Lee County, VA
Current Obits
These are current obits taken from newspapers around Lee County, VA
I have typed these obits just as they appeared in the newspaper.
Click on the a name below to view obit.
Vesta P. Holdway------Taken from
The Bristol Herald Newspaper
BIG STONE GAP – Vesta P. Holdway, 95, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, at Wellmont
Hospital.
Born June 24, 1908, in Keokee, Va., she resided most of her life in Exeter, Va.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dave Holdway; parents, Will and Cora
Legg Huff; five brothers, Poke Huff, Curt Huff, Roose Huff, Doc Huff and Ervin
Huff; two sisters, Melinda Huff Holdway and Madge Huff.
Survivors: sister, Pauline Huff Payne, Jonesville, Va.; two daughters, Nita
Jones, Big Stone Gap and Shirley Holdway, Big Stone Gap; seven grandchildren,-
Ronnie Stidham and wife Carolyn, Judy Witt and husband Winky, Donnie Stidham,
Debbie Turner and husband Tom, Kita Gibson and husband Kevin, Eddie Holdway and
Jimmy Harris and wife Missy; 17 great-grandchildren; and four
great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Roy A.
Green Funeral Home Chapel, with Phillip Bates officiating. The family will
receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Graveside services
will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Huff-Legg family cemetery, Keokee.
Pallbearers are: Ronnie Stidham, Donnie Stidham, Eddie Holdway, Jimmy Harris,
Chris Stidham, Greg Stidham, Ryan Witt, Travis Turner, Winky Witt, Tom Turner,
Kevin Gibson, Tyler Gibson and Brandon Parrott. Roy A. Green Funeral Home,
Appalachia, is in charge of arrangements.
Pearl Davidson Sluss----Taken from The
Bristol Herald Newspaper
BIG STONE GAP– Pearl Davidson Sluss, 88, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at
the Ridgecrest Manor in Duffield, Va.
She was a former employee of Carmines Restaurant in Big Stone Gap as a waitress
and she was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Clarence Davidson and William
Sluss; two daughters, Vickie Stidham and Jeanette Wilson; and one son, Clarence
Wayne Davidson.
Surviving are one son, Jimmie L. Davidson of Harlingen, Texas; son-in-law, Ralph
Stidham of Big Stone Gap; one sister, Stella Huff of Pennington Gap, Va.; nine
grandchildren, Mike Wilson, Connie Sampson, Jeffrey Wilson, Larry Wilson, Missy
Lamb, Amelia Church, J.L. Davidson, Wayne Stidham and Shane Stidham; and 15
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Pearl Davidson Sluss will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday,
Feb. 24, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with the Rev. Roy
Smith officiating. Burial and graveside committal services will be held at 11
a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at the American Legion Cemetery in Big Stone Gap.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. till time of services at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise.
Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise in charge of arrangements.
EDNA CLAWSON---Taken from Coalfield Newspaper
Edna Irene Clawson, 79, of the Long Hollow community, Jonesville, passed away
Tuesday (Feb. 17, 2004) at Lee Nursing & Rehabilitation Center after a short
illness.
She had been a resident of Lee County, all her life and was of the Baptist
faith. She was a member of Mount Hope Baptist Church.
Mrs. Clawson was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Maggie McQueen
Goins; two sisters, Cleo Oakes and Cloe Fleenor; and one brother, Cleve Goins.
Surviving are her husband, Alonzo Clawson of Jonesville.; two sons and
daughters-in-law, L.C. and Judy Clawson of Wise, Billy Wesley and Bessie Clawson
of Church Hill; one sister, Pearl Skidmore of Jonesville; three grandchildren,
Kimberley Clawson and Brandon Clawson of Church Hill, Mardy Clawson and wife
Karen of Meadowview; one great-granddaughter, Kaitlin Clawson of Meadowview;
several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Sturgill Funeral Home in
Pennington Gap.
Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel with the
Rev. L.J. Ellis officiating.
Committal graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Miller's Chapel
Cemetery, Jonesville.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home by 12 noon Saturday to
go in procession to the cemetery.
Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends.
ERNESTINE CROWELL LIGHT----Taken
from Coalfield Newspaper
Ernestine Crowell Light, passed away Tuesday (Feb. 17, 2004) at the Lee Regional
Medical Center.
She was a life long resident of Lee County, the daughter of the late Ernest and
Bertha Parsons Crowell.
Ernestine was employed for many years in the Lee County School System, and was a
member of the Pennington Gap First United Methodist Church.
Surviving are her husband of 56 years, Kenneth Eugene Light of Pennington Gap;
one daughter, Selina Light of Pennington Gap; two sons and daughtersinlaw, Kenny
and Kathy Light of Woodway, Kyle W. and Monica Light of Coeburn; three
grandchildren, Christopher Light, Amanda Light, and Hannah Light; one sister,
Mary Duncan of Bristol; one brother, Robert P. Crowell of Roanoke; several
nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be from 68 p.m. Thursday at the Sturgill Funeral Home,
Pennington Gap.
Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in the Pennington Gap First United
Methodist Church with Dr. Ken Sprinkle officiating.
Interment will follow in Lee Memorial Gardens, Woodway.
Pallbearers will be members of the United Methodist Men of First United
Methodist Church.
Mrs. Light will be taken to the church one hour prior to services.
