Betty Jean Ray
Betty Jean Ray, 63, of Crum, W. Va., passed away Wednesday, July 14, 2004, at Williamson Memorial Hospital.
Born July 29, 1940, in Mingo County, W. Va., to the late John Peyton and Rhonda Mae Kerr Justice, she was a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Ray, and daughter, Hattie Elizabeth Ray.
Surviving are her sons, John Henry Ray of Crum, W. Va., Thomas Eugene Ray of Fort Gay, W. Va., Michale Ray of Crum, W. Va., James Edward Ray of Lowmansville, Ky. and Eugene Ray, Jr., of Crum, W. Va.; daughters, Brenda Marcum of Crum, W. Va. and Pamela Johnson of Crum, W. Va.; 24 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 17, 2004, 11 a.m., at Crum Missionary Baptist Church with Don Matney officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Memory Gardens at Maher, W. Va.
Visitation will be held after 6 p.m. Thursday and until time of services on Saturday at the Crum Missionary Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home, Inez, Ky.
Thelma Ray
January 20, 1920 - July 22, 2004
Thursday, July 22, 2004, saw Thelma Delorce Horn Ray peacefully leave this world to meet the Lord. She was surrounded by the love and comfort of her family when she succumbed to a short illness at St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington, W. Va.
Thelma, the oldest of six children born to John and Inez Horn, was a lifetime resident of Williamson. On June 20, 1940, Thelma joyfully began sharing her life with Walter "Tom" Ray. Their marriage of 60 years was blessed with love, happiness and family. Her greatest achievement and joy was being a devoted wife and companion to husband. Even after his passing in November 2000, she carried with his memory a girlish flattery and deep honor to have been his wife.
Second only to the journey she shared with Tom, was the journey she shared with Christ. She has been a faithful and active member of the Williamson Wesleyan Church for all of her life, working with the youth society and missionary society. She was also the Sunday school secretary, a local board member, a church trustee and attended the annual family church camp.
Thelma lived a relatively simple life as a wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed pleasant trips to the family farm and lakeside home in Virginia, reading Grace Livingston Hill and spending hours on the porch swing. She will be best remembered for baking homemade biscuits, sewing Christmas aprons and having a warm, glad smile for any guest that entered her home.
Thelma is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Walter "Tom" Ray; an infant sister; and two brothers, John Horn Jr. and Harold Horn.
Survivors include two sons, John Ray of Staunton, Va., H.E. "Buck" (Jeanie) Ray of Pounding Mill, Va.; five daughters, Orlean (David) Blackburn, Sonji (Harlan) White and Vivian (Tim) Kincaid, all of Forest Hills, Ky., and Nancy Ray and Delorce (Albert) Stafford, all of Williamson; one brother, Charles Horn of Williamson; two sisters, Elanor Noe of Roanoke, Va., and Louise Nickels of Winchester, Ky.; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Ray of Fisherville, Va.; grandchildren, Jeff (Lori) Ray, Joy (Jody) Lohr, David (Gretchen) Blackburn, Jonathan Blackburn, Michael (Linda) Stafford, Christi (David) Fitzpatrick, Amy (Wesley) Harris, Kristen Ray, Kelli Ray, Jason (Crystal) Kincaid, Sarah Kincaid, and Joshua Kincaid; great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Caleb, and Bethany Ray, Jordan and Jackson Lohr, Haley, Mason and Emily Blackburn, Chase and McKenna Fitzpatrick and Lacy Harris.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 25, 2004, at the Williamson Wesleyan Church with the Rev. B.R. Kincaid officiating. Burial will follow in the Mountain View Memory Gardens, Huddy, Ky.
Grandsons Jeff Ray, David and Jonathan Blackburn, Michael Stafford, and Jason and Joshua Kincaid will serve as pallbearers. Wesley Harris, David Fitzpatrick and Jody Lohr will be honorary pallbearers.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, July 24, at the Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson. Also, visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral services.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Weaver Mortuary.
