Published: September 25, 2008 09:49 pm         

Obituaries - Friday, Sept. 26, 2008

Helen Virginia Bragg

GAP MILLS — Helen Virginia Bragg, 69, of Gap Mills passed away Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at her home following a sudden illness.

She was born at Hinton, W.Va., May 22, 1939, a daughter of the late Emma Katherine Stacy Cox Turner.

Mrs. Bragg was a homemaker and she was affiliated with the Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by two sons, William L. “Billy” Bragg and Timothy Wayne Bragg.

Surviving are her husband, Carl F. Bragg Jr. of Gap Mills; three sons, Robert Dale Bragg of Atkins, Va., Paul Franklin Bragg and his wife, Marsha, of Union, Michael Allen Bragg and his girlfriend, Martha Ayers, of Gap Mills; two daughters, Melissa Bragg Brewer and her husband, Kenny, of Zenith, Janice Bragg Baker and her husband, Scott, of Greenville; one brother, the Rev. William “Bill” Turner and his wife, Julie, in Ohio; two sisters, Bonnie Finley of Middletown, Ohio, Shirley Burgess and her husband, Gene, of Gratis, Ohio; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at the Groves Funeral Home Chapel in Union with the Rev. William Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the New Lebanon Cemetery at Pickaway, W.Va.

Friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Groves Funeral Home in Union.

Groves Funeral Home in Union is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas Albert Bragg

HINTON — Thomas Albert Bragg, 52, of 215 Seventh Ave., Hinton, died Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, in Hinton.

Born Feb. 26, 1956, at Hix, he was the son of Harold Bragg of Hinton and the late Violet Clay Bragg.

Thomas was a disabled trackman for the CSX Transportation Corporation at Hinton. He was of the Baptist faith. Thomas enjoyed antique cars and being around family and friends.

Besides his father, survivors include two sons, Jeremy Lee Bragg and wife, Tabatha, of Norfolk, Va., and Joshua Thomas Bragg of Hilldale; two brothers, Eldridge Ray Bragg and wife, Eva, of Meadow Bridge and Harold Bragg Jr. and wife, Dagmar, of Athens, Tenn.; a sister, Velda McKinney and husband, Roger, of Crab Orchard; and good friend, Mike Meadows.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel, Hinton, with Pastors Ronald Adkins and Lawrence Bennett officiating. Burial will follow in the Upland Cemetery at Upland.

Friends may call from 12 noon until time of the services on Saturday at the funeral home.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences and guest register at www.pivontfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton.

Bobbie Cantley

Bobbie Cantley, 50, of Daniels, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry, Shady Spring.

Pauline M. Carney

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Pauline M. Carney, 78, formerly of Lawton, died Sept. 22, 2008.

Services were held Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, at the Mitchell Funeral Home, Marshalltown.

Online at www.mitchell fh.com.

Arrangements by Mitchell Funeral Home, 1209 Iowa Ave. W., Marshalltown.

Lidda May Christian

OCEANA — Lidda May Christian, 82, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, following a sudden illness.

Born Oct. 18, 1925, in Martin County, Ky., she was the daughter of the Seamon and Bertha Shannon Marcum.

May was a wonderful loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was so pleased when family and friends came to visit her. She was a devoted Christian of the Baptist faith, who loved to read, study her Bible, and complete home study Bible courses. Her hobby was crocheting afghans and giving them to family and friends.

In addition to her parents, May was preceded in death by a son, David Christian; three brothers, Troy Marcum, Claude Marcum and Ralph Marcum; two sisters, Jean Marcum and Ruth Goodwin.

Those left to cherish her memory are two daughters, June Hatcher and her husband, Fred, of Matheny and Linda Lester and her husband, Eddie, of Ashland, Ky.; a brother, Paul Marcum and his wife, Faye, of Crany; one sister, Joyce Hildabidal and her husband, Rodney, of Oceana; grandchildren, Bryant Christian, Rebecca Kennedy and her husband, Bobby, Ste-phanie Spolarich and her husband, Shawn, Kimberly Harrison and her husband, Kevin, Tracy Williams and her husband, Shane, and Terri Morgan and her husband, Timmy; great-grandchildren, Courtney Kennedy, Derek Kennedy, Morgan Spolarich, Christian Spolarich, Erin Harrison, Eric Williams, Hunter Morgan and Cooper Morgan; special daughter-in-law, Linda Conley Christian; and a sister-in-law, Lana Marcum; special friends, Alma Milam and Bill and Wanda Gibson who did so much for her; and a host of family and friends.

A celebration of May’s life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at Adam Toler Memorial Chapel with Rev. Algie Cook and Rev. Erwin Gregory officiating. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.

