Constance Elaine Childress
(Grundy)

  Constance (Connie) Elaine McKinney Childress, 58, of Grundy, died Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at her home following an extended illness.
  Born in Charleston, WV, she was the daughter of the late William Algia and Phyllis Jo Eddy McKinney. She was a resident of Buchanan County most of her life and was a member of Vansant Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Grundy High School Class of 1966, Clinch Valley College Class of 1972 and received her Master's Degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She was a retired teacher at Vansant Elementary-Middle School and had served as principal at Vansant and Russell Prater Elementary-Middle Schools.
  She is survived by her husband, Jim Wayne Childress; one son, J.W. "Red" and wife, Stacy Childress of Warren, PA; maternal grandmother, Helen Marie Eddy, of Zanesville, OH; two sisters, Maria McKinney and Chris and husband, Bill Safley, all of Aiken, SC; two grandchildren, Taylor Rae Childress and Riley Elaine Childress, both of Warren; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jim and Barbara Childress of Grundy; several nieces and nephews.
  A Celebration of Life service was held Wednesday, February 21 at Grundy Funeral Home with Evg. William L. Neeley officiating.
  Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Connie E. Childress Scholarship Fund, UVA's College at Wise, 1 College Avenue, Wise, VA 24293 and the Vansant Presbyterian Church, Box 22, Vansant, VA 24656.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Betty Jo Crigger
(Mavisdale)

  Betty Jo Rowe Crigger, 71, of Mavisdale, died Wednesday, February 14, 2007 in a Bristol, TN health care facility.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of Ervin Rowe of Honaker and the late Ester Keen West. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Pikeville College. She was a member of Rowe Pentecostal Holiness Church.
  In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Ray Crigger; and two sisters, Phyllis Johnson and Claudette Gray.
  In addition to her father, she is survived by two daughters, Janie West and husband, Rusty, of Keen Mountain and Hallie Shell and husband, Mike, of Bristol, VA; two grandchildren, Amy West Humphreys and husband, Phillip, of Abingdon and William McKenzie Shell of Harrisonburg; one sister, Loretta (Jean) Cleghorn of Georgia; four brothers, Donald Rowe of Bedford, Jack Rowe of Kingsport, TN, Joe Bill Rowe of Honaker and Bob Keen of Graham, NC; one great-granddaughter, several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held Saturday, February 17 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel, Keen Mountain, with the Rev. Ray Amos and the Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Entombment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum, Claypool Hill.
  Pallbearers were John William Crigger, George Thomas Crigger, Claude Crigger, Jr., Harris Crigger Crumpton, Robert E. Keen, Jr., Steven Noel Crumpton, Dr. Brooks Ryan Crumpton and Willis Ed Rowe, Jr.
  Honorary pallbearers were Glenn Smith, Dr. Randy Forehand, Tommy McGlothlin, Claude Crigger, Sr., Jay Mashburn, Bobby Freeman and Ralph Lee.
  Buchanan Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Lethia Edith Hale
(Council)

  Lethia Edith Johnson Hale, 90, of Council, died Saturday, February 17, 2007 in a Tazewell hospital.
  Born in Council, she was a daughter of the late Elias Ishmel and Canzada Stevens Johnson. She had lived most of her life in the Council area and was a member of Tiller Town Free Will Baptist Church in Council.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Hale; and seven brothers, Attley, Lonnie, Hubbard, Rufus, Elijah, Herman and Audrey Johnson.
  She is survived by three brothers, Kermit and wife, Lila Johnson of Tazewell, Ellis and wife, Rosa Lee Johnson of Bluefield, VA and Daniel and wife, Marie Johnson of Honaker; several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held Wednesday in Honaker with the Rev. Kyle Ratliff and the Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating. Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
  Pallbearers were Lonnie Johnson, Jr., Ronnie Johnson, Kerry Johnson, Steve Johnson, Eric Johnson and Harold Johnson.
  Honorary pallbearers were nephews.

Anthony Tony Mullins
(Maxie)

  Anthony Tony (Nervy) Mullins, 37, of Maxie, died Tuesday, February 13, 2007 following an automobile accident.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of Buford Mullins, Jr. and Carol Ford Mullins of Grundy.
  He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Richard and Ruby Ford and paternal grandfather, Merlin Jackson.
  In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Pamela Mullins; one daughter, Sara Jean Mullins of Maxie; one son, Ryan Hunter Mullins of Maxie; one brother, James David Mullins and wife, Susie, of Portsmouth, OH; and paternal grandmother, Opal Jackson of Harman.
  Services were held Friday, February 16 at Bull Creek Old Regular Baptist Church at Harman with Jackie Yates, Rick Mullins, Ralph Mullins, Jerry Overstreet, Howard Daniels, Billy Campbell and Freddy Ramey officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Pallbearers were J.D. Mullins, Carl Jackson, Ronnie Jackson, Eric Stiltner, Mike Belcher and Tim Wallace.
  Honorary pallbearers were Ester Bartley, Larry Belcher, William Owens and Mack Justus.
  Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

Edith Yates
(Big Rock)

  Edith Breeding Yates, 79, of Big Rock, died Monday, February 19, 2007 at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Grundy, following an extended illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Lydia O'Quinn Breeding. She was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Edward Yates, July 4, 2002; three brothers, Marion, Ira and Paris Breeding; and four sisters, Cora McClanahan, Ethel Honaker, Edna Ramey and Florence Breeding.
  She is survived by one daughter, Rebecca, and husband, Steve Stiltner of Big Rock; two sons, Teddy and wife, Emma Jean Yates of Big Rock and Jeffrey and wife, Melissa Yates of Cedar Bluff; one brother, Edgar Breeding of Abingdon; and one granddaughter, Emily Stiltner.
  Services were held Wednesday, February 21 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Buford Stacy and Elder Elza Mullins officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers were family and friends.
  Honorary pallbearers were Dr. D. Patel, Dr. H. Patel, Dr. J.N. Patel and the staff of Heritage Hall Nursing Home.
  The family suggests expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871 or to Mountain Mission School, 1 Hurley Street, Grundy, VA 24614.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Charles Saunders
(Clinchco, VA)

  Charles "Bunt" Saunders, 67, of Clinchco, died at his home Saturday, February 17, 2007.
  Born in Dickenson County, he was a son of the late Alva Roy and Lucille Kennedy Saunders. He was of the Freewill Baptist faith and was employed with VDOT as maintenance foreman for 27 years before his illness.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Cecil Saunders, and one sister, Josephine Stanley.
  He is survived by his wife, Betty Saunders; one daughter, Karen (Jerry) Coleman of Clinchco; one son, Norman Saunders of Clinchco; two step-daughters, Sherry (Kimble) Turner of Birchleaf and Vicky (Donald) Rowan of Clinchco; one brother, Dean Saunders of Ohio; one sister, Pat Weaver of Michigan; one half-sister, Barbara Ball of Kingsport, TN; one sister-in-law, Margaret Saunders of Ohio; two grandchildren, Carl and Ambrah Coleman; three step-grandchildren, Whitney and Bryant Turner and Dustin Davis; and one step-great-grandchild.
  Services were held Monday, February 19 at Haysi Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Moore officiating. Burial followed in the Lewis Edwards Cemetery on Edwards Ridge.
  Pallbearers were grandsons and friends.
  Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.