U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Dorothy Cox Turner
Dorothy Cox Turner, 75, of North Tazewell, died Feb. 21, 2006 at a Bristol hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Russell County, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Ida Kelley Robinson.
She had made her home at North Tazewell for about 33 years. She was a homemaker, loving mother and loving grandmother. She was of the Assembly of God faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Richard Graham Cox; her second husband, Kelly W. Turner; one daughter, Lois Ann Cox; two sons, Kenneth Junior Cox and Roger Lee Cox; two brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors: daughter, Barbara Patrick and husband, Whitney, of North Tazewell; sisters, Nina Naillon of North Tazewell, Reba Stinson of Belfast; grandchildren, Kevin Cox, Julie Cox and Eric Cox, all of the home, and Dawn Patrick, Tara Patrick Lowe of North Tazewell; and great grandchildren, Hannah Cox, Andrew Cox, Tyler Cox and Lane Austin Lowe.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel of Tazewell with Rev. Max Linkous officiating.
Interment followed at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, VA.
Joyce Ann Whited
Joyce Ann Miller Whited, 51, of Swords Creek, died Feb. 23, 2006 in a Roanoke hospital.
Born July 12, 1954 in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Harley "Penny" Miller and Ruby Perkins Miller.
She was a lifelong resident of the area.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Stacey Dawn Shortt, and one brother, Ricky Miller.
Survivors: husband, Dallas Whited; son, Terry Lynn Perkins of Pine Creek; twin daughter, Tracey Denise Dye and her husband, Tim, of the home; daughter-in-law, Michele Bryant; step-son, Christopher Whited and wife, Brandy, of Council; step-daughters, Donna Keen and husband, Paul Keen, Jr., of Horton Ridge, Cassandra Whited of Big A Mountain; brothers, Jerry Miller and wife, Dorothy, and Doug Miller, all of Swords Creek, Dean Miller and wife, Sandy, of Honaker, Raymond Miller and wife, Connie, of Maple Gap; grandchildren, Derek Levi Perkins, Kristian Shortt, and Deven Eli Martin; step-grandchildren, Amanda Keen, Branna Keen, Diamond Whited, Morgan Keen, and Damian Whited; mother-in-law, Evey Prophet; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Dennis White and Rev. Kenny Taylor officiating.
Interment followed in the Whited cemetery at Rosedale.
Bobby Joe Whitt
Bobby Joe Whitt, 64, of Cedar Bluff, died Feb. 25, 2006 at Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, following a long illness.
Born in Tazewell County, he was the son of the late Arlie Clinton and Beulah Joyce Whitt.
He was a U. S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam War and was a retired coal miner. He was a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church and had formerly taught mining classes at Southwest Virginia Community College. He was a volunteer at the Good Samaritan Food Pantry.
Survivors: wife, Christine Overbay Whitt; son, Stephen Whitt and Tonya, of Knoxville, TN; daughters, Leslie Mountain and husband, Nathan, of Rutledge, TN, Joetta Whalen of Pounding Mill, Charlene Altizer of Myrtle Beach, SC, Beth Whitt of Lebanon; sisters, Elsie Whitt of Cedar Bluff, Octave Ball of Graham, NC; and granddaughter, Heather Whalen.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Richlands with Rev. Jim Denton, Rev. Jay Overbay and Rev. Stafford Compton officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640 Honor Guard conducted military graveside rites.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, P.O. Box 454, Richlands, VA 24641.
Singleton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Edna Ruth Asbury
Edna Ruth Asbury, 76, of Rt. 5, Grundy, died Feb. 15, 2006 at the Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Stella Perkins Owens.
She was a member of the Little Prater Church of Christ and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bueford Thornton Asbury in 1989, and one brother, Elmer Owens.
Survivors: daughter, Paula and husband, Ralph Rowe, Jr. of Grundy; sons, C.R. and wife, Nita Asbury, of Richlands, Mike and wife, Joann Asbury, of Tazewell, Bill Asbury of Kingsport, TN; sisters, Beulah Lockhart of Council, Lura Sutherland of Davenport, Geneva Owens of Honaker; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelist Michael Trent and Rev. Carl Tegeler officiating.
Burial followed in the Clinch Valley Memorial cemetery at Richlands.
A service was held at the funeral home Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
Nannie Lou Billips
Nannie Lou Billips, 74, of Bluefield, VA, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Feb. 11, 2006 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
Born Apr. 28, 1931 in Abbs Valley, she was a daughter of the late Luther Billips, Sr. and Zenobia Brooks Billips.
She was a charter member of the Mudfork Church of Christ. She was a seamstress and had worked for Sealey Mattress and had retired from Aramark. She was a loving aunt, sister and a devoted Christian.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers, Clarence, Marlen, Ernest, Vernon "Bunny," Carl and Luther, Jr. Billips, and one sister, Gertrude Billips.
Survivors: sisters, Sally Sluss and husband, Albert, of Abbs Valley, Bernice Griffith and husband, John M., of Bluefield, VA; a niece, Lisa Bradford of Roanoke and a nephew, Tim Griffith of the home, both whom she helped raise; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA with Johnny Elmore officiating.
Burial followed in the Maple Hill cemetery in Bluefield, VA.
Elsie Viola Compton
Elsie Viola Smith Compton, 81, of Council, died Feb. 14, 2006 at her home.
Born Jan. 11, 1925 in Council, she was a daughter of the late Walter Cleveland Smith and Armendie Lester Smith.
