Martin Angel ‘Bull’ Durham, age 87, of 200 Juliana St., Beckley, formerly of 523 Bero Avenue, Beckley, passed away at 8:13 p.m., Saturday, May 26, 2007, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley.
Mr. Durham was born June 25, 1919, at Giles County, Va., and was the son of the late Eugene and Mattie Durham.
Mr. Durham was a retired coal miner and former employee of Meadows Lumber Company. He was of the Christian faith.
Mr. Durham was a World War II veteran in the tank corp. and saw action in France, where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He was a member of that Great Generator which helped preserve the American dream of freedom and hope. We all owe him, and others like him, a deep debt of gratitude for his service and sacrifice on the field of battle.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers and one sister.
Those left to cherish his name include his loving and faithful wife of 65 years, Lura Taylor Durham of Beckley; three sons, Martin E. Durham and wife, Ina, of Beckley, Michael G. Durham and wife, Robbin, of Flat Top, and Gary D. Durham and wife, Cathy, of Princeton; a daughter, Kimberly L. Redden and husband, Roger, of Grandview; eight grandchildren, Rachel Pauley, Lura Jane Barbera, DeWayne Durham, Gene Durham, Travis Durham, Carrie Ray, Andrew Redden and Matthew Redden; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Eloise Pierce of Beckley and Betty Watson of California; and a brother, Tommy Durham of North Carolina.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley, with minister Gary D. Durham, his son, and assisted by the Rev. Robert Wagner. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at Prosperity.
Friends may call at 6 until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.
Betty Jean Hodge Elam
HILLTOP — Betty Jean Hodge Elam, 75, of Hilltop, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2007, at home, following a short illness.
Born Dec. 20, 1928, at Dry Branch, she was the daughter of the late Dewey and Thelma Barnhart Smith.
Betty was a homemaker and a member of the Fellowship Memorial Baptist Church.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, James Kent Tate; and a sister, Geneva Griffith.
Survivors inlcude a son, Michael Hodge of Ansted; three daughters, Lola Tate and husband, Jim, of Abingdon, Va., Joyce Miklos and fiancee’, Bruce Keel, of Stanaford, and Anita Bushnell and husband, Chuck, of Columbia, Tenn.; four sisters, Delores Walker of Darlington, Md., Janet Brown of Alderson, Minabelle Crowl of Rosedale, Md., and Mary Payne and husband, Jim, of Jacksonville, Ala.; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give special thanks to Hospice of Southern WV and to Dempsey Holsteid for his kindness.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill, with the Rev. Delmas Wolfe officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill.
Friends may call 1 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Jim Tate, Chuck Bushnell, Jim Payne, Michael Miklos, Jr., Michael and Zachery Hodge.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home of Oak Hill.
Imogene P. Higginbotham
Imogene P. Higginbotham, 83, of Beckley passed away Sunday, May 27, 2007. Born Oct. 6, 1923, she is the daughter of the late John and Rose Smith.
Imogene enjoyed playing the piano and organ in various churches in West Virginia. She also entertained in Disney World. Imogene lived in Edgewater Florida from 1980-2000.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by husband, Heath C. Higginbotham; son, Thomas J. Higginbotham; brothers, John, Leonard, Paul and Albert Smith; and sister, Virginia Campbell.
Those left to cherish her memory include son, H. Conway Higginbotham of Tenn.; daughters, Patricia E. Higginbotham of Winterpark, Fla.; Michele Kincaid and husband, William, of Beckley; daughter-in-law, Joyce A. Higginbotham of Mabscott; sister, Gladys Eagle of Jacksonsville, Fla.; sister-in-law, Myrtle Smith of Oak Hill; four grandchildren, T.J. Higginbotham and wife, Stephanie, of Beckley, Brian Higginbotham and wife, Misty, of Coal City, Heather Jean Kincaid of Beckley and Kayla N. Kincaid of Beckley; four great-grandchildren, Tyler Joseph, Jacob Heath, Cole Logan and Chase Thomas Higginbotham.
Her family has held a private service for Imogene.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley, W.Va.
Buddy James Hoke
SWEET SPRINGS — Buddy James Hoke, 62, of Sweet Springs, went to be with the Lord Sunday, May 27, 2007, following a short illness.
He was born in Glace, W.Va., Oct. 9, 1944, a son of the late George and Margaret Feury Hoke.
