U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Vernon Diederich
A memorial service for Vernon E. Diederich, 75, 1466 Blair Loop Road, will be conducted 4 p.m. today from Brush Arbor Baptist Church by the Rev. Stephen Lamb.
He died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 1996, in his residence.
Born May 28, 1921, in St. Louis, he was a son of Daniel Diederich and Clara Anna Graichen Diederich.
He was married
to Norma Wilmoth Diederich, who died July 4, 1994.
He was retired and had lived in Danville since 1968. He was also of the Baptist faith. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include two sons, Mark R. Diederich and Neil H. Diederich; a stepson, Frederic Wayne Brewer of Portsmouth; a stepdaughter, Debra Morris of Danville; a sister, Clardan Mentzel of St. Louis; and four grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Swicegood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Virginia Easley
Virginia Fuller Easley, 80, 309 Astor Court, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 1996, in Riverside Health Care Center.
Born July 22, 1916, in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of Alonza Herbert Easley and Kate Ragsdale Easley.
She was a member of Concord United Methodist Church. During World War II, she served in the U.S. Navy. Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a public school teacher.
She is survived by a brother, James N. Easley of Danville.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday from Concord United Methodist Church by the Rev. Richard E. Cobb and the Rev. James R. Boyd. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends 7-8 tonight at Scott Funeral Home in Chatham, and other times at the residence of her brother, 309 Astor Court.
Haile Gatewood
CHATHAM - Haile Lanier Gatewood, 74, of South Main Street, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 1996, in Danville Regional Medical Center.
Born Jan. 26, 1922, in Pittsylvania County, he was a son of Henry Clay Gatewood and Reba Keen Gatewood.
He retired from the Pittsylvania County sheriff's department as a major. After retiring, he worked for Townes Funeral Home.
He also had been a police officer for the town of Chatham and worked at Chatham Hall for more than 25 years.
He was a member and past treasurer of the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department. He belonged to the American Legion Post 325 and VFW Post 5309. He was a member of the Southern Squares. He was a charter member and first president of the Chatham Ambulance Service which later became the Chatham Rescue Squad.
He was a member of Chatham Presbyterian Church.
He was married
to Mable Dodd Gatewood.
In addition to his wife of the residence, survivors include his mother, Reba Keen Gatewood of Chatham; one daughter, Betty G. Bryant of Blairs; one son, Haile L. "Butch" Gatewood of Chatham; one sister, Inez G. Holder of Colonial Heights; two brothers, William B. Gatewood of Glen Allen, and Herman W. Gatewood of Murfreesboro, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday at Scott Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Walker Pettyjohn. Interment will be in Hillcrest Burial Park.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Martha Hankins
Mrs. Martha Patience Walker Hankins, 65, of 1039 Walter Beaver Road, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 1996, at Stratford Health Care Center.
Born Oct. 3, 1931, in Pittsylvania County, she was the daughter of Ross Lee Walker Sr. and Mary Watkins.
She was married
to Moses Lee Hankins Sr.
Survivors include four daughters, Lovelean H. Keene, Darlene H. Reaves, Druscilla Glass and Cora Keene, all of Danville; two sons, Moses R. Hankins Jr. of Danville and Edward M. Hankins of Axton; four brothers, the Rev. London Walker, Ross L. Walker Jr., Frank Walker and Paul W. Walker, all of Danville; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Ringgold. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gertrude Payne
Gertrude Riddle Payne, 86, of 13892 Franklin Turnpike died Friday, Oct. 4, 1996, at Piney Forest Health Care Center after a decline in health for several years.
Born Aug. 24, 1910, in Henry County, she was the daughter of Cleveland Riddle and Berta Eanes Riddle.
She had lived most of her life in Pittsylvania County where she was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Malmaison Primitive Baptist Church.
She was married
to Harry Madison Payne in December 1930. He died March 23, 1983.
Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Payne Wells of Danville, and Marie Payne George of Asheville, N.C.; one son, Harry Melvin Payne of Winchester; three brothers, Kermit Riddle and Lloyd Riddle, both of Martinsville, and Noel "N.C." Riddle of Reidsville, N.C.; two sisters, Louise R. Smith and Alease R. Cox, both of Martinsville; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel by Elder Julian Williams and Elder Raymond Goad. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 p.m. today at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel, and, at other times at the residence.
Thelma "Mae" Southern
Mrs. Thelma "Mae" Barber Southern, 80, of 124 Coleman St., died Thursday, Oct. 3, 1996, in Danville Regional Medical Center after a three-day stay.
Born Dec. 25, 1915, in Danville, she was the daughter of William C. Barber and Annie May Carter Barber.
She was precedeased by one daughter, Linda Anne Southern, and one sister, Katheleen Virginia Barber.
She graduated from Brosville High School. She had spent most of her life Danville where she worked as a retail clerk then assistant manager for 15 years at the S&H Green Stamp Store before retiring at age 62.
She was a member of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.
She was married
to Grady W. Southern.
In addition to her husband of the residence, survivors include one daughter, Judith Clayton Buie of Hampton; one brother, Edgar W. Barber of Richmond; two grandchildren, one step-grandchild, two step-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday at Highland Burial Park by the Rev. J. Wayne Crews.