Ruby Hensley
Ruby Smith Hensley, 65, of Salisbury, Md., died Wednesday, June 14, 2004 at her home. Born in Salisbury on November 6, 1938, she was the daughter of Clifford F. Smith of Salisbury and the late Florence L. Humphreys Smith.
Mrs. Hensley was a 1956 graduate of Wicomico Senior High School and worked for the C & P Telephone Company until 1962. She remained at home as a mother and homemaker until her children entered school and then returned to the working community. She retired in 1994 as a bookkeeper with GMAC of Salisbury and continued working part-time for BEE Federal Credit Union until April 2003.
Mrs. Hensley was a former member of Allen Memorial Baptist Church where she was a dedicated Sunday School teacher for 38 years.
At the time of her death she was a member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Salisbury. She will be long remembered for her strong Christian attitude and the positive affect she had on those with whom she came in contact. She found great joy working with flowers and took great pride in the roses she grew as a hobby. Before her illness she was an avid walker and established many friendships as a "mall walker". Mrs. Hensley proved to be an inspiration to many beginner walkers as well as those with years of experience.
In addition to her father she is survived by her husband, Bill R. Hensley, with whom she shared 46 years of married
bliss; two children, Crystal Mitchell and her husband, Tom of New Milford, CT and Bryan Hensley and his wife, Kathy of Salisbury; three grandchildren: T.J., Connor and Ellen.
A memorial service will be held Monday, June 19, 2004, at 11 a.m., at Holloway Funeral Home, with visitation from 9:30 to 11 a.m.. The Rev. Brian Moss assisted by Walter Agnor will officiate.
In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802 or The Building Fund of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 29945 Dixon Rd., Salisbury, MD 21804.
Arrangements are being handled by Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Rd., Salisbury, MD 21804.
Nettie Scott
Mrs. Nettie Ann Scott, 77, of Leesburg, Fl., passed away Sunday, July 4, 2004. Mrs. Scott was born in Matewan, W. Va. She was a homemaker and a member of Mid Lakes Christian Church of Leesburg.
Mrs. Scott is preceded in death by her father, Sailor Williamson of North Matewan and mother, Nettie Williams of Delbarton.
She is survived by her husband, Edwin H. Scott; brothers, Ralph Williamson (Verna), Jimmy Williamson (Logene), Luther Williams (Brenda) and L.P. Williams (Brenda); sister, Helen Lands (Everett), and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, July 8, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at the Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Apopka Chapel, with Rev. Doug Dykstras officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens.
Visitation for friends will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at the funeral home.
Lawrence Testerman
Lawrence R. Testerman, 65, of Baisden, W. Va., passed away Monday, July 5, 2004, at Logan Regional Medical Center, Logan, W. Va.
Born February 5, 1939, in War Eagle, W. Va., to the late Arthur and Dollie Lester Testerman, he was a retired coal miner and of the Protestant faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Hazel Hatfield; and two brothers, Carl Testerman and Coy Testerman.
Surviving are his three brothers, Charles Testerman of Baisden, W. Va., Julian "Boo" Testerman of Gilbert, W. Va. and Butch Testerman of New York; four sisters, Nell Anderson of Gilbert, W. Va., Helen Mounts of Baisden, W. Va., Joyce Compton of Gilbert, W. Va. and Jean Mounts of Baisden, W. Va.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. There is no visitation; the body has been cremated.
Mounts Funeral Home of Gilbert, W. Va. is in charge of arrangements.
Carrie Puckett
Carrie W. Puckett, 91, a lifetime resident of Kermit, W. Va., passed away Friday, July 16, 2004, at Three Rivers Medical Center.
She was born September 22, 1912, in Wayne, W. Va., to the late Thomas F. Williamson and Ida Mae Fitzpatrick Williamson. She was a member of Kermit United Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew J. Puckett.
Surviving are her son, Harold "Shelvie" Williamson of Kermit, W. Va.; daughters, Margaret Darnell of Hamlin, W. Va. and Jewell Schuster of Carroll, Tex.; sisters, Maxine Perry of Genoa, W. Va., Thelma Varner of Kermit, W. Va. and Ruth Marcum of Beauty, Ky.; 10 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 19, 2004, 11 a.m., at Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home, Warfield, Ky., with the Rev. Mose Brewer officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Memory Gardens, Maher, W. Va.