GLADYS LEAH BENNETT---Taken from Coalfield Newspaper
Member of Trinity
United Methodist Church for over 50 years
Gladys Leah (Yeary) Bennett, 85, of Big Stone Gap, passed away Friday (Feb. 27,
2004) at Wellmont-Lonesome Pine Hospital following a brief illness.
She was born June 3, 1918, in Big Stone Gap to the late Bradley and Pearl (Flanary)
Yeary. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 50
years, a member of the Honeycutt Class, and a member of the Big Stone Gap O.E.S.
No. 158.
Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by her husband Bill, on July 21, 2003; and
her granddaughter, Karen Bennett, on March 7, 2000.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Carol Bennett, Church
Hill, Tenn.; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Julie and James Powers, Mount
Carmel, Tenn.; sister, Reba Yeary, Big Stone Gap; nieces, Margaret Jean
Thacker, Janet Lynn Dykes, Jamie Thacker; special nephew, Lance Yeary; several
cousins; and special friends, Sue and Earl Hansel, Jean and Sonny Barker, and
Rev. and Mrs. Alan Collier and family.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Big
Stone Gap with the Rev. Ronnie Mutter and the Rev. Alan Collier officiating.
Interment followed in Glencoe Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Neal Simmons, Wayne Sturgill, James Powers, Beecher Powers,
Ben Allen, Bill Cole and Homer Falin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to a charity
of one's choice.
Holding Funeral Home in Big Stone Gap was in charge of arrangements.
GRACE ROACH---Taken from
Coalfield Newspaper
Member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church
Grace Elizabeth Roach, 95, of Big Stone Gap, passed away Sunday (Feb. 29, 2004)
at the Ridgecrest Manor Nursing Home, Duffield.
She was a lifelong resident of Powell Valley, born July 9, 1908 to the late F.
C. and Omah Collier Dickenson.
She was a member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Big Stone Gap and was a long
time member of the Powell Valley Garden Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry S. Roach in 1948; one son, Ted
L. Roach; three brothers, Alfred, Junior and Cecil Dickenson; and by a
daughterinlaw, Ruby Roach.
Survivors include sons, Fred Roach of Wise and G. Dale Roach and wife, Kathleen
of Bethlehem, Penn.; grandchildren, Teresa McGuire and husband, Robert, of
Blountville, Tenn. and Linda Roach of Powell Valley; greatgrandchildren, Sherrie
Lawson and Jessica Vaughn; greatgreatgrandchild, Gannon Swihart;
stepgranddaughter, Wilma Stallard and husband, Danny, of Wise; nephews, Terry
Dickenson and wife, Kelly, Stephen Dickenson and son, David; sisterinlaw, Ruby
Dickenson, all of Big Stone Gap.
Calling hours will be 68 p.m. Wednesday at Holding Funeral Home in Big Stone
Gap.Services will be held 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the
Rev. Alan Collier officiating.
Interment service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday in the Barker Cemetery on Egan
Road in Powell Valley. Those attending graveside services are asked to be at the
funeral home by 10:15 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Oak Grove Baptist Church, 14 E. 11th Street, N.,
Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219.
DOROTHY M. ARNETTE----Taken from Coalfield Newspaper
Resident of Keokee for 87 years
Dorothy M. Arnette, 99, of Keokee, passed away Monday (March 1, 2004) at
Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap.
Mrs. Arnette had resided in Keokee for the past 87 years. She was a homemaker
and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Arnette; one son, Melvin
Arnette; daughters, Emma Hobbs and JoAnn Wood; two grandchildren, Charles
Arnette Jr. and Gregory Glover; also four brothers and four sisters.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Eloise Arnette of
Gray, Harold and Rita Arnette of Dayton, Derl and Joan Arnette of Kettering,
Ohio, and Jerry and Frances Arnette of Williamsburg; and daughters, Lucille
Shipley of Greeneville, and Thelma Glover of Keokee; 22 grandchildren, 34
great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and
nephews.
Services were held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Gilliam Funeral Home,
Big Stone Gap, with the Revs. Alan Collier and Bill Hughes officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at noon Thursday at Powell Valley Cemetery
in Dryden. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home at
11:30 a.m. to go in procession to the cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her sons, Charles Arnette, Harold Arnette, Derl Arnette,
Jerry Arnette, and Richard Morris and David Lane.
Honorary pallbearer will be Conley Massengill.
Online condolences may be sent via e-mail to
gfhbsg@verizon.net.
FLOSSIE JOHNSON--Taken from Coalfield Newspaper
Member of St. Charles First Baptist Church
Flossie Johnson, 92, passed away on Tuesday (March 2, 2004) at the Lee Regional
Medical Center in Pennington Gap.
She was born in Burkhart's Chapel, Route 1, Keokee, April 13, 1911.
She had been a resident of Lee County her entire life. Flossie was a homemaker
and member of St. Charles First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Rowland Benfield; second
husband, Orbin Johnson; parents, Robert and Merdie Woodard Alsup; two sisters,
Hazel Marie Crusenberry and Anna May Woodard.
Survivors include a brother, Ermine Alsup of Pennington Gap; several nieces,
nephews; and special friend, Carrie Orr of Pennington Gap.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Province Funeral Home sanctuary
in Pennington Gap home with Paul Davis Jr. officiating.
Burial will follow at Lee Memorial Gardens in Woodway.
Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail to
cep@mounet.com