U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Bernice Irene Thurston
Bernice Irene Thurston, 64, of Adger, AL, and formerly from Bluefield, VA, died Dec. 1, 2005 in Alabama.
Born May 1, 1941 in Matoaka, she was a daughter of the late Stuart Ray Dunavant and Gertrude Bernice Walker Dunavant.
She was of the Baptist faith and had worked in her earlier years as a nurse’s aid at St. Albans Hospital in Dublin. She was a former resident of Bluefield, VA, and moved in 1994 to Adger. She was a very caring person and very devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Michael Thurston.
Survivors: loving husband of 45 years, William Jackson Thurston; daughter, Teresa Shrader of Jasper, AL; sons, Billy Thurston and wife, Emily, of Tazewell, Bobby Thurston of Adger; grandchildren, Christopher, Bryan and Alexis Thurston of Tazewell, Jason and Ashley Shrader of Jasper, Kristin and Kandice Thurston of Texas, Jasmine and Shawn Thurston of North Carolina; sisters, Willadean Yost and husband, Fred, of Bluefield, VA, Shelby Moore of Bluefield; and brother, Stuart Ray Dunavant and wife, Loretta Jean, of Dublin.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 5, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Jimmy Hagy officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Mildred W. Warden
Mildred W. Warden, 89, of Westwood Health Care Center and formerly from Bluefield, VA, died Dec. 10, 2005 at Westwood Health Care.
She was the daughter of the late J. Bryan Whitehead and Mary Groseclose Whitehead.
She was an active member of the Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church in Bluefield, VA.
She was a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James C. Warden; one son, Dr. James S. Warden; one brother, J. B. Whitehead; and two sisters, Josephine French and Bernice Daniel.
Survivors: sons, Rev. David Warden and wife, Patty, of Manchester, KY, Bryan Warden and wife, Sandra, of Tazewell; daughter, Nita Saunders of Amelia; sister, Joan Mysakowec of Lynchburg; grandchildren, Greg Warden of Birmingham, AL, Couri Fleet and Robert Saunders, both of Amelia; five great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 13, 2005 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA with Rev. Don Nation and Rev. Terry Goodman officiating.
Burial followed in the Maple Hill cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Va. Ave. United Methodist Church, 1901 Va. Ave., Bluefield, VA or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
James "Pete" White
James "Pete" White, 62, of Cedar Bluff, died Dec. 29, 2005 at a Bristol, TN hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Tazewell County, he was a son of the late Mose B. and Mary Rose Allison White, both Tazewell County natives.
He made his home in the Cedar Bluff area most of his life, was a retired electrician and was a member of Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall in Richlands.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Donna Kay White, and two brothers, Ralph White and Harold White.
Survivors: wife, Phyllis Smith White; sons, Jerry Wayne White and wife, Leeann, of North Carolina, Michael Dean White of Charleston, WV, James David White and fiancée, Vanessa Gilbert, of Richlands; and grandchildren, Mary Rose White, Pasqule Michael White, Kristopher Draven White, and Kierra Alazea White.
The funeral was conducted Jan. 2, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Mr. Bobby Ball officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Sharon Diane Wicks
Sharon Diane Wicks, 56, of Doran, died Dec. 30, 2005 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Dye, she was a daughter of the late Stanley "Bud" and Cora Ellen Plaster Saunders.
She made her home in the Russell County area several years before moving to Doran ten years ago. She was a member of the Ivy Springs Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and served in the Honaker High School Cafeteria.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Wayne Saunders and one sister, Alice Faye Shelton.
Survivors: husband, Alfred "Smiley" Wicks; son, Alfred Jr. Wicks and wife, Tanya, of Claypool Hill; daughter, Patricia Diane Harman of Swords Creek; sisters, Gwen Price of Honaker, Debbie Horn of Garden Creek, Sandy Osborne of the Horton Ridge section of Raven; brothers, Frazier Saunders of North Carolina, Steve Saunders of Richlands, David Saunders of Doran, Ricky Saunders of Swords Creek; grandchildren, Shane and Kiera Wicks of Claypool Hill, Cora, Casey, and Evan Harman of Swords Creek; many nieces and nephews; and a special friend of the family, Brian White of Maple Gap.
The funeral was conducted Jan. 1, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Buddy Herald and Rev. Grady McGlothlin officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Harold Eugene Altizer
Harold Eugene Altizer, 72 of Jewell Ridge, VA died December 24, 2005 at his home.
Born December 10, 1933 at Bearwallow, VA he was a son of the late Gene and Ethel Mullins Altizer. He was of the Christian faith.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers; one sister; one half-sister; one half-brother.
Survivors include his girlfriend of fourteen years, Louise Mitchell; four sisters, Helen Cobb and husband, Allen and Dorothy Tobelman and husband, David, all of Parkersburg, WV, Mary Sue Rose and husband, Ottis of Caretta, WV and Doris Ann Hoover of Washington State; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, VA with the Rev. Delmar Somoskey officiating. Burial will follow at the Altizer Family cemetery in Jewell Ridge, VA.
Brian C. Bowman
Brian C. Bowman, age 35 of North Tazewell, died December 25, 2005 at his home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell, VA
Virginia G. Breedlove
Virginia Gosnell Breedlove, 85, of Pounding Mill, went to be with the Lord Dec. 21, 2005 at a Lebanon nursing facility.
Born in Russell County, she was the daughter of the late Theodore and Alta Dixon Gosnell, both Russell County natives.
She was a lifetime resident of the Pounding Mill area and had attended the Church of God.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Talmadge "Tal" Breedlove; one daughter, Margaret Compton; stepfather, Thomas Dixon; and one brother, Donald Dixon.
