COX
LOTHIAN, MARYLAND- Margie L. Cox, 84, passed away October 4, 2000 at the home of her daughter, Willie K. Walke.
Mrs. Cox was born, raised and educated in Carthage, in Floyd County. In 1935 she married
Oscar Cox, to whom she was married
for 57 1/2 years. He passed away in March, 1993. The couple moved to Maryland in December, 1944. Mrs. Cox did some waitressing through the years, but was primarily a homemaker, who enjoyed housework, needlework, canning, freezing and most of all gardening. She loved flowers.
She is survived by: one sister, Elva Reed, Eagle Rock; four daughters, Dora C. King, Derwood, Maryland, Willie K. Walke, Jewell Sweeney and Jo Cox all of Lothian, Maryland; four grandchildren, Daniel King, Dana Sullivan, Tracy Sweeney and Clayton Sweeney, and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, three sisters, two brothers and a son, the late Walter O. Cox.
Funeral service was held Saturday, October 7, at 11 a.m. at Rausch Funeral Home, Owings, Maryland.
Interment in Mt. Zion U.M. Church cemetery, Lothian, Maryland.
Contributions may be made to St. James Parish, 5757 Solomons Island Road, Lothian, Maryland 20736.
JENNIE MABEL DRISCOLL
BEAVERCREEK, OHIO-Jennie Mabel Driscoll, age 101, died October 1 at Alterra Sterling House of Beavercreek. She was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Driscoll, former superintendent of Ohio's Montgomery County schools, and by three of her five children, son, Glen, former president of University of Toledo, and daughters, Mae Silbergeld and husband Sam and Julia Stockman and husband Dave.
Born in 1899 to Edward and Maud Smith of Allen County, Ohio, she lived to see three different centuries. At the time of her death she had been a cancer survivor for nearly 40 years and in 1994 had recovered from brain surgery. Until last January she resided with her daughter and son-in-law in Beavercreek where she was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church.
She is survived by: a son Carl Driscoll and wife, Louise, of Michigan, daughter Ruth Hallman and husband, Phil (Pete), of Beavercreek, daughter-in-law Pat Driscoll, of California, 17 grandchildren, including Sherry Reed and husband, Rodney, of Floyd, 19 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held October 5 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church with Pastors Alan Carroll and Linda Middelberg officiating. Interment was at Dayton Memorial Park cemetery.
VELMA DALTON MARSHALL
PULASKI-Velma Dalton Marshall quietly left her life on this earth and passed into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Wednesday, September 27, 2000. She was at home and the love and prayers of her family and friends sustained her until it was time to go. She can now spend eternity with the Lord she loved and served so faithfully all her life. Velma was a charter member of Memorial Baptist Church. She worked for many years at IGA Food Fair where she developed many lasting friendships. Velma's life was devoted to her Lord and family. She will be remembered for her many acts of kindness, her love for people and her Servant's heart.
Surviving are her children, Joan M. Eads, Pulaski, Patsy A. Marshall, Roanoke; two grandchildren and families, John Christopher Eads and wife, Melanie and sons, Christopher and Benjamin, all of Dublin, Nicole Denise Wood and husband, David and children, Kristin, Justin and Megan, all of Roanoke; sisters and brother-in-law, Mrs. Alma Nixon, Christiansburg, Mrs. Ruby Tolley, Pulaski, Mrs. Beatrice Hall and husband, Jim, Nitro, West Virginia, Mrs. Dorothy George, Billington, West Virginia; several special nieces and nephews including Janice K. Wright, Danville and Bonnie Outten, Willis; other loving friends and caregivers include Carrie Jenkins, Doris Patton, Freda Hancock and Mary Smith. The family would also like to thank Pat Krebs, R.N. CRNH of Gentle Shepherd Hospice and a host of other friends whose love and prayers helped us through this journey.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 30, at 2 p.m. from the Memorial Baptist church, with Pastor Patrick Coffey officiating. Burial followed in Thornspring cemetery, Pulaski County. Memorials may be made to the Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund, Peppers Ferry Road, Pulaski, Virginia 24301. Arrangements handled by Stevens Funeral Home, Inc., in Pulaski.
OLA SOWERS PUGH
CHRISTIANSBURG-Ola Sowers Pugh, formerly of Floyd, died Saturday, October 7, 2000 at New River Valley Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband; Ottis Pugh, Sr. and her son; Teddy Pugh. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law; Randall and Barbara Pugh, Hernando, Florida; daughter and son-in-law, Doris and Henry Nixon, Christiansburg; son and daughter-in-law, Ottis and Loretta Pugh, Christiansburg; sister, Elizabeth Barry, Columbus, OH; one special sister-in-law; Eula Pugh of Christiansburg; eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 11, at Horne Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Doug Kanney and Mr. Harvey Sowers officiating. Burial followed in Jacksonville cemetery.
RONALD YOUNG SLUSHER
SALEM-Ronald Young Slusher, 72, passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2000 at Richfield Nursing Center, Salem. He was born September 7, 1928 in Surry County, North Carolina to the late Calvin David Slusher and Barbara Ellen Akers Slusher of Floyd County. He was predeceased by his wife Susan Frazier Slusher, a sister, Celeste Edwards and a brother, Omar Slusher. He served in the U.S. Army from December 1947 to October 1951, serving in the Korean and Japan occupation, also the Korean War as a Staff Sergant. His second enlistment was served with the occupation forces in Germany from January 1953 to 1956 as a SP 3.
Surviving is a daughter, Shemae Eaton, Boonesmill; one brother, Andrew Slusher, Christiansburg; two sisters, Enith Bernard, Roanoke and Mona Dickerson, Christiansburg; a brother-in-law, Cecil D. Edwards, Roanoke; also several nieces and nephews. A graveside service was held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2000, at Prospect Hill cemetery, Front Royal.
KATHERINE SUTHERLAND HOWARD SPYHALSKI
FLOYD - Katherine Sutherland Howard Spyhalski passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2000 at her home.
A graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman's College, she was a chemist, with a number of published scientific papers in the field of pharmaceutical research. She was an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
She was the daughter of the late Alice Smith Howard and Brown Gratton Howard, Jr. She was also preceded in death by a brother, William Joseph Howard.
She is survived by her husband, Edward J. Spyhalski, and three sons and their wives, Edward James, Jr. and Cynthia Creasy Spyhalski, William Joseph and Joan Musselwhite Spyhalski; John Howard and Peggy McDonough Spyhalski; and four grandchildren, Jack Howard, Katelyn Ann, Anna Kathryn and Leslie Carol. She is also survived by a brother, Brown Gratton Howard III, and two sisters-in-law, Betty and Ann Howard.
A memorial service was held at October 8, 2000 at the Presbyterian Church of Floyd with the Reverend Michael Nelms officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Floyd, Box 164, Floyd, Virginia 24091.
Maberry Funeral Home, Floyd, handled arrangements.
MAUDE LEE PRICE STUART
COPPER HILL-Maude Lee Price Stuart, 100, passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2000.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Roy Stuart.
Survivors include: one son and special daughter-in-law, Roy Jr. and Claudine Stuart, Copper Hill; three daughters, Lorraine Price, Copper Hill, Augustine Saunders, Willis, Lellia McDaniel, Copper Hill; sister, Martha Stuart, Roanoke; special friend and caregiver, Joyce Tracey, Check; 11 grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 8, at Floyd Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witness with Ralph Stewart officiating assisted by David Battaglia. Burial in the Stuart cemetery. Maberry Funeral Home, Floyd, handled arrangements.
