Michael Belcher
Michael Dale Belcher, 51, of Columbus, Ohio, died Friday, Oct. 11, 2002.
Michael was born Sept. 26, 1951, at Wayne, W. Va., a son of Gertrude Belcher and the late James Belcher.
In addition to his mother, Michael is survived by three brothers, Jimmie Lee Belcher, Donnie Lynn Belcher and Lloyd Ray Belcher, all of Columbus; five sisters, Wanda Carol Walker, Dorothy Hall and Debbie Kay Fairchild, all of Columbus; Judy Maynard of Dingess and Ruth Ann Belcher of Ky.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2002, at the Warfield Funeral Chapel.
He was the son of the late Ira Elliott Sr. and Rose Elliott.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers Ira (Doc) Elliott (Jean), Elmer Elliott, Minnes Elliott, Elbert Elliott, Minyard Elliott and Arlie Elliot; and one sister, Thelma Elliott.
He was a graduate of Wayne High School and after graduating came to Matewan to work for Red Jacket Coal Company. He spent four years in the U.S. Air Force serving in the Korean Conflict. After the service he was employed by Kentucky Central Life Insurance. He along with business partner Dan R. Moore established Superior Electric Heating of Matewan where he served as president until his retirement in 1995. He was affiliated with The First Assembly of God of Matewan.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Iretha (George) Elliott; one son, Danny G. (Pamela) Elliott; and the two joys of his life, grandsons Brandon Tyler Elliott and Sean Parker Elliott. Other survivors are brothers Merideth Elliott (Jean) of Wayne, W. Va., and Bernie Elliott of Huntington, W. Va.; and many nephews, nieces and friends.
The family wishes to especially acknowledge care-givers Shelby Gibson, Jean Maynard, Janet Thornsbury and Patty Gibson.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Oct. 4, 2002 at the First Assembly of God in Matewan with Pastor Lowell Sparks and Dr. Allen Shouse directing the service. Visitation will be at the church from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2002. Chambers Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Mountain View Memory Gardens of Huddy, Ky. DAV rites will be performed by Belfry Chapter 141.
Pallbearers: Paul D. Slater, Chad Slater, Rick Preston, Kenny Gillespie, James D. Slater and Kenneth Reed.
Honorary pallbearers: Dan R. Moore, John Norman, Chester May, Charles Dardi, Ervin Smith, Rusty Newsome, Sonny Hatfield and Gerald Epling.
Earl McFarland
Earl K. McFarland, 77, of Clyde, Ohio, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 at Medical College of Ohio, Toledo.
Born July 30, 1925 in Lebanon, Va., he was a son of the late Glen McFarland and Bessie Robinson McFarland.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002 at Providence Baptist Church with the Revs. Ron Cooper and Bob Wiley officiating.
Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memory Gardens.
Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 from 6-8 p.m. at Auxter Funeral Home, 1105 Castalia St., Bellevue.
Sophia Duty
Sophia Duty, age 84, passed away October 1, 2002 at Mt. Carmel East Hospital. Preceded in death by husband, Albert; daughter, Sarah. Survived by daughters, Marie Staten, Wanda (Frank) Bryant, Mindy Hite, Brenda (Herschel) Jenkins, Josephine (Mike) Zanella, Margaret (John) Ellison and Polly (Randy) Bowe; sons, Hiram (R. Lena) Duty, James Duty, Eugene (Betty) Duty, Charles (Karen) Duty, Jerry (Peggy) Duty and Keith Duty; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; sisters, Myrtle (Bill) Hughes and Bessie Mays; many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the O.R. Woodyard Co. Chapel, 1346 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio, Friday 6-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the Freewill Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday at 1 p.m. Interment Duty Family Cemetery, Williamson, W. Va.
Donald Blackwell
Donald Blackwell, 62, of Red Jacket, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 at Williamson Memorial Hospital.
Born Aug. 9, 1940 in Williamson, he was a son of the late Richard Blackwell and Leona Washington Dickerson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Young.
Mr. Blackwell was retired from N&S Railroad and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include sons Shawn Blackwell of Huntington, Donald Blackwell Jr. of Red Jacket, Melvin Cunningham of Tampa, Fla., and Andre Cunningham of Tucson, Ariz.; daughters Nicole Akers of Huntington and Sandra Deniece Blackwell of Bronx, N.Y.; brothers Paul Dickerson and George Dickerson, both of Columbus, Ohio; sisters Laquita Dickerson and Debra Dickerson, both of Columbus, Ohio; and two grandchildren, Terrence Cousin and Tempestt Sierra Ellis.
Memorial services will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church at Red Jacket with ministers David Bell and L.C. Howard officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chambers Funeral Home Inc.
William Starr
William "Bill" Starr, 79, of Delbarton, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 at home.
