Norma L. Conner
Norma L. Conner, of Charleston, WV, died July 19, 2006 at Hubbard House Hospice.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sherman and Hattie Nettles; one brother, Harlen Nettles; and one sister, Ernestine Gray.
Survivors: husband of 64 years, Gaylord; children, Glen (Margaret) of Williamson, Loretta (Irvin) of Waverly, Richard (Velma) of Richlands, Gary (Rose) of Clayton, NC; five grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; sisters, Imogene Doddrill, Eloise Howard, Maxine Mullins and Relda Jean Shields; and brother, Sterling Nettles.
Services were held July 21 at 11 a.m. at the Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles G. Steele officiating.
Burial followed at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, WV.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hubbard Hospice House, 1001 Kennawa Drive, Charleston, WV 25311 or Calvary Baptist Church, 510 Maryland Ave, Charleston, WV 25302.
Obituary information submitted by the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands.
Bertha Mae Bowman
Bertha Mae Marrs Bowman, 67, of Tazewell, VA, formerly of Brewsterdale, WV, died July 23, 2006 at Heritage Hall Health Care in Tazewell.
Born Dec. 12, 1938 in Tazewell County, she was a daughter the late Braxton Marrs, Sr. and Della Dye Marrs.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ at Brewsterdale.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Bowman, Sr., and one son, John Wayne Bowman.
Survivors: daughters, Doris Ann McBride and husband, Junior, and Sarah Lou Mitchem and husband, William, all of Martinsville; son, Robert E. “Buckshot” Bowman, Jr. and wife, Jane, of North Tazewell; sisters, Helen McBride of Ceres, Betty Rose of Horsepen, Clara Baker of Mundytown, Freda Eldreth of Tazewell; brother, Braxton Marrs, Jr. of Boissevain; six grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. July 26 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Arnold Marrs, Ronnie Marrs and Junior McBride officiating.
Burial will follow at Brewsterdale cemetery in Brewsterdale.
Margie Lea Mabe
Margie Lea Mabe, 47, of North Tazewell, VA, died May 4, 2006 at her home.
Born Dec. 20, 1958 in Bluefield, WV, she was a daughter of the late James Thomas Wooldridge and Mary Lea Tillet Wooldridge.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Clayton Otto Mabe, and one brother, Thomas Ray Woodridge.
Survivors: husband, Johnny J. Mabe; sister, Clara Jane Patton and husband, Jerry, of Baptist Valley; brothers, Grant Thomas Wooldridge and wife, Geneva, of North Tazewell, Teddy Otto Wooldridge and wife, Malinda, of Richlands; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. May 6 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell.
Burial followed in Grandview Memory Gardens at Bluefield, VA.
Bradley E. Pennington
Bradley E. Pennington, 23, of North Tazewell, VA, died May 5, 2006 at his home.
Born Feb. 1, 1983 at Bluefield, WV, he was the son of Gary E. Pennington and Jennifer K. Sparks Pennington of Tazewell.
He was a graduate of Tazewell High School and the Tazewell County Career and Technical Center where he became a small engine mechanic and was Student of the Year. He received numerous awards in the VICA competitions throughout the state. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and dog lover.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Charlie Eugene Pennington; maternal grandfather, Dallas A. Sparks; and one aunt, Carol J. Sparks.
Additional survivors: sister, Nicole Pennington of the home; paternal grandmother, Mildred Pennington of Tazewell; maternal grandmother, Iris E. Sparks of North Tazewell; several uncles, aunts, cousins; and his dogs, Mattie Girl and Little One that he dearly loved.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. May 10 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Lawrence Hayes, Dallas Sparks, William Sparks, and James Sparks officiating.
Burial will follow at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a favorite charity or to the family in memory of Brad.
Mary Alice Wynn
Mary Alice Wynn, 90, of Tazewell, VA, died May 7, 2006 at Heritage Hall Health Care in Tazewell.
Born May 31, 1915 at Wilco, WV, she was the daughter of the late Ernest William Asbury and Cora Belle Lee Asbury.
She was a member of the Adria Advent Christian Church at Adria. She was a graduate of Richlands High School and Emory & Henry College. She taught school in Tazewell County Public Schools for many years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph Asbury and Carl Asbury.
Survivors: son, Ernest William Wynn and wife, Katy, of North Tazewell; granddaughter, Monique VanVuren and husband, Raymond, of Terra Haute, IN; grandson, Ernest William Wynn, Jr. and wife, Christie, of Magnolia, TX; great grandsons, Ryan Wynn and Ethan Wynn; several cousins; numerous friends; and the compassionate caregivers at Heritage Hall Health Care in Tazewell.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. May 10 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Kenneth Gillespie officiating.
Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service May 10.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to either Heritage Hall Resident Aid Fund, 121 Ben Bolt Ave., Tazewell, VA 24651 or to the Adria Advent Christian Church, 120 Cecil Drive, North Tazewell, VA 24630.
Ilene Wright McGrady
Ilene Wright McGrady, 61, of the Gratton area of Tazewell, VA, died May 18, 2006 at Bristol, TN.
She was born at McDowell County, WV, and was a daughter of the late Hamilton and Ruth Catron Compton.
She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a faithful member of Alexander United Methodist Church of Bishop.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Arthur Wright; mother-in-law, Edna Wright; and two grandchildren, Jimmy Wright and Aaron Wright.