Visitation will be held at the Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home, Warfield, Ky., Saturday and Sunday, from 6 - 9 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home, Inez, Ky.
Pearl Lester
Pearl J. Lester, 91, of Baisden, W. Va., passed away Thursday, July 15, 2004, at Williamson Memorial Hospital, Williamson, W. Va.
She was born February 22, 1913 in War Eagle, W. Va. to the late Preston and Goldie Walls Johnson.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 18, 2004, 2 p.m., at Mounts Funeral Home Chapel at Gilbert, W. Va. with Minister Jesse Spaulding officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Godby Heights, Pecks Mill, W. Va.
Friends may call the Mounts Funeral Home Chapel Saturday, July 17, 2004, from 6 - 9 p.m.
Mounts Funeral of Gilbert, W. Va., is in charge of the arrangements.
Danny Daniels II
E 4 Specialist Danny "Bubby" Bruce Daniels II, 23, of Varney, W. Va., passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2004, during combat in Iraq. He was with the U.S. Army as a military policeman.
He was born January 9, 1981, at Williamson, W. Va. and was the son of Danny Bruce Daniels Sr. of Varney, W. Va., and the late Barbara Ann Collins Daniels, and his step-mother, Jenny Daniels, also of Varney, W. Va.
He was a 2000 graduate of Burch High School. He entered the military in August of 2000 at Fort Leonardwood, Mo. He has spent most of his time out of the country including three months in Iraq.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Lona Daniels, whom he met in Germany; a brother, Justin Daniels of Varney, W. Va.; two sisters, Brittany Belcher of Varney, W. Va. and Melissa Stacy of Tazewell, Va.; grandparents, Molly Daniels and Kelly Daniels of Tazewell, Va. and Ella Daniels of Williamson, W. Va. and the late Burgess Daniels.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 29, 2004, at Chafin Funeral Home, Delbarton, W. Va., with the Rev. Gary Starr officiating. Burial will follow at the Pie cemetery, Pie, W. Va.
A special detail from Fort Knox, Ky. will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 - 9 p.m., Wednesday, July 28, 2004.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chafin Funeral Home of Delbarton, W. Va.
Albert Parsley
Albert Parsley, 74, of Maher, W. Va., passed away Monday, July 26, 2004, in the Skilled Nursing Facility at Appalachian Regional Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler, W. Va.
Susan Sesco
Susan Spiker Sesco, 44, of Marion, Va., died Wednesday, June 30, 2004, in Homestead, Fla. She graduated from Belfry High School in 1977.
Among survivors are her parents, Frank and Opal Spiker formerly of Williamson.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 5, 2004 at 2 p.m., at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory, Marion, Va. is serving the Sesco family.
Verna Hall
Verna Fraley Hall, 80, of Delbarton, W. Va., passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, W. Va.
Born April 6, 1924, in Lawrence Co., Ky., to the late Albert Fraley and Martha Elliot Fraley, she was a homemaker. She was a member of Christian Fellowship Church of God.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, six sisters, and two grandsons - Shelby Hall and Brian Hall.
Surviving are her sons, Edgar Hall of Millstone, W. Va., Ernest Hall Jr. with whom she resided for 27 years in Delbarton, W. Va., and Albert Hall of Delbarton; daughters, Barbara Rovette of Chapel Hill, N.C., Mary Koepee of Columbus, Ohio, Deloris Shewster of Delbarton, W. Va., Evelyn Edington of Hadley, Pa. and Betty Lou Burks of Columbus, Ohio; brothers, John David Fraley of Fort Gay, W. Va. and Leon Fraley of Louisa, Ky.; sisters, Edith Hanshaw of Louisa, Ky., Ann Hammonds of Louisa, Ky. and Rita Gay of Jackson, Ohio; 45 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; and several great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 9, 2004, 1 p.m., at Christian Fellowship Church of God, Puritan, W. Va. with Rev. Glen Merritt. Burial will follow at Stafford cemetery, Delbarton, W. Va. with family and friends serving as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. Thursday, July 8, 2004, at the Christian Fellowship Church of God with special services at 7 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel, of Toler, Ky.
