On Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, Little Miss Alyssa Grace Mills became a full-fledged angel when she passed away at birth at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley.
Alyssa Grace was the beloved daughter of the Michael Howard and Susan Renea Mills II of Ewart Avenue, Beckley.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Andrea Erica Mills.
In addition to her parents, those left to cherish her memory are her brothers, Joshua Eric Holiday, Jeremy Scott Mills, and a loving sister, Ashley Taylor Mills. Alyssa Grace was the precious granddaughter of Thomas and Sandra Holliday of Beckley, and Michael and Susan E. Mills Sr. of Ghent. Several aunts and an uncle survive, Laura Mills of Ghent, Christy Vance of Mabscott, Myra Redman of Beckley and Dennis Ward of Sophia; and cousins, Crystal, Matthew, Samantha, Kelly and Katlin Ward, Jessica Baker, Ryan, Jennifer and Megan Hill, and Kasey Vance.
Alyssa Grace was a gift from God and she will sadly missed by her family.
Private service will be today at Sunset Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Donald R. Pertee Sr.
WELCH — Donald R. Pertee Sr., 66, of Welch-Pineville Road, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at his residence.
Born May 26, 1940, in Roderfield, he was the son of the late Sherman and Gladys Steele Pertee.
He was a resident of Welch-Pineville Road since 1972; prior to that he lived in Roderfield. He was a disabled coal miner, a veteran of U.S. Marine Corps and a graduate of Welch High School. He was of the Nazarene faith, a avid bluegrasser and enjoyed hunting, fishing and grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kelly Pertee.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Mullins Pertee; two sons, Brian Pertee and wife, Cindy, of Pineville and Don Pertee Jr. and wife, Sherri, of Rural Retreat, Va.; a brother, Sebert Pertee of Roderfield; four sisters, Mavis Martin of Roderfield, Ruth Lowe and husband, Jesse, of Titusville, Fla., Nadine Sorah and husband, Estil, of Athens and Wanda Sadler and husband, Buck, of Dinwiddie, Va.; six grandchildren, Tyler Pertee of Raleigh, N.C., Rachel, Aaron and Brianne Pertee, all of Pineville, and Ashley and Allison Pertee, both of Rural Retreat; and a host of special friends and family.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Fanning Funeral Home Chapel, Welch, with the Rev. William Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Bluewell.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews.
Fanning Funeral Home, Welch, is serving the Pertee family.
Beatrice C. Sims
BALLANGEE — Beatrice C. Sims, 91, of Ballengee, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2007, in a Summers County care center following a long illness.
Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton.
Autis Loren Wriston
LEWISBURG — Autis Loren Wriston, 78, passed away Sunday night, Jan. 14, 2007, at the University Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Va., after a long illness.
Born Aug. 11, 1928, at Beards Fork, Fayette County, he was the son of the late Hiram Burl and Ethel Vernia Settle Wriston.
Mr. Wriston had been a resident of Lewisburg for 24 years and was formerly of Beaver, was a member of First Baptist Church in Fairlea, member of the UMWA for 34 years and was employed by Westmoreland Coal Co. at Eccles for 17 years prior to retiring in 1983.
Autis, or “Little Hammer” as he was affectionately known at work, was loving and devoted to his wife, family and church family. Autis never met a stranger, enjoyed helping his church and fellow man. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by father, Hiram Wriston, and mother, Vernia Wriston; sisters, Nona Bowen of Indianapolis, Ind., Glenna Ritz of Coookeville, Tenn., Kathleen Adkins of McKeesport, Pa., and Louise Light of Cookeville; and brother, Ira Wriston of Beaver.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Smith Wriston; son, Roger Loren Wriston and wife, Della, of Lewisburg; daughter, Kay Wriston Lilly and husband, Larry, of Ghent; grandsons, Bryan Wriston, Steven Breeden, Jay Breeden, Ray Breeden and Michael Breeden; great-grandchildren, Rachel Breeden, Jacob Breedon and Mia Birkelbach; and sisters, Hallie Clifford of Indianapolis and Delores Long of McKeesport.
