Sidney Arthur Clevinger
(Harman)

     Sidney Arthur Clevinger, 79, of the Harman section of Buchanan County, died Sunday, April 20, 2008 at Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol, TN, following an extended illness.
     Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Lewis and Gracie Stiltner Clevinger. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was of the Baptist faith. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was a retired merchant.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Glenda Jean Ratliff; one grandson, Sidney Andrew Clevinger; three sisters, Ruth Marie, Sarah Agnes and Pauline Grey Clevinger; and six brothers, Blake, James Homer, L.K., Emil, Louie and Hillard Clevinger, Sr.
     He is survived by his wife, Vertie Lee Stiltner Clevinger; two daughters, Sherry Lee Clevinger of Maxie and Loretta Gail and husband, Kenny Stiltner of Grundy; one son, Sidney A. Jr. and wife, Kathy Clevinger of Maxie; one sister, Madge Bennett of Maxie; one brother, Grady Clevinger of Mavisdale; one son-in-law, Burlin Ratliff; one granddaughter. Alison Jill Ratliff; four grandsons, Michael Paul Stiltner, James Ray and wife, Beth Stiltner, Nathaniel Wade Clevinger  and Burl Lee Ratliff.
      Services were held Wednesday, April 23 at Grundy Funeral Home with Ministers Shea Shrader and Ronnie Sliger officiating. Burial followed in the Clevinger Cemetery at Maxie. Full military rites were conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.
      Active pallbearers were Michael Stiltner, James Stiltner, Burl Lee Ratliff, Burlin Ratliff, Terry Clevinger, Roger Clevinger, Leslie Clevinger, Ronnie Dale, Henry Cantrell, Randy Looney and Jonathan Meadows.
      Honorary pallbearers were Ruth Dale, Wanda Clevinger and the SICU Unit of Bristol Regional Medical Center.
      Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Norma Jean Gilbert
(Slate Creek)

      Norma Jean OQuinn Gilbert, 65, of the Slate Creek section of Buchanan County, died Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at her home following an extended illness.
       Born in Wyoming County, WV, she was a daughter of the late Ola Walter and Margaret Bishop OQuinn. She had been a resident of Buchanan County several years and was a member of Crossview Church of Christ. She attended Marshall University, was a former employee of the Buchanan County Public Library and was a homemaker.
       She is survived by her husband, Carlos (Bud) Gilbert; two sons, Randy, and wife, Beverly Gilbert of Grundy and Rick and wife, Tammy Gilbert, of Kingsport, TN; one sister, Sandra Nelson of Andalusia, AL; one brother, Ted and wife, Kate OQuinn of Bee; four grandchildren, Morgan Gilbert, Taylor Gilbert, Jamie Gilbert and Dustin Gilbert; one step-granddaughter, Lindsey Scalf; and one great-granddaughter, Graceland Gilbert.
       Services were held Saturday, April 19 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evgs. Hobert Kennedy, Bill Neeley and Steven Lane officiating. Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
       Active pallbearers were Jamie Gilbert, Tim Nelson, Jim Nelson, Harvey Helton, Jamey Ray Gilbert, Jeff Helton, Ballard Nelson and Kelly Church.
      Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Glenn Edward Compton
(Council)

       Glenn Edward Compton, 51, of Council, died Saturday, April 19, 2008 at his home.
       Born July 24, 1956 in Richlands, he was the son of Ilene Hale Compton Wolfe of Council and the late William Edward Compton. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a member of Corinth Baptist Church and was a 1974 graduate of Council High School. He was a retired brakeman, having been employed by Norfolk and Southern Railroad.
       In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one brother, Darrell Compton; maternal grandparents, Ira and Electa Hale; and paternal grandparents, Elkanah and Cora Compton.
       In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Sally Fletcher Compton; one son, Preston Wayne Compton; one daughter, Ann Marie Compton; his step-father, Charles Wolfe; one brother, Paul William Compton and wife, Arlen; two nephews, Eddie Compton and Charlie Compton; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
       Services were held Tuesday in Honaker with the Rev. Carl Burmeier officiating. Interment followed in the Hale Cemetery at Council.
        Pallbearers were cousins and brothers-in-law.
        Honorary pallbearers were Keithal Breeding and John David Hale.

