Published: November 03, 2009 10:32 pm      

Obituaries - Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

John Harvey Alls

LINDSIDE — John Harvey Alls, 54, of Lindside, passed away Tuesday Nov. 3, 2009.

Services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at the Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home Chapel, Peterstown, with Elder Thomas Sizemore officiating. Burial will follow at the Crosier Cemetery, Zenith.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of the services at the funeral home.

Online guestbook can be signed or condolences may be sent to the Alls Family at www.broyles-shrewsbury. com

Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown.





Garnett Marie Bradley

CASS — Garnett Marie Bradley, 86, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.

Memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at the Wanless Cemetery on Back Mt., with the Rev. Frank Naglic officiating. There will be no visitation.

Please send online condolences by visiting www.wallaceandwallacefh.com

Memorial donations may be made to the Wanless Cemetery of the Bethel United Methodist Church.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace, Arbovale.





Pansy Brooks

GLEN ROGERS — Pansy Brooks, 60, departed this life Monday, Nov. 2, 2009.

A celebration of Pansy's life will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, Pinegrove Community Church.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the church.

Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.





Clara Mae Morris Canterbury

Clara Mae Morris Canterbury, of Naoma, W.Va., passed away on Nov. 2, 2009 at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley.

Born Nov. 17, 1939, at Leevale, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Frankie Irene Raynes Morris.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Canterbury; one sister and brother-in-law: Susie and Tommy Webb.

Survivors include four children: Danny Canterbury and wife, Margo of Montcoal, Pat Canterbury and companion Tina Wills, Eugene Canterbury and wife, Sheila, and Toney Canterbury and wife, Jo, all of Naoma; one step-son, Rex Dickens of Beckley; two sisters, Linda Cottrell and husband, Butch of Naoma, and Patsy Gwinn and husband, Raymond of Beckley; five brothers, Donnie Morris and his late wife, Vola of Akron, Ohio, James Morris and wife, Sue, Robert Morris and wife, Millie, all of Hickory, N.C., Richard (Bo) Morris and wife, Mary, and Vernon Morris and his late wife, Brenda, all of Naoma; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Nov. 5, at the Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville, with Pastor Jake Maynard officiating. Burial will follow in the Adkins Cemetery Naoma.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home two hours prior to the service on Thursday.

Armstrong Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.





Peggy Lee Grubb

OAK HILL — Peggy Lee Grubb, 50, passed away Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, following a sudden illness.

In keeping with her wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service to be held at a later date.

Online condolences and other information available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com

Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, 350 W. Maple Ave., Fayetteville, will be assisting the family.





Mildred E. Pruden Jackson

Mrs. Mildred E. Pruden Jackson, 95, of 129 Washington Street, Beckley, died Oct. 31, 2009, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.

Born Jan. 9, 1914, at Sturgis, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Augustus L. Pruden and Frances Pruden (nee Carter).

Mrs. Jackson was a longtime member of Welcome Baptist Church, a member of A.W. Calloway American Legion Post No. 70, a former member of the Dukes Club, and volunteered at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard S. Jackson; a daughter, Barbara Louise Toney Anderson; five brothers, Rosvell, Herman, Alonzo, Leslee, and James Pruden; and five sisters, Annie M. Sutton, Vivian Morris, Ilean Price, Catherine Motley and Lucille Brown.

Left to cherish precious memories are six grandchildren, Ted L. Anderson Sr., Roger H. Anderson, Robert F. Anderson, Mark R. (Randy) Anderson, Sandra K. Anderson, and Sharon L. (Net) Anderson, all of Beckley; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 at Welcome Baptist Church, 206 8th Street, Beckley, with Rev. David Allen and Rev. Abner Wright officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Prosperity.

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

Condolences may be e-mailed to ritchie-johnson @suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.





Betty Mann

Betty Mann, age 75, of Beckley, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 at home.

Arrangements are pending completion at Rose and Quesenberry, Beckley.





