Raymond Ellis Iron
(Grundy)

    Raymond Ellis Iron, 87, of Grundy, died Friday, February 15, 2008 at his home following a brief illness.
    Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Robert McCoy and Myrtle Smith Iron. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was a member of the Grundy Church of Christ. He was a graduate of Grundy High School's class of 1939, served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Fiske No. 143 and was a member of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion. He was a retired employee of the former Lynwood Theater in Grundy and was the last suriving member of his immediate family.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Adele Snow Iron, September 17, 2007; four sisters, Euva Belle Ratliff, Ester Wilburn, Lucille Perrine, Margaret Iron; and one brother, Robert Iron.
     He is survived by one daughter, Shelia Dellinger of Vansant; one son, Ricky and wife, Donna Barden of Las Vegas, NV; one son-in-law, James Dellinger of Marion; three grandchildren, James Brandon Dellinger of Vansant, Kristopher Stewart and wife, Teresa Ratliff, of Marion and Laura Dellinger and husband, Brandon Hutton of Chilhowie; five great-grandchildren, Kristopher Clark Ratliff, Addison Stewart Ratliff, Bailey Catherine Ratliff, Cameron Gray Hutton and Carson Reid Hutton.
     Services were held Sunday, February 17 at Grundy Funeral Home with Evgs. Dennis Wimer and Mike Rife officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock. Full military rites were conducted at the cemetery at members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.
     Active pallbearers were Keith Boyd, Brandon Hutton, Kris Ratliff, Kristopher C. Ratliff, Brandon Dellinger, Addison Ratliff and Ricky Barden.
     Honorary pallbearers were Steve Hagy, Troy Viers, Herb Fields, H.A. Street, Dr. Eric Goss, Tom Adkins, Dr. Dia Owens, James Dellinger, Liz Justus and employees of Special Care Hospice, Edith Street, Evg. Dennis Wimmer, Vernon Belcher and elders and deacons of Grundy Church of Christ.
     Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Johnny Ray Adkins
(Grundy)

     Johnny Ray Adkins, 53, of Grundy, died Monday, February 11, 2007 at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
     Born April 27, 1954 in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Johnny Adkins and Nola Thacker Adkins. He was a disabled coal miner.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Janice Coleman and Lois Lester, and two brothers, Robert Gillespie and Clyde Gillespie.
     He is survived by three brothers, Jimmy Adkins and wife, Maxie and Richard Adkins and wife, Becky, all of Grundy and Charles Adkins and wife, Melissa, of Connersville, IN; several nieces and nephews.
     Services were held Friday, February 15 at the home of Matt Lester on Mule Hollow at Home Creek with the Rev. Ronald Lee Lester officiating. Burial followed in the Justice Cemetery on Home Creek.
    Active pallbearers were George Goble, Matt Lester, Curtis Thacker, Billy Joe Thacker, Elmer Baker, Freddie Moles, Jamie Moles and John Haven Goble.
     Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home, Grundy, was in charge of arrangements.

Etta Charles
(Grundy)

     Etta Charles, 89, of Grundy, died Friday, February 15, 2008 at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Grundy.
     Born March 1, 1918 in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Dave and Victoria Hurley Charles. She was a homemaker.
     In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six sisters, Linnie Maynard, Lonie Cooper, Gracie Blankenship, Polly Stacy, Allie Stacy and Lillie Charles.
    She is survived by two sisters, Peggy Stacy and Bertha Justus, both of Hurley; several nieces and nephews.
    Services were held Monday, February 18 at the Blackey Church of Christ at Hurley with Evgs. Dennis Wimmer and Rick Stiltner officiating. Burial followed in the Charles Cemetery at Hurley.
     Pallbearers were nephews.
     Virginia Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Delano Wilson
(Council)

