Gloria E. Gill Banfield, 80, of Shady Spring passed away Sunday, May 13, 2007, at her home.
Born Feb. 20, 1927, she was the daughter of Walter and Beatrice Gill.
Gloria graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1944. She was a homemaker and enjoyed painting in her spare time. She retired from E.M. Payne Co. in 1980. Gloria was a member of Perry Memorial Methodist Church of Shady Spring.
Gloria was preceded in death by parents Walter and Beatrice Gill and husband Jack Banfield.
Those left to cherish her memory include daughters Diana Beck and husband Gordon of Bluefield, Susan Justice and husband James of Cool Ridge; grandsons Matthew Beck of Bluefield, Christopher Randall and Steve Lawrence of Mt. Morris, Pa.; granddaughters Leslie Beck of Williamsburg, Va., Laura Tighe and husband Bob of Morgantown; great-grandsons Cody Beck of Bluefield, Coleton Beck of Bluefield; sister Helen Crews of Melbourne, Fla.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 2007, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, with Rev. Susan Rector officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and family.
Friends may gather with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley.
Donald Ray Basham
Surrounded by his loving family, Donald Ray Basham, age 65, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 12, 2007.
Born in Sophia April 4, 1942, he was the son of the late Mack and Anna Basham.
Don graduated in 1960 from Sophia High School where he was a highly honored all sports athlete.
Don attended college at New Mexico Highlands University with his older brother Austin where both were outstanding members of the football team. Don married Betty Combs on March 24, 1962, at Bethel Church.
He then served a tour with the U.S. Army in Europe serving as a member of the battalion football team.
After working 12 years in Washington, D.C., Don returned home to Sophia. There he worked with the city serving on the Town Council, was Town Recorder and Police Judge.
Don’s passions were his grandchildren, the West Virginia Mountaineers, and tending to his beautiful lawn and garden.
He was a member of the Sophia Freewill Baptist Church where he loved working with the kids as coach and advisor, and playing softball.
He will be reunited with his beloved parents and brother Austin, who preceded him in death.
Don is survived by his loving wife Betty and two children: daughter Kelly Brogan and husband Kenny of Jumping Branch and son Donnie and wife Toni also of Jumping Branch. Other survivors include a sister, Frances Kelly of Sophia; and brothers, Ivan Basham and wife Myrtle of Sophia, Doug Basham and wife Linda of Daniels, and Gary Basham of Sophia. He leaves behind the love of his life, his grandchildren, Keilah and Kanyon Brogan and Ashton Basham. He is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at Sophia Freewill Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Roger Young, Lenny Young, Gary McGuire, Rick Ruble, Jeff Graham, and James Loggins. Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Cook, Johnny Young, Van Stewart, Bill Brogan, and Danny Barr.
Arrangements by Williams-Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 147 Virginia St., Sophia.
Sylvia E. Castle
OAK HILL — Sylvia E. Castle, 84, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2007, at her home.
Born on March 3, 1923, at Garten, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Nevada Pearl Lavender Woodrum Pennington.
Mrs. Castle was of the Pentecostal faith and was a retired cook and waitress, a caregiver, and a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters.
Left to cherish her memory are two sons, Donald Ray Castle of Lawton, Okla., and Charles Dale Castle of Fayetteville; two daughters, Deloris Sue Keith of Fayetteville, and Diana Gayle Pace of Alderson; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
In keeping with Sylvia’s wishes she will be cremated and a private family memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Ruth Deck
Ruth Deck, beloved wife of Stewart Deck of Carriage Drive, Beckley, died Monday, May 14, 2007, in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. She was 82 years of age.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Rosita Bercier Hamm
BALLARD — Rosita Bercier Hamm, 74, formerly of Nimitz, went home to be with her Lord on Monday, May 14, 2007, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born March 21, 1933, in North Dakota, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Edna Bercier.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of Indian Mills Baptist Church where her husband is the Pastor.