A lifelong resident of Council, she was a member of the Corinth Baptist Church in Council for 64 years, where she served as Sunday school superintendent and song leader for 30 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Clarence Robert Smith; two sisters, Hattie Mae Smith and Carmie Alice Keen; and one brother-in-law, Ralph Compton.
Survivors: husband of 61 years, Claude B. Compton; son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Sharon Compton of Council; daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanie and Guy Fletcher of Honaker, Rita and James Mcvey of Charleston, WV; sister, Margie Compton of Rosedale; granddaughters, Maressa Monk and husband, David, Renita Hicks and husband, Jonathan, and Olivia Compton; grandsons, Byron Cook and wife, Becky, Ben Vanover and wife, Kathy, and Alex Compton; great-grandsons, Lance Monk and William Monk; great-granddaughters, Michaela Monk, Mercedez Cook, and Samantha Cook; sister-in-law, Libby Boggs Smith; brothers-in-law, Jack Smith, Curtis Compton and wife, Pauline, Walter Compton, Jr. and wife, Ada, Kenneth Compton and wife, Virginia, and James H. Keen; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Jim Huffman officiating.
Interment followed in the Frank Smith cemetery on Big A Mountain.
Alvina Finnell Durham
Alvina Finnell Durham, 98, of Tazewell, died Feb. 15, 2006 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born Oct. 8, 1907 in Sedalia, MO, she was a daughter of the late Earl D. and Lena Wallau Finnell.
She attended St. Peters Catholic School in Jefferson City, MO and was a very active member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest J. Durham, and two sisters, Frances Schrimpf and Earl Nienhueser.
Survivors: daughter, Mary Durham Blankenship and husband, Alan, of Tazewell; son, Donald E. Durham of Tazewell; grandchildren, Janie Marie Ruble and husband, Kyle, and Christopher Alan Blankenship and wife, Tina, all of Tazewell; great grandchildren, Natasha Blankenship, Nicholas Blankenship, Thomas Kyle (T.K.) Ruble, IV, and Jewel Lee Ruble; special friends, Carolina Ferrare, Oma Spradlin, Eleanor McCann, and Frances Mullins; and special caregiver, Linda Etter.
A Mass of Resurrection was conducted at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. with Father Dan Brady officiating.
Graveside services and burial were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Resurrection cemetery in Jefferson City.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, P.O. Box 345, Tazewell, VA 24651.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Randolph Howard Etter
Randolph Howard Etter, 92, of Cloverdale Estates, Bluefield, VA, died Feb. 13, 2006 at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Born in Burkes Garden, he was a son of the late Samuel and Mary Burton Etter.
He was a barber for many years in Bluefield, VA and was a member of the Wright’s Valley United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Virginia Mae Etter; one son, Samuel Sherman Etter and two daughters, Nancy Harrell and Mary Jane Mulkey; four brothers; and one sister.
Survivors: daughters, Peggy Jean Osborne and husband, Richard, of Bluefield, WV, Georgia White of Bluefield, VA; special caregivers, granddaughters, Angela Johnson and Jenny Raley of Bluefield, VA; 15 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
The funeral was conducted Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Henry Johnson and Rev. Lacy Brooks officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
The family asks all donations be made to Total Home Care Hospice, 106 Westwood Commons, Bluefield, VA 24605.
Richard Arlen Farley
Richard Arlen Farley, 74, of Bluefield, VA, died Feb. 16, 2006 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke.
Born Jan. 30, 1932, in Bluefield, VA, he was the son of the late Lindsey B. and Millie Newman Farley.
He graduated from Va. Tech in 1960 and served his country in the United States Air Force. He was employed as a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent Office and was a member of the Harman Lodge #222 A.F. & A.M. of Bluefield, VA.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Jones Farley; two sisters, Wanda McQueen and Jacquelyn Waddell; and a special cousin, Buck Haun.
Survivors: sons, Ricky Farley of Richmond, Lindsey Farley and wife, Maureen, of Fairfax; former wife of 23 years, Gaye Farley, of Bluefield, WV; step children, Lynn Bentley of Wise, William L. Jones of Bluefield, VA; grandson, Aaron Farley; and several step grandchildren.
The family had a private burial at Maple Hill cemetery in Bluefield, VA.
Donations may be made in honor of Mr. Farley to: Brain Tumor Research American Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018.
Dudley Memorial was in charge of arrangements.
Stan Farmer
Stan Farmer, 84, of the Big A Mountain section of Honaker, died Feb. 16, 2006 in a Richlands hospital.
Born Dec. 19, 1921 in Bee, he was a son of the late Walter and Rebecca Jane Farmer.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was a United States Army veteran. He was an employee of Modern Chevrolet for over 35 years. He attended the Honaker Church of God.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one infant son, Ira Farmer, Jr.; seven brothers, Walden Farmer, Albert Farmer, Paul Farmer, Earl Farmer, Arnold Farmer, Donald Farmer, and Cleason Farmer; and three sisters, Mary Stevens, Martha Barton, and Ruth Thomas.
Survivors: wife of 54 years, Lorraine Farmer; daughter, Renee Farmer Settle and husband, Steve, of Charlottesville; brothers, Marvin Farmer and wife, Hettie, and Bayard Farmer and wife, Draper, all of Honaker; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Feb. 19 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Pastor Larry Brooks officiating.
Entombment followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens Mausoleum at Lebanon.
Military graveside honors were conducted by VFW Post 9864 of Lebanon.
