Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014
Rachel Melton
Rachel S. Melton, 65, 302 Cumberland Drive, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997, at her residence.
Born Jan. 15, 1931, in Madison, N.C., she was a daughter of Beverly Shelton and Haily Tucker Shelton.
On Aug. 7, 1954, she was married
to James R. Melton Sr., who survives.
After more than 30 years of service, she was retired from Virginia Employment Commission.
She was a member of Moffett Memorial Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, James R. Melton Jr. of Durham, N.C., and John R. Melton of Danville; three brothers, Bobby Shelton, Daniel Shelton and B.S. Shelton, all of Reidsville, N.C.; and two sisters, Marjorie Rusk of Dallas, Ga., and Mozelle Coggin of Greensboro, N.C.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a sister, Bessie Copher.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday from Townes Memorial Chapel by the Rev. Lee Ellison. Interment
will be held in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-9 tonight at the funeral home, and other times at the residence.
Joyce Abel
Joyce L. Fitzgerald Abel, 22, 151-N Purdum Woods, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997, at her residence.
Born Sept. 18, 1974, in Danville, she was a daughter of Jessie Fitzgerald Sr. and Shirley Polk Fitzgerald, who survive.
She was married
to Douglas Abel, who predeceased her.
In addition to her parents, both of Danville, survivors include a son, Wykil Abel of Danville; four sisters, Precilla Bennett of Chatham, Nancy Stone of Blairs, and Barbara Witcher and Pamela Fitzgerald, both of Danville; five brothers, Jessie Fitzgerald Jr. of Blairs, and Corey Fitzgerald, Ricky Fitzgerald, Kenneth Polk and Willie Stone, all of Danville; and her maternal grandmother, Rosa Polk of Danville.
Funeral services will be conducted 3 p.m. Sunday from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Blairs by the Rev. Ralph B. Cypress. Interment
will be held in Highland Burial Park.
Fisher & Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ollie Flinchum
Ollie Dishman Flinchum, 82, 4897 Horseshoe Road, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997, at Danville Regional Medical Center. She had been in declining health for five years and in the hospital for two weeks.
Born Jan. 18, 1915, in the Brosville community of Pittsylvania County, she was the daughter of Coley Dishman and Nora Barber Dishman.
She was married
to Johnny Flinchum, who died Sept. 19, 1970.
She spent most of her life in the Bachelors Hall community of Pittsylvania County, where she was a homemaker.
Earlier in her life, she attended Brosville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Kate Scarce of Brosville and Nora Elizabeth Dixon of Horseshoe Road; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday at Swicegood Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Eugene Powell.
Burial will be held in the Dishman & Flinchum Family cemetery at West Fork.
The family will receive friends 7-8 tonight at the funeral home, and other times at the residence of her daughter, Betty Scarce, 1629 Inman Road in Brosville.
Howard Joseph
Howard Gerald Joseph, 67, 601 Franklin Turnpike, died Friday, Aug. 29, 1997, at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, N.C.
Born Feb. 10, 1930, in Pensacola, Fla., he was a son of Walter C. Joseph and Irene Gleason Joseph.
He was married
to Ethel Presley Joseph, who survives.
He lived most of his life in Pensacola, Fla., and the last five years in Danville.
During the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Navy.
A self-employed painter, he was a member of Grace Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife of the residence, survivors include a son, the Rev. Jerry Joseph of Danville; three daughters, Rosemary Godwin of Atmore, Ala., Dottie Paschal of Maryland and Betty Collins of Texas; two sisters, Minnie McDonald of Winder, Ga., and Jeanette Strangeway of Pensacola, Fla.; a brother, Lewis Joseph of Gainesville, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Joseph.
A memorial service will be conducted 3 p.m. Sunday at Grace Baptist Church by the Rev. Jerry Joseph.
The family will receive friends at the residence of his son, 691 Iris Lane.
Barker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Cooper Yates
CHATHAM - Cooper Washington Yates, 80, 217 Whittle St., died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997, at his residence.
Born Jan. 31, 1917, in Pittsylvania County, he was a son of William Edwand Yates and Tiny Hardy Yates.
He was married
to Amelie Shields Yates, who survives.
He served in World War II, and was a retired bus driver for Trailways.