Casketbearers will be family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at Adam Toler Memorial Chapel.

Family and friends may sign guestbook and view a video tribute of May at www.adamtolermemorialfuneralhome.com.

Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.

Ra’Sean L. Gray

MOUNT HOPE — Ra’Sean L. Gray, 19, of Mount Hope passed away Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, W.Va.

Born Nov. 14, 1988, in Beckley, W.Va., he was the son of Portia Gray.

He was a 2007 graduate of Mount Hope High School and was attending W.Va. State University.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Lee Phillip and Carolyn A. Brown Gray; maternal great-grandmother, Martha Alexander; maternal great-grandparents, William H. and Louise Gray; maternal great-great-grandmother, Irene Fore; uncle, Kereen A. Gray; cousin, Tamiyah A. Eloy; two great-aunts, Linda Merritt and Dorothy Allen; and three great-uncles, Eugene and John Howard and William “Chief” Gray.

Left to cherish precious memories are his mother Portia Gray; Godfather, Charles Ross; two brothers, CJ and Shemar of Mount Hope; one sister, Precious of Mount Hope; three uncles, Lamont (Fannie) of Oak Hill, Greg and Robert, both of Mount Hope; two aunts, Sheila (Will) of Fort Hood, Texas, and Sabrina (Brad) of Atlanta, Ga.; great-grandfather, James A. Brown of Washington, D.C.; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at the Mount Hope Methodist Church, 509 Main St., Mount Hope, with Rev. Mi-chael Kessinger officiating.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.

Louise L. Hamrick

RICHWOOD — Louise L. Hamrick, 75, of Richwood, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, in Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a mother to all. She crocheted and enjoyed playing bingo. She loved to visit with friends.

Survivors include her companion, Jim Roberts of Richwood; three sons, Michael Hamrick of Mill Point, Mitchell Hamrick of Richwood and Ronnie Cogar of Fenwick Mountain; five daughters, Patricia Fleming of Richwood, Anna Nichols of Richwood, Paula Boggs of Richwood, Patsy Small of Beckley and Bobbie Hamrick of Ona; a brother, Denzil Steele of Bolair; and a sister, Artina Cogar of Bolair.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, with Evangelist Jim Dyer officiating. Burial will follow in the Handschumacher Cemetery at Upper Glade.

Friends may call from 12 noon until time of the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood.

Robert Dale ‘Bobby’ Kelley

MEADOW CREEK — Robert Dale “Bobby” Kelley, 54, of Meadow Creek, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at the Raleigh General Hospital at Beckley.

Born June 19, 1954, at Hinton, he was the son of Mrs. Carol Richmond Kelley of Meadow Creek and the late Ralph Kelley.

He was an employee of the W.Va. Division of Highways. Bob was of the Baptist faith, a former member of the Teamsters Union, member and past president of the Green Sulphur District Volunteer Fire Department, member of Task Force Omega of Kentucky, avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, Harley Davidson motorcycles and horses. The highlight of his whole year was the Ride to the Wall, Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day Weekend of each year.

Besides his father he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Mose and Claress Richmond, and his paternal grandparents, Joe and Georgia Kelley.

Besides his mother Bob is survived by his wife, Carolyn Sue McGuire Kelley; one stepson, Barry Williams and wife Teresa of Meadow Bridge; one stepdaughter, Kristi Fernatt and husband Lonnie of Meadow Bridge; three sisters, his twin sister Billie Henderson and husband Rick of Hemingway, S.C., Diana Wheeler and husband Garry of Hinton and Dreama Wilfong and husband Gene of Meadow Creek; three stepgrandchildren, Whitney Fernatt, Cheyanne and Elijah Williams; eight nieces and nephews, Wendy Richmond, Carrie Wilfong, Shane Wheeler, Jeremiah Henderson, Daniel Henderson and Joanna Elvington, Cayli and Jason Bolen; three great-nieces, one great-nephew and his cat and best friend Mr. T.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel with Dr. Rick Henderson and Pastor Harry Allen officiating. Burial will follow in the Restwood Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Friday, at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors.

Eugene Jones, Lonnie Fernatt, Jeremiah and Daniel Henderson, Shane and Garry Wheeler, Gene Wilfong, Roger Berry and Gene Rhodes will serve as pallbearers.

Condolences may be sent to the family at info@ronaldmeadowsfp.com.

Arrangements are by the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.

Hershel Mitchem

ROCKVIEW — Hershel Mitchem, 80, of Rockview, passed away Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, in Raleigh General Hospital following an extended illness.

Calfee Funeral Service of Pineville is serving the Mitchem family.

