Published: September 28, 2008 07:36 pm         

Obituaries - Monday, Sept. 29, 2008

Regena Lee Allen

MULLENS — Regena Lee Allen, 55, of Mullens passed away Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.

Born June 17, 1953, in Mullens, she was the daughter of the late Merritt “June” and Janice Law.

She was a graduate of Mullens High School and Bluefield State College, where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Education. She attended New Jerusalem Holiness Church, Glen White, W.Va.

She enjoyed family, listening to music, studying the Bible, cooking and reading.

Left to cherish precious memories are two sons, Darnell and Demar Allen of Mullens; brothers, Henry Vaughn, and Merrett Law II of Roanoke, Va., Ricky (Candi) Law of Beckley, Michael (Kimberly) Law of Lester and Jerome Law of Mullens; sisters, Kay (William Powell) Crews, Janice (William) Graham of Detroit, Mich., and Veria Brown of Boston, Mass.; two grandchildren, Ryan and Danielle Allen; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, at the Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor Chapel, 748 S. Fayette St., Beckley, with Elder Keith Hill, Minister John Evans, Evangelist Janet Hairston and Minister James Tunstalle officiating.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral parlor.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.

Carolyn Jean Keffer Basham

FENTON, Mich. — Carolyn Jean Keffer Basham, age 61, formerly of Crab Orchard, a native of Sullivan, died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2008, after a long illness.

Online at www.dryerfuneralhomeholly.com.

Arrangements by Dryer Funeral Home of Holly, Mich.

James Edward Bell

James Edward Bell, age 87, of Crab Orchard, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at the Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.

Rose ‘Bertie’ Coffman

TERRY — Rose “Bertie” Coffman, 99, of Terry, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at the SunBridge Pinelodge Nursing Home following a long illness.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.

Carolyn J. Wade Comer DeFoe

Carolyn J. Wade Comer DeFoe, age 63, of Oak Hill, became our loving mother angel watching over us in heaven on Sept. 27, 2008.

She left this earth after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She passed away at home with her loving family surrounding her. All those who loved her and knew her know what a big heart she had and was constantly thinking of the happiness of her family above herself. Not a stronger woman in our eyes will ever exist.

Carolyn was born at Carbondale, W.Va., on April 20, 1945, the daughter of the late Lewis and Louise Huddleston Wade.

She was a member of the National Humane Society and loved to cook.

She was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, Paul F. Comer, and by her second husband, Lt. Col. Donald R. DeFoe.

Surviving are her son, Rick Comer and wife Teresa of Hico; her two daughters, Pamela Blake of Cannelton and Angela Pyatt and husband Rick of Oak Hill; 10 grandchildren, James Shell, Jackie Shell, Jennifer Comer, Amy Comer, Amanda Comer, Joshua Comer, Brittany Comer, Elijah Pyatt, Mariah Pyatt, and Noah Pyatt; four sisters, Sue Saylor of Hamilton, Ohio, Wanda Sparkes and husband Richard of Bradley, Kay Jones and husband Rob, and Sharon Lowery and companion Scott Messmore all of Beards Fork; and her special companion of seven years, her dog, Pepe’.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, at the Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with Rev. Phyllis Bowling assisted by Linda Nibert officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at Prosperity.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Pallbearers will be Rick Comer, Rick Pyatt, Scott Messmore, Joshua Comer, Elijah Pyatt, and Jackie Shell.

Online condolences may be sent to www.tyreefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.

Jeremy Scott Dunn

PETERSTOWN — Jeremy Scott Dunn, 12-year-old son of Michael T. and Vicki Lynn Floyd Dunn of Peterstown, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.

Service will be 11 a.m. today, Monday, Sept. 29, at the Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home Chapel, Peterstown. Burial will follow in the Peterstown Cemetery.

Online guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.broyles-shrewsbury.com.

Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown.

Nettie Gibson

OCEANA — Nettie Gibson, 80, passed away Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at Princeton Community Healthcare.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Gibson family.

Edwin Gerald Goddard

BROOKS — Edwin Gerald Goddard, 82, of Brooks, died at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at his home, following a long illness.

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

Arrangements are by the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.

Clyde W. Graham

Clyde Willis Graham, 73, of Rhodell, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at his residence following a long illness.

Born Feb. 13, 1935, at Rhodell, he was the son of the late Robert and Thelma (Hollingshead) Graham.

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by a sister, Verna Winebrenner; an infant brother, Robert Graham.

