Stephen Harry Peery
Stephen Harry Peery, 59, of Burke’s Garden, VA, died July 20, 2006 at his home after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Born Feb. 11, 1947 in Bluefield, WV, he was the son of the late Stephen Alfred and Thelma Mitchell Peery of Burke’s Garden.
He attended the Burke’s Garden School and graduated from Tazewell High School in 1965. He went on to Virginia Tech where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1969 and his Master’s Degree in 1975. He returned to his native Tazewell County, where he would spend his entire career in the service of Tazewell County Public Schools.
Between 1969 and 1988, he taught Mathematics at Richlands Junior High School, Tazewell Junior High School, Tazewell Middle School, and Tazewell High School. He loved teaching; he always kept the welfare of students at the center of his career, and tirelessly encouraged others to do the same. He was a devoted advocate for the rights of educators in Tazewell County and across the Commonwealth, and served as President of the Tazewell Education Association from 1971-1972.
In 1989, he became Tazewell County’s first Director for Educational Technology, a position he held until his retirement in 2005. Under his leadership, Tazewell County Public Schools was able to build, maintain, and expand its IT and networking infrastructure, personnel, and expertise to become one of the most technologically advanced school divisions in the region.
In addition to his primary employment with Tazewell County Public Schools, he worked actively in many organizations to advance the economic and technological development of Southwest Virginia. He served as a representative on the Tazewell County Economic Development Commission and the Tazewell County Information Technology and Telecommunications Committee, chairman of the Southwest Virginia Technology Council and the Southwest Virginia Educational and Training Network, member of the Board of Directors of the Blue Ridge Public Television, long-term member of the Virginia Education Technology Advisory Committee to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and chairman of the Technology Task Force for the Four Seasons Regional Council.
He was an active member of the Burke’s Garden community. He served as the inside plant manager, secretary, and President of the Burke’s Garden Telephone Company. He was a charter member of the Burke’s Garden Volunteer Fire Department. He was a lifelong member of the Burke’s Garden Central Lutheran Church.
Survivors: wife, Linda Hypes Peery; son, Seth Peery and wife, Laura, of Blacksburg; daughter, Joanna Conrad and husband, Christian, of Lubbock, TX; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Ruth Hypes of Tannersville; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Buddy and Kathy Hypes of Tazewell, Jamie and Mary Chapman of Abingdon, Mike and Rebecca Neal of Tannersville; cousin, Joe Bane of Barren Springs; and special friend and caregiver, Stephanie Boyd-Price.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. July 23 at the Burkes Garden Central Lutheran Church with Pastor George Ziegenfuss officiating.
Burial followed in the Central Church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Stephen H. Peery Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o National Bank, P.O. Box 687, Tazewell, VA 24651.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret C. Hunter
Margaret Cordelia Hunter, 88, of Richlands, VA, died July 30, 2006 at Golden Age Retirement Home following a long illness.
Born Sept. 18, 1917 in McDowell County, WV, she was the daughter of the late Louis H. Hunter, Sr. and Nannye Martin Clark.
She was a 1935 graduate of Richlands High School and attended State Teacher’s College in Farmville. She received an ABS degree from Concord College. She taught school in Dante, Appalachia and Richlands. She was a United States Navy veteran of World War II. She received her nursing degree from Pennsylvania University in Philadelphia. She retired as nursing supervisor from Mattie Williams Hospital. She was a member of Dye Presbyterian Chapel.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Nancy Hunter.
Survivors: brother, Louis Hunter and wife, Lucy, of Richlands; nieces and nephews, Margaret H. Jansen of Knoxville, TN, Lucy H. (Boo) Trott of Mechanicsville, Louis H. (Tab) Hunter of Central Asia, Jeffrey Reed Hunter of Tega Cay, SC, Nancy H. Helmke of Manassas; three great nieces; and four great nephews.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Aug. 2 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Minister William Cooke and Rev. Dennis Hoffman officiating.
Burial will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial cemetery at Richlands.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Dye Presbyterian Church, c/o Sara Brown, PO Box 1117, Honaker, VA 24260 or a charity of choice.
Hazel Leigh Lane
Hazel Leigh Lane, 91, of Raven, VA, departed her earthly home to take residence in her Heavenly home July 30, 2006.
Born Dec. 5, 1914 in Berwind, WV, she was the daughter of the late William and Tina Strouth Elswick.
She had been a long time member of Clearview United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and The Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 104 of Richlands.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elbert R. (Ebb) Lane, Sr., two brothers, one sister, two infant sons and one infant granddaughter.
