Rev. Paul Fraker
The Rev. Paul Fraker, 89, of Oak Hill, formerly of Kayford, passed away Sept. 21, 2003, at his home after a short illness.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Fraker.
Rev. Fraker was a former district superintendent of Pentecostal Church of God, former pastor of Kayford Pentecostal Church of God, Ronda Assesmbly of God, Arnett, Ansted and Oak Hill Assembly, former employee of Kanawha County Schools as a bus driver, and was retired from Union Carbide Mines at Blue Creek.
Survivors include sons, Philip and his wife, Judy, of Miami, and Jack and his wife, Millie, of Lakewells, Fla.; daughters, Carolyn Basham and her husband, Tommy, of Ridgeway, Va., Ruby Johnson of Jellico, Tenn., and Shirlie Watson and her husband, Jim, of Oak Hill; sister, Catherine Ritter of Mable, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Service, with arrangements by Pryor Funeral Home, East Bank, was Sept. 24 at the First Assembly of God in Oak Hill with the Revs. Tommy Basham, Joe Hoggard, Jim Nickels and Marvin Dennis officiating. Entombment followed in High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill.
Mary Louise Proskin Gray
Mary Louise Proskin Gray, 78, of Oak Hill, died Sept. 22, 2003, at Pinecrest Nursing Home, Beckley, following a long illness.
Born Nov. 22, 1924, at Beckwith, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Annie Mary Kirk Proskin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman T. Gray, on Dec. 30, 1993; and sisters, Dorothy Proskin and Lucille Proskin.
Mrs. Gray was a member of the Cotton Hill Baptist Church, Beckwith.
Survivors include daughters, Garnet May Adkins and her husband, Shirley, of Fayetteville, and Judy Ann Toney of Fayetteville; brothers, Harry Proskin and George Proskin, both of Beckwith; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 24 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Bill McClung officiating. followed in Mann & McKinney Cemetery in Crow Hollow.
Elizabeth 'Sis' Cormack Hinte
Elizabeth "Sis" Cormack Hinte, 91, of Oak Hill, passed away Sept. 18, 2003.
Born Dec. 17, 1911, at Sun, she was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Lanby Cormack. Her husband, Henry Hinte; a son, Henry Hinte Jr.; four brothers and three sisters also preceded her in death.
Mrs. Hinte was a faithful member of Mount Hope Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her son, Jack L. Hinte and wife, Geraldine, of Lake Lure, N.C.; daughter-in-law, Barbara Hinte of Bluefield; brothers, Neil Cormack of Beckley, Alex Cormack of Parkersburg and Sandy Cormack of St. Albans; brother-in-law, William Hinte of Scarbro; grandchildren, Jeffrey Hinte, Rebecca Bacon, James Hinte, Kathy Hinte, Scott Hinte and Sandra Hurtley; and four great-grandchildren.
She will also be greatly missed by her caregiver, Diane McKinney of Oak Hill.
Service was Sept. 21 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Ray McClung officiating. followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Michael Hugh Hunt
Michael Hugh Hunt, 60, of Backus Mountain, went to be with the Lord Sept. 12, 2003, after a battle with cancer.
Born Oct. 30, 1942, in Northern Belfast, Ireland, he was the son of Michael R. Hunt and the late Margaret Hamilton Hunt. He was also preceded in death by his loving son, Kevin Hunt, on Dec. 2, 1993.
Michael came to the United States in 1956 and had been a resident of Backus Mountain for the past 30 years. He was a graduate of Highland High School in Highland, Ind., and a graduate of Indiana University. He was a former partner at Sigmund-McLean, Hunt and Associates Insurance Agency and for the past four years was the owner of Omni Insurance Agency.
Michael had a great love for the community of Beckley and the many friends he had made down through the years, and he never hesitated to lend a helping hand to the many organizations for betterment of the community. He attended the Oak Grove Baptist Church and loved to play music and sing the praises of God. Michael has now joined the choir of angels singing, Holy, Holy, Holy.
Surivors include his wife of 34 years, Brenda Berry Hunt; daughters, Rebecca Paternostro and husband, Johnny, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jennifer Durham of Cave Creek, Ariz.; son, Michael Charles Hunt and his wife, Karen, of Beckley; grandchildren, Matthew Dzurko, Jacob Durham and Alexandria Paternostro; stepgrandchildren, Eden and Jacob Stack; stepmother, Marie Hunt; sisters, Elizabeth Hagen of Orlando, Fla., Margaret Jennings of Pensacola, Fla., and Jean Willins of Westchester, Ohio; and brothers, John Hunt of Fort Myers, Fla., and Patrick Hunt of Huntsville, Ala.
