Bobby J. Dickens, Jr., “B.J.,” born Nov. 2, 1986, left this world to be with the Lord on Friday, Dec. 9, 2005.
He is survived by his mother, Vicky, and stepfather, David Sturgill, of Beckley; his father, Bobby J. Dickens, Sr., and stepmother, Ruth Dickens, of Pemberton; sister, Carla and her husband George, and their daughter, Alexandria Pierce, of Virginia Beach, Va., and her son, Brian Mann of Coal City; his sister, Cristel and her husband James Clark of Welch; his stepsister, Michelle Sturgill, and her two sons, Trey and Alex of Salisbury, N.C.; his stepsister, Alisha Hannah, and her son, Caleb, of Sophia; his stepsister, Kim Long, and her two daughters, Felicia and Jessica Smallwood of Beckley; his stepbrother, Scott Long, and his son, Tobias, of Beckley; stepgrandparents, JoAnn Sturgill of Coal City and Robert and Margaret Holmes of Coal City; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his special friend, Seth Adams.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Bud Kiblinger of Daniels and Margaret Kiblinger of Crab Orchard; his paternal grandparents, Dempsey Dickens and Bernice Dickens, both of Arnett; a uncle, Kenneth Dickens of Beckley; and stepgrandfather, Lawrence Sturgill of Coal City.
B.J. was a very caring and sensitive person, who never met a stranger. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and riding his bicycle.
He was due to graduate from Woodrow Wilson High School in June of 2006, where he was a member of the ROTC, and was enrolled in a Vo-Tech welding course, which he enjoyed very much. He was also a member of the Cranberry Baptist Church, and enjoyed working with the Sophia Volunteer Fire Department.
Friends may gather with the family from 6 until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Roger E. Pauley and Dennis Haga officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Bobby’s cousin, Randy Pettry, will sing a special song for B.J., and the Blankenships will also be singing.
Brian Keith, Bobby’s nephew, will be releasing the doves.
Jimmy Linkswiler, Seth Adams, Jeffery Perdue, Joey Murdock, Fred Bonds, and Brandon Williams will be serving as pallbearers.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, is serving the family.
Jaleil Daniel Elliott
Jaleil Daniel Elliott, 8-month-old infant son of Robert Daniel Elliott and Jaleisa Renee Harbison of Beckley, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005, in Charlottesville, Va.
Graveside rites and burial will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Roger Bailey
Roger Bailey, 66, of Cyclone, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2007, in a Logan hospital.
Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Bailey family.
Merle B. Burnette
OAK HILL — Merle B. Burnette, 90, of Oak Hill, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2007, at South Eastern Ohio Regional Medical Center at Cambridge, Ohio, following a short illness.
Born May 4, 1916, at Oak Hill, she was the daughter of the late Seth and Fannie Ella Mahoney Blake.
She was a homemaker. She was also a member of the Oak Hill Baptist Church, the Shirley Donnelly Bible Class and the Hilbert Stickler Missionary Circle of the church.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Everette Burnette; a daughter, Sandra Amick; a brother, Ray Blake; and sisters, Lois Munoz and Marguerite Guthrie.
Survivors include her sons, Jerry and wife, Mary Burnette, of Chicago, Ill., and James and wife, Debi Burnette, of Cambridge, Ohio; a son-in-law, Don Amick of Las Vegas, NV; a sister, Patsy Lawton of Oak Hill; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Oak Hill Baptist Church, with the Rev. David White officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill.
Visitation will be 6 until 9 p.m. Tuesday at Tyree Funeral Home.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home of Oak Hill.
Inez I. Cole
FAIRDALE — Inez I. Cole, 82, of Fairdale, died Saturday, March 3, 2007.
Graveside rites and burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sunset Memorial Park in Beckley.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.
Mildred Jane ‘Janie’ Foster
FAYETTEVILLE — Mildred Jane ‘Janie’ Foster, 64, of Fayetteville, Rt. 2, went to a better life, Saturday, March 3, 2007, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, following a short illness.
Born Oct. 31, 1942, at Dothan, she was the daughter of the late Henry ‘Cracker’ Coleman and Thelma Pearl Williams Coleman Britt.
Janie’s greatest pleasure in life were her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, and all her family gathered together for dinners and singing. She loved BINGO and all her friends she worked with at the American Legion in Fayetteville. She was greatly loved and will be missed by each and everyone of us, and we look forward to being reunited with her one sweet day.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Dennie Britt, who helped raise her; a beloved brother, Howard Coleman of Philadelphia; father-in-law, Robert Foster; and sister-in-law, JoAnn Foster.