He was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his wife of the residence, survivors include a son, Harold Wayne Yates of Chatham; a brother, Anton Yates of Goode; two sisters, Dorothy Cox of Richmond and Bernice Clark of Columbus, Ohio; a grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday from Scott Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Dr. James Siddons and the Rev. Walker Pettyjohn. Interment
will be held in Hillcrest Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-8 tonight at the funeral home, and other times at the residence.
Mary Burch Craddock
SUFFOLK - On Aug. 30, 1997, the Angels of the Lord escorted the spirit of Mary B. Craddock home to her Heavenly Father. She was met by her Mother and Father, Lillie and Abner Burch, her sister Hazel, and brothers, Henry, William and Sidney, her granddaughter Carol Craddock and many relatives and friends.
She will be missed by her husband of 60 years, Roy Craddock, her daughters and sons and their spouses: Leila and Bob Tompert of Suffolk, Antoinette and Burch Twiford of Chesapeake, Wayne and Ellen Craddock of Gretna, Terry and Cleo Craddock of Eure, N.C., Alan and Marcia Craddock of Danville, Tony and Bobbi Craddock of Senoia, Ga., Michael Craddock and Paul Meadors of Norfolk. Also, 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Virginia Mehalko of Suffolk, Rose St. John of Chesapeake, Willie Burch of Bay Minette, Ala., Lettie Richards of Suffolk and many special nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Craddock was born in Powellsville, N.C., on Feb. 17, 1917 and lived all her adult life in Suffolk.
There will be a celebration of her life Monday, Sept. 1, at 11 a.m. at Sidney Harrell Funeral Home in Suffolk. The family will receive visitors at her home at 212 Katherine St.
The family requests donations to the Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad in lieu of flowers.
Willie Moore
Willie A. Moore, 89, of Gretna Health Care Center, died Saturday morning, Aug. 30, 1997, at Danville Regional Medical Center.
He was born July 26, 1908, in Georgetown, S.C.
His wife was Mary Elizabeth Walton Moore, who died May 3, 1973.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the European Theatre.
A former resident of 3335 Westover Drive, he entered Gretna Health Care Center eight years ago. He had lived in the Westover community for more than 50 years.
An employee of Abercrombie Oil Company in route sales, he retired in 1989.
He was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church.
His only survivors are two nieces and three nephews from North Carolina.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday at Swicegood Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Evans.
Interment will follow at Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home, and other times will be at the residence of his sister-in-law, Catherine Gourley, 227 Hamlin Ave.
Martha Sheets
Martha Reitz Sheets, 92, formerly of 1111 Main St., died Saturday, Aug. 30, 1997, at Roman Eagle Memorial Home, following a brief illness.
The daughter of Alexander and Jenny Anderson Reitz, she was born June 23, 1905, in Bond, Md.
She lived the latter part of her life in Danville, where she was a homemaker. She had attended college in Elkins, W.Va. and in Barboursville, Ky. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.
On July 9, 1929, she was married
to the Rev. Walter Delford Sheets, who died May 20, 1990.
She is survived by a daughter, Sue Sheets Henderson of Danville; a son-in-law, Walter Carter Henderson Jr.; a grandson, Walter Carter Henderson III; a granddaughter, Leigh Henderson Crowder of Clover; and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday from Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel by the Rev. Fred Wagner, the Rev. Dr. George Wesley Jones and the Rev. Levi Stroud.
Interment will follow at Danville Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends 7-8:30 tonight at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel and other times at the residence of her daughter, Sue S. Henderson, 420 Brentwood Drive.
The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Building Fund, 409 Arnett Blvd., Danville, Va. 24540.
Hazel Walker
CHATHAM - Hazel Giles Walker, 85, Rte. 4, died Saturday, Aug. 30, 1997, at Roman Eagle Memorial Home in Danville.
The daughter of George Grief Giles and Essie Thompson Giles, she was born Jan. 20, 1912, in Pittsylvania County.
She taught elementary school in Pittsylvania County and was the organist and pianist for many years at Greenpond Baptist Church.
She was owner and operator of Walker's General Store in Climax for a number of years.
She was married
to Edward Truman Walker, who predeceased her.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by two brothers, Maurice Giles and Samuel Giles.
She is survived by three nephews and two nieces.
The funeral will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday at Greenpond Baptist Church by the Rev. John McCray and the Rev. R.G. Rowland. Burial will follow at Highland Burial Park in Danville.
The family will receive friends 7-8 tonight at Scott Funeral Home.