Survivors: sons, Elbert R. (Sonny) Lane, Jr. and wife, Lois, of Raven, Jackie Lee Lane and wife, Teresa, of Gastonia, NC; three grandsons; two granddaughters; one step granddaughter; one great grandson; one great granddaughter; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Paul Griffith officiating.
Interment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Eastern Star rites were held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the funeral home.
Gary Ernest Leake
Gary Ernest Leake, 46, of the Tunnel Hill area of Cucumber, WV, died July 25, 2006 at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, WV.
Born Sept. 6, 1959 in McDowell County, WV, he was a son of the late Raymond Leake and Sylvia Hicks Leake.
He was of the Holiness faith. He attended Big Creek High School. His first employment at age 16 was at Jones & Spry Co. in War, WV. He later worked in coal mining at Gary 14 mine. His latest employment was with Lackawnna Leather and Halstead Industries of Conover, NC.
Survivors: son, Gary Ernest Leake, Jr. of Flagstaff, AZ; sisters, Junie Burke and husband, Donald, of Cucumber, Sharon Leake of Georgetown, SC; brother, Jessie Leake and wife, Linda, of Georgetown; girlfriend, Donna Harman of Squire, WV; aunt, Ethel Baker of Cucumber; nieces, Angel Rasnake, Monica Mitchell, Michele Cook, Starnette Leake, Latisha Leake, Ginny Leake, and Amanda Leake; nephews, Robbie Mitchell and Bud Muncy; great niece, Larissa Leake; great nephews, David, Frank, Skyler, Auston, Joseph, and Gabriel; and numerous cousins and friends.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. July 29 at the Berwind Revival Center with the Rev. Hobert Cook, Rev. Roger Hicks, and the Rev. Kathleen Stanley officiating.
Burial followed at Hartwell cemetery in Hartwell, WV.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Louise Lively
Mary Louise Lively, affectionately known as Mama Mary, 84, of Princeton, WV, formerly of Lindside, WV, and Peterstown, WV, died July 29, 2006 at Princeton Community Hospital in Princeton.
Born June 5, 1922 at Lindside, she was the daughter of the late George and Roxie Harvey Dunn.
She was a homemaker, former employee of the Celanese Corp. and devoted most of her life working with children. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Princeton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim and Roscoe P. Dunn; two sisters-in-law, Beda Dunn and Alta Dunn; and one niece, Mabel Sue Madeson.
Survivors: loving husband of 53 years, Ernest Lively; twin daughters, Drema Burleson and husband, Richard, of Statesville, NC, Dorothy Tatum and husband, Henry, of Tazewell; sister-in-law, Wilma Dunn of New Castle; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 1 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Princeton with Dr. David Dockery and Rev. Bill Wyrick officiating.
Burial followed at the Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton.
Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home in Peterstown.
Leona May Blethen
Leona May Blethen, 73, of Tazewell, VA, died Sept. 4, 2006 at her home.
Born Nov. 24, 1932 in Kanawha County, WV, she was the daughter of the late Evert and Nellie Bonds Perdue. She was of the Christian faith.
Survivors: special friends, Jimmy Akers and wife, Stephanie, of Bluefield, VA; JoAnn Massey of North Tazewell; and caregiver, Shirley Gibson of North Tazewell.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Sept. 6 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Jimmy Meadows officiating.
Burial followed at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell.
Mae Wilda Hankins
Mae Wilda Hankins, 88, of Berwind, WV, died Sept. 6, 2006 at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, TN.
Born Feb. 3, 1918 at Raysal, WV, she was a daughter of the late Benny and Oma Waldron Sparks.
She was of the Christian faith and was an avid gardener. She enjoyed spending time with her loving family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Lee Hankins, and nine brothers and sisters. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: son, Leonard Hankins and wife, Sherry, of Romulus, MI; daughter, Janet Hankins of Berwind; grandchildren, Richard Hankins of Westland, MI, Julie Coleman and husband, Russ, of Romulus; great-grandchildren, Jared and Tori Coleman of Romulus; a very special niece, Irene Wyndham and husband, John, of Berwind; a very special nephew, Johnny Farmer and wife, Littia, of Newhall, WV; and special great nieces and nephews, Kathy Boyd and husband Tim, Beth Wyndham, and David Wyndham, all of Berwind, and Lori Adams and husband, Billy, of Georgia.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Canebrake Freewill Baptist Church in Berwind with the Rev. Darrell Long officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Jeanene Lynne Harris
Jeanene Lynne Harris, 67, of the Thompson Valley section of Tazewell, VA, died Sept. 5, 2006 at Heritage Hall Nursing Center in Tazewell following a very lengthy illness.
