Florence Coleman, 79, of Williamson died on Saturday, March 27, 2004, at the Williamson Memorial Hospital.
She was born on April 1, 1924, in Jamboree, Ky., a daughter of the late John Burke Blankenship and Dora Ellen Griffey Blankenship. He was a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Amos Coleman; daughters, Rosella Bentley and Glenda Dale; one son, Loren Bentley; four brothers, Hurl, Scott, Hobert and Fred Blankenship; and one sister, Mae Franklin.
She is survived by children, Charlene (Jim) Snevely of Channahon, Ill.; Merrell Bentley of Carol Stream, Ill., Jimmie (Kathy) Bentley of Chicago, Ill., Elba Bentley of Williamson, Bonnie (Rudy) Plate of Greentop, Mo., Dana (Jimmy) Wilson of Courtland, Miss., Harold Dean Bentley of Joliet, Ill., Darius Bentley of Seattle, Wash., Freeda Louckes of Sesser, Ill., and Annelle (Ken) Vrba of Lockport, Ill.; one brother, Charlie Blankenship of Michigan; one sister, Ivery Lester of Phelps, Ky.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at the Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson with the Rev. Opie Ray Harris officiating.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, March 29, at the mortuary.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Weaver Mortuary.
Cassie Dean
Cassie Dean, 98, formerly of Meador, died on Sunday, March 28, 2004, at the Mingo Manner Nursing Home in Williamson.
She was born on Sept. 25, 1905, a daughter of the late Scott and Eliza Steele Browning. He was a homemaker and a member of the Red Jacket Community Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Haywood Dean; one brother, the Rev. Kenny Browning; and two sisters, Dixie Cisco and Vesta Lancaster.
She is survived by two sons, James C. (Ruth) Dean of Meador and Lawrence Marcus Dean of Holden, W. Va.; one brother Nelson (Claude) Browning of Roanoke, Va.; and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Dean will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at the Hatfield Funeral Chapel in Toler, Ky., with Bill Snodgrass officiating. Burial will follow in the Browning Cemetery at Meador.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be from 9 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, March 29, at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hatfield Funeral Chapel.
Raymond Browning
Raymond Browning, 81, of Christian, W. Va., passed away Monday, March 8, 2004, at his residence.
He was born February 10, 1923, in Landville, W. Va., to the late Leander Albert Browning and Ivy Trent Browning Mullins.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 11, 2004, 1 p.m., at Pathway Church of God at Christian, W. Va. with Rev. Harrison Williamson officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Pecks Mill, W. Va.
Friends may call the Pathway Church of God at Christian, W. Va., Wednesday, March 10, 2004, from 6 - 9 p.m.
Mounts Funeral Home of Gilbert, W. Va., is in charge of the arrangements.
Irene Barath
Irene Woodward Barath, 78, a life-long resident of Red Jacket, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at the Williamson Memorial Hospital following a lingering illness.
She was born on May 3, 1925, in Red Jacket, a daughter of the late Daniel and Sarah Dooley Wardward. She was a homemaker and a member of the Enon United Baptist Church at Blackberry City.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Louie Barath; two brothers, Lawrence Woodward and Raymond Woodward; and three sisters, Alice Looney, Mattie Hackney and Cora Roberts.
She is survived by one son, David (Connie) Barath; five daughters, Loretta (Ray) May of Limestone, Tenn., formerly of Red Jacket, Maggie (Mid) Harmon of Newtown, W. Va., Vida Maynard (Tim Browning) and Karen (Danny) Thompson both of Red Jacket, Theresa (Tyke) Blankenship Bremen, Ga.; one brother, William Woodward of Honaker, Va.; one sister, Maggie Farthing of Danville, Va.; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Barath will be conducted at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 20, 2004, at the Chambers Funeral Services chapel in Matewan with Brother Jerry McCoy officiating. Burial will follow in the Mountain Veiw Memory Gardens in Maher.