Walter Kennedy
Walter Kennedy, 83, of Taylorville, W. Va., passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at the South Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital.
Born September 10, 1920, in Beech Creek, W. Va., to the late Richard Kennedy and Melda Steele Kennedy, he was an electrician.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by two brothers, one sister, and his stepson, Thomas M. Kinder.
Surviving are his wife, Gladys Mahon Kennedy of Taylorville, W. Va.; son, Perry Kennedy of Greencove Springs, Fla.; stepson, Ted Kinder of Lexington, Ky.; sisters, Ruth Slone of Feds Creek, Ky. and Florence Anderson of Chicago, Ill; one grandchild, Terry Kennedy; and three step-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 9, 2004, 1 p.m., at Chambers Funeral Services Chapel with Rev. Don Matney and Dallas Rife officiating. Burial will follow at Ellison Hatfield cemetery at Newtown, W. Va. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 8, 2004, at the chapel from 6 - 9 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chambers Funeral Services, Inc., of Matewan, W. Va.
Stewart Justice
Stewart Justice, Sr., 83, of Belo, W. Va., passed away July 7, 2004, surrounded by friends and family.
Stewart was born April 2, 1921 at Ragland, W. Va.. He was the son of the late Lorenza Dow and Sinda Gilman Justice. He was also preceded in death by a son, Bradford Lee Justice; brothers, Jonah, Clarence, Lorenza Dow Jr., and Bradford Justice; sisters, Betty Kennedy, Vicie Dempsey, Tilda Varney, Emma Jean Fuller and Myrtle Edwards.
Mr. Justice was a prominent businessman throughout the community having interest in investment properties, trucking, coal mining, logging and saw mills. As a young ma we worked as a West Virginia state road employee. He was the founder of Goodwill Motors.
His political career included past chairman of the Democratic Party. As a former Mingo County Commissioner, he worked hard to establish the Mingo Manor Nursing Home. As a hobby, he enjoyed collecting old antique cars. He was a member of the Connolly Memorial Baptist Church in Delbarton.
He is survived by sons Stewart Jr. and wife Linda Justice of Logan, W. Va., Paul Franklin and wife Deborah Justice of Taylorville, W. Va., Loranza Justice of Taylorville, W. Va. and Larry Clinton Justice of Fort Pierce, Fla.; daughters Janice Justice McComis of Sebastian, Fla. and Caressa Justice of Taylorville, W. Va.; brothers, Raymond Justice of Varney, W. Va. and Granville Justice of Sarah Ann, W. Va.; six grandchildren, Jeffrey Dale, Barry Dwayne, Stewart III, Paul Jr. and Joshua Justice and Vicki Lynn Bailey.
Funeral services will be held at the Connolly Memorial Baptist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, July 10, 2004, with the Revs. Fred Dillion, Clifford Rawls, and Ron Paige officiating. Eulogy will be given by Supreme Court Justice Elliot E. Maynard.
Burial will follow in the Edwards cemetery at Varney, W. Va.
Visitation will be at the Funeral Home Chapel Friday evening from 6-9 p.m. Pallbearers will be Jeffrey, Barry, Stewart III, Paul Jr., Joshua and Caleb Justice and David Ramey and Rodney Bailey. Honorary pallbearers are Wilson Cisco Jr., Gene Brinagar, Everette Hannah, Judge Michael Thornsbury, Thomas Ward, Clayton Meade, Sam Woods, Albert Runyon, Mark Mitchell, Ward Gartin, Greg "Hootie" Smith and David Baisden.
The Justice children would like to take this time to thank Arlene Gartin, Glendine Justice and Teresa Justice for all their love, help and support during this painful time.
Chafin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
