U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Benjamin R. Gardner
Died Sunday, September 9, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
Benjamin R. “Ben” Gardner, 65, of Martinsville, died early Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, at his home.
He was born Oct. 19, 1941, in Roanoke to Dorothy Maynard Gardner and Benjamin Woodrow Gardner. They preceded him in death.
He graduated from Martinsville High School in 1960 and received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia military Institute in 1964. At VMI, he was vice president of the Distinguished military Students for four years.
Gardner received a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University in 1967. He then served five years in the Army as an officer and as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, including duty as a military judge.
In 1975, he and his brother, Philip, started the law firm of Gardner and Gardner in Martinsville, which now is Gardner, Gardner, Barrow and Sharpe.
Gardner had been active in the Chamber of Commerce of Henry County-Martinsville since the early 1970s, and in 1976 became the chamber’s 18th chairman of the board.
He was appointed chairman of the Coalition for Economic Progress in 2003 because of his experience in economic development as former president of the chamber, as a member of the Partnership for Progress (predecessor of the Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth, or C-PEG) and as a member of the Patrick Henry Development Council, a county/city economic development group that disbanded in 2001.
He gave up the chairmanship of the coalition in May 2004 but remained on its board and that of its successor, the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.
The chamber presented him with the Heck Ford Award, its highest honor, in 2006, and the Fred Herring Award in 2004. That award, named for the late Fred Herring, honors those who work to foster growth in the community. Last May, Gardner was given the Ambassador of the Year Award from the EDC. That award is presented to a person or firm that goes beyond the call of duty in hosting new economic development prospects for the area.
Gardner also had served as president of the board of directors of the American Red Cross, was a member of the board of the Patrick Henry Mental Health Clinic; a member of the executive committee of the Democratic Party of Henry County; and served as a substitute judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and the General District Court of Martinsville, Henry County and Patrick County.
He was a member of the adjunct faculty of Patrick Henry Community College for more than 20 years, teaching courses in business law and paralegal studies, and was a member of the American Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Martinsville-Henry County Bar Association.
He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and Ducks Unlimited.
Surviving are his wife, Jane Martine Gardner of the home; three sons, Benjamin Russel Gardner of Collinsville, William Graham Gardner of Richmond and James Martin Gardner of Martnsville; a sister, Anne Ramsey McFarland of Melbourne, Fla.; two brothers, Philip Gardner of Martinsville and Thomas Woodson Gardner of California; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church with the Revs. John Gardner and Russell Ingersoll officiating.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home in Martinsville and other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 4788, Martinsville, Va. 24115-4788, The Ravenel Oncology Center Fund, c/o Martinsville Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1124, Martinsville, Va. 24114, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Pauline Hairston
Died Sunday, September 9, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
Pauline Hairston, 88, of 902 2nd St., Martinsville, died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, at her home.
Arrangements will be announced by Hairston Funeral Home.
Bessie M. Hale
Died Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
The funeral for Bessie Fay McGrady Hale of Bassett, who died Sept. 6, 2007, was held Sunday at Bassett Funeral Services. The Rev. Ben Barbour and Pastor Donnie Farmer officiated. Burial was in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell, W.Va.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Shumate, June Walker, Jesse L. McGrady Jr., Jesse L. McGrady Sr., Leigh Alan McGrady and Ivy Mitchell.
Edward L. Martin
Died Saturday, September 8, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
Edward L. Martin, 77, of Martinsville, died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, at Blue Ridge Rehab Center.
He was born July 24, 1930, in Martinsville to Daniel Hairston and Mary L. Martin Hairston. His parents preceded him in death.
He had been self-employed as a master carpenter and was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church. He graduated from A&T University and served in the Korean War.
Surviving are two sons, Edward “Chubby” Millner and Timothy Martin, both of Martinsville; a daughter, Denise Millner of Chicago, Ill.; and several other relatives.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Shiloh Baptist Church with the Rev. Benny Redd officiating. Burial will be in Carver Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the church for one-half hour before the service and other times at the home of his aunt.
Hairston Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Allan McClain
Died Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
The funeral for Allan McClain of Martinsville, who died Sept. 6, 2007, was held Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Russell B. Ingersoll officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery with flag presentation by the Martinsville and Henry County Veterans Honor Guard.
Pallbearers were Charles T.
Williams III, Rignal W. Baldwin, Roger C. Hartley, Franklin Earley, David McI Williams, Burgess H. Hamlet III, Edward H. Ould IV and Bob White.
Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.
Marvin W. Plaster
Died Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
The funeral for Marvin Wayne Plaster, 64, of Stuart, who died Sept. 6, 2007, was held Sunday at Stella Christian Church with Pastors Steve Hayes and Dale Bailey officiating. Burial was in Patrick Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers were Jerry Williams, Jerry Shough, Barry Brown, Frank Spence, Tracy Penn, Billy Adams, George Puckett and Frank Howell.
Moody Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Kirk M. Shelton
Died Sunday, September 9, 2007
Sep 10, 2007
Kirk M. Shelton, 49, of Collinsville, died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, at Blue Ridge Nursing Center in Stuart.
Bassett Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
George William “Bill” Coleman
Died Monday, October 8, 2007
Oct 10, 2007
George William “Bill” Coleman, 79, of 4109 Daniels Creek Road, Collinsville, died Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, at his home.
He was born June 13, 1928, in Eckman, W.Va., to Roxie Taylor Coleman and William Cleveland Coleman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Abbie A. Coleman; five sisters; and seven brothers.
Coleman retired in 1988 as senior vice president at Nationwide Homes, where he worked for 30 years.
He was a member of the Collinsville Pentecostal Holiness Church, where he taught Sunday School for more than 50 years, was a deacon, trustee, and local missions director. He served on the board of directors for Alternative to Abortion Ministries (ATAM) and as ATAM coordinator for the Cornerstone Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Surviving are his wife, Pearlie McGhee Coleman of the home; three sons, George W. Coleman Jr. of Richmond, Joseph A. “Buddy” Coleman of Stuart and David L. Coleman of Jamestown, N.C.; two daughters, Kathy C. Bridges of Cartersville, Ga., and Karen R. Coleman of Montgomery, Ala.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Collinsville Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Thomas McGhee and Dr. Dan Woods officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Burial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Norris Funeral Services, and other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to Collinsville Pentecostal Holiness Church, 45 Spring Drive, Collinsville, Va. 24078.
Ruby Finley
Died Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Oct 10, 2007
Ruby Finley, 82, formerly of Fieldale, died Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, at Tender Years Adult Care, Figsboro.
Roselawn Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lucy L. Gilbert
Died Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Oct 10, 2007
Lucy L. Gilbert, 75, of Friendship Manor, Roanoke, and formerly of Bassett, died Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, in Roanoke.
Collin-McKee-Stone Funeral Home of Bassett is in charge of arrangements.