Clyde was a graduate of Herndon High School. He was a former deputy with the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department and the Evanston Illinois Police Department, having served over 20 years in law enforcement. He was a member of Mullens Masonic Lodge No. 151 A.F. & A.M. He attended the Rhodell Church of God, was a veteran of the U.S. Army and in his leisure he enjoyed hunting.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 34 years, Mae Graham; one daughter, Pamela Mills and her husband Shannon of Herndon; four sons, Rodney Reed and his wife April of Stephenson, David Reed of Amigo and Robert Graham and Edward Graham, both of Virginia; one sister, Betty McKinney and her husband Arnold of Basin; two brothers, William Graham and his wife Patricia of Fairdale and Leonard Graham and his wife Margo of Stringwood, Ill.; he was the loving grandfather of nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild, who were his pride and joy.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Tankersley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Eskins officiating. Burial will follow in the Lacy McKinney Cemetery at Basin.

Friends may call today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.tankersleyfh.com.

Arrangements by Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens.

Nola Jane Blankenship Hill

ZEBULON, N.C. — Nola Jane Blankenship Hill, 73, of 9308 North Manor Drive, Zebulon, died Sept. 26, 2008, peacefully at her home.

Mrs. Hill was born Dec. 23, 1934, in Pineville, W.Va., a daughter of Lois Blankenship and Robie Laxton.

Mrs. Hill is survived by her husband of 57 years, Glen D. Hill of Zebulon; three children, sons, Larry K. Hill of New Jersey, Darrell L. Hill of California and her daughter, Anita M. (Hill) Konopka of Massachusetts.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jennifer A. (Konopka) Solak and her husband, Scott, Peter E. Konopka, David J. Hill and Stephanie E. Hill, and one great-grandchild, Emily E. Legge, all of Massachusetts.

She leaves one sister, Dixie Lusk and her husband, Jerry, of Florida; one brother, Bobby Cook and his wife, Stella, of Florida; her uncle, Tom W. Wood, who raised her from a young child; her two brothers-in-law, Kermit Hill and his wife, Ruby Jean, James Hill, and sister-in-law, Janice Williams and her husband, Ronald, all of West Virginia. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was an active member of the Zebulon United Methodist Church and the Franklin, Mass., First United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday School, chaired church fairs, and was active in the United Methodist Women. She also volunteered in the after-school program.

Mrs. Hill was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered in the schools while living in Frankford.

Funeral arrangements are being made by Massey Funeral Home in Zebulon, N.C.

Hattie Faye Bragg Jolliffe

HINTON — Hattie Faye Bragg Jolliffe, 85, of Hinton, died Saturday morning, Sept. 27, 2008, at her home, following a long illness.

Born Aug. 7, 1923, on Brooks Mountain in Summers County, she was the daughter of the late Joseph G. and Ada Bennett Bragg.

Faye was a member of the Brooks Baptist Church. She had owned and operated her own business, “The Little Junk Store,” in Hinton, until she was 84 years old. She was a very giving person who never refused anyone help.

Preceded in death by her husband, Thomas B. Jolliffe; two daughters, Ida Mae and Helen; two sons, Tom “Bow” and Joe; three granddaughters, Christina, Regina, and Teresa “Tee”; three grandsons, Tom E., Tom M., and Junior; one brother and three sisters.

She is survived by a son, Bill Jolliffe of Hinton; a daughter, Aretha Ward and companion Oakley “Buck” Bennett; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a special nephew, Jerry Bragg; a special niece, Shirley Jolliffe; two sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel in Hinton, with Pastor Johnny Wills officiating. Burial will follow in the Elk Knob Church Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral parlors after 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Family 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.

Cleo Newman

MIAMI, Fla. — Cleo Newman, 92, of Miami, Fla., formerly of Glen Daniel, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at the SunBridge Pinelodge Nursing Home, following a short illness.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.

Nancy Ruth Rutledge

ANSTED — Nancy Ruth Rutledge, 49, of Fayette County, W.Va., died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, at the Downtain Chapel Church at Nettie. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the White Funeral Home, Summersville.

Arrangements by White Funeral Home, Summersville.

Maxine Hartshorn Seafler

On Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at 6:05 p.m. following a series of long illnesses, Maxine Hartshorn Seafler peacefully ceased her earthly journey and opened her eyes into her heavenly rest.