Service was Sept. 17 at Cranberry Baptist Church with Ruth Goins reading the eulogy and Pastor Roger Pauley officiating. followed in the Harrah Cemetery on Backus Mountain.
Pallbearers were Earl Hicks, James Gardner, Mark Creager, Dr. Stephen Finch, Dr. David Holliday and Robert Kiblinger. Serving as honorable pallbearers were Robert P. McLean and William R. Sigmund.
Donations of sympathy may be made to the Michael Hunt Memorial Fund, Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801 or online at funds@beckleyareafoundation.com.
Noca R. Johnson
Noca R. Johnson, 90, of Lansing, died Sept. 16, 2003, at Raleigh General Hospital following a short illness.
Born Dec. 4, 1912, at Fayette Station, she was the daughter of the late George Fredrick Lewis and Nancy Lourina Miller Lewis. She also was preceded in death by her late husband, Matthew Day Johnson; a son, Fredrick James Johnson; and a sister, Thelma Willis.
Mrs. Johnson attended Gentry Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her sons, Gerald "Jerry" Johnson and wife, Charlotte, of Oak Hill, and Johnny L. Johnson and wife, Priscilla, of Roanoke, Va.; daughter, Patsy E. Drennen and husband, Bill, of Oak Hill; brother, George Lewis of Kansas City, Kan.; sisters, Bessie Fox of Mount Cove and Edith Vandall of Fayetteville; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 20 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Bill Drennen officiating. followed in Restlawn Memory Gardens, Ansted.
Franklin Dalmas Light
Franklin Dalmas Light, 62, of Fayetteville, died Sept. 24, 2003, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, following a short illness.
Born March 19, 1941, at Kaymoor, he was the son of the late James Sherman and Olive Light. He also was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Light.
Mr. Light was a police officer in Washington, D.C., for six years, and was a disabled veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Calvert Light; daughters, Cynthia Dawn Hyden and husband, Keith, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Brenda Gail Light of Richmond, Va.; brother, James Light of Oak Hill; and sister, Sandie Coleman of Fayetteville.
A memorial service will be held Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Harmon Davis officiating.
Betty L. McClaine
Betty L. McClaine, 64, of Montpelier, Ohio, passed away Sept. 13, 2003, at her home.
Born July 3, 1939, in Beckwith, she was the daughter of Charles and Evelyn (Holly) Kirk.
Mrs. McClaine had been a shipper at Robinair of Montpelier, later SPX/Robinair for 35 years prior to her retirement.
She married Hobert McClaine on July 30, 1955, in Fayetteville, and he survives. Also surviving are sons, Eugene and wife, Sandy, of Montpelier; Michael and wife, Peggy, of Bryan, Ohio; Richard of Defiance, Ohio; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Mike (Etta) Pence of Edgerton.
Funeral service was held Sept. 17 at the Oberlin-Ford Funeral Home in Bryan, with the Rev. John MacFarlane officiating.
Memorial contributions in memory of Betty L. McClaine may be made to an organization of the donor's choice.
Norvil Edison Morton
Norvil Edison Morton, 76, of Lizemores, died Sept. 16, 2003, in Beckley VA Medical Center following an extended illness.
Born March 10, 1927, at Bentree, he was the son of the late George Henry and Laura Holcomb Morton.
Mr. Morton was a retired coal miner from Allied Chemical Co., Semet-Solvay Division, Harewood, and a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during World War II. He was a member of the Laurel Fork Missionary Baptist Church, Lizemores, and the United Mine Workers of America.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Magdalene Moore Morton; daughters, Betty Jo Nichols of Bentree, Brenda Coleman Sharp and her husband, Bernie, of Beckwith, Judy Morris and husband, Bill, of Bentree, Carolyn Sue Jones and husband, Jack, of Maysel, Debbie Ann Johnston and husband, Nathan, of Bentree, and Vicky Morris and husband, Curtis, of Glen Burnie, Md.; sons, Norville "Ebbie" Morton and wife, Debbie, of Hico, Roger Morton and wife, Nina, of Bentree, and David Morton and wife, Teresa, of Maysel; sisters, June Skaggs and husband, Eddie, of Mount Olive, Mae McDaniel of Elkview, and Dollie Elliott and husband, Bob, of Dixie; 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Service, with arrangements by Pennington Funeral Home, Gauley Bridge, was Sept. 19 at Laurel Fork Missionary Baptist Church, Lizemores, with Rev. Jadie Morris and Rev. Naaman H. Moore officiating. followed in Sizemore Cemetery, Lizemores, with military graveside rites conducted by Clay VFW Post 4419.
