Avon F. Phipps
(Vansant)

   Avon F. Phipps, 90, of Vansant, died Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following a brief illness.
   Born in Dickenson County, he was the son of the late Teamous and Grace Kelly Phipps. He was a resident of Buchanan County most of his life and a member of Vansant Baptist Church. He was a retired coal miner and a member of Local Union #7170.
   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Stella M. Phipps, May 29, 2000; one son, Paul Burns Phipps; three sisters and two brothers.
    He is survived by his step-mother, Lora Phipps of Clintwood; four daughters, Janice and husband, Marshall Anderson of Grundy, Gail and husband, Brian Belcher, of Vansant, Jean Howell of Maryland Heights, MO and Phyllis Pruitt of St. Charles, MO; one step-daughter, Thelma, and husband, Jack Smith, of Elkin, NC; one step-son, James C. and wife, Rachel Owens, of Richmond, KY; four sisters, Eunice Fleming of Abingdon, MD, Madge High of Reisterstown, MD, Eva Allen of Concord, NC and Jean Taylor of Glencoe, AL; one half-sister, Kathy Stanley of Clintwood; two half-brothers, Denver Phipps of Nickelsville, KY and Randy Phipps of Morristown, TN; 12 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
   Services were held Friday, January 25 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Stan Parris and Wes Smith officiating. Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
   Active pallbearers were grandsons and nephews.
   Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Willard Wagner
(Compton Mt.)

    Willard Wagner, 61, of Compton Mountain, died Sunday, January 27, 2008 at Clinch Valley Medical Center following an extended illness.
    Born May 24, 1946 in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Alvis and Rose Wagner. He was a member and deacon of Maple Grove Church of Christ.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Ralph Wagner and Ray Wagner; and great-nephew, Joshua Cantrell.
    He is survived by his wife, Karen Keene Wagner; one daughter, Tammy Hand, and husband, David, of Tazewell; one son, Daniel Wagner and wife, Michelle; grandson, Austin Wagner; one brother, Donald Wagner and wife, Emma; two sisters, Erma Cantrell and husband, Frank and Bonnie Childress and husband, Ronald; sisters-in-law, Shirley Wagner and Elizabeth Wagner, all of Keen Mountain; mother-in-law, Margaret Viars and husband, Lewis, of Stateline Ridge; brother-in-law, Steve Keene and wife, Helen, of Stateline Ridge; sisters-in-law, Gayle Keene Cantrell and husband, Alan, of Floyd, Brenda Keene of Raleigh, NC, Sherry Mack and husband, Richard, of Roanoke; brother-in-law, Jeffrey Viars of Compton Mountain; several nieces and nephews; special cousin, J.C. Wagner and wife, Mona, of Compton Mountain.
    Services were held Wednesday, January 30 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel, Keen Mountain, with Ministers Dennis Wimmer, Bob Smith, Ancil Childress and Burb Rife officiating. Burial followed in the Wagner/Mullins Cemetery at Compton Mountain.
    Pallbearers were Alan Cantrell, Dennis Ray Cantrell, Mark Cantrell, Greg Cantrell, David Wagner, Randy Wagner, Brian Wagner, Jay Cole, Ronnie Wagner, Rodney Wagner, Stevie Keene, Billy Keene, Jason Keene, Travis Cantrell, Jonathan Baker and Howie Fuller.
    Honorary pallbearers were elders and deacons of Maple Grove Church of Christ.
    Additional expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to Maple Grove Church of Christ, 5247 Compton Mountain Rd., Pilgrims Knob, VA 24634.
   Buchanan Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Mae Wright
(Virgie, KY)

    Mae Wright, 81, of Virgie, KY, (formerly of Buchanan County), died Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, KY.
    Born in Pike County September 5, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Jefferson and Gracie Mae Damron Harmon. She was a member of Caney Creek Old Regular Baptist Church and had served as dietician at Grundy High School. She was the owner of Mae Wright Clothing in Virgie.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Wright; one son, Nolan Wright; two brothers, Jesse Harmon and Verlin Junior Harmon; and three sisters, Ada Trivette, Eula Wright and Alma Tackett.
    She is survived by two sons, Kermit (Sandy) Wright of Robinson Creek and Randall (Janie) Wright of Virgie; one brother, Clifford Harmon of Virgie; one sister, Ruby Wright; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
    Services were held Saturday at Caney Creek Old Regular Baptist Church with Teddy Honaker, Mike Justice, Don Blake Little and others officiating. Burial followed in the Harmon Family Cemetery at Virgie.
    Hall & Jones Funeral Home, of Virgie, was in charge of arrangements.

Raymond G. Lockhart
(Lorton, VA)

   Raymond G. Lockhart, 68, of Lorton, died Monday, January 28, 2008 at Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church.
    Born December 14, 1939 in Davenport, he was the son of Dorotha Lockhart of Vansant and the late Ira Lockhart. He was a coal miner in southwest Virginia, later enlisting in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged following a two year stint. He worked for the Fruit Growers Express Railroad in Alexandria for some 18 years and Northern Virginia Park Authority at Pohick Park until his retirement.
   In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a step-son, Michael Frantum; one sister, Betty Ruth Lockhart; and one brother, Okie Lockhart.
    He is survived by his wife, Betty Lockhart; two sisters, Adeline Duty of Vansant and Snoda Compton of Fairborne, OH; six brothers, Howell Lockhart, Palmer Lockhart and Randall Lockhart and wife, Joyce, all of Vansant, Cannie Lockhart of Woodbridge, Mason Lockhart and wife, Linda, of Readville, and Brady Lockhart of Fairborne; two step-grandchildren, Patrick and Timothy Frantum, both of Dallas, TX.
    Services will be held Friday, February 1 at 11 a.m. at Mountcastle Funeral Home in Woodbridge with Pastor Dave Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Comfort Cemetery, Alexandria.
    Mountcastle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.