Ralph D. Stiltner
(Maxie)

       Ralph D. (Harry) Stiltner, 71, of Maxie, died Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following an extended illness.
       Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late James Dewey and Flora Daugherty Stiltner. He was a life-long resident of Buchanan County, was a retired coal miner and of the Pentecostal faith.
       In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Plina June Stiltner.
       He is survived by five sisters, Lydia Margaret and husband, Patton Edwards, Peggy and husband, Pim Griffey, Linda Stiltner, Patsy Stiltner and Pamela and husband, Ronnie Stiltner, all of Maxie; six brothers, James Edward Stiltner, Estil and wife, Sarah Stiltner, Gary Stiltner and Teddy Stiltner, all of Maxie, Guy and wife, Kay Stiltner of Rt. 1, Grundy and William and wife, Darlene Stiltner, of Harman; several nieces and nephews.
       Services were held Wednesday, April 23 at Grundy Funenral Home Chapel with Ministers Pim Griffey, Danny Hess and Ronnie Sliger officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
       Active pallbearers were nephews.
       Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Polly Ann McClanahan
(Haysi, VA)

      Polly Ann Yates O'Quinn McClanahan, 72, of Painter Lick Branch near Haysi, died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following an extended illness.
      Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of Elder Freelin Yates of Haysi and the late Prudie Deel Yates. She was a resident of Buchanan County most of her life and a member of Little Canaan Old Regular Baptist Church. She was a homemaker.
       In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Rufus O'Quinn; two infant sisters, Darlene and Norma Jean; two brothers, Percy and Esten; sister-in-law, Agnes Yates; brothers-in-law, Raleigh Kilgore and Roger Colley; step-children, Elder James O'Quinn, Daniel O'Quinn, Elder Franklin O'Quinn, Jessie O'Quinn and Elder Bobby McClanahan.
       In addition to her father, she is survived by her second husband, Auty McClanahan; two sisters, Delphia Kilgore and Edna Colley, both of Haysi; two brothers, Clinton and wife, Kelsa Yates, and Basil and wife, Barbara Yates, all of Haysi; nine step-children: Kathy, Bernard, Lawrence, Plina, Newton, Charlotte, Fern, Ted and Patty.
       Services were held Sunday, April 20 at Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church at Prater with Ralph Mullins, Jimmy Dale Sanders and Ricky Mullins officiating. Burial followed in the Blankenship Cemetery near Haysi.
       Active pallbearers were family and friends.
       Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Cleon Ward
(Cedar Bluff, VA)

      Cleon Ward, 72, of Cedar Bluff, died Monday, April 14, 2008 in a Roanoke hospital following an earlier automobile accident.
       Born June 17, 1935 in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Irvin and Adnia Stacy Ward, both Buchanan County natives. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, was a retired electrician for various mines including Island Creek's Beatrice Mine at Keen Mountain, attended Jones Chapel Church and was a member of the UMWA.
       In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Merida Ilene Ward and Ellen Ward Keen; and one brother, Victor Ward.
       He is survived by his wife, Frances Matney Ward; one daughter, Cleressa Carol Ward of the home; two sisters, Kathleen Keen and husband, Eulis, of Grundy and Jantine Hill and husband, Mike, of Milan, TN; five brothers, Alden Ward and wife, Elsie, Waldo Ward and wife, Helen, Earl James Ward and wife, Beverly, all of Grundy, Avon Ward and wife, Deloris, of North Tazewell and Danny Ward and wife, Carol, of New Braunfels, TX; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joehene "Edison" and Virginia Matney of Lebanon; brothers-in-law, Edison "Sonny" Matney and wife, Mary, of Bristol, TN and Mark Matney of Cleveland; and sister-in-law, Peggy Matney of Abingdon.
       Services were held Friday, April 18 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel, Cedar Bluff, with the Revs. Leon O'Quinn and Denny May officiating. Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill. Military graveside rites were held at Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640.
       Pallbearers were nephews.
       Singleton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Kermit T. Wooldridge
(Rapps Mill, VA)

        Kermit T. Wooldridge, Sr., 75, of Rapps Mill, VA, died Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in Roanoke Carilion Hospital.
        Born July 26, 1932 in Davey, WV, he retired from the Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Authority in 1988 later moving to Rapps Mill with his wife where they served as volunteers for the Effinger Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of Oxford Presbyterian Church in Lexington.
        He is survived by his wife, Maggie Wooldridge; his mother, Grace Wooldridge, of Oakwood; one brother, Hassel Wooldridge and companion, Shelia Sutherland, of Grundy; sister, Elise Dee and Renee Kruetter; daughters, Linda, and Roy Chester of Rapps Mill, Debbie and John Gorman of Linden, Tommie Lea and Jimmy Roper of Rapps Mill; and son, Kermit T. Wooldridge, Jr.  and Sylvia Helmick of Rapps Mill; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, several cousins, nieces and nephews.
        A memorial service was held April 21 at Oxford Presbyterian Church.