Jessie Faye Randolph Myers
Jessie Faye Randolph Myers, 87, of Kincaid, died at home on Sept. 4, 2003, following a short illness.
Born May 11, 1916, at South Charleston, she was the daughter of the late Ranson D. and Sarah Mae Garnes Randolph. Also preceding her in death was her husband, George Lester Myers, in 1970; sons, Albert Pete Myers, Roger Dale Myers and Marvin Myers; daughters, Thelma Myers, Nellie Martha Jeffries and Minnie Myers; brother, William Randolph; and sister, Nellie Winfield.
Survivors include her sons, George Kenneth Myers of McDonald, Pa., Darrell Gene Myers of Oak Hill, James Arthur Myers and wife, Anita, of Oak Hill, Charles William Myers of Oak Hill, Johnny Hurley Myers and wife, Kim, of Madison, and Billy R. Myers and wife, Darlene, of Fayetteville; daughters, Daisy Hayes and husband, Robert, of Bradley, and Audrey Jeffries of Kincaid; 25 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 7 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with Andy Burns officiating. followed in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.
Pallbearers were John Roles, David Richards, David Blevins, Scott Myers, John Scott, Ryan Scott, Danny Thomas and Rick Stanley.
Sona 'Katy' Lively Powers
Sona Kay "Katy" Lively Powers, 62, of Elkton, Md., died Sept. 7, 2003, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md.
Born April 4, 1941, at Pax, she was the daughter of the late Shan Clifford and Mary Gertrude Lafferty Lively. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Harless Grant Jr. and Jack Denny Lively.
Mrs. Powers had been a resident of Cecil County, Md., for 47 years. She worked for the Union Hospital Federal Credit Union, Chabert Duval Interiors and Peoples Bank of Elkton. She was a member of Baldwin United Methodist Church and Meadowview Homemakers.
Mrs. Powers is survived by her husband of 48 years, Charles E. "Chuck" Powers; children, Vanessa P. Brown and her husband, Robert, of Elkton, Grant E. Powers and his wife, Karen, of Grand Blanc, Mich., Sylvia P. Kilroy and her husband, D. Brian, of Hudson, Ohio and Jeffery C. Powers and his wife, Marcia, of Elkton; brothers, Elliott Douglas Lively of Brooklyn, Ohio, and Buster Dean Lively of Morristown, Tenn.; sister, Patricia Gay Dickinson of Meadow Bridge; and seven grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 11 at Baldwin United Methodist Church, Elk Mills, Md., where family and friends called.
Almeda Katherine Scott Propps
Almeda Katherine Scott Propps, 88, of Fayetteville, died Sept. 17, 2003, at Fayette Continuous Care, Fayetteville, following a long illness.
Born April 22, 1915, at Summerlee, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Ida Blake Scott. She also was preceded in death by her late husband, Ira Earl Propps; a granddaughter, Tara Dawn Propps; and stepsons, Ralph Propps and Watson Propps.
Mrs. Propps was a member of Fayetteville United Methodist Church and the Order of Eastern Star.
Survivors include her sons, James Propps and wife, Annabelle, of Thaxton, Va., John Propps of Fayetteville, Charles Propps and wife, Brenda, of Roanoke, Va., and Randy Propps and wife, Sylvia, of Oak Hill; daughter, Barbara P. Griffith and husband, Stanley, of Fayetteville; stepson, Bernard Propps and wife, Mae, of Marero, La.; 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 19 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Ron George Jr. officiating. followed in Pleasant View Cemetery, Route 1, Fayetteville.
Oretha G. Ramsey
Oretha G. Ramsey, 79, formerly of Ramsey, died Sept. 19, 2003, at the Graceland Care Center Nursing Home in Oxford, Miss.
