U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Archie Z. Brown
Archie Z. Brown, 77, of Rt. 1, Bastian, died May 31, 2004 at his home.
Born in Tazewell County, he was a son of the late James Duncan Brown and Annie Myrtle Spangler Brown.
He was a retired maintenance man with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, David Brown, L. F. Brown, J. R. Brown, and Harold C. Brown; one sister, Annie Compton; and two nephews, J. G. Brown and Ronnie Brown.
Survivors: wife, Nannie K. Brown; sons, Perry Duncan Brown of Gratton, Archie Zane Brown, Jr. of Capron; sister, Mary Ellen Ratcliff of Bluefield, WV; brother, M. F. Brown of Burkes Garden; grandchildren, Jason Brown, Ashley Brown, Cindy Lynn Sparks, and William Lee Brown; great-grandchildren, Brandon Shelton, Amber Shelton, and Katlin Sparks; and one step-grandson, T. J. Thompson.
The funeral was conducted June 3 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Barry Absher officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Albert D. Cruey
Albert D. Cruey, 66, of the Tip Top area in North Tazewell, died June 3, 2004 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Richlands, he was a son of the late Henry and Ruby Shrader Cruey.
He attended the Tip Top United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Roger Cruey and Steven Cruey.
Survivors: wife of 41 years, Shirley Riley Cruey; son, Ronnie Cruey and wife, Kelli, of Bluefield, WV; daughters, Alberta Sawyers of Gratton, Rena Shortridge and husband, Jody, of Tip Top; brothers, Billy Cruey and wife, Trudy, of Fredericksburg, James Cruey and wife, Donna, of Tazewell; sisters, Ima Jean Nolton and husband, Charles, of Fredericksburg, Nancy Nicewander and husband, Jerry, of Baptist Valley; sister-in-law, Sylvia Cruey of Wooster, OH; grandchildren, Robbie Sawyers, Jonathan Sawyers, and Steven Sawyers; great-granddaughter, Lakin Croy; lots of loving nieces and nephews; and special sister-in-law, Lucille Powers of Tip Top.
The funeral was conducted June 5 at 11 a.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Leon Yost officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Lee Andrew Etter
Lee Andrew Etter, 86, of Tazewell, died June 2, 2004 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born at Gratton, he was a son of the late Samuel and Mary Ada Burton Etter.
He was a lifelong resident of Tazewell County, and worked many years at the Church Furniture Factory in Bluefield, VA.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eula Carter Etter, three brothers, and one sister.
Survivors: brother, Randolph Etter and wife, Virginia, of Bluefield, VA; several nieces and nephews; and a very dear friend, Loretta Dial of North Tazewell.
Graveside services were conducted June 3 at 2 p.m. at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA with the Lacy Brooks officiating.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth I. Fitzgerald
Ruth Irene Fitzgerald, 70, of Honaker, died June 1, 2004 in a Bristol, TN, hospital.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Rosa Tiller Lester.
She had spent her early life in this area and moved back here in 1975. She attended the Swords Creek Community Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Berk S. Artrip, Sr.; her second husband, Ralph Fitzgerald; one sister, Martha Lester Farmer; two brothers, James Lester and Clyde Lester; and one grandson, Shawn Ray.
Survivors: daughters, Brenda Mumpower and husband, Claude, of Bristol, VA, Sandra Ellen Perkins and her friend, H. W. “Doc” Watson and Sheila Marie Proffitt and her husband, Tommy, all of Honaker; sons, Berk S. Artrip, Jr. and wife, Debbie, of Swords Creek, Denver Artrip of Blackford; sisters, Hattie Miller and Sue Compton, both of Honaker; brothers, Russell Lester and Ernie Lester, both of Honaker; stepchildren, Ralph “Butch” Fitzgerald of Delaware and Teresa Fitzgerald of Wardell; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.
The funeral was conducted June 4 at 2 p.m. at the Russell Memorial cemetery at Lebanon with Bro. Les Ritchie and Rev. Stafford Compton officiating.
Interment followed.
Honaker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Lee William Horton
Lee William Horton, 77, of Raven, went to be with the Lord June 1, 2004 in a Buchanan County hospital following a long illness.
Born in Russell County, he was the son of the late Bill William and Molly Elizabeth Horton.