Born Dec. 1, 1922 at Bias, he was a son of the late Joe Starr and Bricca Davis Starr.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Jean Music.
Bill was a retired coal miner and member of the Duncan Fork United Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine Starr; mother Bricca Davis Starr of Delbarton; brother Russell Lee Lawrence of Virginia; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held at Duncan Fork United Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2002 with Elder Eddie Layne officiating.
Burial will follow at Mountain View Memory Gardens, Maher.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
Visitation will be at Duncan Fork United Baptist Church on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 at 5 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chafin Funeral Home.
William Little, Jr.
William Little Jr., 78, of Crum, died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 at St. Mary's Hospital, Huntington.
Born Sept. 16, 1924 in Wayne County, he was a son of the late William and Florida Little.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Little; son Jerry Little; and daughter Diane Little.
William was a retired coal miner and member of the Crum Separate Baptist Church.
Survivors include sons Ronnie (Lois) Little and Jimmy Ray (Geraldine) Little, both of Crum; daughters Elaine (Marty Ray) Welch of Louisa, Ky., Brinda (Birdie Ray) Williamson and Pamela (Ken) Allen, both of Crum; and daughter-in-law Melissa Little of Cherrills Fort, N.C.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home, Warfield (Ky.) Chapel, with Bobby Williamson officiating.
Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Warfield funeral chapel.
Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jacob Blankenship
Jacob Hezekiah Blankenship, infant son of Bobby and Jennifer (Simpkins) Blankenship of Beech Creek, W. Va., died Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Charleston.
He was born at the hospital Monday, Oct. 21, 2002.
Jacob was preceded in death by great grandparents Wallace and Belle Cisco, William and Lula Blankenship, Mack Simpkins and Dolly Dalton.
Survivors include grandparents Bobby and Clearsie Blankenship of Beech Creek, Lonnie Gen and Brenda Simpkins of Beech Creek and James Christian and Brenda Simpkins of Newtown; brother Nathaniel Alvie-Mack Dakota Simpkins of the home; and great grandparents Alvie Dalton of Elk Creek and Lucille Simpkins of Beech Creek.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Lawson Family Cemetery with Shannon Lawson officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chambers Funeral Home Inc.
James L. Moore
James Lewis "Jimmy" Moore, 49, of Englewood, N.J., formerly of Red Jacket, W. Va., died Friday Oct. 11, 2002.
Born March 25, 1953, he was a son of the late John and Ruth E. Moore.
He was also preceded in death by brothers, John, Larry and Ralph Moore; and sister, Patricia Ann Moore.
He was a 1970 graduate of Matewan High School, a U.S. Army veteran and a former member of Christ Temple Church.
Survivors include brothers, Elder Thomas E. Moore (Deborah) of North Matewan, Henry Moore (Willene) of Williamson, Carl Anthony Moore of Columbus, Ohio, and Clarence Moore of Norfolk, Va.; and sister, Hosie Mae Smith of Englewood, N.J.
Funeral services were held in Englewood on Tuesday, Oct. 15, with Elder Thomas Moore officiating. Burial followed in Brookside Cemetery.
Keither Brumfield
Keither Brumfield, 79, of Kermit, died Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2002 at Williamson Memorial Hospital.
Born Dec. 1, 1922 in West Virginia, he was a son of the late Robert Lee and Oma Brumfield Brewer.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Margaret Brumfield, and a son, Robert Lee Brumfield.
Mr. Brumfield was a construction worker and member of Marrowbone Freewill Baptist Church.
Survivors include sons Carl and Keith Brumfield, both of Kermit, and Danny Brumfield of Tennessee; daughters Loraine Winbish of Columbus, Ohio, Judy Messer, Ruth Newsome and Margaret Damron, all of Kermit; a brother, Dave Smith of Kermit; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Marrowbone Freewill Baptist Church with Lonnie Smith and Glenn R. Moore officiating.
Visitation will be held at Marrowbone Freewill Baptist Church after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home of Inez, Ky., is in charge of arrangements.
Jeanette Simpkins
Jeanette Simpkins, 82, of Smith Towers, Matewan, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 at the ARH Skilled Nursing Facility.
Born March 16, 1920 at Sprigg, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Alice (Murphy) Allen.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Simpkins; four brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors include two daughters, Wynonia White of Matewan and Alice Harmon of Newtown; and two grandchildren, Steven Harmon of Logan County and Derrick White of Michigan. She also leaves behind a host of friends and neighbors.
Her wishes were to be cremated and her ashes scattered in Michigan with her grandson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chambers Funeral Home Inc.
Matilda Spaulding
Matilda Spaulding, 54, of Stonecoal, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002 at the Stoney Hill United Baptist Church on Stone Coal Road.