Family and friends willl serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, March 19, at the funeral home.
Graydon Hamilton
Graydon Hamilton of Matewan died on Friday, March 19, 2004, at the Williamson Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements were incomplete as of presstime and will be announced at a later date by the Chambers Funeral Services of Matewan.
Joe Chapman
Rt. CSM Joe A. Chapman, 79, of Phenix City, Ala., passed away Thursday, April 29, 2004, at the Columbus Hospice House, Columbus, Ga.
Born October 9, 1924, in Lenore, W. Va., to the late Walter Grey Chapman and Bash Parsley Chapman, he was a U.S. Army veteran of 20 years serving in WWII and the Korean Conflict and later retired as ROTC instructor at Baker High School, Central High School and Tuskegee Institute High School.
Rt. CSM Chapman was a member of the Russell County Republican Club, Past President of the Columbus National Little League and former United States Pony Club Commissioner.
Surviving are his son, Bruce V. Chapman and his wife Angie, of Columbus, Ga.; daughters, Jo Chapman Berry of Phenix City, Ala. and Vickie Chapman Morehead and her husband Michael, of Madison, Ala.; brother, Walter G. Chapman of Huntington, W. Va.; sisters, Barbara Ann Jordon of Anderson, S.C. and Kathleen Hatfield of Delbarton, W. Va.; five grandchildren, Dalton, Caitlin, Cameron, Chapman, Michael Chapman "Chappy" Morehead, Victoria Michelle Morehead. He is also survived his former wife and dearest friend, Alma L. Chapman.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2004, at McMullen Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Howle officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at Mt. View Memory Gardens, Maher, W. Va., Monday, May 3, 2004, at 11 a.m. Belfry Chapter 141, Disabled American Veterans, will provide military rites. His family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held Sunday evening, May 2, 2004, 6 - 8 p.m., at Weaver Mortuary, West Williamson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, GA or the American Cancer Society, 233 12th St., Columbus, GA 31901.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson.
Ed Marcum Jr.
Ed Marcum Jr., 75, of Naugatuck, W. Va., went home to be with the Lord Thursday, April 29, 2004, at Williamson Memorial Hospital.
Born May 6, 1928, in Breeden, W. Va., to the late Ed Marcum and Ida Browning Marcum, he was a disabled coal miner from Island Creek Coal Company. Mr. Marcum was a member of the East Kermit Church of God.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Della, Denny, Landon, Annabelle, Haille, Howard, Raymond, Charlie, Elizabeth and Robert Marcum; one grandchild, Brandy; and one great grandchild, Terry.
Surviving are his wife, Betty Rose Marcum of Naugatuck, W. Va.; sons, Darrell (Donna) Marcum of Lenore, W. Va., Gary (Sandy) Marcum of Lenore, W. Va., Bruce (Mary) Marcum of Lenore, W. Va., Donnie (Joyce) Marcum of Wadesboro, NC, Terry (Judy) Marcum of Inez, Ky., Jerry (Tywanna) Marcum of Appomattox, Va. and James (Leah) Marcum of South Williamson, Ky.; daughters, Brenda Drautz of Lenore, W. Va. and Debbie (Nelson) Hall of Lenore, W. Va.; two adopted grandchildren, Stephen Marcum of Hurricane, W. Va. and Glen (Donna) Marcum of Belfry, Ky.; sister, Dorothy Marcum of Ohio; 24 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 2, 2004, 1 p.m., at East Kermit Church of God with Rev. Kenny Gore and Rev. Donnie Land officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. View Memory Gardens at Maher, W. Va. His sons will serve as pallbearers. Ermon Ooten will serve as honorary pallbearer.
Visitation will be held after 6 p.m. Saturday evening at the church.
Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler, Ky., has assisted the family with arrangements.
Cordella Banks
Cordella Banks, 88, of Delbarton, W. Va., passed away April 28, 2004, in the Appalachian Regional Hospital in South Williamson, Ky.