He was a retired coal miner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Horton; one brother, Paul Horton; and one granddaughter, Renee Alice Horton.
Survivors: sons, Bobby Joe Horton and wife, Barbara, and Darrell Eugene Horton, all of Richlands, Jackie Wayne Horton of Bland, Roger Lee Horton of Jarratt, Larry Dean Horton of Salem, NC; daughter, Nancy Carol Saunders and husband, David, of Richlands; sisters, Dorothy Ann Horton of Swords Creek, Pauline Little and husband, Kenny, of Columbus, OH; brothers, James Calvin Horton of Columbus, OH, Bentley Horton, Roy Horton and Troy Horton, all of Swords Creek; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted June 4 at 11 a.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff.
Entombment followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Lynessa R. Jones
Lynessa Raechelle Crockett Jones, 25, of Honaker, died June 4, 2004 at her home.
Born June 7, 1978, in Richlands, she was a daughter of Sherri Crockett Miller of Honaker and the late James Michael Miller.
She had spent most of her life in the area and was a 1996 graduate of Honaker High School. She was a certified nursing assistant and cosmetologist. She attended the Calvary Lighthouse Ministries in Honaker.
Additional survivors: husband, Anthony Jones of Honaker; daughter, Alexys Leigh Jones of Honaker; son, Logyn Blake Crockett of Honaker; brother, T.C. Dewitt of Honaker; sister, Aranda Leigh Dewitt of Honaker; stepfather, Tim Dewitt of Kingsland, GA; maternal grandparents, Cecil and Wanda Crockett of Honaker; paternal grandmother, Louise Miller of Rosedale; maternal great-grandmother, Martha Jane Crockett of War, WV; and a special mother-in-law, Cathy Jones of Honaker.
The funeral was conducted June 7 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with Rev. Mike Ryan officiating.
Interment followed in the McGlothlin cemetery on Big A Mountain.
Minnie P. Lloyd
Minnie Pearl Belcher Lloyd, 88, of Maxie, died June 6, 2004 at Tazewell Community Hospital following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Ray and Kathryn Justus Belcher.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of Harman Memorial Baptist Church. She was a loving mother, grandmother and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert George Lloyd, June 23, 1980, one daughter, three sons, one sister and three brothers.
Survivors: daughters, Anna Rae Blankenship and husband, Freeman, and Kimberly Combs and husband, Coy, all of Taylorsville, NC, Edna Lee Lloyd of Abingdon; sons, Trivett Lloyd and wife, Maria, of Fayetteville, NC, Dallas Lloyd and wife, Mary Lee, of Richmond, Johnny Lloyd and wife, Connie, of Grundy, Richard Lloyd and wife, Debbie, of Cedar Bluff, Teddy Lloyd and wife, Melinda, of Pounding Mill; sisters, Ethel Justus and Hattie Matney, both of Hurley; brother, Jim Belcher of Clarksville, TN; 22 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted today at 1 p.m. at Harman Memorial Baptist Church in Harman with Minister Willard Owens officiating.
Burial will follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock.
Services were conducted at the church June 8 at 7 p.m.
Grundy Funeral Home, of Grundy, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Elie Nelson
Mary Elie Nelson, 79, of Richlands, died May 31, 2004 in a Richlands hospital following a long illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late William Harvey and Stella Louise Cole Pruitt.
She was a member of the Mt. Zion Tabernacle Church. She was a retired cook.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Jackson Nelson; two sons, Ronnie and Donnie Nelson; one sister, Cecilia DiRienzo; three brothers, Lewis Pruitt, Harlon Pruitt and Holbert Pruitt; five half-sisters, Anna Stevenson, Zinna Gitters, Mitty Hardy, Leslie Pruitt and Rodie Pruitt; one half-brother, Russell Edward Pruitt; and three grandchildren.
Survivors: daughters, Mrs. James (Carmie) Dominiak of Buffalo, NY, Mrs. Delano (Carrie) Kassay and Mrs. Robert (Thelma) Sullivan, all of Long Island, NY, Mrs. Virgil (Linda) Varrone of Mario, NC, Mrs. Bobby (Ellen) Meadows of Bandy, Mrs. Tom (Brenda) Lawson of Pounding Mill, Mrs. William (Barbara) White of Richlands; sons, Clyde Andrew Nelson and wife, Carol, and Jonny Herman Nelson and wife, Joyce, all of Jewell Ridge, Danny Nelson and wife, Rhonda, of Cedar Bluff; sister, Rosie Christian of Buffalo; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted June 3 at 2 p.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Pastor Walter Franklin and Rev. Ralph Horton officiating.