Buddy was a 1963 graduate of Gap Mills High School, a member of the Forrest Memorial Presbyterian Church at Sweet Chalybeate, Va., a member of the Pace Labor Union #8-675 and he served six years with the West Virginia National Guard.
In 2005, MeadWestvaco honored him with a retirement dinner celebrating his 37 years of service working in the woodyard department.
He loved animals and the outdoors. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and caring for his pets and he was always willing to help someone in need.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Louis Hoke and Vernon Hoke; and by his father-in-law, Otis Clarkson.
Surviving is his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Mary Jane Clarkson Hoke of Sweet Springs; two daughters, Susan Walton and her husband, Tim, of Covington, Va., and Sharon Panek and her husband, Brent, of Herndon, Va. He was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren, Brandon Walton, Craig Walton, Derek Walton, Mark Walton, David Panek and Emily Panek; four sisters, his twin sister, Bonnie Archuleta and her husband, Philip, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Marieta Woods of Waiteville, Mildred Bostic and her husband, Steve, of Hollywood, and Edith Smith of Chesapeake, Va.; and his mother-in-law, Beulah Clarkson of Sweet Springs.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Groves Funeral Home Chapel in Union with the Rev. Cliff Stone officiating. Burial will follow in the Carmel cemetery at Gap Mills. American Legion Post #100 will conduct graveside rites.
Friends may call 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Brandon Walton, Craig Walton, Patrick Woods, Stuart Woods, Jerry Clarkson, Dale Bratton, Jr., Arthur Bostic and Stephen Bostic.
Derek Walton, Mark Walton and David Panek will serve as honorary pallbearers and Emily Panek will serve as flower bearer.
Groves Funeral Home in Union, is in charge of arrangements.
Nadine Bragg Hunter
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Nadine Bragg Hunter, 78, of Melbourne, Fla., formerly of Victor, passed away Friday, May 25, 2007.
Funeral and burial will be held at a later date in Melbourne, Fla. Arrangements are incomplete.
Submitted by Wallace and Wallace of Ansted.
Larry ‘Boy’ Matherly Jr.
Larry ‘Boy’ Matherly Jr., 34, of Beaver passed away Saturday, May 26, 2007. Born March 15, 1973, he is the son of Larry and Susan Matherly.
Larry loved fishing, hunting, shooting pool and four- wheeling. Larry was a 1992 graduate of Shady Spring High School. He was of the Apostolic Faith.
He is preceded in death by grandparents, Leona and Mike Burgess; and nephew Dakota Matthew.
Those left to cherish his memory include parents, Larry and Susan Matherly; sons, Larry Blaine Matherly III and Zachery Blaine Matherly; grandparents, Mary and Joseph Matherly; sisters, Mary Matherly and husband, Oscar Munoz Jr., of Beaver; Tracie Matherly and companion, Tony Savino, of Beckley; nephew, Orion Munoz; lifelong friend, Franklin Dean Cox of Daniels; and many friends, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, W.Va., with the Rev. Greg Scarbro officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Hall, Steve Richmond, Charlie Richmond, Donnie Tyree, Shawn Tyree and David Barker.
Friends may gather with the family 6 to 9 p.m. today at Blue Ridge Funeral Home.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley, W.Va.
Howard H. Rodgers
ORGAN CAVE — Howard H. Rodgers, 88, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2007, at the Brier Rehab, Ronceverte, after a long illness.
Born Dec. 20, 1918, in Ronceverte, he was the son of the late Homer Dale and Bertha Byrd Rodgers.
Mr. Rodgers had been a lifelong resident of Organ Cave, member of the Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church of Organ Cave and was a retired farmer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret ‘Polly’ Burdette Rodgers; two sisters, Ethel Harvey and June Bladen; and two brothers, Ray Rodgers and Fred Rodgers.
Survivors include a nephew, Dale Bladen and wife, Diane, of Organ Cave; and several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church, Organ Cave with the Rev. Mike Estep officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabeth Chapel cemetery, Organ Cave.
Friends may call 7 until 9 p.m. today at the Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea, and at the church one hour prior to the service Wednesday.
Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Dr. Raymond Marquess Rowe Jr.