Leonard Waldon Matney
(Richlands, VA)

        Leonard Waldon Matney, 72, of Richlands, formerly of Slate Creek, died Friday, April 18, 2008 at a Richlands hospital.
       Born February 16, 1936 in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Nelson and Josie McClanahan Matney. He was a retired coal miner with 42 years of coal mining experience, having last worked for Misty Beck Coal Company.
       In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Margie Endicott Matney; one son, Brian Matney; three sisters, Mary Lockmyer, Olivia "Toots" Christian and Ruth Matney; and five brothers, Lonnie, Herman, Sherman, Lee and Hassell Matney.
        He is survived by his wife, Brenda Walk Matney; three sons, Danny Matney and wife, Shirley and Jeff Matney of Grundy and Randy Matney of Hurley; two step-daughters, Mrs. Isaac (Barbara) Wilson and Carolyn Hess, both of Richlands; two step-sons, Earnest Walk Jr. and Teresa Whitt of Paintlick and Randy Walk and wife, Crystal, of Atkins; one sister, Mrs. Paul (Sadie Marie) Carr of Chesterfield, IL; three granddaughters, Alexis, Laura Beth and Hannah; five grandsons, Marty, Corey, Hunter, Joseph and Jacob; and one great-granddaughter, Brittney.
       Services were held Monday, April 21 at Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, with the Rev. Mike Ashby officiating. Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
       Pallbearers were family and friends.
       Honorary pallbearers were Branny McClanahan and Buddy Matney.
        Virginia Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ralph Stacy
(Hickory, NC)

      Ralph Stacy, 80, of Hickory, NC, formerly of Grundy, died April 19, 2008 at Brian Center Health Rehabilitation in Hickory, NC.
      Born March 24, 1928, he was the son of the late George L. Stacy and Nona Bell Ward Stacy. He was retired from Jewell Smokeless and was a member of Little Freedom Old Regular Baptist Church.
       In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Cecil Stacy.
       He is survived by his wife, Violet Stacy; two daughters, Brenda Sharon Yates of Grundy and Sonja Renee' Ward and husband, Chris Henry Ward of Hickory; four sisters, Truler B. Smith of Grundy, Shirley Mae Stiltner of Oakwood, Alta Faye Childers of Akron, OH and Annie Bell Bingham of Raven; five brothers, Charlie Stacy and Jessie Stacy, both of Grundy, Gallie Stacy of Bland, Delone Stacy of Freemont, OH and Luther Stacy of Nashville, TN; five grandchildren, Brian Keith Yates of Grundy and Joey Yates, Shanda Renee' Shepard Frost of Charlotte, NC, Whitney Nicole and Hayley Danielle Ward of Hickory.
       A memorial service was held Wednesday, April 23 at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, with Minister William McClanahan officiating. Burial followed in the Ratliff Cemetery on Leemaster.
        Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Virginia S. Gillespie
(Fairfax, VA)

      Virginia S. Gillespie, 80, of Fairfax, formerly of Richlands, died Friday, April 18, 2008 in a Fairfax hospital following a brief illness.
       Born in North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late John and Elsie Sneed. She had lived most of her life in the Fairfax area.
       In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Gillespie; two sisters and two brothers.
      She is survived by one son, Jim Gillespie, of Fairfax; one sister, Annie Mae Ratliff, of Bristol, TN; two grandchildren, Jamie Kaye Pohlmann and Shannon Paige Edwards; and two great-grandchildren, Grace and Kate Pohlmann.
       A graveside service was held Tuesday, April 22 at Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands with the Rev. Jerry Casey officiating. Interment followed in the cemetery.
       Pallbearers were Jim Gillespie, Randall Ratliff, Roger Rife, Donald Ratliff, Wesley Pohlmann and Marc Edwards.
       Honorary pallbearers were Sam Altizer, Raymond Matney and Gene Taylor.
       Hurst-Scott Funeral Home, Richlands, was in charge of arrangements.

Phyllis Ann Lester
(Pounding Mill, VA)

        Phyllis Ann Lester, 62, of Pounding Mill, died Tuesday, April 22, 2008 in a Richlands hospital following an extended illness.
        Born in Whitewood, she was the daughter of Edith Faye Yates Compton of Grundy and the late A.T. Compton Jr. She graduated from Whitewood High School with the class of 1964 and Roanoke Business College and had attended East Tennessee State University. She worked at SVCC and had been employed by Island Creek Coal Co., Belk, and First Union Bank. She was an avid decorator and flower lover and was a member of the Richlands Garden Club. She had resided most of her life in the area and attended Community Heights Baptist Church.
         In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Paris Lester, Jr.; one daughter, Laura Spalding of Knoxville, TN; one son, Dr. Matthew A. Lester and wife, Leslie of Knoxville, TN; one brother, Ronald Compton and wife, Pat, of Compton Mountain; one half-brother, Archie Compton, of Shortts Gap; grandchildren, Sierra Faith Spalding, Ryan A. Lester, Ashton R. Lester and Courtney A. Lester; several nieces and nephews.
         Services will be held Friday, April 25 at 1 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands with the Rev. Bill Keele officiating. Entombment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
        Pallbearers will be nephews ad brothers-in-law.
        Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Mario Stefanini, Dr. Howard Scott, Jody Fuller, Buford Yates, Harold Cox, Bill Keele and "Flip" Sykes.
         Friends may call at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday.
         In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Heights Short Term Mission Fund, P.O. Box 1126, Cedar Bluff, VA 24609 or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, Fifth Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
         Hurst-Scott Funeral Home, Richlands, is in charge of arrangements.