Survivors: sons, Larry Breedlove and wife, Patsy, and Mark Breedlove and wife, Lynna, all of Pounding Mill, Jerry Breedlove and wife, Betsy, of Bluefield, VA; sister, Mrs. Tommy Lawson, of Raven; brothers, Clarence Dixon of Tempe, AZ, John R. Dixon of Catlettsburg, KY; 18 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host of friends.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Freddie Powers and Rev. Howard Riley officiating.
Entombment was at Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Carl Clifford Dale, Jr.
Carl Clifford Dale, Jr., 34, of the Mudfork community in North Tazewell, died Dec. 16, 2005 at his home.
Born April 8, 1971 in Tazewell County, he was a son of Rita Carol Dale of Mudfork and the late Carl Clifford Dale, Sr.
He was a 1989 graduate of Tazewell High School and was a member of the 1986 THS State Championship Football Team.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, John Walker Starling and Ruth Virginia Starling, and paternal grandparents, Carl Eugene Dale and Evelyn Dale.
Additional survivors: son, Carl Lane Dale of the home; daughters, Courtney Denise Dale and Tiffany Rene Dale, both of the home; brothers, David Wayne Dale and wife, Lisa Marie, and Roger Eugene Dale, all of Tazewell; step sister, Leslie Ann Beavers Horne of Tazewell; and several nieces, nephews, and uncles.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Stoney Ridge Assembly of God Church with Minister Whitley Pruett officiating.
Burial followed at the Dale cemetery at Mudfork.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Myrtle F. Davis
Myrtle F. Davis, 85, of Richlands, died Dec. 19, 2005 at a Tazewell hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Russell County, she was the daughter of the late William and Rebecca Doughton Monk, both Russell County natives.
She had made her home in the Richlands area for the past 20 years and attended the Laymans Chapel Church in Richlands.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Franklin Davis, and eight brothers.
Survivors: daughter, Carol Ann Davis and fiancée, Dale Cardwell, of the home; son, William F. Davis, Jr. and wife, Barbara, of Manchaca, TX; sister, Emily Lucille Damron of Richlands; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Carl Robinson officiating.
Interment followed at the Temple Hill cemetery at Castlewood.
Billy S. Howery, Sr.
Billy S. Howery, Sr., 45, of Witten Valley in Tazewell, died Dec. 20, 2005 at his home.
Born May 15, 1960 in Tazewell, he was a son of Mary Asbury Howery of Tazewell and the late Mose Howery.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one brother, Allen Keith Howery; one son-in-law, Michael Myers; and one nephew, Blake Howery.
Additional survivors: wife, Billie Jean Nipper Howery; son, Billy Howery, Jr. of Tazewell; daughters, Samantha Harry and husband, Steven, of Knoxville, TN, Maggie Pruitt and husband, Donnie, and Christie Myers, all of Tazewell; brother, Greg Howery of Tazewell; sisters, Debbie Davidson and husband, Phillip, of Monroe, NC, Wanda Davis and husband, Mike, of Tazewell; and beloved grandchildren, Kelsey, Cade, Jayden, and Madison.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Barry Absher officiating.
Burial followed at Pleasant Hill cemetery in Thompson Valley.
Lillie M. Keen
Lillie Maude Cruey Bucklen Keen, 95, of Knoxville, TN, formerly of Tazewell County, died Dec. 19, 2005 in a Knoxville hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Raven, she was the daughter of the late Estil and Maude Rasnake Johnson, both Tazewell County natives.
She had made her home in the Tazewell County area most of her life and was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Edgar Cruey; second husband, Bert Bucklen; third husband, Henry Keen; daughter, Maxine Keen-Noel; sons, Melvin Cruey and Michael Bucklen; step children, Ann Mutter, Terry Bucklen, and Larry Bucklen; sisters, Sadie Campbell and Nellie Osborne; brothers, Leonard and Jack Cline; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors: daughters, Charlotte Ford of Doran, Wilma Cusatis and Geneva Lane, both of Knoxville; sons, Howard Cruey of Raven, Jimmy Cruey of Richlands, Tommy Cruey of Criglersville, Edgar Cruey of Harold, KY; step daughters, Ruth Gallick of MO, Peggy Tester of Tennessee; stepsons, Paxton Bucklen of Texas, O.B. Bucklen of Powhatan, Jerry Bucklen of Saugerties, NY, Darrell Bucklen of Ocala, FL; sister, Emily Mullins of High Point, NC; brother, Estil Johnson of Doran; several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Dannie Short officiating.
Interment followed at the Johnson Cline Family cemetery in Raven.
Verna Jeanette Keen
Verna Jeanette Proffitt Keen, 61, of Catawba, died Dec. 19, 2005 at the Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
She was a member of New Life Harvest Church in Radford.
Survivors: husband, George P. Keen of Catawba; daughters, Rita Jenkins and Teresa Kincer, both of Bedford; sons and daughter-in-law, R. Wayne Keen of Vinton, Roger Keen of Roanoke, George E. and Mary Ann Keen of Bedford; brothers, Thomas J. Proffitt of Troutville, Raymond Proffitt of Floyd; sisters, Verda Reynolds of Richlands, Inis Pruitt of Raven; and 11 grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. at the New Life Harvest Church with Rev. Dallas Vines and Rev. Jim Angle officiating.
Graveside services were at 2 p.m. in the Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the New Life Harvest Church Building Fund, Box 907, Radford, VA 24141.
Mullins Funeral Home in Radford was in charge of arrangements.