Rosita is survived by her husband of 56 years, Pastor Darrell Hamm; four children, Tanya Cook and husband Argel of Hinton, William Hamm Jr. and wife Sarah of Glade Spring, Va., Darlene Reed and husband Kenny of Wise, Va., and Sandy Turner and husband Mitch of Hinton.
Grandchildren, Argel Cook Jr., Lori Lofton and husband Larry, Christopher Cook, Jason Hamm and wife DeeAnn, Joshua Hamm and wife Elizabeth, Hope Luongo, Kelly Wills and husband Devin, Bradley Reed and wife Amanda, Adam Reed and fiancee Jennifer, Chastity Goodman, John Ratliff and fiancee Megan, Jordan Berry and Tyler Turner; 14 great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel in Hinton with Mrs. Hamm’s son Pastor William Hamm Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Lilly-Crews cemetery at Nimitz. Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, at the funeral home.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church she loved, Indian Mills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 103, Ballard, WV 24918.
Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton.
Effie Marie Gilkerson Berry Hunt
BACKUS MOUNTAIN — Effie Marie Gilkerson Berry Hunt, 83, of Backus Mountain, died Saturday, May 12, 2007, at Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, following a short illness.
Born Dec. 31, 1923, at Grandview, she was the daughter of the late Robert Shanklin and Effie Martin Gilkerson.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Earl Berry; a son, Faren; a beloved grandson, Kevin Jeffree Hunt; a dear son-in-law, Michael Hugh Hunt; beloved twin granddaughters; four brothers and five sisters.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 20 years, Michael Ryan Hunt of Backus Mountain; three sons, Earl Keaton Berry and wife, Edna, of Backus Mountain, Justice Berry and wife, Martha, of Backus Mountain, and Junior Berry of Delaware; five daughters, Joann Gardner of Prosperity, Joyce Goins and husband, Norman, of Atco, N.J., Patricia Gardner and husband, Jimmy, of Smith Mountain Lake, Va., Brenda Hunt of Backus Mountain, and Pamela McCants and husband, Danny, of Daniels; stepchildren, Elizabeth Hagan of Orlando, Fla., Margaret Jennings of Pensacola, Fla., Jean Willins of Ohio, John Hunt of Florida, and Patrick Hunt of Alabama; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, as well as many beloved stepgrandchildren; two sisters, Doreen Morris of Prosperity, and Alice Jones of Baltimore, Md.; many loving nieces and nephews and an abundance of friends.
Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Wallace & Wallace Chapel in Rainelle with the Rev. Lewis Cales officiating. Burial will follow in Wallace Memorial cemetery, Clintonville.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.
Elizabeth Kopcha
Elizabeth Kopcha, age 91, of Beckley, died on Sunday, May 13, 2007, in a local hospital after a long illness.
Born Oct. 13, 1915, in McRoberts, Ky., she was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Kish Cook of Logan, W.Va.
Elizabeth was a 1934 graduate of Man High School and during World War II worked for the H&W Dress Company in Jacksonville, Fla., with a group of architects making blueprints for the liberty ships for St. John’s Shipyard and the U.S. Navy. After the war was over, Elizabeth went to work in Manhattan, N.Y., as the accounts receivable collection manager for Dunn & Bradstreet, Inc., working for 32 years, retiring in December of 1977 and returning to Beckley. She was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Beckley, served as church treasurer and a member of the ladies auxiliary. She was also a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Women of the Moose and AARP.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband of 50 1/2 years, Alexander Kopcha; four sisters, Mary Giompalo, Helen Prince, Ann Schiffer and Barbara Rose Yeager; a brother, Johnny Cook; and a sister-in-law, Louise Cook.
Surviving are her nephews, Gary Schiffer and Howard E. “Gene” Yeager and his wife, Carol, all of Beckley, J.C. Cook and Michael Cook, both of Radcliff, Ky., and Dorsey Denesevich of Pennsylvania and Richie and Donna Janowski of Omaha, Neb.; nieces, Helen Ann Mohiuddin of New York City, Linda Cook, Lori Cook and Mary (Bunny) Cantrell, all of Radcliff, Ky., and Barbara Delp of Chilhowie, Va.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 211 S. Heber St., Beckley, with Right Rev. Bishop THOMAS Joseph and the Rev. Father Samuel Haddad officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley, where a trisagion prayer service will be held at 8 p.m.
