U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Thelma Louise Shortt
Thelma Louise Rose Shortt, 75, of Jewell Ridge, died July 21, 2006 at her home.
Born June 12, 1931 in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late Dock and (Bessie) Elizabeth Griffith Rose.
She was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Emory Shortt; one son, Tony Wayne Shortt; one granddaughter, Jatanna Cochran; one brother, Ken Rose; and one great grandchild, Austin Wayne Martin.
Survivors: son, Jeff Shortt and wife, Jennifer, of Rosedale; daughters, Peggy Shelton and husband, Mack, Wanda Lester and husband, Junior, Debbie Cordle and husband, Walter, and Martha Ball and husband, Graham, all of Richlands, Connie Cochran and husband, Danny, of Paintlick, Brenda Whitt and husband, David, of Jewell Ridge; brother, Bob Rose and wife, Arbel, of Tazewell; sister, Margaret Graham and husband, Jack, of Tazewell; 19 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren; and caregiver, Teresa Underwood.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. July 24 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Doug Allen, Rev. Grady McGlothlin and Rev. Joe Horn officiating.
Burial followed in the Short cemetery at Short Gap.
Ellen Ruth Stevenson
Ellen Ruth Brown Stevenson, 71, of Tazewell, formerly of Bluefield, VA, died July 20, 2006 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born April 10, 1935 in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Albert Brown, Sr. and Margaret Ellen Lewis Brown.
She was of the Pentecostal Holiness Faith and loved going to the flea markets with her husband and spending time with her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Melissa Ann Thomas.
Survivors: husband of 55 years, Daniel Boone Stevenson; sons, Michael Stevenson of Bluefield, VA, Danny Ray Stevenson of Mt. Olive, WV; daughters, Margaret Thomas and husband, Carl, of Bluefield, VA, Linda Sarver and husband, Jay, and Frances Combs, all of Brushfork, WV; brothers, Joseph Albert Brown, Jr., Oscar Ernest Brown and Jimmy Roger Brown, all of Pounding Mill, Bobby Lee Brown and wife, Sharon, of Bluefield, VA; sisters, Dorothy Head and Jean Laney and husband, David, all of Tazewell, Edna Louise Crigger and husband, Clarence, of Springville, Elizabeth Ann Lewis of Bluefield, VA; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. July 24 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Eugene Gates and the Rev. Hershel Farmer officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Lawrence Wayne Whitt
Lawrence Wayne Whitt, 54, of the Earl’s Branch Road section of Cedar Bluff, died July 23, 2006 at his home.
He was the son of the late Thomas C. and June Harrison Whitt, both Tazewell County natives.
He was a Richlands High School class of 1970 graduate and had spent his entire life in the area. He was a U.S. Air Force Vietnam Veteran and also later enlisted with the U.S. Army National Guard. He was a Retired Coal Miner and a UMWA member.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Marvin Lee and Thomas Edward Whitt.
Survivors: daughter, Diana Whitt Bowman, and husband, Brock, of Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; son, James C. Whitt of Cedar Bluff; his former wife, Beverly J. Whitt, of Glade Spring; brothers, Charles Melvin Whitt and wife, Cathy, of Rocky Gap, Harry B. Whitt of Cedar Bluff; sisters, Cathy Whitt Bales of Doran, Bernice Whitt Lester of Wytheville, Regina Whitt Smith of Marion, OH; sister-in-law, Ora Whitt of Norfolk; and grandchildren, Brett Allen Bowman, Michael David Bowman, and Alyssia Bowman.
The funeral will be conducted July 26 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Tazewell with Minister Chris White officiating.
Interment will follow in the Whitt Family cemetery located in the Lick Branch section of Cedar Bluff.
Members of Casey-Shortt VFW Post #9640 of Richlands will conduct military graveside rites.
Robert A. Bell, Jr.
Robert A. Bell, Jr., 65, of Tazewell, died July 30, 2006 at his home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell.
Kay Blankenship Gibson
Kay Lyn Blankenship Gibson, 69, of Wentworth, MO, formerly of Richlands, died July 22, 2006 at home after a long illness.
Survivors: husband, Gary Gibson; sons, Gary, Jr. of the home and Cary and granddaughter Julie of Monett, MO; her mother, Helen Buskill Blankenship of Kents Ridge; brother, James Robert “Lozo” Blankenship, wife Christine of Kents Ridge; sisters, Nita Karan Bales, husband George “Abe” of Richlands, Helen Blankenship Roesch of Auburn, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
Private services were conducted.
Kenneth E. Grimsley
Kenneth Eugene Grimsley, 64, of Meadowview, formerly of Falls Church, died July 23, 2006 in Asheville, NC.
Born Feb. 7, 1942 in Red Ash, he was the son of the late Leonard and Virginia Ray Grimsley.
He was a United States Air Force Veteran and a Navy Seal veteran of the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Purple Heart medal. He was retired from George Washington Hospital in Washington, D.C.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Myers Grimsley; and two brothers, Curtis Grimsley and Dennis Grimsley.
Survivors: sister, Carol Horne and husband, Carlous, of Travelers Rest, SC; brothers, Kyle Grimsley and wife, Diane, and Keith Grimsley and wife, Judy, all of Meadowview; step daughter, Kathy Large of Falls Church; step sons, David Myers of Falls Church, Bobby Myers of Florida; nieces, Anita Fisher, Lisa Hellams, Melissa Grimsley and Tiffany Grimsley; nephew, Jay Horne and wife, Joye; and eight step grandchildren.
Graveside services were conducted at 1 p.m. July 27 at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Military graveside rites were conducted by Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640.
Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Arwood Martin
Helen Arwood Martin, 71, of the Martin Mountain section of Drill, died July 27, 2006 in a Lebanon hospital.
