Eric Stuart Kyle
(Vansant)

    Eric Stuart Kyle, 35, of Vansant, died Wednesday, January 2, 2008.
    Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of Lawrence "Jug" Kyle of Newburgh, IN and the late Sharon Anderson Kyle. He was a member of the Vansant Church of Christ and was a former member of the United States Army, having served in Germany during Operation Desert Storm. He was an expert rifleman, a 1990 graduate of Grundy Senior High School and was a truck driver.
     He is survived by his former wife, Leah Salmons Kyle of Chattanooga, TN; two sons, Taylor Eric Kyle and Brandon Cecil Kyle, both of Chattanooga; one sister, Kristie and husband, Dustin Smith, of Washington, IN; step-mother, Joan Kyle of Newburgh; paternal grandmother, Frannie Rose of Titusville, FL; maternal grandmother, Belle Vandyke Anderson of Vansant; several nieces and nephews.
    A memorial service was held Monday, January 7 at the Vansant Church of Christ with Evg. Mike Rife officiating.
     Full military rites were held at the church by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.
     Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Carl Lester
(Big Rock)

    Carl Lester, 64, of Big Rock, died Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy following a brief illness.
    Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Basil and Katherine Blair Lester. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a member of Jesus Outreach Church and was a disabled coal miner.
    He was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Taylor and Elizabeth Owens; two brothers, Dewey Lee Coleman and Albert Ray Lester; and one nephew, Michael Diles.
    He is survived by his wife, Ethel May Sturgeon Lester, of Big Rock; one step-son, Kennith Ray Anderson, of Patterson; one sister, Francis and husband, Jim Edwards, of Big Rock; three brothers, Herbert Coleman, Estil and wife, Melvie Lester and Elsie and wife, Mary Lester, all of Big Rock.
    Services were held Sunday, January 6 at Jesus Outreach Church, Big Rock, with Pastors Danny Fraley Jr., Pim Griffey, Patton Edwards and Johnny Marrs officiating. Burial followed in the Elsie Lester Cemetery on Grassy Fork Road, Big Rock.
    Active pallbearers were Ersel Burton Diles, Jr., Jeffrey Diles, Vinson Slone, Jason Stiltner, Denver Stiltner, Joey Stiltner, Mitchell Grizzle and Brian Stacy.
    Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Edwards, Tyler Slone, James Lester, Allen Stiltner, Ricky Grizzle, Anthony Hamilton, Arnold Sturgeon, Dr. Haresh and Dr. J.G. Patel.
    Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Katherine Virginia Gibson
(Grundy)

    Katherine Virginia Fleino Gibson, 92, of Grundy, died Friday, January 4, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy following an extended illness.
    Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Tom and Betty Fleino. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a member of Grace Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Bronson "Hoot" Gibson, in 1973; one daughter, Betty Mae Smith, and one son, Robert Lee Gibson.
    She is survived by three daughters, Carolyn Janet (Air) Keen of Maxie, Gladys Faye Gibson of Vansant and Violet Brooks of Long Beach, CA; 13 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
    Services were held Monday, January 7 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Brothers James Chapman and Bobby Keen officiating. Burial followed in the Clevinger Cemetery on the left fork of Belcher's Fork at Harman.
    Active pallbearers were family and friends.
    Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Rosa Laura Childress
(Vansant)

