U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Wellons Stowe
DRY FORK - Wellons Anderson Stowe, 56, Route 2, Dry Fork, died Wednesday, July 10, 1996, in Martinsville.
Born Jan. 24, 1940, in Pittsylvania County, he was a son of Irvin Overby "Son" Stowe, who survives, and Lessie Shelton Stowe.
He was married
to Carol Mills Stowe, who survives.
He was a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church.
In addition to his wife of Dry Fork, and his father, survivors include a daughter, Jennifer S. Loftis of Timber Lake, N.C.; two brothers, G. Douglas Stowe of Dry Fork and I.D. Stowe of Danville; and two sisters, Ann S. Sigmon and Isabelle S. Compton, both of Danville.
A graveside service will be conducted 11 a.m. today from Hopewell United Methodist Church cemetery by the Rev. Clay Knick. The family will receive friends at the residence.
Scott Funeral Home of Chatham is in charge of arrangements.
Elsa Fleming
Elsa C. Fleming, 81, 217 Gatewood Ave., died Friday, July 12, 1996, in her residence. She had been in declining health since March 1995.
Born May 2, 1915, in Bunker Hill Farm, Amelia, she was a daughter of Winfield Anderson Cosby and Ottoway Wright Cosby.
She was married
to Clyde B. Fleming, who died March 22, 1992.
She graduated from Darvills High School in 1934, and moved to Danville shortly thereafter.
At age 50, she started college, and attended Danville Community College, Averett College, and the University of Virginia, where she studied child psychology.
She was the original owner and operator of Mother Goose Space Center, a child day care center on Holcombe Steet, in Danville, which she ran from 1966-1975.
Following her retirement, she became a volunteer for Danville-Pittsylvania County Chapter of the Mental Health Association, where she served for the past 20 years. In 1990, she was honored as volunteer of the year in the state of Virginia with the community service award.
She was a member of Stokesland United Methodist Church for over 60 years, and was a member of the Turner Bible Class. She formerly served as a Sunday school teacher, president of the Wesley Community House Board, and chairperson of the Administrative Board. She also served as president of the United Methodist Women's Society for Stokesland and the Danville district.
Survivors include two sons, Robert W. Fleming of Danville and Larry B. Fleming of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Martha F. Gery of Carrollton; two sisters, Mary C. Gooch of Blackstone and Marion C. MacLeod of Hampton; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 4 p.m. Sunday from Stokesland United Methodist Church by the Rev. Dorothy B. Thomas and the Rev. James H. Chandler. Burial will be in Mountain View cemetery.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 tonight at Swicegood Funeral Home.
Charles Melvin
MILTON, FLA. - Charles Clay Melvin of Milton, Fla., died Saturday, July 6, 1996, near Misawa, Japan.
Born Dec. 23, 1973, in South Boston, Va., he was a son of Charles and Glenda Melvin of Franklin, W.Va., and Lora Lyn Reynolds of North Vernon, Ind.
He was married
to Sonja Melvin, who survives.
He lived in San Diego; Naples, Italy; Pensacola; and Milton before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1993. Prior to joining the Air Force, he attended the University of West Florida.
He was active in Boy Scouts, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1991. For five years, he worked each summer at the National Association of Christian Athletes camp. He was also a Red Cross certified lifeguard, a referee for local soccer competition, and an athlete. He was recently promoted to Airman First Class in the USAF.
In addition to his wife of Milton, Fla., survivors include a sister, Christiana Marie Melvin Doyle; four brothers, Daniel Melvin, Philip Melvin, Jason Melvin and Christopher Melvin; and his maternal grandmother, Nora Reynolds Ernstes of North Vernon, Ind.
The funeral will be conducted 10 a.m. Tuesday from Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel, Naval Air Station, Pensacola. Burial will be in Barrancas National cemetery.
The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m. Monday at Faith Funeral Home, 100 Beverley Parkway, Pensacola.
Bobby Midkiff
GRETNA - Georgia Parrish "Bobby" Midkiff, 68, 109 Gay St., died Friday, July 12, 1996, in her residence.
Born May 28, 1928, in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of Augustus L. Haymes Sr. and Sallie Kate Haymes.
She was first married
to Fred R. Midkiff Sr., who predeceased her, and then to Frank T. Midkiff Sr., who survives.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed by Lane Co. She was also a member of Greenfield Baptist Church, where she was active with the Women's Missionary Union, and was a long-time nursery worker.
In addition to her husband of the residence, survivors include two sons, Jerry Midkiff of Raleigh, N.C., and Fred R. Midkiff Jr. of Lithonia, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Margaret M. Midkiff of Gretna; two stepsons, Frank T. Midkiff Jr. of Oak Harbour, Washington, and James H. Midkiff of Manassas; a sister, Frances H. Updike of Gretna; 15 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday from Greenfield Baptist Church by the Rev. R.G. Rowland. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 tonight at Colbert-Moran Funeral Home, in Gretna, and other times at the residence.
Loraine Womack
Loraine Bessie Womack, 58, 619 Holbrook Ave., Apt. No. 9, died Wednesday, July 10, 1996, in her residence.
Born Jan. 10, 1938, in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of Wilson Poke and Thelma Miller.
She was married
to Masture Jefferson Womack.
She attended Pittsylvania County schools. She was a member of New Hope Apostolic Church.