Born Jan. 22, 1935 in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Tim and Rose Shortt Arwood.
She spent her early life in the area prior to moving to Cleveland, OH, and then moving back to Martin Mountain in 1991. She was a member of the Outreach Temple Church in Wysor Valley.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Martin, June 29, 2006; one brother, Carl Arwood; and four sisters, Hazel Street, Bea Miller, Lois Cook and Edgar Patton.
Survivors: daughters, Judy Deskins of Lebanon, Patty Price of Rowe; sons, Joe Martin of Honaker, Billy Martin and Teddy Martin, both of Rowe; brothers, Lawrence Arwood of Honaker, Rev. Arvil Arwood, and Roy Arwood, both of Rowe; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. July 30 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Arvil Arwood officiating.
Interment followed in Martin cemetery on Stinson’s Ridge.
Ferrel Walter Pinion
Ferrel Walter Pinion, 77, of Raven, died July 29, 2006 at his home.
Born in Swords Creek, he was the son of the late Pled and Callie Vance Pinion, both of Swords Creek.
He was a lifelong resident of the area and was a member of Clearview United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, June Pinion, Virginia Pinion, and Frances Smith, and two brothers, Estil Pinion and Arnold Pinion.
Survivors: loving wife, Ada Smith Pinion; daughter, Teresa Thompson and husband, Wayne, of Raven; sons, David Pinion and wife, Joyce, and Wayne Pinion and wife, Cheryl, all of Raven; brother, Porter Pinion and wife, Helen, of Bucyrus, OH; sisters, Irene Honaker, Lorene Musselwhite, Lucy Smith and husband, Audrey, and Ruth Strouth and husband, Gene, all of Bucyrus; sister-in-law, Edna Pinion of Mansfield, OH; brother-in-law, Roger Smith of Bucyrus; grandchildren, Sherry Pinion Breeding, Jonathan Pinion, Nick Pinion, Chris Pinion, and Matthew Thompson; and special caregiver, Neica Stiltner.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Paul Griffith and Rev. Clyde Rose officiating.
Interment followed at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill.
Kendall P. Robinson
Kendall P. Robinson, 66, of Cedar Bluff, died July 26, 2006 at his home.
Born Aug. 8, 1939 in Pilgrim Knob, he was the son of the late Luther Ellis and Evelyn Dorton Robinson.
He was a graduate of the class of 1958 of Whitewood High School and was a United States Army Veteran. He was a former employee of United Coal Company and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ernest Robinson and Dale Robinson.
Survivors: wife, Shirley Cole Robinson; children, Jeff Robinson and wife, Tina, of Bluefield, VA, Keisha Robinson of Greenville, SC, Kendall P. Robinson II of Kingsport, TN, Michea Prescott and husband, John, of Pulaski, Michael Robinson and wife, Cindy, of Lexington, KY, Dana Robinson and fiancée, Carla Dale, of Bluefield, VA; brothers, Kyle Robinson and wife, Edith, of Whitewood, Karl Robinson and wife, Jean, of Piney Flats, TN, Nathan Robinson and wife, Donna, of Cedar Bluff, Mark Robinson and wife, Linda, of Winter Haven, FL; special sister-in-law, Janice Robinson of Lynchburg; and 15 grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. July 28 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Craig Barber officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Military graveside rites were conducted by Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640.
Troy Justin Smith
Troy Justin Smith, 34, of Alabster, went home to be with his Lord July 26, 2006 in Birmingham, AL, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend. He lived a life of self-sacrifice toward God, his family and friends. He served First Baptist Church of Pelham as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. He taught Computer Science at Spain Park High School. He loved running and biking and was a proud graduate of Virginia Tech.
He was awarded the Robert Finley Award by the Hoover City School System for excellence of character in 2006 and was nominated for the Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame, where he was one of the top five finalist in the state.
He was preceded in death by one son, Zachary Justin Smith.
Survivors: wife, Shanna Smith; sons, Isaiah and Jonah Smith; daughter, Hannah Grace Smith; father and mother, Basil and Diane Smith of Helena; brother, Todd (Lena) Smith of Helena; one niece; and two nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Pelham, 2867 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35124.
The celebration of his life was held at 1 p.m. July 29 at First Baptist Church of Pelham.
Interment followed at Southern Heritage cemetery.
Ridout’s Brown-Service was in charge of arrangements.
Retha Tiller
Retha Tiller, 65, of Council, died July 25, 2006 at a Richlands hospital.
Born May 21, 1941 in Council, she was a daughter of the late Arthur Earl Tiller and Mary Marie Wilson Tiller.
A lifelong resident of the area, she was of the Freewill Baptist faith and had attended Russell Fork Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Randall Clayton Tiller and Ricky Tiller, and one daughter, Teresa Marie Tiller.
Survivors: husband of 50 years, Clayton Tiller; daughter, Loretha Barton and husband, Gary, of Council; step-son, Daniel Duty and wife, Nina, of Davenport; grandsons, Gary Clayton Barton and wife, Teresa, and Ricky Wayne Barton, all of Council; granddaughter, Kelly Christina Bostic and husband, Billy, of Council; step-grandson, Daniel Duane Duty of Davenport; sister, Lois Edwards of Birchleaf; brothers, Swanson Tiller of Claypool Hill, Willis Tiller of Council, Raymond Tiller of Holston Lake, and Ronald Tiller and wife, Elsie, of Breaks; great-grandsons, Dustin Clayton Barton, Brandon Craig Barton, and Michael Cody Bostic; great-granddaughters, Sadie Lenea Barton, Sarah Marie Barton, and Alexia Paige Bostic; step-great-granddaughter, Samantha Morgan Cook; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. July 28 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating.
Interment followed in the Clayton Tiller Family cemetery at Council.