Born Dec. 20, 1923, in Winona, she was the daughter of the late Perry Roosevelt and Parma Jane Legg Hawkins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Ramsey, on Oct. 24, 1991; and four sisters and three brothers.
Mrs. Ramsey was a member of the Richmond Chapel United Methodist Church of Ramsey and a homemaker.
Survivors include daughters, Dora Lee Conrad of Oxford, Miss., Scarlett McGraw of Akron, Ohio, and Anita Murphy of Jacksonville, Fla.; sons, Densil Ramsey of Graceland Care Center Nursing Home at Oxford, Miss., and John P. Ramsey of Akron, Ohio; sisters, Mazalee Rogers of Sandusky, Ohio, and Elizabeth Reynolds of Radford, Va.; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 23 at the Wallace and Wallace Chapel in Ansted with the Rev. Bill Kincaid officiating. followed at the Richmond Chapel Cemetery in Ramsey.
Allen Ray Sharp
Allen Ray Sharp, 74, died Sept. 17, 2003, at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill following an apparent heart attack.
Born Feb. 26, 1929, at Milburn, he was the son of the late Jesse Cameron and Dessie Marie Woodson Sharp. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Gail Sharen Sharp; sisters, Betty Jean Sharp and Mildred Faye Dravenscott; and a brother, Russell Sharp.
Mr. Sharp was a retired coal miner, having worked for the Milburn Mine. He was a member of UMWA District 17 Local 5948 and the National Rifle Association. He loved to hunt and fish.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Dolorese Vanover Sharp; sons, Gary Allen Sharp Sr. and wife, Angela, of Minden, Darrell Ray Sharp Sr. and wife, Teresa, of Minden, Bill Russell Sharp of Oak Hill and Micheal Eugene Sharp and wife, Sue, of Oak Hill; daughters, Annetta Lynn Sharp of Oak Hill and Pearl Renay Baxter of Minden; brothers, Raymond Sharp and wife, Anna "Gertie," of Pasedena, Md., Roger J. Sharp of Scarbro and Paul Sharp and wife, Mary, of Finksburg, Md.; sister-in-law, Maryland Sharp; 12 grandchildren, Richard Tercheck of North Carolina, Timothy Smith of Texas, Melinda Darelene Smith of North Carolina, Jesse Smith of North Carolina, Gary Allen Sharp Jr. of Minden, Angelia Juanita Jones of Oak Hill, Darrell Ray Sharp II of Minden, Joshua Michael Sharp of Oak Hill, Melinda Suzanne Sharp of Oak Hill, Kristin Gail Sharp of Oak Hill, Hunter Edward Baxter of Minden and Billy Allen Humphrey of Oak Hill; and great-grandchildren, Sharon Faye Burdette of North Carolina, Ricky Lee Burdette of North Carolina, Gary Allen Sharp III of Minden, William Wyatt E. Sharp of Minden, C.M. Dalton Jones of Oak Hill, A. Miranda D. Jones of Oak Hill, Jennifer Ann Sharp of Beckley, Marcus Austin Humphrey of Oak Hill and Levi Dylan Humphrey of Oak Hill.
Service was Sept. 21 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Bill Menefee officiating. followed in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.
Boyd F. Shumaker
Boyd F. Shumaker, 63, of Greensboro, N.C., formerly of Fayetteville, died Sept. 16, 2003, at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, following a long illness.
Born Oct. 11, 1939, at Gatewood, he was the son of the late Thomas and Brittie Virginia Pennington Shumaker.
Mr. Shumaker was a landscaper and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his children, Kim, Sherry, Gary and Jerry Shumaker; brothers, Bill Shumaker of Elyria, Ohio, Don Shumaker of Ansted and Duane Shumaker of Akron, Ohio; sister, Joretta Nugen of Gatewood; and seven grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 20 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Morris Nutter officiating. followed in Pleasant View Cemetery, Route 1, Fayetteville.
Carl Edward Sizemore
Carl Edward Sizemore, 81, of Manassas, Va., formerly of Oak Hill, died Sept. 16, 2003, at Prince William Hospital, Manassas.
Mr. Sizemore had retired from the U.S. Air Force.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Sizemore; and seven sisters and brothers.