Survivors include eight children, Percy Jefferson Womack, Acie Ray Womack, David Willis Womack, Lauren Elizabeth Smith, and Michael Jamie Womack, all of Danville, Rowena Womack of Philadelphia, Semetha Ann Darensbourg of Santa Clarita, Calif., and Evelyn W. Stone of Chatham; a stepdaughter, Carolyn W. Dodson of Chatham; four sisters, Shirley Deshazor of Danville, Annie M. Poke of Java, and Queen Ester Stephen and Emma Jean Flight, both of Washington, D.C.; 21 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. today from New Hope Apostolic Church by Bishop Major Hairston. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends at the residence of Lauren Smith, 844 Melville Ave.
Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Beulah Davis
Beulah "Blye" Davis, 86, formerly of 213 Setliff St., died Saturday, July 13, 1996, at the Halifax Regional Hospital. Before entering the nursing home and hospital, she had resided with her son, Jenkins C. Davis, and daughter-in-law, Donna E. Davis, of 2011 Mountain Road in Halifax.
Born Aug. 26, 1909, in Labrotory, N.C., she was the daughter of William C. Davis and Addie Ervine Davis.
She had spent most of her life in Danville, where she was employed by Dan River Inc. in the #3 dress and #3 spin before retiring.
Davis was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church and the Young at Heart.
Survivors include a son, Jenkins C. Davis of Halifax; one sister, Maggie Robinson of Danville; and one grandson.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday from the Swicegood chapel by the Rev. J. Richard Markham. A private burial will be in Danville Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home of her sister at 213 Setliff St.
Woodrow Hill
WINSTON-SALEM - The Rev. Woodrow W. Hill, 83, of Brookridge Retirement Home, died Sunday, July 7, 1996, at the Brookridge Baptist Home.
Born March 18, 1913, in Denton, he was a son of Samuel E. Hill and Lula Mae York Hill.
On July 21, 1938, he was ordained to the gospel ministry by Green Street Baptist Church in High Point.
He received an associate's degree from Gardner-Webb College, a bachelor's from Carson-Newman College and a master's in theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1942. In 1943, he graduated from the U.S. Army Chaplaincy School at Harvard University.
For 31/2 years, Hill served as chaplain in the U.S. Air Corps in the Pacific Theater and on the West Coast during World War II. He was a captain at the time of his discharge in 1946.
He was pastor at the following: First Baptist Church in Liberty from 1946-1947; West Albermarle Baptist Church in Albemarle from 1947 to 1953; Florida Street Baptist Church in Greensboro from 1953-1960; West End Baptist Church in Petersburg from 1960 to 1965; and First Baptist Church in Thomasville from 1965 to 1972.
From 1972 - 1978, was associate editor of the Biblical Recorder, the news magazine of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He wrote a column called "Saints Alive." He retired in April 1978.
Hill also was pastor emeritus at Green Street Baptist Church in High Point and interim pastor twice.
Hill was married
to the former Margaret Parks for 52 years.
In addition to his wife of the residence, survivors include one son, Jim Hill of Danville; one daughter, Collis D. Hill of Charlotte; one adopted daughter, Sandi Hill Odugha of Shelby; one brother, Walter S. Hill of Trinity; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, William Parks Hill.
A memorial service was held 3 p.m. today at Green Street Baptist Church by the Dr. D. McCall Brunson Jr., Dr. Elliot B. Stewart, the Rev. Marse Grant, the Rev. Wendell G. Davis, the Rev. David Morrow and the Rev. William B. Stillerman.
Following the service, the family received friends at the church.
Florine Keen
ROANOKE - Florine Slade Keen, 59, of 1025 Syracuse Ave., N.W., Roanoke, died Thursday, July 11, 1996, at the Community Hospital in Roanoke.
Born Aug. 12, 1939, she was the daughter of Henry Slade and Jennie Graves Slade.
For many years, Keen was a supervisor of custodians of Roanoke Regional Airport.
Survivors include six daughters, Janice Harris and Cheryl Keen, both of Danville, Carla Storkey, Donna Keen, Gail Keen and Jeanette Keen, all of Roanoke; three sons, Clarence W. Keen Jr., Carl Keen and Martin Keen, all of Roanoke; two sisters, Cleary Davis and Ada Parrish, both of Danville; one brother, Ross Slade of Danville; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday at the chapel of Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends at the residence of Janice Harris, 285 Beavers Drive.
Emzetta Scearce
Emzetta Edwards Scearce, 93, of 200 Edgewood Drive, died Friday, July 12, 1996, at the Danville Regional Medical Center.
Born Dec. 18, 1902, in Carroll County, she was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Edwards and Susan Thomas Edwards.
She had spent most of her life in Danville, where she was employed by Dan River Inc. in the #4 weave room.
She was married
to Leslie Saunders Scearce, who died March 11, 1977.
Survivors include three sons, Lester Lee Scearce and Ronald T. Scearce, both of Danville, and the Rev. David F. Scearce of Mableton, Ga.; one daughter, Margie S. Flynn of Danville; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 5:30 p.m. Tuesday from the Swicegood chapel by the Rev. Myron Bruce. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Garland Riddle
GRETNA - Garland Thomas Riddle, 75, of 10576 Chalk Level Road, died Sunday, July 14, 1996, in Danville Regional Medical Center.
Born June 28, 1921, in Pittsylvania County, he was a son of Loue Riddle and Nannie Owen Riddle.
He was a retired farmer, a member of Greenfield Baptist Church, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Nettie Ried Riddle of the residence; one daughter, Jean Carter of Gretna; and two grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday at Greenfield Baptist Church by the Rev. R.G. Rowland. Interment will be in Gretna Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 tonight at Colbert-Moran Funeral Home, and other times will be at the residence.