Burial followed in the Nelson Family cemetery at Bearwallow.
Martha E. Owens
Martha Ellen Adams Owens, 91, of Oakwood, died June 4, 2004 in Buchanan General Hospital at Grundy following a short illness.
Born at Little Cowen in Letcher County, KY, she was the daughter of the late Andrew Jackson and Hannah Elizabeth Caudill Adams.
She and her husband Tom, along with their four oldest children, moved to Buchanan County in 1937. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, she worked as post mistress and operator of a small grocery store at Janey for many years.
She was awarded a life-time PTA membership for her work in support of the Garden Schools and was well known throughout the community for her artistic talents. She was a charter and organizing member of the Levisa River Daughters of the American Revolution and was a member of the Little Martha Old Regular Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Tom Owens; five brothers, Boyd, Kirtley, Moses, Alfred and Junior Adams; three sisters, Mary Wright, Bonnie Dempsey and Vanessa Davis; one son, Tommy Joe Owens; one daughter, Vanessa Looney; one son-in-law, Charles Bentley; one grandson, Russell Strunk; and one great-granddaughter, Ashley Pardo.
Survivors: son, George Owens, and wife, Betty, of Vansant; daughters, Nancy Hutchinson and husband, Gilbert, of Lawton, OK, Hannah Strunk and husband, Tom, of Stow, OH, Rosemary Bentley, Vickie Hall and Ellen Mabe and husband, Leff, all of Manassas, Janie Owens of Oakwood; son-in-law, Ercelle Looney of Vansant; daughters-in-law, Gerri Owens, of Abingdon, Penny Owens of Summerville, SC; brother-in-law, Joe Owens of Oakwood; sister-in-law, Alberta Owens of Keen Mountain; 27 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
The funeral was conducted June 7 at 1 p.m. in the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain.
Interment followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
A celebration of her life was held June 6 at the funeral home. Friends called after 6 p.m. A program of song and remembrance was held at 6:30 p.m. Participating in the memorial services were the Levisa River Daughters of the American Revolution and Brothers Ancil Childress, Jerry Wilson, Jerry Ward, Tim Owens and Larry Ratliff.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your local church or to the Levisa River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Service to Veterans Committee, HC 67 Box 110, Patterson, VA 24631-9600.
James (Chew) Reedy
James E. (Chew) Reedy, 48, of Doran, died at his home June 5, 2004 following an apparent heart attack.
A life long resident of Richlands, he was the son of the late Claude C. and Mildred Jones Reedy.
He was a disabled coal miner and was a member of the UMWA.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Claude (June) Reedy, and two sisters, Janice Johnson and Betty Morrow.
Survivors: wife, Lorene Shelton Reedy; daughters, Tonya Shelton and husband, Clint, of Doran, Katie Reedy of the home; brothers, his twin brother, Jack Reedy of North Tazewell, Fred Reedy of Swords Creek; sisters, Geraldine Davis of Doran, Shelvia Dye of Piedmont, AL; and grandchildren, Emily Shelton and Hunter Shelton
The funeral was conducted June 8 at 2 p.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Kenneth Pruett and Rev. Walter Franklin officiating.
Burial followed in the Clinch Valley Memorial cemetery at Richlands.
Finley P. Vance
Finley Patterson Vance, 78, of Mavisdale, died June 1, 2004 at Buchanan General Hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Miles and Victoria Cook Vance.
He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Harp Vance; one infant son, Pat Vance; seven brothers; and one sister.
Survivors: son, Gerald Vance and wife, Rita, of Statesville, NC; daughters, Velma Harmon and husband, Doug, of Bluefield, WV, Jean Rowe of Rowe, Shirley Spain of Mavisdale, Colleen Ratliff and husband, James, of Oakwood; sister, Laura Horne; nine grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted June 3 at 1 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel in Keen Mountain with Rev. Ancil Childress officiating.
Burial followed at Clinch Valley Memorial cemetery in Richlands.
Military graveside rites were conducted by John Ratliff Post 164.