Survivors include children, Suzanne Incaranto and husband, Joseph, of Mastic, N.Y., Carl Sizemore Jr. and wife, Angelique, of Spring Valley, Calif., Shirley Aguilera and husband, Lu, of Oceanside, Calif., Miriam Pennise and husband, Roy, of Mastic, Eric Sizemore and wife, Kathy, of Aurora, Colo., and Diane Sizemore and husband, Lefty, of Saluda, N.C.; seven grandchildren; sisters, Ethel Tuttle, Ruth Craft, June Richmond, Jean Vanetter, Shirley Griffie, Janet Lamm, Pat Alguire and Bev Selmon; and brothers, Bill Sizemore, Bob Sizemore and Jack Sizemore.
Service was Sept. 20 at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Bill Menefee officiating. followed in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, with military rites conducted by Oak Hill VFW Post No. 3110.
Robert C. Surface
Robert C. Surface, 80, of Meadow Bridge, passed away Sept. 16, 2003, in Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.
Born July 2, 1923, at Sewell, he was the son of the late John Frank and Mary Ocie Forren Surface.
Mr. Surface was a retired C&O Railroad worker and a retired Fayette County bus driver. He served in the U.S. Army in New Guinea during World War II and during the Korean Conflict. He served in the Army Reserves for 31 years.
He was a former volunteer firefighter in Meadow Bridge where he helped to start the department.
Mr. Surface attended Meadow Bridge United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school. He was the "voice" of the Meadow Bridge Wildcats for over 50 years.
Survivors include his wife, Madleen "Cricket" Surface; daughters, Beverly K. "Penny" McGuire and Teresa Sue Mitton and husband, Michael, all of Gainesville, Fla.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Service was Sept. 19 at Meadow Bridge United Methodist Church with the Rev. Melissa Shortridge officiating. followed in Patton Memorial Cemetery, Meadow Bridge.
Charles Edward Tincher
Charles Edward Tincher, 78, of Route 1, Fayetteville, died Sept. 15, 2003, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, following a sudden illness.
Born Aug. 30, 1925, at Fayetteville, he was the son of the late Lee B. and Lillie Fridley Tincher. He also was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Tincher.
Mr. Tincher was a retired carpenter.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Glenna Margaret Adkins Tincher; daughters, Karen Lively and husband, David, of Petersburg, Va., and Phyllis Gilkerson and husband, Robert Sr., of Gatewood; sister, Shirley Compton of Gatewood; brothers, Roy Tincher and Ray Tincher, both of Gatewood, Robert Tincher of Charleston, S.C., and James Tincher of Jonesborough, Tenn.; grandchildren, Robert Gilkerson Jr. and Charles Gilkerson of Gatewood, Steven Gilkerson of Oak Hill, David M. Lively of Norfolk, Va., and Stacey M. Lively of Petersburg, Va.; and great-grandchildren, Ashley and Ryan Gilkerson of Gatewood and Mandy Robinson of Oak Hill.
Service was Sept. 18 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Morris Nutter officiating. followed in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.
Donald D. Whitney
Donald D. Whitney, 80, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away Aug. 26, 2003, in Jacksonville.
A 1940 graduate of Oak Hill High School, Mr. Whitney was retired from the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Oak Hill High School/Collins High School Alumni Association.
Survivors include his wife, Betty J. Whitney; daughter, Susan Worley; grandson, Jonathan Pappas; granddaughter, Elisabeth Pappas; niece, Eleanor Ann Whitney of Virginia; and nephew, Jack Whitney of Virginia.
Graveside services were Aug. 29 in Gethsemane Memorial Garden.
Memorial gifts may be made to Trinity Shelter for Women and Children, 622 W. Union St., Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Martha A. Hicks
Martha A. Hicks, 79, of Old Minden Road, died Sept. 7, 2003, at her home.
Born Aug. 25, 1925, at Thayer, she was the daughter of John L. Hicks and Marie Booker Hicks.
Mrs. Hicks was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist, Minden. She attended school in Fayette County and DuBois High School.
Survivors include sisters, Ruth Smith and Barbara Hicks Singletary and husband, Leroy, all of Bronx, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Janette Hicks of Detroit, Mich.; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who loved her dearly.
Service was Sept. 13 at Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley, with the Rev. Abner Wright officiating. followed in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley.
Alice Gay Knotts
Alice Gay Knotts, 77, of Bickmore, formerly of Fayetteville, died Sept. 14, 2003, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, following a long illness.
Born Aug. 22, 1926, at Bickmore, she was the daughter of the late Ogden A. and Dimple Osborne Reedy. She also was preceded in death by her brothers, Blair Reedy, Zane Reedy and Franklin Reedy.
