Mr. Richard R. "Smitty" Smith, 73, of 355 Mankin Ave., Beckley, died Thursday, March 20, 2000, in Orlando, Fla., following an apparent heart attack.
Born Feb. 17, 1927, at Sullivan, he was the son of the late Hugh Percy and Lela Runyon Smith.
At various times during the past 50 years, Mr. Smith was a member of the American Legion. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the Methodist Men's group, served as a Methodist Youth Fellowship leader, and had also served on various committees of the church. He was a former instructor at Beckley College, and had taught Red Cross classes in Raleigh County. He also aided in the establishment of the Lilly Family Reunion Association.
Mr. Smith was a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and also Morris Harvey College. He was a former part-time employee at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.
Mr. Smith was a retired employee of Appalachian Power Co. (now AEP) with 38 years of service in the engineering department. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during WWII, and had been a Beckley resident most of his life.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Ethel McGraw.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Juanita Workman Smith; a daughter, Pamela Bengier and husband, John, of Orlando, Fla.; two grandchildren, Kelly Bengier of Ocala, Fla., and John Patrick Bengier of Clemson, S.C.; two brothers, Melvin Smith and wife, Sue, of Beaver, and James Smith and wife, Janet, of Elyria, Ohio; two sisters, Myrtle Yates and husband, Robert, of Newport News, Va., and Virginia Pershern of Cleveland, Ohio.
Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Beckley with Dr. Gregory Hayes officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley and one hour before services at the church.
Pallbearers will be John Cuthbert, Bill Hartling, Louis Criss, Barry McGraw, John Bengier, and John Patrick Bengier.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Cecil E. Tabor
Cecil E. Tabor, 77, of Beckley, died Thursday, April 20, 2000, at the VA Medical Center following a long illness.
Born Sept. 26, 1922, at Bramwell, he was the son of the late Chester M. and Ana Tabor.
Cecil was a member of the Eccles Community Church, where he served as a Sunday school superintendent for several years.
He was a highly decorated World War II veteran, 32nd Infantry Division, and received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star for bravery, the Presidential Unit Citation, a South Pacific Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars and a Beach Head, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was also a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the American Legion.
After being discharged from the Army, Cecil married Edna Mae Patton May 20, 1950, and worked in Beckley as an auto mechanic. Later he worked at the Beckley Veterans Hospital as the food service supervisor, and retired there after 11 years of service.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Chester "Fuzz" Tabor, Stanley Tabor and Joseph Tabor.
Survivors include his loving wife of 50 years, Edna Mae Patton Tabor of Beckley; a son, Michael E. Tabor of Beckley; two grandsons, Daniel J. Tabor and wife, Cindy, of Beckley, and David J. Tabor of Charleston; three sisters, Mary James and husband, Bill, of Beckley, Ethel Beattie and Annalee Hofenbrdel, both of Eugene, Ore.
Services will be 1 p.m. today at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with Pastors Merle Browse and Earl Lightfoot officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
The Oak Hill VFW Post No. 3110 will conduct military graveside honors.
Friends called 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Nephews and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Zenith Marie Young
Zenith Marie Young, 96, of Beckley died April 19, 2000, of natural causes.
Born Dec. 3, 1903, at Stanaford, she was the daughter of the late John Logan Bratton and Bessie Kelly Bratton Carrow.
She was a member of Stanaford Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Young also served as state treasurer of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union for 12 years, and served as president of Stanaford WCTU.
Mrs. Young was preceded in death by her husband, Basil Young; a brother, Kelly Bratton; and a sister, Beulah Bratton.
Survivors include two nephews, Kelly Bratton Jr. and Robert Bratton, both of Charleston; and a niece, JoAnn Bratton Fields of South Charleston.
Services will be 6 p.m. today at the Stanaford Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Phillip A. Lilly officiating. Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Stanaford cemetery.
Friends may call 4 to 6 p.m. today at the church prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to Stanaford Missionary Baptist Church, Box 294, Stanaford, WV 25927.
Members of the church will be serving as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Sim W. Atkinson
ANSTED - Sim Willis Atkinson, 52, was dead on arrival Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, following a sudden illness.
Born April 16, 1948, in Graydon, he was the son of the late George and Almeda Willis Atkinson.