    Rosa Laura Deel Childress, 88, of Vansant, died Sunday, January 6, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy following an extended illness.
    Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Fullen and Caroline Perkins Deel. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a homemaker and was a Jehovah's Witness.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Stuart Childress, January 22, 1988; one son, Jerry Childress; three sisters and one brother.
    She is survived by six daughters, Debbie Reece of Grundy, Phyllis and husband, Everett Anthony, Carol and husband, John R. Warlick and Margaret and husband, Frank Vaughan, all of Glen Allen, Wilma and husband, Albert Hart, of Chestertown, MD and Sharon Childress of Sandy Hook; one son, Dean and wife, Liza Childress of Pikeville, KY; one daughter-in-law, Judith Childress of Vansant; four sisters, Fay Looney and Ruby Bostic, both of Vansant, Loraine and husband, Kenneth Stacy of Mt. Gilead, OH and Norma Jean and husband, Leon Stacy of Meadowview; two brothers, Carmel and wife, Phyllis Deel and Odell and wife, Teresa Deel, all of North Tazewell; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
    Services were held Wednesday, January 9 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Glenn Owens officiating. Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
     Active pallbearers were Jeff Kyle, Michael Kyle, Kevin Harper, Aaron Reece, Dillon Reece and Eric Childress.
    Honorary pallbearers were Dr. J.G. Patel, Frank Vaughan, Everett Anthony, Bob Warlick, Albert Hart, Bill Overby and David Johnson.
    Further expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to People Inc., 20694 Riverside Drive, Grundy, VA 24614.
    Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Susie Payne
(North Tazewell, VA)

   Susie Blankenship Payne, 89, of North Tazewell, formerly of Buchanan County, died Friday, January 4, 2008 at Princeton Community Hospital.
    Born September 7, 1918 in Blackey, she was a daughter of the late Elder Taylor Blankenship and Nancy Stacy Blankenship.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alex Payne; one daughter, Nancy Jane Smith; two sons-in-law, Jimmy Smith and Bobby Cochran; one sister, Lula Mullins; five brothers, Virgis Blankenship, Edgar Blankenship, Hobart Blankenship, Homer Blankenship and Richard Blankenship. She was the oldest member of Bee Branch Old Regular Baptist Church at Stacy.
    She is survived by five daughters, Juanita Cochran of Grundy, Sue Garcia and husband, Ed, of Margate, FL, Jean Adkins and husband, Bill and Betty Payne, all of North Tazewell; Rita Baldridge and husband, Rick, of Tazewell; seven sons, Harold Payne and wife, Nancy, of Bluefield, WV, Thermon Payne and wife, Melissa, of North Tazewell, James Payne and wife, Ruth and John Payne and wife, Cathy, all of Bluefield, VA, Ted Payne and wife, Joyce, of Eden, NC, Kenneth Payne and fiance, Tammy, of Bristol, TN, Luther Payne and wife, Terri, of Hickory, NC; two brothers, William Taylor Blankenship and wife, Hilda and Kenneth Blankenship and wife, Ruby, all of Hurley; one sister, Georgia Mounts of Grundy; 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
    Services were held Monday, January 7 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell with Elders Phillip Estep, James Stacy and George Baker officiating. Burial followed in Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
    Pallbearers were grandsons, Jim Smith, Jr., James Payne, Jr., Harold Payne, Jr., Alex Payne, Alex Lee Payne, Matthew Payne, Chris Martin, Richard Baldridge, Jr., Robert Baldridge and great-grandsons, Michael Hackney and Tommy Justus.
    Honorary pallbearers were members of Bee Branch Old Regular Baptist Church.
    Further expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to Bee Branch Old Regular Baptist Church, 1118 Dan Branch Rd., Hurley, VA 24620.
    Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Gladys Edwards
(Birchleaf, VA)

    Gladys Edwards, 97, of Birchleaf, died Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at the home of Phillip and Sandy Owens.
    Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of the late John and Rosabell Arrington Viers. She was a homemaker and member of Sandlick Primitive Baptist Church.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Edwards; brothers, Raymond, Milton, Cleve and Lacy Viers; and sisters, Alberta Yates and Opal Mullins.
    She is survived by one daughter, Patsy Anderson of Birchleaf; one son, Fayne (Cathy) Edwards of Richmond; three grandchildren, Anthony Anderson of Birchleaf and John Edwards and Mike Edwards, both of Richmond; three great-grandchildren, Sheldan and Ashton Anderson and Austin Odell; three sisters, Maxie Viers of Prater, Alene Owens of Newark, OH and Faye Adkins of Howell, MI; one brother, Clayton (Leona) Viers of Hartland, MI; one sister-in-law, Agnes "Sis" Viers of Birchleaf; and former son-in-law, Clark Anderson of Richmond.
    Services were held Friday, January 4 at Haysi Funeral Home with Elders Garnell Gilbert, Jerold Yates and Bob Arrington officiating. Burial followed in the Owens Cemetery at Birchleaf.
    Pallbearers were nephews.
    Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lula Deel
(Haysi, VA)