Born at Bluefield, WV, she was the daughter of the late James and Helen Anderson Barker.
She had made her home in Thompson Valley for most of her life. She was a graduate of Bluefield High School and attended Johnson Bible College. She retired from Tazewell County Sheriffs Department where she served as dietician for 26 years. She was a member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Thompson Valley.
She was the last member of her immediate family.
Survivors: Henry E. Harris, he was her loving companion, husband and friend for 51 very special years, the last 49 of that as husband and wife. Not only was she referred to as “Mother” by Gene and Jody, she was affectionately called that by her closest friends. Her love of life was accompanied by not only her humor, but her tremendous ability to prepare food with more love than one could ever imagine. She was also survived by son: Jody G. Harris and wife, Detra, of Thompson Valley; grandchildren that she loved more than anything, Heather J. Harris and J. Heath Harris of the home; and special friends, Gaye Kulchar, Betty Jo Stroud, Nedra Lawson, Sherry Doss, Lisa Mustard, Florence Cornwell, Ramona Bennett, Bertie Elswick, Erma Sword, Debbie Stilwell, Nicole Ball, Judy Tony, Lisa Dunford, Beverly Shelton, Joyce Hill, Teresa Hylton, Angie Robinette, Debbie Necessary, and Gwinn Webb.
The funeral was conducted Sept. 7 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel of Tazewell at 8 p.m. with Rev. Rodney Lawson, Rev. Jim Denton and Rev. Kathie Wilson-Parker officiating.
Interment was private.
John Wallace Kennedy
John Wallace Kennedy, 78, of the Compton Mountain section of Buchanan County, VA, died Sept. 6, 2006 at his home following an extended illness.
Born Aug. 4, 1928 in Bradshaw, WV, he was the oldest son of the late Richard and Ida Wimmer Kennedy.
He was a member of the Maple Grove Church of Christ where he served as an elder. He served as minister of the Rock Ridge Church of Christ, Pine Grove Church of Christ and Flatwoods Church of Christ. He was a retired coal miner from Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation #11 and a member of UMWA Local Union #7327 where he served as a field representative and as president of the UMWA District #28. He was also a member of the Grundy Lodge #17, I00F, the Masonic Lodge #318 AF & AM, Richlands, and a member of the Shriners.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Sarah Jane Stacy, Mary Melvina McCoy, and Virginia Irene Cantrell; one brother, James (Jr.) Richard Kennedy; and one grandson, Aaron Nathaniel Kennedy.
Survivors: loving wife of 58 years, Draxie Deel Kennedy of Compton Mountain; daughters, Greta Charlene Lester and husband, Joe, and Ruth Ann Rife and husband, Donnie, all of Whitewood; Ida Christine Mullins and husband, Rickey, of Wise; sons, Eulis Richard (Ricky) Kennedy and wife, Olva, and John David (Johnny) Kennedy, all of Whitewood, Michael Keith Kennedy and wife, Rita, of Grundy; grandchildren, Angie Campechano, Tommy Joe Lester, Kevin Kennedy, Amy Compton, Lisa Keen, David Kennedy, Laura Mullins, Emily Mullins, Rachel Rife and Nathan Rife; great grandchildren, Michael Deel, Christopher Campechano, Adam Campechano, Alison Lester, Kathryn Keen, Caroline Kennedy, Caitlyn Kennedy and Kennedi Mullins; sister, Alice Ruth Rife of Pilgrim Knob; and brothers, Harold Kennedy and wife, Vivian, of Paintlick, Ernest Kennedy and wife, Hilda, and Hobert Kennedy and wife, Kathy, all of Grundy.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. Sept. 10 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain with Evangelist Mike Trent, Evangelist Burb Riffe, Evangelist Bob Smith and Evangelist Dennis Wimmer officiating.
Burial followed in the Goodman cemetery on Stateline Ridge Road, Jolo, WV.
A Masonic service was held at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 and an Odd Fellow service was held at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Buchanan Funeral Service at Keen Mountain.
Claude “June” Sargent, Jr.
Claude “June” Sargent, Jr., 84, of Tazewell, VA, died Sept. 7, 2006 at Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands.
Born Sept. 9, 1921 at Welch, WV, he was a son of the late Claude Sargent, Sr. and Stella Davis Sargent.
He was a US Army Veteran of World War, II. He retired from the Town of Tazewell.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Christine Sargent Paxton, and two brothers, Robert Sargent and Huston Davis.
Survivors: wife, Edna Ramona Dennis Sargent, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Dr. Nelson McCall officiating.
Burial followed at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell where military graveside rites were conducted by members of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post #7136 of Tazewell.