Mr. Atkinson was a lifelong resident of Fayette County and a disabled maintenance worker.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Clendenin Atkinson; a daughter, Jennifer Atkinson of Ansted; a son, Berton "Clayton" Atkinson of Ansted; a grandchild, Courtney Stone; three sisters, Patsy Atkinson of Victor, Gayla Lesher and her husband, Jerry, of Victor and Mary Niday and her husband, Mike, of Ansted; a brother, Berton Atkinson and his wife, Violet, of Ansted; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home Chapel, Ansted, with the Rev. Paul Legg officiating. Burial will follow in Willis cemetery, Victor.
Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.
Paul D. Bradford Sr.
HAVACO - Paul D. Bradford Sr., 59, of Box 1611, died Tuesday, May 2, 2000, in Bluefield Regional Medical Center following a long illness.
Born March 2, 1941, in Roda, Va., he was the son of the late Ira and Mollie Burns Bradford.
Mr. Bradford was a seven-year resident of Havaco, formerly of Davy, where he spent the greater part of his life. He was affiliated with the Protestant faith and was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Germany and Vietnam. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
He was a retired school bus driver, having been employed 20 years by the McDowell County Board of Education.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn Sue Mowdy Bradford; three brothers, Carlos and two infant brothers; and two sisters, Ozella Hurley and Virginia Morgan.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Hamilton Bradford; two daughters, Crystal Michelle Bradford of Havaco and Mrs. George (Martha Renee) Craft of Oceana; a son, Paul D. Bradford Jr. of Asheboro, N.C.; three sisters, Margie Shirley and her husband, James, and Betty Wallace and her husband, Roger, all of Pineville, and Linda Taylor and her husband, George, of Leeds, Ala.; four brothers, Ira Bradford and his wife, Darice, of Oceana, Bill Bradford and his wife, Vearlene, of Fairborn, Ohio, Frank Bradford and his wife, Bonita, and Sid Bradford and his wife, Patty, all of Pineville; and six grandchildren, Douglas and Marilyn, Brandi, Courtney, T.J. and James.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Fanning Funeral Home Chapel, Welch, with the Rev. Ronald Felts officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Military graveside rites will be conducted by Sandy River District American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw.
Pallbearers will be McDowell County school bus drivers.
Arrangements by Fanning Funeral Home, Welch.
Danny C. Bragg
Danny Charles Bragg, 47, of Beckley, died Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at a Romney hospital following a long illness.
Born Dec. 6, 1952, in Beckley, he was the son of the late George Thomas and Edna Mae Graham Bragg.
Mr. Bragg was a coal miner, having worked for Westmoreland Coal Co., and was a member of Pemberton Missionary Baptist Church. He was a lifelong resident of Raleigh County.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jim and Minnie Bragg; and his maternal grandparents, Andrew and Florence Graham.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Hicks Bragg; a son, Jeremy Bragg at home; two brothers, Steven W. Bragg and his wife, Kathy, of Beckley, and Tommy Bragg of Beckley; a nephew, Richard Bragg; two nieces, Deana Bragg and Jeanette Krantz; several other nieces and nephews; and his mother-in-law, Donna Hicks of Yawkey.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Calfee Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Bud Israel officiating. Burial will follow in Calfee cemetery, Mount Tabor.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Richard Bragg, Chris Curtis, Teddy Weis, Randy Riddle, Charlie and Richard Murphy.
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Greenlee Copney
NEWARK, N.J. - Greenlee Copney, 76, formerly of Beckley, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in East Orange General Hospital following a short illness.
Born Sept. 30, 1924, in Mount Airy, N.C., he was the son of the late Bert Copney and Odessa Franklin Copney.
Mr. Copney was a security guard for Wells Fargo and a member of Mount Zion Church of Christ, Newark.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Delores Salmon Copney; two sons, Charles Copney and Melvin Copney; a stepson, André Gray; a grandson, Charles Copney Jr.; a brother, Roland Copney; and two sisters, Etta Mary Copney and Beatrice Moore.
Survivors include his children, the Rev. Phillip Copney and his wife, Eloise, and Martha Fruit and her husband, the Rev. William Fruit, all of Beckley; three stepchildren, Katrina Payne and Ezra Payne, both of Newark, and Benita Bradley of Beckley; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ruby Clark and her husband, Arthur, of Gary, Ind.
Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Beckley, with the Revs. Abner Wright and Nelson Staples Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour before services Saturday at the church.
Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