Friends will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Elizabeth Kopcha to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 221 S. Heber St., Beckley, WV 25801.
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Anna Lawlor
Anna Lawlor, 93, of Beckley, died Monday, May 14, 2007, at Pinecrest Hospital.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry, Beckley.
Shaun Antoine Robinson
Shaun Antoine Robinson, 28, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, at Riverside Hospital.
Shaun was employed with Universal Fidelity LP.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Oral and Elmore Robinson and James Robinson and Eunice (Robinson) Downing.
He leaves to cherish his memory his parents, Annie Jean Garrett and Steve Rob-inson Sr.; two brothers, Steve LaShay (Alycia) Robinson, Minister Shannon Robinson, both of West Virginia; his son, Jordan; Godfather, Tango Leggett of North Carolina; stepgrandfather, Charlie Downing of Columbus; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, niece, Clarissa, nephew, Malik; special nurse, Tammy; Special Ange, Jodi; special friends, Adrienne, Rayshawn, Faith and many more friends, relatives and acquaintances.
Homegoing service celebration will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church, 2283 Sunbury Road, Dr. Donald J. Washington officiating. Entombment will be at Franklin Hills Memorial Gardens, Canal Winchester.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of the service.
Arrangements by Gary Memorial Chapel, 867 S. James Road, Columbus, OH 43227 (614-235-4279).
Gregory Joel Shrewsbury
Gregory Joel Shrewsbury, age 32, of Coal City, went to join his mother in heaven, Delores Shrewsbury, on Friday, May 11, 2007.
Born at Hampton, Va., on April 18, 1975, Greg was a graduate of Shady Spring High School Class of 1993. Greg was also a graduate of The College of West Virginia, where he received a degree in criminal justice. He was a member of the Victory Baptist Church and was employed by the Beckley VA Medical Center. He was currently a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he had been enlisted since 1992. He had served in Bosnia and Iraq.
Greg will be greatly missed by his father, Roger Shrewsbury, and Sue Wills. Also surviving are brothers, Mike Shrewsbury of Cool Ridge and Kevin Shrewsbury and his wife, Daniele Shrewsbury of Charleston; his nephews, Ryan and Derrick. He also leaves behind his companion, Sandra Pierce, and her children, Autumn and Chris. Many aunts, uncles, cousins, and his grandmother, Rivanna Shrewsbury of Barkers Ridge, also survive.
Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Shady Spring Chapel, with Pastor Rollan Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at the George Shrewsbury cemetery at Barkers Ridge.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home in Shady Spring.
Pallbearers will be family members and co-workers.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Shady Spring.
Mary Lue Staton
Mary Lue Staton, 80, formerly of Beckley, died Monday, May 14, 2007, at Raleigh General Hospital following a long illness.
Born Oct. 5, 1926, at Idamay, W.Va., a daughter of the late Thomas William Alkire and Joy Doris McClung Alkire. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Alan Staton.
Mrs. Staton was a homemaker and loving mother. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Beckley.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Edward Alkire.
Survivors include a son, Curtis Staton and wife, Johnette, of Beckley; four daughters, Janet Keith and husband, Tommy, of Greenville, S.C., Cheryl Boblett and husband, Don, of Daniels, Rhonda Blevins and husband, Tom, of Hueytown, Ala.., Debbie Markt and husband, Rick, of Aiken, S.C.; four brothers, Tom Alkire and wife, Ann, of Pulaski, Va., Robert Alkire of Moreland, Ga., Jim Alkire and wife, Elouise, of Pulaski, Va., Ken Alkire and wife, Elvie, of Gales Ferry, Conn.; a sister, Adella Douglas of Gallantin, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 12 noon Wednesday at the First Baptist Church, 422 Neville St., Beckley, with the Rev. Dr. Phillip Smith officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church.
Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 E. Main St., Oak Hill.