Service will be 1 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Fairlea with the Rev. Kevin Prevett and the Rev. Gary Baker officiating. Graveside rites will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley.
Visitation will be 11:30 a.m. until time of service today at the church.
Friends will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea.
Woodrow Yoakum
RUPERT — Woodrow Yoakum, 90, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Fairlea, following a short illness.
Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle.
Ruth Pew Meadows
ALDERSON — Ruth Pew Meadows, 84, of Alderson, died peacefully at her home on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006, following the death of her husband of 57 years by three days, William Joseph Meadows.
Ruth was a graduate of Marshall University and a retired Home Economics teacher who taught at Talcott High School, Smoot High School and Greenbrier East High School.
Ruth was a member of the Alderson Women’s Club, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Greenbrier County Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of the Alderson Presbyterian Church, and active in the Presbyterian Women and Monday Evening Circle.
Born in Cairo, WV, Ruth was the youngest of 10 children. She was preceded in death by her parents William and May Pew, her sisters Mabel Pew, Ethel Templeton, Sarah Dishun, Edna Johnston, Virginia Pew and Helen Pew, and her brothers Orin Pew and J. William Pew.
Ruth is survived by her sister Elizabeth Albers of Lewisburg, her son Edward Meadows of Richmond, Va., her daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Greg Johnson of Lewisburg, her grandson Nicholas Johnson of Blacksburg, Va., and her granddaughter Sarah Johnson of Lewisburg, and a wide circle of loving relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Ruth and Joe Meadows will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, at the Alderson Presbyterian Church, with burial at the Old Greenbrier Baptist cemetery, Alderson.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Lobban Funeral Home in Alderson, and an hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Arrangements by Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.
William Joseph ‘Joe’ Meadows
ALDERSON — William Joseph “Joe” Meadows, 83, of Alderson, WV, died peacefully at his home on April 13, 2006.
Born in Hinton, Joe was a lifelong West Virginia resident and graduate of Talcott High School. He was a retired carpenter whose long career included work for Housby Brothers and Simmons Building Specialties, and 10 years teaching building construction at Greenbrier East High School.
Joe was a veteran of WWII, a member of the Alderson Rotary Club, the Alderson Fourth of July Committee, and the Greenbrier County Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of the Alderson Presbyterian Church, where he served as Elder, Treasurer and Clerk of the Session.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Sadie Meadows of Barger Springs, his brother Dorsey Meadows, and two sisters, Ernestine Tabor and Ruth Estep.
Joe was survived for only three days by his wife of 57 years Ruth P. Meadows. He is survived by his sister Janie Mann of Ballengee, his son Edward Meadows of Richmond, Va., his daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Greg Johnson of Lewisburg, his grandson Nicholas Johnson of Blacksburg, Va., and his granddaughter Sarah Johnson of Lewisburg, and a wide circle of loving relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Joe and Ruth Meadows will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, at the Alderson Presbyterian Church, with burial at the Old Greenbrier Baptist cemetery, Alderson.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Lobban Funeral Home in Alderson, and an hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Arrangements by Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.
Elsie Mae Sauls Alderman
Elsie Mae Sauls Alderman, 94, of Glen Daniel, died Sunday, April 16, 2006, after a long illness at her home.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Thomas Jasper Allen
HINTON — Thomas Jasper Allen, 62, died Sunday, April 16, 2006, following a long illness at the Kines Nursing Home in Ohio.
He was born March 15, 1944, at Hinton, W.Va., the son of the late Jasper Jackson and Nina Palmer Allen.
He was retired from Hercules Inc. in Covington, Va., was a member of the Hinton Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge and was an avid golfer.
Mr. Allen was also preceded in death by his sister, Ardella Meadows.
Survivors include a son, Thomas Jaye Allen; a brother, Jacob (Jake) Allen; and a sister, Jacqueline Younger.
Graveside service and burial will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Allen Family cemetery at Willow Wood with Pastor Pete Cook officiating.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.
Pallbearers will be his brother, Jake Allen; a son, T. Jaye Allen; a cousin, Johnny Richards; brother-in-law, Bill Dillon; nephew, Phillip Meadows; and a great-nephew, Shawn Meadows.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.