BLUEFIELD — The Rev. Dr. Raymond Marquess Rowe, Jr., 73, of 408 Mountain View Ave., Bluefield, died Saturday, May 26, 2007, at Duke University Hospital.
Born Feb. 8, 1934, in Clarksburg, W.Va., he was a son of the late Raymond Marquess and Mildred Bauer Rowe. He graduated from Washington Irving High School, Clarksburg in 1952, attended WVU for two years, where he was an active member of the Wesley Foundation, and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56. Mr. Rowe received a B.A. from West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1960; Master of Divinity from Duke University, 1963; and Doctor of Divinity from Drew University, 1980.
Most recently, the Rev. Dr. Rowe served 6 years on the Board of Directors and 2 years as chairman of the Board for the Burlington United Methodist Family Service; the Philippi Circuit; Associate Rougemont(NC); Jane Lew U.M.C.; Tridelphia U.M.C.; Pineville U.M.C.; Central U.M.C. Fairmont; First U.M.C. Beckley; and served as a superintendent of the Bluefield District, 1993-1996 and the Southern District, 1996-1999.
After retirement in 1999, he continued to serve the West Virginia Conference by serving at Bruce McDonald Memorial U.M.C., Man; John Stewart U.M.C., Bluefield; First U.M.C., Welch. He mentored Students of United Theological Seminary for several years and most recently served as visitation pastor at First U.M.C. of Princeton. Raymond loved reading and gardening. He always said his best sermons were “written” while mowing the lawn.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Beatrice Mae Woodford Rowe.
Raymond will be dearly missed by his wife, Mary Belle Rowe; son, Paul Everett Rowe and wife, Jennifer, of Oak Hill, W.Va., two daughters, the Rev. Mary Elizabeth Miller and husband, the Rev. Douglas Miller, of Ramseur, N.C., and Margaret Louise Franks and husband, Alan, of Durham, N.C.; an adopted son; David Lee Rowe of Nashville, Tenn.; a sister; Louise Hill of Jackson, Mich.; five step-children, Dr. Lance Rhodes and wife, Bobbi, of Oakland, Md., Chet Rhodes and wife, Michaele, of Columbia, Tenn., John Rhodes of Romney, W.Va., Georgiana Grove of Morgantown, W.Va., and Aaron Grove of Points, W.Va.; grandchildren, Jordan and Christian Miller, Cammie, Emily and Matthew Franks; PJ and Madison Rae Rowe; Erin and Rett Rhodes; Garrett, Spencer, Grace Abigail, Bishop and Mason Bennett Rhodes; and Jolea Rhodes.
Funeral service will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church located in Princeton with the Rev. Randy Adkins officiating, with a visitation from 2 p.m. until service time. Burial will be private.
Friends may call at the Mercer Funeral Home 6 to 8 p.m. today, May 29, 2007.
Serving as pallbearers will be Paul Everett Rowe, Doug Miller, Alan Franks, Lance Rhodes, Chet Rhodes, John Rhodes, Aaron Grove and Todd Parke. Honorary pallbearers will be the Rev. Aslam Barkett, the Rev. Clyde Beard, Bishop Tom Bickerton, the Rev. Ronald Brooks, the Rev. John Campbel, the Rev. Mark Conner, the Rev. Leo Farley, the Rev. Joseph Geiger, Bishop Wm. Boyd Grove, the Rev. Helga Hallett, Mr. Joseph Haugh, Bishop S. Clifton Ives, the Rev. Sue Jarrett, the Rev. Dan Johnson, the Rev. James Kerr, the Rev. Randy Kidd, the Rev. Harry Light, the Rev. William Miller, the Rev. Cliff Schell, the Rev. Ralph Thompson, the Rev. William Thompson, the Rev. Arthur Tucker, the Rev. Nat Turner-Lacey, the Rev. William Villers, the Rev. Bill Wilson and the Rev. Richard Wright.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to: Burlington United Methodist Family Service, Inc., Beckley Center, 4700 Robert C. Drive, Beckley, WV 25801.
Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Rowe family.
Edna P. Simmons
ARBOVALE — Edna P. Simmons, 90, of Arbovale, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2007.
Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Arbovale.
Visitation will be 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home in Arbovale.
Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Arbovale, is in charge of arrangements.
Vivian M. Sorrells
Vivian M. Sorrells, 68, of 124 Washington Avenue, died Friday, May 25, 2007.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor Chapel, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