She was born November 21, 1915, at Newtown, W. Va. Mrs. Banks was the daughter of the late A.M. and Mary Hatfield Sipple. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ted Banks; two brothers, Merritt and Morris Sipple.
Mrs. Banks was a retired school teachers having taught for more than 40 years, most of them being taught at Burch High School. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Preceptor Theta Chapter. She served as the Lee District Committeewoman for several years. She was a member of the Connolly Memorial Baptist Church.
She is survived by one son, Sidney Copley of Huntington, W. Va.; one daughter, Elizabeth "Libby" Ball of Williamson, W. Va.; one sister, Arbutus Blankenship of Perry, Fla.; five grandchildren, Steven and Gregory Ball, Christy Copley Snyder, Sydney Kay Copley and Lisa Dawson; four great grandchildren, Claire Snyder, J. Garrett Snyder, Jordan Ball and Jon Ball.
Funeral services will be held at the Chafin Funeral Home Saturday, May 1, 2004, at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Ron Paige and Rev. Ralph Farley officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. View Memory Gardens at Huddy, Ky. Pallbearers will be Steven and Greg Ball, David Sipple, W.C. Totten, Jamie Branham and Brian Fergusson. Honorary pallbearers are Steve Adkins, Bill Duty, Johnny Owens, Grant Preece and Halcy Hatfield.
Chafin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 - 9 p.m. Friday evening.
Roger Messer
Roger L. Messer, 44, of Huntersville, N.C., formerly of Beaver, Ohio, passed away April 28, 2004, in the Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, N.C.
He was born July 9, 1959 in Logan, W. Va. He was the son of the late Ronald and Mandy Finley Messer. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his mom, Flossie Irene Estep of Chattaroy, W. Va.; sons, Carl Wayne, Shawn and Roger Jr. of Ohio; daughters, Jennifer of Charlotte, N.C. and Nancy Brooke, Kayla and Destiny, all of Ohio; brother, Jerry Donald Messer of Jackson, Ohio; sisters, Letha Hensley of Columbus, Ohio and Barbara Mullins of Huntersville, N.C.; two grandchildren, Luther and Raymond.
Funeral services will be held at the Chafin Funeral Home Sunday, May 2, 2004, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Clifford Rawls officiating. Burial will follow in the Maynard Cemetery at Dingess, W. Va.
Visitation will be at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6 - 9 p.m.
Chafin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Donald Varney
Donald L. Varney, 71, of Crum, W. Va., passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at Skilled Nursing Facility of Appalachian Regional Hospital.
Born July 8, 1932, in Wayne Co., W. Va., to the late Luther Varney and Edna Spaulding Varney, he was a retired assistant road master for Norfolk & Southern Railroad.
Surviving are his wife, Martha Fugitt Varney; sons, Donald J. Varney of Huntington, W. Va. and Jason Varney of Crum, W. Va.; daughters, Donna Varney of Crum, W. Va. and Anita Proffitt of Keystone, W. Va.; brothers, Troy Varney of Crum, W. Va. and Julian Varney of Crum, W. Va.; sisters, Betty L. Edmunson of Broken Arrow, Okla. and Faye Parsley of Crum, W. Va.; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 22, 2004, 2 p.m. at Crum Church of Christ with Elmer Spence and James Farley officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Memory Gardens.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, at Crum Church of Christ.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Phelps & Son Funeral Home, Inez, Ky.
Luther Smith
Luther Mart Smith, 68, , of Williamson, W. Va., passed away Thursday, May 20, 2004, at his residence.
Born November 5, 1935, in Pike County, Ky., to the late Clarence Smith and Rhoda Harmon Smith, he was retired from the U.S. Navy. Mr. Smith was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Belfry Chapter #141 Disabled American Veterans.