Samuel David Mason

Samuel David Mason, born on Jan. 28, 1928 at Dry Branch, W.Va., passed beyond the green land of knowledge and the still waters of peace that transcends the knowledge of all mankind on Nov. 2, 2009. He was the son of the late Howard Bernard Mason and Ruth Esther Mason Bragg.

Sam was born before the start of the Great Depression of the 1930’s and spent most of his young life in the coal fields of Kanawha County and Southern WV, where he hoed corn for $.25 a day and gathered scrap iron and other metals from abandoned coal mines to sell to scrap iron dealers to help supplement the family income.

His first hourly paying job was at the age of 14, without a driver’s license, driving a 2-ton feed delivery truck for Capital Feed and Milling of Charleston. At the age of 15, he started work in a coal mine at Big Creek of Logan County, hand-loading coal for $.85 a ton and hauling it out of the mine with a string of ponies.

He was a Marine Corp. Veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific and the China Theatre where he assisted in reprising Japanese Armies back to their homeland. After their surrender in 1945-46, returning from China he worked for the Charleston Daily Mail and was called back to service during the Korean Conflict, where he spent an extra 13 months of service, then he returned to work for the Daily Mail.

In October 1957, he and his wife, Evelyn, along with their two daughters, moved to White Sulphur Springs and purchased two weekly newspapers, The White Sulphur Springs Sentinel and the Alderson Times. He discontinued the Alderson Times in 1959 and commenced publishing The Rainelle Times which he later renamed The Meadow River Post, which is still part of the Beckley Post Herald that is published on Thursday of every week. During his ownership, of the Sentinel, he won many awards for his editorial writing, photography and excellence for paper style and lay-out. In 1962, the West Virginia Press Association named The Sentinel as the No. 1 Weekly Newspaper in its class.

He sold the Sentinel in 1969 and took a position with the WV Beverage Control Commission as District Manager. In 1979 he was employed by International Coal Company as Land Manager and Buyer before he formed a coal brokerage and mining company that he managed along with a partner. He became employed by the West Virginia Lottery Commission in 1985 as a Field Agent until he retired from the State of W.Va. on the last day in December in 1989.

He was a member of the Lewisburg Elks Lodge for 35 years, serving as Exalted Ruler 1993-1994, as well as many other offices and committees. He was the Local Chairman of the Elks National Scholarship Fund, The National Veterans Affairs Commission, and Chairman of the W.Va. Elks State wide Golf Tournament for 18 years and was very active in youth activities throughout his career. He was voted by his peers as West Virginia Elk of the Year 2008-2009, at the Elks convention, held in Canaan Valley in May 2008. This is the highest award that an Elk can receive from his state Elks members.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Mrs. Thelneda Clark.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Evelyn; two daughters, Cathy Renee and husband Cecil Critzer of Blacksburg, Va., and Terrie Jane and husband Mitchell Morgan of Lewisburg; brother-in-law Homer Clark, of Elkview; sister, Mrs. Theda Jo and husband Earl Poorman of Ravenswood; brother, Bernard Howard Mason of Seabring, Fla.; grandson, David Shay and wife, Rhonda of Lewisburg, along with three great grandchildren, Johnathan, Gabe, and Mary-Grace.

His fondest wish is for his family and his many friends to celebrate his life and not mourn his passing.

In lieu of flowers please make donations at the Lewisburg Elks Lodge to the National Elks Scholarship Fund.

There will be a memorial service at 7 p.m. at the Lewisburg Elks Lodge, followed by a celebration of life on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009.

Online condolences may be sent to www.wallaceandwallacefh.com

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg.





Michael Eugene Mullins Sr.

Michael Eugene Mullins Sr., 68, went on to be with the Lord on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at 12:58 a.m. at Raleigh General Hospital after a short fight with leukemia and other illnesses. He was a long time resident of Millcreek of Brenton.