     Delano Wilson, 62, of Council, died Thursday, February 14, 2008 at his home.
     Born September 30, 1945 in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Holland and Monnie Harris Wilson. A lifelong resident of the area, he was of the Baptist faith. A retired coal miner, he was formerly employed by Pittston Coal Company for 32 years and was a member of the UMWA Local 2354.
     He is survived by his wife, Letha Bostic Wilson of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Mick Compton of Vansant and Pam and Darian Compton of Council; two granddaughters, Megan Compton and Layken Compton; one sister, Virginia Ball and husband, Bill, of Council; two brothers, Carter Wilson and wife, Velva of Abingdon and Curtis Wilson and wife, Nancy, of Council; several nieces and nephews.
      Services were held Sunday in Honaker with the Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating. Entombment followed in the Ketron Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Lebanon.
     Pallbearers were Rob Wilson, Don Wilson, Curvin Fletcher, Kell Vandyke, Michael Dye, Farley Combs, Randy Compton and Harold Harris.
      Honorary pallbearers were Ellis Bostic, Herman Bostic, Jess Bostic, Claude Bostic, Eugene Bostic, Dallas McGlothlin, Joe Bill Rowe, William Rasnake, Randy Wilson, Jason Wilson, Justin Wilson, Larry Ball, Roger Ball and Shannon Ball.

Polly S. Kennedy
(Grundy)

     Polly S. Kennedy, 91, of Grundy, died Sunday, February 17, 2008 at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Grundy.
     Born September 15, 1916 in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Jim and Cosby Blankenship Stacy. She employed as a cook at Hurley High School for 19 years and at the Vansant Church of Christ Youth Camp for 25 years. She was a homemaker and member of the Vansant Church of Christ.
     In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Kennedy, and one son, Jim Bob Blankenship. She was the last survivng member of her immediate family.
     She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Larry (Sandra) Fields of Abingdon; one son, Bill Kennedy, Jr. and wife, Norma, of Knoxville, TN; one daughter-in-law, Alice Yates, of Harman; four grandsons, Jim Bob and Ricky Blankenship, Laddy Fields and Stephen Kennedy; one great-grandson, Derek Blankenship; three great-granddaughters, Amanda Blankenship, Kayla Blankenship and Abbey Blankenship.
      Services were held Tuesday, February 19 at Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy,  with Evgs. Mike Rife, Jerry Bliffen and Jim Bob Blankenship officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
     Pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons, Jimmy, Ricky and Derek Blankenship, Laddy Fields, Stephen Kennedy and Truitt Justus.
     Virginia Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Bonnie Woods
(Prater)

      Bonnie Deel Woods, "Aunt Bonnie", 86, of Prater, died Sunday, February 17, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy,  following an extended illness.
       Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin Franklin Pierce Deel and Ida Bell Owens Deel Charles. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of Big Prater Primitive Baptist Church for 50 years. She was known as "Aunt Bonnie" to all the childre who attended War Fork School.
      In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Henry Woods, March 12, 1994; four sisters, Maxie Deel Charles, Della Maude Deel Woods, Elbertie Charles Viers and Elizabeth Charles; and five brothers, Mack Deel, Evans Deel, Frances Deel, Tolbert Deel and Simmie Charles.
      She is survived by two daughters, Glinda and husband, Scott Sollien, Cathy and husband, Richard Allen, all of Prater; two sons, Sheldon and wife, Orpha Woods of Prater and Russell Leon and wife, Rena Woods, of El Paso, TX; two brothers, Tollie Charles and Delbert Charles, both of Prater; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
       Services will be held today (Thursday), February 21 at 1 p.m. at the Big Prater Primitive Baptist Church at Vansant with Elders Buford Stacy, Jeffrey Arnold, Jimmy Moore and Darrell Viers officiating. Burial will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
      Active pallbearers will be family and friends.
     Grundy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Edgar Stacy Davis
(Haysi, VA)

    Edgar Stacy Davis, 76, of Haysi, died Saturday, February 16, 2008 at Mountain View Health Care in Elkhorn City, KY.
    Born in Dickenson County, he was a son of the late William Toy and Tina Puckett Davis. He was a retired office clerk for Pittston Coal Company.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Lou Davis; one son, Kyle Davis; and one daughter, Carolyn DeFraties.
     He is survived by a son, Bill (Tammy) Davis of Haysi; one son-in-law, Dean DeFraties of Swansboro, NC; two brothers, Clayton Davis of Narrows and Junior (Beana) Davis of Tuscaloosa, AL; his step-mother, Maude Davis of Claypool Hill; and four grandchildren, Jessica DeFraties, Sarah Defraties, Kyle DeFraties and Tyler Davis.
     Services were held Tuesday, February 19 at Haysi Funeral Home with Danny Sluss and Dion Marshall officiating. Burial followed in the Davis Cemetery, Haysi.
    Pallbearers were family and friends.
    Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