Virginia K. Bair
Virginia K. Bair, 60, of Bradley, passed away April 17, 2006.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, is in charge of the arrangements.
Ernest E. ‘Gene’ Brooks
MATOAKA — Ernest E. “Gene” Brooks, 74, of Matoaka (Arista Mountain) died April 15, 2006, at Princeton Community Hospital.
Born March 7, 1932, in Asco, he was the son of the late Rev. Charles Brooks and Pearl Mae Green Brooks.
Mr. Brooks was educated in McDowell County, served in the U. S. Marine Corps, worked construction, started as a volunteer firefighter and became Welch fire chief, with 12 years service. He went into Eastern Associated mine at Herndon and worked various positions until a mining accident disabled him. He was a member of the UMWA Local 9781. Mr. Brooks spent 10 years providing hospital ministry to the terminally ill. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Harry Brooks, Leonard Brooks, Frank Brooks and Charles Brooks, Jr.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of 51 years, Helen June Cox Brooks; two daughters, Dora Martin and husband, Tony, of Princeton and Janice Wiblin and husband, James, of Princeton; one son, Ernest “Ernie” Brooks, Jr. and wife, Ruth, of Herndon; a nephew, Frankie Brooks of Roderfield, who was raised with the family; grandchildren, Helen “Lynn” White and husband, Allen, of Princeton, Paul “Eddie” Kinser of Princeton, Katie Parsell and husband, Matt, of Cleveland, TN, Jonathan Wiblin and Jace Wiblin; step-grandchildren, Tammy Jones and husband, Andy, of Princeton, Angela Lawson and husband, Kevin, of Lake Bottom and Allen Wiblin of Beeson; one great-grandchild, A. J. White; step-great-grandchildren, Allen and Brandon Howerton, Kodey and Olivia Lawson; one brother, Robert “Bob” Brooks and wife, Phyllis, of Davy; sisters-in-law, Louise Brooks of Ravenna, OH, Charmaine Brooks of Ronceverte; many nieces, nephews and friends too numerous to count.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with the Rev. Michael Brooks and Sister Shirley Wimmer officiating. Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Kinser, Allen White, Matt Parsell, Allen Wiblin, Kevin Lawson and Steve Lusk.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home.
Arrangements by Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton.
Ella Rosalene Brown
KOPPERSTON — Ella Rosalene Brown departed this life Sunday, April 16, 2006, at the age of 84 years, six months and 12 days, at her residence following a long illness.
Born Oct. 4, 1921, in Dwight, Va., she was the daughter of the late R.P. Rual and Nancy Catherine McKinney Mullins.
Mrs. Brown became a member of Toneda Missionary Baptist Church, April 18, 1948, and was a member for 58 years. She was a Beginner Sunday School teacher for 43 years and the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was loved by all who knew her and will be dearly missed.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded death by her husband of 60 years, Dennie W. “Junior” Brown on Nov. 30, 2005; eight brothers, Edmon Mullins, Alva Mullins, Elihu Mullins, Jay Mullins, Levi Mullins, Vennie Mullins, R.P. Mullins Jr., and Macadoo Mullins; and five sisters, Nancy Mullins, Macie Sharopphice, Edith Cook, Narcie Viars and Watie Goins.
Those left to cherish her memory are two sons, Dennie Dewayne Brown and his wife, Sandra, of Oceana and Jeffery Douglas Brown and his wife, Loretta, of Athens; two daughters, Sandra S. Brown of Oceana and Sharon Brown of Oceana; special grandchildren, Brandon Stewart and Jordon Hall; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
A celebration of Mrs. Brown’s life will be noon, Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at Toneda Missionary Baptist Church with the Revs. Ron Lee and James Hammick officiating. Burial will follow in Kopperston cemetery, Kopperston.
The family will receive friends 6 to 9 p.m. today at the church.
Casketbearers will be Ron Toler, U.J. Toler, Matthew Toler, Jason Toler, James Larry Cook, Timmy Powell, Randy Powell, Patrick Powell, Merle Cook, Chris Kiser and Randall Topping.
Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.