Born April 8, 1941, at Wyoming County, he was the son of the late Goodrich and Thurise Mullins of Lillydale.

Mr. Mullins was of the Pentecostal faith. He was a member of the UMWA and retired from Robertson and Phillips Coal Company. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and watching NASCAR. He also enjoyed watching TV and being with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Bobby Jo Mullins; two brothers, James and Leonard Mullins; a sister, Margaret Harvey; and a great-granddaughter, Angel D. Mullins.

Survivors include his widow, Delores P. Mullins of Brenton; two sons, Michael E. Mullins Jr. and his wife, Patty of Brenton and Phillip L. Mullins and his wife, Donna of Brenton; a daughter, Michelle L. Lester and her husband, Marcus of Baileysville; grandchildren, Michael S. Mullins, Samantha J. Mullins, Samuel D. Steele, Candace A. Mullins, Heather R. McNeil and Priscilla L. Mullins and two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Paul Mullins of Las Vegas, and Billy Mullins of Meadow Bridge; and three sisters, Virginia Allen of Lillydale, Teresa Toler of Sunhill, and Gloria Roberts of Laurel Branch.

He is also survived by a greatly loved nephew, Roger D. Allen of Lillydale.

A celebration of Michael’s life will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 in the Evans Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Sammy Lester officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.

Adam Barnett, Sam Steele, Randal Cline, Clayton Trent, Chris Mitchell and Jason Dutton will serve as pallbearers.

Online guest book may be signed at www.evans-funeralhome.com or email condolences to the Mullins family to evansfuneralhome@stei .com

Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Mullins family.





Catherine Ruth Pack

OAK HILL — Catherine Ruth Pack, 92, passed away Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at Hilltop Center, Hilltop, after an extended illness.

Born May 10, 1917, at Erie, Pa., a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Woods.

She was a homemaker and a member of the Crossroads Apostolic Holiness Church at Bradley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnett N. Pack and three brothers.

Survivors include three sons, Roger Pack and Rickie Pack of Oak Hill and Gary Pack of Mount Hope; 10 daughters, Wanda LaBounty of Scarbro, Samentha Scarbro of Minden, Teresa Pack of Beckley, Kimberly Humphrey of Scarbro, Carol Lively of Oak Hill, Vickie Blevins of Richmond, Va., Shelba Girimonti and Freda Dotson of Pittsburgh, Pa., Sharon Osborne of Abingdon, Va. and Brenda Contreras of Scarbro; 42 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill with the Rev. Jimmy Miller officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

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

Pallbearers will be Jason Pack, Eric Pack, Daniel Pack, Kenneth Cox, Kenny Cullum, and Joe Humphrey.

Online condolences may be sent to our website at www.tyreefuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.





Roger Lee Parsons Sr.

LYNCO — Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24

After a courageous battle, Roger Lee Parsons Sr., 57, of Lynco, went home to be with the Lord, on Monday Nov. 2, 2009 at his home.

He was born April 2, 1952, in Lynco, a son of Rita Bolen Parsons and the late Virgil Lee Parsons.

Roger was a member, Trustee and Sunday School Superintendent of Joseph Baptist Church and the Recording Secretary of UMWA Local 7604. He was a member of The Heirs of Grace Gospel Quartet.

His sister, Ruby Louise Hall Parsons, and sister-in-law, Kay Parsons, also preceded him in death, along with his father.

While he was an avid NASCAR and Pittsburgh Steelers fan, his main goal in life was to tell the good news of God.

Survivors also include his loving wife, Corky Brown Parsons; a son, Doozer Parsons of Lynco; his mother, Rita Parsons of Lynco; a sister, Susan Parsons and fiancé Mitch Simpson of Lynco; four brothers, William “Pee Wee” Parsons and wife Debi of Lynco, Dallas Parsons and wife Loretta of Sunhill, Ronnie Parsons of Hewett, W.Va., and Scott Parsons and wife Jodi of Clear Fork; his dog, Miley; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at the Joseph Baptist Church, Lynco, with Pastor William Cook officiating. Roger will be laid to rest beside his sister in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.