Survivors include her loving and beloved husband, Roger Lee ‘Ready Go’ Foster of Wriston; sons, Roger Lee ‘Pete’ Foster, Jr., Rick Lee Foster and wife, Bee, and youngest son, Mark Allen Foster, all of the Oak Hill area; her granddaughter whom she raised, Misty Dawn Foster of the Oak Hill area; granddaughters, Rikki Lynn, Jamie Lee and Jessica Ann Foster, all of Oak Hill; a grandson, Troy Justin Foster of the Oak Hill area; great-grandchildren, Braxton Tate Foster, Mariah Dawn Maxwell and Ayden Boyd Cook; two special nephews whom she helped raise, Donald Shane Shockey of North Carolina and David E. Harden III of Ohio; a brother, Carlos Coleman and wife, Drema, of Fayetteville; six sisters, Helen Blosser of Ohio, Peggy Brinson and husband, T.D., of South Carolina, Drema Coen of Burnsville, Shirley Harris and husband, Bob, of Kentucky, Janice Pigg of Wriston, and Sandra Harden and companion, Chris Atha, of Oak Hill; mother-in-law, Nina Foster; and sister-in-law, Joyce Foster, both of Wriston.
Service will be 4 p.m. Tuesday at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel in Oak Hill, with the Rev. Delmas Wolfe officiating. Burial will follow in Coleman cemetery at Dothan.
Friends may call 2 until 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home of Oak Hill.
Earnest Lee French
Earnest Lee French, 82, of Daniels passed away Sunday, March 4, 2007. Born Jan. 22, 1925, he is the son of the late Valbert and Mamie Bibb French.
Earnest was employed for 29 years with the C & O Railroad and owned French’s TV and Radio Repair in the 50’s and 60’s. He was a member of the Little Bethel Baptist Church at Mt. View.
In addition to his parents, Earnest is preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Jane; son, Ernest Ray; and brothers, Ralph and Donald French.
Those left to cherish his memory include his special friend of 15 years, Ruth Sedlock of Hico; son, Roy French and wife, Joann, of Daniels; grandson, Brian French, Sheryl and great-granddaughter Nichole of Rogersville, TN; brother, Harold French and wife, Barbara, of Sprague; sisters, Helen Morris of Clintonville; Margaret Foster of Piney View; Evelyn Callahan and husband, Kenneth, of Daniels; Velma Jones and husband, Alton, of Del Mar, MD.
Service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with the Rev. John Rinehart officiating.
Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Beckley.
Friends may gather with the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jeffrey George Comfort Home, 2801 S. Staunton Road, Huntington, WV 25701.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley, W.Va.
Douglas Leonard Gray Sr.
Douglas Leonard Gray Sr., 62, of Mount Hope passed away Friday, March 2, 2007.
Born Feb. 9, 1945, he is the son of the late Clarence Gray and Mildred Reynolds Gray.
Douglas enjoyed hunting and fishing and was employed as an electrician in the coal mines. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School.
In addition to his parents, Douglas is preceded in death by sisters, Patricia Harper; Laura Lee Tweedie; and first wife, Irene Lugar Gray.
Those left to cherish his memory include wife, Geraldine M. Gray of N. Sand Branch Road; sons, Bryan Gray and wife, Rhonda, of Covington, VA; Douglas L. Gray Jr. and wife, LeeAnn, of Covington, VA; daughters Catherine LeeAnn Gray of N. Sand Branch Road; Mildred Alice Berger and husband, William, of Goosecreek, SC; stepsons Shawn McKinney and wife, Tina, of Belews Creek, N.C.; Stephen Meadows and wife, Lorna, of Jumping Branch, W.Va.; Thomas Meadows and wife, Kristy of Navarro, Fla.; stepdaughter, Angela Meadows and husband, John, of Wesley Chapel, FL.; brother, Ernest Gray of N. Sand Branch Road; 20 grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with the Rev. Junior Plumley officiating.
Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Pallbearers will be Darren Gray, Travis Hicks, Douglas Hicks, Kermitt Lugar, Donnie Lugar and Larry Howerton.
Friends may gather with the family noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley, W.Va.