Survivors: husband, Gary McGrady; daughters, Shelia Lambert and husband, Jeff, of Bishop, Pamela Wilburn and Harvey Nunley of Abbs Valley; son, Martin Wright and wife, Sherri, of Bland; step-daughters, Alicia Rogers and husband, Terry, and Amanda McGrady, all of Tennessee; sisters, Bonnie Blankenship and husband, Danny, of Bland, Janice Laney and husband, Larry, of Thompson Valley, Loretta Miller and husband, J. D., of Sugar Grove, Vonda Anderson of Marion; brother, Robbie Boone and wife, Sherrie, of North Carolina; step-mother, Helen Compton of Honaker; mother-in-law, Mary McGrady of Bland; and nine grandchildren. She was loved by her 12 nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted May 21 at 2 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel of Tazewell with Rev. Kenny Fields officiating.
Interment followed at Shilo United Methodist Church cemetery, Bland.
Archie Roberts
Archie Roberts, 77, of North Tazewell, VA, died May 18, 2006 at Heritage Hall Health Care in Tazewell.
Born June 4, 1928 in McDowell County, WV, he was a son of the late Neil Jackson Roberts and Nancy Bailey Roberts.
He was a member of the Riverside United Methodist Church at North Tazewell and was a member of the North Tazewell Lions Club. He was a veteran of the United States Navy. He was retired from U.S. Steel and was a former member of the UMWA Local at Gary, WV.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by seven brothers and seven sisters. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: loving wife of 56 years, Janice Roberts; daughters, Sharon Kay Roberts of Tazewell, Carolyn Bartlett and husband, Wade, of Ridgeway; grandchildren, John Mabry and wife, Krista, and Jamie Mabry, both of Tazewell, Joe Mabry of Christiansburg, Jackson Mabry of Troutville; great grandchildren, Joseph Mabry, Johnna Mabry, Jasmine Mabry, and Josiah Mabry, all of Tazewell; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. May 22 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Kenny Gillespie, the Rev. Darrell Ray and Garland Roberts, Jr. officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA, where military graveside rites were conducted by members of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post # 7136 of Tazewell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Riverside United Methodist Church, 816 W. Riverside Dr. North Tazewell, VA 24630.
Rev. Joe Orvel Gross
Rev. Joe Orvel Gross, 68, of Whitewood, VA, went to be with the Lord to receive his reward June 22, 2006 in a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Bartley, WV, he was the son of the late Jacob Kent and Stella B. Estep Gross, both Bartley natives.
He had made his home in Whitewood most of his life and was the minister for the Rosa Cole Pentecostal Holiness Church at Jewell Valley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Sue Adair, and one brother, Jim Gross.
Survivors: wife, Shirley Dorothy Gross; daughter, Donna Osborne and husband, Ricky, of Lebanon; sons, Michael Gross and wife, Pam, and Keith Gross and wife, Linda, all of Whitewood; sisters, Katherine Bowman of War, WV, Gladys Akers of Raven, Margaret Tolliver of Raysal, WV, Beatrice Fay Christian of Eckman, WV, Brenda Linkous of Beckley, WV; 12 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted June 25 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Jimmy Justice and Rev. Bobby Smith officiating.
Interment followed at the White Jewell cemetery on White Mountain near Jewell Valley.
Thomas G. Fowler, Jr.
Thomas G. Fowler, Jr., 79, of Rocky Gap, VA, died July 1, 2006 at a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born at Hartwell, WV, he was a son of the late Thomas Gordon Fowler, Sr. and Mary Belle Allison Fowler.
He had made his home in the Rocky Gap area for over 31 years. He was retired from Appalachian Power Co. with 40 years of service where he never missed a day of work. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the U.S. Army. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors: daughters, Michelle and husband, Spc. Kyle Norlin, of Killeen, TX, Cathy and husband, Chris Jones, of Knova, WV, Angela and husband, Joseph Fridley, of Poca, WV; brothers, Harvey K. Fowler of Butler, TN, Albert Fowler and wife, Dortha, of Squire, WV, Donald R. Fowler and wife, Judy, of La Grange, IL, Bennie D. Fowler and wife, Betty, of Squire; grandson, Evan; special nephew, Rocky Fowler of Tazewell; and ex-wife, Patricia Bailes.
Graveside services were conducted July 3 at 1 p.m. at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Martin West.
Members of Barns-Beavers VFW Post 7136 of Tazewell conducted military graveside rites.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1808 Jefferson St., Bluefield, WV 24701.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth M. Gillespie
Elizabeth M. Gillespie, 83, of the Springville area of North Tazewell, VA, died July 1, 2006 at the Hospice Home in Burlington, NC.
Born April 14, 1923 in Wyoming County, WV, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Samuel and Hattie Mae Johnson McGhee.
She was a member of the Dial Rock Church of God in Tazewell. She had made her home for the past three years with her brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Gladys McGhee of Swepsonville, NC.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Robert Gillespie; two brothers, Frank McGhee and William Robert McGhee; and two sisters, Anna Mae Mounts and Lucille Walker.
Survivors: brother, Jay McGhee and wife, Gladys, of Swepsonville; sisters, Gladys Blevins and husband, Jim, of Shady Springs, WV, Betty Jo Parker of Union, WV, Mabel Harvey and husband, Gene, of Ghent, WV; sister-in-law, Mary McGhee of Josephine, WV; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 10 a.m. July 4 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. John Canning and the Rev. Earl Hess officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