Friends may gather with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday and one hour before the funeral service at the church.

Pallbearers will be his brothers and brother-in-laws, Pee Wee Parsons, Dallas Parsons, Ronnie Parsons, Scott Parsons, Ronnie Pelphrey and Mitch Simpson.

E-mail letters of sympathy may be sent at www.staffordfamilyfuneralhome.com

The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco.





Margaret Jane Reid

JACKSBORO, Tenn. — Margaret Jane Reid, 89, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2009.

Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

Friends may gather with the family 6 to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday at the funeral home.Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley.





Helen Richmond

Helen Richmond, age 89 of Beaver, passed away Monday Nov. 2, 2009 at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following an extended illness.

Born June 19, 1920 in Turkey Knob, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Wallace T. Carter and Anna Belle (Honaker) Carter.

Helen was a graduate of Mt. Hope High School class of 1939. She attended nursing training from Mckendree Hospital in 1939; she was employed at Pinecrest for over 24 years and retired from Beckley Hospital with 25 years of faithful service where she served as an LPN. She was a member of WOTM of Oak Hill; a member of Sophia Chapter Beta Sigma Phi; she was an avid bowler at Leisure Lanes and volunteered at Raleigh General Hospital for 5 years.

Helen is preceded in death by Earl, Hassell, Robert, David, (Skinny), Grace Carter, Irene Lay, and Dorothy Hurd Brown; first husband Joe Kochinsky; second husband Ramon Lorenzo; third husband Charles Richmond; and a special friend Carl Clay of Mt. Hope

Those left to cherish her memory include her son Kenneth (Tommy) Kochinsky and wife Jane of Cool Ridge; granddaughter Christine Kochinsky of Baltimore, Md.; great-granddaughter Jessica Brown; special nieces Karen Chandler Akers and Nancy Hurd; sister Annabelle Callihan and husband Glen of Dunbar and a host of nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted at 1 Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley with Pastor Ronnie Stapleton officiating. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

Friends may gather with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and one hour prior to service time on Friday.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley.





Gregory Rodgers

This past Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, Gregory Rodgers of the McLean Addition, Beckley died suddenly. He was 50 years of age.

Greg, as he was affectionately known all his life, was born Gregory Scott Rodgers on June 18, 1959, in Beckley, he was the son of the late Basom and Ann Richmond Rodgers.

Greg spent his childhood on George Street and Northwestern Ave. He grew up in the Memorial Baptist Church and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1977. In his younger days, he loved to ride a motorcycle. A heavy equipment operator, he was the owner of GSR Enterprises. The last 15 years, Greg has attended Oak Christian Church, becoming a member in 2005. He loved to worship the Lord in this place.

At the end of the day, Greg’s life was his children, Emily and Shane. He lived to love them, and now he will be their guardian angel.

In addition to his children he is survived by their mother, his close friend, Sandy Weeks Rodgers; he was the dear brother of Terri Thompson and her husband Doug of Atlanta, Ga.; the fond uncle of their daughter Kenzie; his children’s maternal grandparents, Albert and Janet Weeks, who thought of Greg as a son; several aunts, uncles, and cousins survive; as well as his church family, and many good friends.

On Thursday afternoon Greg will be taken to Oak Grove Christian Church where he will be honored and remembered in a service at 8 p.m. Pastor Joe Schmidt will be officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until the hour of the service. On Friday morning at 11 a.m., Greg will be laid to rest in the church cemetery, a peaceful place, close to where he worshiped the Lord. Those wishing to attend the graveside services are asked to meet at the church by 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning.

Family members and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meltonmortuary.com

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Inc, Beckley.





Arthur Tomblin

HARTS — Arthur Tomblin, age 70, departed this life Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at his home.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Honaker Funeral Home in Logan is in charge of arrangements.