Harold Leffel
RICHWOOD — Harold Leffel, 78, of Richwood, died February 27, 2007, at Richwood Area Community Hospital.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 E. Main Street, Oak Hill.
Eric Meadows
COOL RIDGE — Eric Meadows, 34, of Cool Ridge, died Saturday, March 3, 2007.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home at Shady Spring.
Roy Everette ‘Johnny’ Milam
WAYNE — Roy Everette ‘Johnny’ Milam, 74, of Wayne, W.Va., died Saturday, March 3, 2007, at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
He was born Jan. 4, 1933, in Glen Daniel, W.Va., a son of the late Everette Edgar and Amy Ellen Callison Milam.
Roy was a retired roller for L.T.V. Steel in Cleveland, Ohio and a U.S. Army veteran.
A sister, Nettie Viola Dancy, also preceded him in death.
Survivors include his loving wife, Erie Maynard Milam; a daughter, Rhonda Faye Milam of Port Richie, FL; two sons, Roy Edgar Milam and wife, LuAnn, of Detroit, MI, Justin Ruggles of Wayne, W.Va.; two sisters, Rosa Arlene Elkins and husband, Everette, of Glen Daniel, W.Va., Cynthia Mildred Fink of Beckley, W.Va.; a brother, Delmar Milam and wife, Lois, of Charlotte, NC; two grandchildren, Eddie Milam and Kellie Milam; a very special nephew, Charles Agnor, Jr. of Franklin, Ohio; and a host of other family and friends.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Morris Funeral Home Chapel, by Pastor Bill Boblett. Burial will follow at Greasy Ridge cemetery, Dunlow.
Friends may call 6 until 9 p.m. today at Morris Funeral Home, Wayne, W.Va.
Arrangements by Morris Funeral Home, Wayne, W.Va.
Margaret Delores (Smith) Moore
On March 2, 2007, the Lord saw fit to call home another one of his earthly angels, Mrs. Margaret Delores (Smith) Moore, age 76, of 471 Harper Heights Road, Beckley, due to a long illness.
She was born Nov. 25, 1930, in Slab Fork, W.Va., to the late James Herbert Smith and Susie Morgan Smith.
In service to the Lord, Mrs. Moore was First Lady of St. John United Holy Church of Beckley. ‘Pie’, as she is known by friends and relatives, was a loving and caring wife and mother, sister and daughter with dedication and admiration for all who were blessed to know her. She instilled the true meaning of family values to her children, great- and grandchildren as, by example, she extended the hand of compassion, empathy and love with her warm sense of humor.
Mrs. Moore was a retired Nursing Assistant of Heartland of Beckley, where she was a Union Steward for Local Union 1199. After retirement, she was a dedicated volunteer with the American Cancer Society from 1997 until she became ill. Her volunteer work focused on the Relay for Life and Daffodil Days, in addition to various office duties of the Raleigh County Unit.
Anxiously awaiting her arrival in the Heavenly Kingdom are her parents, James and Susie Smith; three brothers, Gaston Herbert Smith, James Buford Smith and Charles Smith; and two grandsons, Malcolm L. Johnson and Stephen J. Harris.
Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband of 57 years, Elder Cleo Henry Moore, Sr. A blessed union and with the help of the Lord, they were able to raise 10 children: Cleo H. Moore, Jr. of Harper Heights, Elder David Leo (Linda) Moore, Sr. of Harper Heights, Apostle Curtis D. (Linda) Moore, Sr. of Dalton, Ga., Kevin J. (Beverly) Moore of Beckley, Jonathan V. (Ann) Moore of Beckley, Elder Sharon D. (Walter) Hughes of Harper Heights, Alice G. (James) Harris of Beckley, Dorean D. (Joel) Price of Harper Heights, Kay F. (Michael) Jones of Chesapeake, Va., and Lynn M. (William) Robinson of Harper Heights. She is also survived by brothers, John (Lutisha) Smith of New Jersey, Homer (Delores) Smith of Beckley, Joseph (Jeanette) Smith of Beckley, Frazier (Alice) Smith of Hillsboro, N.C., and Raymond (Charlene) Smith of Beckley; sisters, Mary Green of Beckley, Francis Wright (Melvin) of Newport News, Va., and Charlotte Logan of Beckley; sister-in-law, Hilda Smith of Greta, LA; 26 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
A home-going celebration will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Heart of God Ministries, with Elder David Leo Moore, Sr. officiating and Bishop Fred T. Simms as host pastor. Interment will be at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.
Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