Mrs. Knotts was a member of the Fayetteville Presbyterian Church, a graduate of Glenville State College, and a schoolteacher for 35 years, teaching for 21 years at Fayetteville Elementary School.
Survivors include her husband, Charles A. Knotts of Bickmore; daughters, Carol L. Hodges of Newville and Cathy K. Arritt of Fayetteville; grandchildren, Chuck Hodges of Blacksburg, Va., and Mary Allison Arritt of Fayetteville; step-granddaughter, Kate Arritt of Morgantown; great-grandchildren, Reed Hodges and Will Hodges; and step-great-grandson, John T. Ong.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Information submitted by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Chester Renick Mahood Sr.
Chester Renick Mahood Sr. died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003. He was one of Knox County's longest serving circuit court judges, serving as Knox County First Circuit Court judge for 27 years prior to his retirement in 1990. He was appointed to the bench in 1963 by former Gov. Buford Ellington. Judge Mahood was reelected in 1964, 1966, 1974, and 1982.
He was born in Oak Hill and attended Berea College in Kentucky, where he met his wife of 58 years, Margaret Jones Mahood. He was a 1948 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, finishing second in his class.
Judge Mahood served during World War II as an Air Corps weatherman in Nak Nak, Alaska. Following World War II, he was commissioned in the Judge Advocate General's Corps and retired as a lieutenant colonel with 20 years of service. Prior to becoming a judge, he was assistant county attorney for Knox County and was also a partner in the law firm of Lockett, Mahood and Sovis.
He was an active master gardener, who was especially noted for his huge vegetable garden that he shared with friends. He will be remembered by his many breakfast roundtable club friends with whom he shared breakfast for several decades, first at the old S&W Cafeteria, and more recently at Rankin's.
Judge Mahood was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association. During his long career on the bench, he will be especially remembered for his kindness to jurors and helpfulness to young lawyers. He was honored in 1994 at a Truman Day Dinner for his outstanding service.
After his retirement, Judge Mahood sat on the Tennessee Supreme Court Workers Compensation Panel and also filled in for other judges when requested.
Judge Mahood was active in North Hills Presbyterian Church and Kirk Hills Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder. He also was a scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts for many years.
Judge Mahood was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Oma Mahood; brothers, Frederick and Robert Stuart Mahood; and a sister, Margaret Ellen King.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Margaret Jones Mahood; a son, Chester Renick Mahood Jr. of Knoxville; daughters and their husbands, David and Kathleen Morrow of Brevard, N.C., Wendell and Ramona Pennington of Cookeville, Tenn., and Mark and Amy Hartsoe of Maryville, Tenn.; grandsons, Aaron Lee Pennington, Watson Franklin Hartsoe III, Henry Renick Hartsoe and Theodore Mahood Hartsoe; brothers, Charles and Jimmy Mahood, both of Oak Hill, and David Mahood of Warren, Mich.; and other family members and innumerable friends.
Service was Sept. 9 at Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel with the Rev. Bob Davis officiating. Graveside service and burial were at Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Sept. 10.
Submitted by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
Retha G. Massey
Retha G. Fox Massey, 65, of Ansted, passed away Sept. 10, 2003, at her mother's residence following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born April 5, 1938, at Ramsey, she was the daughter of Bessie Nutter Fox of Ansted and the late Harold Fox, who passed away Feb. 14, 1995. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Harold "Buddy" Fox.
Retha retired in July 2001 with 22 years of service for the Fayette County Board of Education, working as head cook at Ansted Elementary School. She enjoyed her family, home, yard work and fish pond. She was a member of Lovers Leap Baptist Church, Ansted.
She was the proud mother of Larry Jr. of Hico, Lane of New Bern, N.C., and Brian of Milton. Other survivors include sisters, Brenda Fishel of Martinsville, Ind., and Karen Tarantelli of Scott Depot; brothers, Dale Fox of Ansted and Edward Fox of Pinch; and a very special friend, Jack Buchanan of Ansted. She was the loving grandmother of Stephanie Carroll of Lumberton, N.C., Jason Massey of Alexandria, Va., Kellen Massey of Hico and Jessica and Jennifer Massey of New Bern.
Service was Sept. 13 at Lovers Leap Baptist Church, Ansted, with the Rev. Jack Eades officiating. Entombment followed in Chapel of Rest Mausoleum, Victor.