    Lula Deel, 82, of Haysi, died Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at her home.
    Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late David and Jane Deel. She was a homemaker and member of Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Deel; sisters, Lottie Deel, Cora Jane Deel, Pearlie Coleman and Stella Deel; brothers, Paul, Soley and Carmel Deel and James and Daniel Deel.
    She is survived by two sons, Jerry (Janice) Deel and Garnie Deel, both of Haysi; grandchildren, Heather, Sarah, Tracy and Bridget; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Madison, Colton and Jasmine; one brother, Bart Deel of Haysi; and one sister, Maxie Clevinger of Ohio.
    Services were held Thursday, January 3 at the Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church with Elders Andy Deel, Freelin Yates, Earl Dean Yates and Mark Justice officiating. Burial followed in the Deel Cemetery at Haysi.
    Pallbearers were Randy Yates, Tracy Deel, Cline Woods, James Deel and Craig Deel.
    Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Hill
(Radford, VA)

    Leonard Hill, 71, of Radford, died Thursday, January 3, 2008 at his home.
    Born in Dickenson County, he was a son of the late Dona and Desal Sluss Hill. He was a retired coal miner, a member of UMWA Local 7170 and  was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha June Hill, and one sister, Lillian Hill.
    He is survived by four sons, Timothy Hamon of Atkins, James (Brenda) Hill of Radford, Mark (Brandy) Hill of Dublin and Terry (Theresa) Hill of Christiansburg; one brother, Fon Hill; three sisters, Evon Hale, Bonnie Deel and Barbara Deel, all of Haysi; one aunt, Sema Lowe; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
    Services were held Sunday, January 6 at Haysi Funeral Home with the Revs. Danny Sluss and Douglas C. Reed officiating. Burial followed in the Hill Cemetery at Haysi.
    Pallbearers were grandsons and nephews.
    Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Junior Ratliff
(Honaker, VA)

    Junior Ratliff, 61, of Honaker, died Sunday, January 6, 2007 in a Richlands hospital.
    Born January 28, 1946 in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Glen and Fannie Blankenship Ratliff. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a member of the Outreach Temple Church. A disabled coal miner, he had formerly been employed by Clinchfield Coal Company and more recently Freda Coal Company. He was a member of the UMWA.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Anna Belle Rowe; one brother, Hurley Ratliff, and two brothers-in-law, Joe Smith and Buck Rowe.
     He is survived by his wife, Ethel Ratliff; one daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Adam Moore of Castlewood; four sisters, Linda Smith of Hurley, Christina Ratliff of Oakwood, Shirley Blankenship and husband, McKinley, of Rowe and Bonnie Yates and husband, Roger, of Sevierville, TN, ; five brothers, Billy Ratliff and wife, Ilene, of Mavisdale, Ralph Ratliff and wife, Ruth, of Rowe, Jerry Ratliff and wife, Juanita, of Glade Springs, Raymond Ratliff and wife, Debbie, of Honaker and Jimmie Ratliff and wife, Mildred, of Asheboro, NC; mother-in-law, Viola Guynn of Honaker; special niece, Brentney Ratliff; several additional nieces and nephews.
     Services will be held today (Thursday), January 10 at 1 p.m. in Honaker with the Revs. Arvil Arwood and David Perkins officiating. Interment will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens, Lebanon.
    Pallbearers will be Ray Ratliff, Chris Ratliff, Milton Ratliff, William Ratliff, Scottie Harris, Terry Harris, Jeffrey Ratliff and Russell Ratliff.
    Honorary pallbearers will be Steven Ratliff, Roger Perkins, David Compton and Earl Casey.