Alexander Clifford Nichols Jr.

RUPERT — Alexander Clifford Nichols Jr., 84, of Rupert, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born April 28, 1924, in Sweet Chalybeate, Va., he was the son of the late Alexander Clifford and Alice Eades Nichols. Mr. Nichols was a heavy equipment operator in the coal mines. He retired from Westmoreland Coal Co. after 38 years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Lea Graham Nichols, in 1993; two sons, Rodney Nichols in 2004 and infant, Roger Lee Nichols; and a sister, Pauline Wilkinson, in 1990.

Survivors include three daughters, Bonnye Parker and husband, Elwood, of Union, Sharon Canterbury and husband, Lewis, of Sinks Grove and Joy Capaldo and husband, Basil, of Caldwell; two sons, James D. Nichols and wife, Delores, of Rupert and Nelson R. Nichols of Rupert; three sisters, Lucille Craig of Ballard, Marjorie Skidmore and husband, Richard, of Narrows, Va., and Veva Helms and husband, Harry, of Gap Mills; two brothers, Richard Nichols and wife, June, of Union and Joe Nichols of Sinks Grove; four half brothers, Charles Edwin Nichols and wife, Nancy, of Salem, Va., Douglas Eugene Nichols and wife, Linda, of Kents Store, Va., James Larry Nichols and wife, Shirley, of Alderson, and Harold Wayne Nichols of Red Key, Ind.; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and special friends, Bea Cutlip and Lisa Dennison.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at the New Lebanon Cemetery in Pickaway with Pastor Milton Ker officiating.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at the funeral home.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the hospice care or charity of your choice in his memory.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Inc. of Rainelle.

Thomas E. Smith

On Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, the first day of autumn, Thomas Everette Smith of Maxwell Hill Road, Beckley, passed away. He was in his 85th year.

Known affectionately as Tom or “T.E.” all his life, Thomas Everette Smith was born at Oak Grove on June 13, 1923, the youngest of eight born children to the late Kenley E. and Grace Lilly Smith. Sisters Mary S. Bond and Virginia Donaghue and brothers Henry G. Smith, William “Bill” Smith, Kenley “Pete” Smith and Mayo Smith also preceded Tom in death.

A lifelong resident of the Beckley area, Tom was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1941, and earned a commercial science degree from National Business College in Roanoke, Va. A World War II veteran, he was in Company K, 413th Regent, 104th Infantry Division of the European Theater. Tom was a Certified Public Accountant, practicing in Beckley from 1963 to 2006. Prior to 1963, he was an Internal Revenue Agent for 13 years. For many years, Tom was the accountant for the Thomas Walker Foundation and the Beckley Area Foundation. A member of the Beckley Moose Lodge, he was a former Kiwanian. A man of “dry wit” Tom enjoyed gardening, reading and traveling.

The beloved husband of Anna Marie Peters Smith, he was the loving father of Tamara Ann Smith Wimer and her husband Brian of Friendswood, Texas, and Thomas C. Smith and his wife Catherine of Snohomish, Wash.; the dear grandfather of Zachary, Caleb, Justin, Nathan and Tony; and the fond brother of Ruth S. Frye of Scott Depot; several nieces and nephews also survive.

The Smith family would like to give a special thanks to their “extended family” the staff of Hilltop Care Center, who took such exceptional care of Tom during the last months of his life.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Melton Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Alan Keathley officiating. Tom will then be entombed at the Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum A in Beckley. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the hour of the services.

Pallbearers will be: Zachary and Caleb Wimer, Randy Brewer, Mike Akers, Michael Gunter, and Jim Vaughan.

Military rites will be conducted by Oak Hill Post 3110 of the Veterans of the Foreign Wars at the cemetery.

The family suggests that donations of sympathy can be made to the Beckley Area Foundation: Thomas E. Smith Fund, 129 Main St., Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801.

Condolences can be mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net.

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.

George A. Stines

George A. Stines, age 61, of Eccles, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at the Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.

Born on April 15, 1947, at Harmon, Va., he was the son of Pauline Cecil Stines of Beckley and the late George D. Stines.

Mr. Stines was a disabled salesman. He was a member of the Eccles Church of God.

Survivors include sons: Shannon, Shawn, and Shane Stines, all of Eccles, and Zachary Garris of Midway; a daughter, Natalie Stines of Beckley; sisters, Patricia Thompson of Eccles, Rose Craddock of Beckley and Vickie Harris of Colorado; a favorite niece, Billie Jo Wheby of Eccles; and nine grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley with the Rev. Conrad Marcum officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services Friday at the funeral home.

Family members will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be sent to our guest book at www.roseandquesenberry.net.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.