William McArthur Mullins
(Paynesville, WV)

    William (Billy) McArthur Mullins, 36, of Paynesville, WV, died Thursday, February 7, 2008 at his home following a brief illness.
     Born in Maryland, he was the son of Earl Thomas and Harriett Anita Hurd Mullins of Paynesville. He was a resident of McDowell County most of his life, was of the Protestant faith and a disabled coal miner.
    He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Dave and Mae Mullins and his maternal grandparents, Carl and Anne Hurd.
    In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Cindy Patricia Mullins of Virginia; one son, William Michael Mullins of Paynesville; one sister, Anne Mullins Price of Mooresville, NC; two brothers, Thomas and wife, Brenda Mullins and Jim Wade Mullins, all of Paynesville; half-sister, Anna Kirlin of Melford, DE.
    Services were held Monday, February 11 at Crossview Church of Christ in Paynesville with Evg. Hobert Kennedy officiating. Burial followed in the John R. Stacy Cemetery, State Line Ridge No. 1 near Paynesville.
    Active pallbearers were family and friends.
    Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Patsy Ann Anderson
(Birchleaf, VA)

    Patsy Ann Anderson, 68, of Birchleaf, died Saturday, February 16, 2008 at her home.
    Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of the late Guy and Gladys Viers Edwards. She was a homemaker.
    She is survived by a son, Anthony Anderson of Birchleaf; two granddaughters, Sheldon and Ashton Anderson; one brother, Fayne (Cathy) Edwards of Richmond; and a special aunt, Agnes "Sis" Viers.
     Services were held Tuesday, February 19 at Haysi Funeral Home with Jerold Yates officiating. Burial followed in the Owens Cemetery at Birchleaf.
     Pallbearers were family and friends.
    Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Buddie Charles Kiser
(Clinchco, VA)

     Buddie Charles Kiser, 75, of Clinchco, died Sunday, February 17, 2008 in Heritage Hall Health Care in Clintwood.
     He was a son of the late George and Mollie Miller Kiser. He was a veteran of the Korean War, a miner at Island Creek Coal Company for 20 years and a member of Clinchco Missionary Baptist Church. He had been employed several years in Detroit, MI and Chicago, IL.
     He is survived by his wife, Ollie; one son, George Kiser of Richmond; four step-sons, Conner Stevens of Gate City, Chalmer Stevens of Crescent City, FL, Lonnie Stevens of Bee and Jimmie Stevens of Bristol, VA; three step-daughters, Gertrude Barton of Bee, Phyllis Jean Duncan of Olathe, KS and Audrey Miller of Abingdon; three brothers, Hoover Kiser and Johnny Kiser, both of Chicago, IL and Ralph Kiser of Elkhorn City, KY; four sisters, Georgia Anna Coleman of California, Mable Jean Johnson of Atlanta, GA, Lou Boyd of Chicago, IL and Audrey Saunders of Kentucky; one grandson, Ferris Kiser of Richmond; several step-grandchildren
    Services were held Wednesday, February 20 at Haysi Funeral Home with the Rev. Roy L. Wilson officiating. Burial followed in the Fuller Cemetery at Haysi.
     Pallbearers were friends and family.
    Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Michael Helton
(Doran, VA)

     Michael Helton, 32, of Doran, died Saturday, February 16, 2008 at a Richlands hospital.
      Born July 31, 1975 in Richlands, he was a son of Ralph Helton of Rowe and the late Geraldine Matney Anders. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a 1993 graduate of Garden High School. He was currently employed as a truck driver for EMATS.
     In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Earnest and Pauline Helton.
     In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Deborah Darlene Keen Helton; two daughters, Brandi Leshea Helton and Gina Hope Helton, both of the home; two daughters, Brandi Leshea Helton and Gina Hope Helton, both of the home; one step-son, Glen K. Keen of the home; two brothers, Timothy David Helton, of Bristol, TN and Shawn Eric Helton of Richlands; one step-sister, Rebecca Carol McGhee of Belfast; maternal grandparents, James and Tennessee Matney; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
     Services were held Tuesday in Honaker with the Revs. Arvil Arwood and Willard Helton officiating. Interment followed in the Helton Cemetery on Stinson Ridge.
     Pallbearers were Shawn Helton, Mark Helton, Jason Farmer, Austin Helton, Tony Cook, Ronnie Cook, DeWayne Vandyke, John Keen, Danny Keen, George Keen and Michael Keen.