She was born on July 11, 1924, at Morgantown to Ernest Otis and Lona O. Smith Hartshorn. Her formative years were spent in her family’s hometown of Grantsville in Calhoun County, W.Va., before moving to Charleston as a young adult. While employed as a waitress at the Ritz Restaurant in Charleston, she met her future husband Wade Edwin Seafler. The couple married on Oct. 26, 1950. In 1959, they adopted their only child, Pamella Ellen Seafler Owston. For several years, the family lived in Poca prior to moving to Leon, Mason County, W.Va., in 1963.

Maxine and Wade were longtime members of the Leon Baptist Church, where she was active in the Women’s Mission Society and the church choir. For many years, she was also a member of the local Homemakers’ Club. In about 1982, Maxine and Wade moved to Dunbar, then Hurricane, then Eleanor, and then back to Hurricane. They were active members of the Peoples Baptist Church in Hurricane for several years. To be closer to their grandchildren, Maxine and Wade relocated to Fayetteville in 1996. During their years in Fayette County, the couple was active in the local senior citizens’ organization and attended the Fayetteville Baptist Church.

After Wade’s Alzheimer’s worsened and he moved to Heartland of Beckley, Maxine moved to Beckley in 2002 to live with her daughter’s family. After a series of falls and illnesses, Maxine became a resident of Heartland of Beckley in 2004 where she had lived since that time.

In addition to her parents, Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Wade on Dec. 7, 2003; two brothers, Oval “Tom” Hartshorn and Denzil “Dink” Hartshorn of Grantsville; one sister, Opal Hartshorn Bell of Leon; two nephews, Ronnie Hartshorn of Grantsville and Kirk Lutz of Moundsville; and one niece, Janice Hartshorn Hopkins of Elizabeth, W.Va.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Pamella and Dr. James M. Owston of Beckley; granddaughters, Lora Dyan Owston and Kristen Elizabeth Owston of Beckley; her only remaining sibling Betty Jean Hartshorn of Point Pleasant; sister-in-law Ruth Seafler Comer and husband Warren of Hendersonville, Tenn.; three nieces: Anita Hartshorn Vannoy of Grantsville, Beverly Linn Bell Hammack of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Suzette Sanderfer of Nashville, Tenn.; and four nephews: Bobby Hartshorn of Grantsville, Mark Craig Bell of Peterborough, England, and Clarence and David Comer of Texas.

The family would like to thank her caregivers at Heartland of Beckley including Becky and Margaret who often cared for our mother and grandmother. Additional words of gratitude are extended to a special friend Sissy Holland, the ministers and members of the Oak Grove Christian Church, and to Julian Grubb, the minister of the Mt. Hope Christian Church, for visiting and praying for her on a regular basis.

Services will be held 3 p.m. at the Gatens-Harding Funeral Home in Poca on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, with Mr. Ken Overdorf of the Oak Grove Christian Church in Beckley officiating. Interment will follow at the Haven of Rest Memory Gardens and Crematorium, Red House. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the services.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.gatensharding.com.

Gatens-Harding Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Poca, is serving the Seafler family.

Christine H. Short

Christine H. Short, age 64, of Crab Orchard, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at the Bowers Hospice House following a short illness.

Born on Dec. 25, 1943, at Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Julius Harvath and Wanda Medina Harvath.

Mrs. Short was a homemaker, and was a former manager of a Little General Store. She was a member of the Crab Orchard Baptist Church. She was a former resident of Delaware, and had made her home in this area for the past 23 years.

She was preceded in death by her son, Scott Short.

Survivors include daughters, Melissa Stokes and husband, Jeff, of Hilliard, Fla., and Tanya Andrews and husband, Robert, of Rocky Mount, Va.; a brother, Patrick Harvath and wife, Twila, of Roswell, Ga.; sisters, Patty Uhl and husband, Neil, of Williamstown, and Brenda Mackey and husband, Gene, of Vienna, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Joshua, Jamie, Kearstine, Paige and Kami; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley with Mr. Bob Andrews officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services.

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.

Maxine B. ‘Teeny’ Thomas

PETERSTOWN — Maxine B. “Teeny” Thomas, age 85, of Peterstown, passed away Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.

Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home Chapel, Peterstown. Burial will follow at Peterstown Cemetery. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.broyles-shrewsbury.com.

Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown.

Darrell E. ‘Sam’ Ward

NEWNAN, Ga. — Darrell Eugene “Sam” Ward, 65, of Newnan, passed away Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at home following an extended illness.

Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.