Verda M. McGraw
Verda M. McGraw, 84, of Ramsey, passed away Sept. 9, 2003, at Summersville Memorial Hospital, to join her husband, Woodrow W. McGraw, who departed this life on Aug. 11, 1978.
Born Oct. 23, 1918, at Horseshoe Creek, she was the daughter of the late Roy H. and Nocho R. Bragg Dempsey. Other than her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Raymond, Raleigh, Ralph and Roscoe Dempsey.
Mrs. McGraw was a member of Liberty Baptist Church at Ramsey and was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Cathy M. Skaggs of Ramsey; sons, Jerry W. McGraw of Ramsey, Houston F. McGraw of Akron, Ohio, and Auston L. McGraw of Barberton, Ohio; brothers, Robert Dempsey of Ansted and Rufus Dempsey of Fayetteville; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Service was Sept. 11 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted, with the Rev. John Critchley officiating. followed in Restlawn Memory Gardens, Victor.
Pallbearers were Michael, Randy, Kevin, James and John McGraw and Mathew Noel.
Mable Ramsey
Mable Ramsey, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sept. 6, 2003, at her residence in Edmond.
Born July 12, 1915, at Edmond, she was the daughter of the late James and Violet Stone Syner. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jake Ramsey; and a brother, James Syner.
Mrs. Ramsey was a member of Jeannette Baptist Church of Edmond and a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Laurette Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa; sons, Jake Ramsey of Sacramento, Calif., James Ramsey of Des Moines, Claude Ramsey of Edmond and Joe Ramsey of Illinois; sister, Annie Sedlock of Ansted; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 12 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home Chapel, Ansted, with the Rev. Paul Syner officiating. followed in Nuttall Cemetery, Edmond.
Deborah Ann Stalls
Deborah Ann Stalls, 49, of Maple Fork, died Sept. 11, 2003, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown.
Born June 12, 1954, she was the daughter of Alma Scarbro of Maple Fork and the late Cecil Scarbro of Maple Fork. Besides her father, Debbie was preceded in death by two brothers, Scotty Scarbro and Terry Scarbro.
Debbie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister. She was also a member of Maple Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include her loving husband, Allen Stalls; children, Donald Maynor and wife, Patty, of Maple Fork, Saprina Williams and fiance, Mike Toney, of Kincaid, and Tabitha Williams of Maple Fork; granddaughters, Patricia Maynor of Maple Fork and Chassidy Williams of Kincaid; brother, Cecil G. Scarbro of Dade City, Fla.; sisters, Reese Scarbro of Indiana, Carol Thomas of Dade City, Betty Sumpter of Maple Fork, Yvonne Williams of Beckley, Reba Torres of Maple Fork, Pam Buffington of Charleston, Judy McKinney of Huntington, Janet Radford of Daniels, Marietta Hamby of Dade City, Tina Huffman of Maple Fork, Vivian Miller of Coal City, Staretta Scarbro of Fayetteville, N.C., and Mary Ann Steel of Delaware.
Service was Sept. 15 at the Maple Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Barley officiating. followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Thomas Ray Toombs
Thomas Ray Toombs, 72, of Severna Park, Md., passed away Sept. 15, 2003, at his home following respiratory failure.
Born Nov. 10, 1930, in Oak Hill, he was the son of the late Curtis William Toombs Sr. and Glenna Mann Toombs. He also was preceded in death by a sister, Gaye Toombs Coffey, and a brother, James E. Toombs.
Mr. Toombs was a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington and served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
After a long career, he retired from the DuPont Corporation of Wilmington, Del., and moved to Severna Park shortly thereafter.
His hobbies included fly fishing, woodworking and golf. He was a member of the Oak Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Ruth Wilson Toombs of Severna Park; stepson, Bill Hannabass of Oak Hill; stepdaughter, Sue Anspach of Erderheim, Pa.; brothers, Curtis W. Toombs Jr. of Ashland, Ky., and Howard Lee Toombs of Heflein, Ala.; sister, Peggy Toombs Novak of Eustis, Fla.; and one grandchild.
Service will be Thursday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home, Severna Park, with burial following in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.
Memorial donations may be made to the Thomas Toombs Memorial Scholarship Fund, 350 West Oyler Ave., Oak Hill, WV 25901.