Lethia Jane Street
(Cedar Bluff, VA)

     Lethia Jane Street, 78, of Cedar Bluff, died Saturday, February 16, 2008 at a Tazewell nursing home following an extended illness.
     Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late William "Bill" McKinley and Rhoda Lilly Belle Blankenship, former Garden Creek natives. She was of the Holiness faith and was a full time resident of the surrounding areas.
     In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Elbert Street; one daughter, Jerlene Sue Street; one son, Larry Arnold Street; six sisters and two brothers.
    She is survived by two daughters, Judy Conley and husband, Greg, of Richlands and Loraine Altizer and husband, Roger, of Cedar Bluff; one son, Gary Donald Street, of Cedar Bluff; sisters, Vida Street of Cedar Bluff, Pauline Chaffins of Kentucky and Ola Gay Morris of Charlottesville; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
     Services were held Monday, February 18 at Rowe Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Ancil Childress offiiciating. Interment followed in the Street Family Cemetery at Rowe.
     Pallbearers were family and friends.
     Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands was in charge of arrangements.

Omar Owens
(Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

    Omar Owens, 75, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, formerly of Buchanan County, died Saturday, February 9, 2008.
     Born in Grundy, he had lived in Palm Beach Gardens for the past 42 years, relocating there from Virginia. He was a member of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War and was the owner of Owens Trucking Company.
     He is survived by his wife, Gladys; one daughter, Sheila Pittard and husband, Jim, of Jupiter, FL; two sons, David and Greg, both of Boynton Beach, FL; and one sister, Janice Lockhart of Virginia.
     Services were held Thursday, February 14 at Aycock Funeral Home, Jupiter, FL. Interment followed in Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta.
     Additional expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or the Veteran's Administration  Medical Center, 7305 Military Trail, West Palm Teach, FL 33410.
    Aycock Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. 

John Paul Norris
(Meadowview, VA)

     John Paul Norris, 87, of Meadowview, died Saturday, February 2, 2008.
     Born December 8, 1920 in Yukon, WV, he was the son of the late Lewis Frank Norris and Sallie Christian Norris. He was a U.S. Army veteran, was a coal miner/forman, a coal mine inspector and served many years as a town of Grundy police officer and as chief deputy for the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department under Burl Rife. He was also a member of the Buchanan County Men's Club.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Betty Ratcliff Norris; three brothers, Orville Norris, Fred Norris and Frank Norris; and one sister, Lucille Norris Fuller.
     He is survived by his wife, Victoria Burleson Norris; daughters, Betty (Irvin) Craft of Houston, TX, Patricia (Richard) Viers of Abingdon, Paulette (Jim) Mays of Bristol, VA and Sallie (Ron) Phillips of Glade Spring; and sons, John Paul Norris, II, of Montgomery, AL and Joel (Edwina) Norris of Kitty Hawk, NC; sisters, Ruth Yates of Salem, Nadine Stevenson of Noblesville, IN and Peggy Phillips of Vinton; grandchildren, Cindy (Don) Lester, Tammy (Jerome) Salyer, DeAnna (Rick) Johnson, Suzanne (Bob) Puckett, Julie Golden, Hope Beard, Joy (Randy) Dixon, Johnathan (Jessica) Owens, Jason (Vickie) Norris, Whitney Phillips, Adam (Claire) Samuel, Drew (Janie) Samuel, John Paul (Jennifer) Norris, III, Jayma Mays (Adam) Jones and Lindsey Norris; 21-great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
      Services were held Tuesday, February 5 at Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, Abingdon, with the Rev. Alan Moore officiating. Burial followed in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Military graveside rites were performed by the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard.
     Pallbearers were Andrew Samuel, Adam Samuel, Trey Norris, Johnathan Owens, Jason Norris, Randy Dixon, Bobby Puckett and Jerome Salyer.
     Farris Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.