Surviving are his son, Steve Smith of Seattle, Wash.; daughters, Shellie Smith and Susan Smith, both of St. Petersburg, Fla.; brother, Herman C. (Linda) Smith of Paintsville, Ky.; and sister, Jean (Cecil) Deskins of Columbus, Ohio.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 22, 2004, 11 a.m., at Mt. View Memory Gardens, Huddy, Ky. D.A.V. rites will be performed by Belfry Chapter #141 DAV.
Visitation will be held Friday night, from 6 - 8 p.m., at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rogers Funeral Home, Belfry, Ky.
Bud Akers
Bud "Gank" Akers, Jr., 82, of Lancaster, Ohio, former resident of Matewan, W. Va., died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at Fairfield Medical Center. He was born on February 22, 1922 in Pike County, Ky. to the late Bud and Stella Hooker Akers. He was retired from Crystal Block and Coal Co. as a coal miner. He was a World War II US Army veteran. He was a member of Bass Masters and an avid fisherman.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Tessie McCoy Akers; three sons and daughters-in-law, Bud and Cheryle Akers, Jr. III or Bremen, Ohio, Marshall Ray and Johnnie Akers of Circleville, Ohio and Noah and Sue Akers of Lancaster, Ohio; daughter and son-in-law, Doris Jean Akers-Conaway and Johnnie Conaway of Baltimore, Ohio; 11 grandchildren, Tammy, Bud IV, Curtis, Regina, Richard, Jimmy, Marshall, Jr., Patricia, Shane, Noah Uriah and Marcie; 18 great grandchildren; brother, Jim Akers of Matewan, W. Va.; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Opal and Bobby Matthews of Varney, W. Va., Natalie and Dee McCoy of Ravenswood, W. Va. and Linda "Cookie" and Randy Farley of McCarr, Ky.; many nieces, nephews and his beloved pet Corky.
He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Curtis Akers; parents; brothers, Howard, Curtis, Frank and Chester Akers.
Funeral service will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. in the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home Chapel, Lancaster, Ohio with Pastor Melvin Truex officiating. Burial to follow in Floral Hills Memory Gardens.
Friends may visit Saturday from 6 - 8 p.m. and Sunday from 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial gifts may be given to Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster, OH 43130.
Joe Chapman
Rt. CSM Joe A. Chapman, 79, of Phenix City, Ala., passed away Thursday, April 29, 2004, at the Columbus Hospice House, Columbus, Ga.
Born October 9, 1924, in Lenore, W. Va., to the late Walter Grey Chapman and Bash Parsley Chapman, he was a U.S. Army veteran of 20 years serving in WWII and the Korean Conflict and later retired as ROTC instructor at Baker High School, Central High School and Tuskegee Institute High School.
Rt. CSM Chapman was a member of the Russell County Republican Club, Past President of the Columbus National Little League and former United States Pony Club Commissioner.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Jack Chapman; and sisters, June C. Maynard, Betty C. Stevens and Virginia Chapman.
Surviving are his son, Bruce V. Chapman and his wife Angie, of Columbus, Ga.; daughters, Jo Chapman Berry of Phenix City, Ala. and Vickie Chapman Morehead and her husband Michael, of Madison, Ala.; brother, Walter G. Chapman of Huntington, W. Va.; sisters, Barbara Ann Jordon of Anderson, S.C. and Kathleen Hatfield of Delbarton, W. Va.; five grandchildren, Dalton, Caitlin, Cameron, Chapman, Michael Chapman "Chappy" Morehead, Victoria Michelle Morehead; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his former wife and dearest friend, Alma L. Chapman.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2004, at McMullen Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Howle officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at Mt. View Memory Gardens, Maher, W. Va., Monday, May 3, 2004, at 11 a.m. Belfry Chapter 141, Disabled American Veterans, will provide military rites. His family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held Sunday evening, May 2, 2004, 6 - 8 p.m., at Weaver Mortuary, West Williamson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, GA or the American Cancer Society, 233 12th St., Columbus, GA 31901.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson.