The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. today at Swicegood Funeral Home, and other times will be at the residence.
Ruby Collie
Ruby Williams Collie, 79, of 1329 Vandola Road, died Sunday morning, Oct. 6, 1996, in Danville Regional Medical Center.
Born Oct. 15, 1916, in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of Bernard G. Williams and Ida Cox Williams.
She spent most of her life in the Vandola community where she was a homemaker.
She first married
Claude S. Soyars who died in December 1970. She later married
James E. Collie, who died in 1976.
Survivors include a son, Bernard "Billy" Soyars of the residence; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The graveside service will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday in Highland Burial Park by the Rev. Dr. Leroy Clack.
The family will receive friends at Swicegood Funeral Home 7-8 Tuesday night.
Maggie Compton
SUTHERLIN - Maggie Davis Compton, 77, of 456 McNeely Lane, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996, at her home.
Born Sept. 14, 1919, in Pittsylvania County, she was the daughter of James Nathan Davis and Lessie Milam Davis.
She spent most of her life in the Laurel Grove community. She worked for Star Paper Tube Co. prior to her retirement.
She was a member of Laurel Grove Baptist Church.
She was married
to Weldon Petty Compton, who died May 4, 1996.
Survivors include two daughters, Brenda C. Barts of Sutherlin and Betty C. Black of Roanoke; two brothers, Nathan Davis of Danville and Tommie Davis of Sutherlin; four sisters, Mamie D. Christenburg of Durham, N.C.; Margaret D. Henderson of Keeling; Martha D. Satterfield of South Boston, and Mildred D. Lewis of Henderson, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral arrangements are incomplete at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Lucille Fuller
Lucille Nicholas Fuller, 89, of 428 East Thomas St., died Saturday, Oct. 5, 1996, at Rehobeth Home for the Aged.
Born Feb. 11, 1907, she was a daughter of Charles Nicholas and Lillie Aiken Nicholas.
She was a member of DeLane AME Church, and was a past ruler of Emma V. Kelly Temple #700 Daughters of the Elks.
She had worked as a nurse in Buffalo, N.Y.
She was married
to William Fuller, who preceded her in death.
Survivors include one daughter, Fay E. Williams of Danville, and two grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday at L.H. Brooks & Bro. Funeral Chapel by the Rev. H.L. Dickerson. Burial will be in Floral Hills Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends 7-8 tonight at the funeral home chapel, and other times will be at 151 North Davis Drive.
Robert 'Sonny' Millner
Robert L. Coleman "Sonny" Millner, 51, of 156 Forestdale Drive, Apt. 202, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996, in an automobile accident on West Main Street.
Born Oct. 1, 1945, in Halifax County, he was a son of Roy F. Millner and Elizabeth C. Thacker, who survives.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars, and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors in addition to his mother of the residence, include two daughters, Christy Millner of Keeling and Michelle Millner of Danville; one son, Bobby Millner Walker of South Boston; a sister, Linda Divers of Gretna; a half-brother, Mark Millner of Danville; and one grandchild.
He was predeceased by a brother, Carlton Millner.
The graveside service will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at Barker Funeral Home, and other times will be at the residence.
Christy Mimms
BLAIRS - Christy Ann Mimms, 22, of Route 2, Box 42 E11, Lawless Creek Road, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996, in an automobile accident on West Main Street.
Born Nov. 17, 1973, in Danville, she was the daughter of Bobby Ray Mimms and Joann Goins Burnett Mimms, who survives.
She spent her entire life in Danville and Pittsylvania County.
Survivors in addition to her mother of the residence include two sons, Michael Wayne Wilson Jr. of the residence and Jacob Henry Barnett of the residence; two brothers, Luther Clayton Burnett and Tony Alvin Burnett both of Danville; a half-sister and a half-brother.
She was predeceased by her twin sister, Misty Lynn Mimms.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel by the Rev. Louis F. Emerson. Burial will be in the State Line Baptist Church cemetery on Holland Road.
The family will receive friends 7:30-8:30 p.m. tonight at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel, and other times will be at the home of her brother, Tony A. Burnett, 464 Norwood Drive.
Velma Buchanan
RINGGOLD - Velma C. Buchanan, 80, 979 Mountain Hill Road, died Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996, in her residence, following a brief illness.
Born May 20, 1916, in Danville, she was a daughter of Claude Carlton and Martha Ellen Cline Carlton.
She spent most of her life in Pittsylvania County, where she was a homemaker and a member of the Non-Denominational Christian Tabernacle.
Survivors include a foster daughter, Margie Ann Pigott of the residence; a step-daughter, Norma Myers of Chatham; three step-sons, J.D. Buchanan of Georgetown, S.C., O.L. Buchanan of Lexington, N.C., and Cecil Buchanan of Greensboro, N.C.; a sister, Naomi Baker of Danville; and one grandchild.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Kelly B. Hughes, by her second husband, Coy Lee Buchanan, who died Feb. 1, 1978, and by a son, Kelly B. Bobby Hughes, who died Feb. 7, 1978.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday from Swicegood Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Roy Newton and the Rev. L.J. Harris. Burial will be in Mountain View cemetery.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home, and other times at the residence, over JD's Country Store.
