Julia Deel Matney
(Grundy)

  Julia Deel Matney, 56, of Grundy, died Saturday, September 2, 2006 at her home.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of Dorothy Deel of Richlands and the late David C. Deel. She was a teacher and was of the Christian faith.
  She is survived by her husband, Edward A. Matney; two daughters, Mrs. Eric (Christina) Blevins of Bristol, VA and Mrs. Johnathan (Ashley) Dales of Radford; three sisters, Mrs. Tom (Joyce) Stiltner of Gray, TN, Bonnie Adkins of Pounding Mill and Mrs. Jerry (Louise) Compton of Richlands.
  In honor of her wishes, she was cremated. A celebration of her life was held Monday, September 4 with the Rev. George Aichel officiating.
  The family requests contributions be made to establish a Julia Matney Math Scholarship Fund for a deserving student at Grundy High School. Donations may be made to TruPoint Bank in Grundy.
  Virginia Funeral Home, of Grundy, was in charge of arrangements.

Mitchell Stevens, Jr.
(Big Rock)

  Mitchell "Mikey" Stevens, Jr., 34, of Big Rock, died Saturday, September 2, 2006 following an automobile accident on Rt. 83 in Buchanan County.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of Michael Stevens and Patricia Ann Slone Stevens of Lafollette, TN. He was of the Church of Christ faith and was an employee of Banner Blue Mining, a division of Wellmore Coal Corporation.
  He was preceded in death by one brother, Patrick Obrian Stevens.
  In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Tonya Renae Shortridge Stevens; two daughters, Schlina Stevens and Keysha LeeAnn Stevens, both of the home; one brother, Shawn Keith Stevens and wife, Carol, of Lafollette, TN; father-in-law, Donald Shortridge; step-mother-in-law, Anna Shortridge, of Grundy; mother-in-law, Aldeana Shortridge of Big Rock; and one nephew.
  Services were held Monday, September 4 at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Chapman and Evg. Michael Trent officiating.
  Cremation followed.
  Honorary pallbearers were J.D. Baker, Martin Slone, Keith Lester, Tommy Shortridge, Jared Hughes, Clyde Davis, Scotty Deel and employees of Banner Blue Mining.
  Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home, of Grundy, was in charge of arrangements.

Charles E. Blankenship
(Hurley)

  Charles Eddie Blankenship, 60, of Hurley, died Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Ed and Bessie Tudor Blankenship. He was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and was of the Holiness faith. He was a retired coal miner and heavy equipment operator.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Irene Justus Blankenship, May 25, 2005, and one brother, Millard Blankenship.
  He is survived by four sons, Jeffrey and wife, Roberta Blankenship of Vansant, Timothy and wife, Marcy Blankenship, of Hurley, Chuck and wife, Sandy Blankenship of Green Cove Springs, FL and Mark and wife, Fran Blankenship of Keystone Heights, FL; two sisters, Belle Stacy and Linnie Hurd, both of Hurley; two brothers, James Blankenship of Hurley and J.D. Cowan of Abingdon; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
  Services were held Saturday, September 2 at Grundy Funeral Home with Ministers Donald Ashby and Jessie Taylor officiating. Burial followed in the Justus Cemetery on Brushy Fork near Hurley.
  Active pallbearers were family and friends.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 Pamela Jean Lester
                   (Hurley)

  Pamela Jean (Bubbles) Lester, 43, of Hurley, died Saturday, September 2, 2006 at her home following a brief illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of Roscoe Lester of Hurley and the late Mary Lester Lester. She was of the Church of God faith and a homemaker.
  In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Phyllis, Lois and Sharon Lester, and one brother, Danny Ray Lester.
  She is survived by one daughter, Jessica Lynn, and husband, Corey Conley, of Rochester, IN; one son, Jason Lee Lester of Sugar Grove; six sisters, Florence, and husband, Billy Joe Whitt, of Hurley, Linda, and husband, Lanny Gillman and Lillian, and husband, Connie Cline, both of Akron, IN, Donna and husband Bill Gillman of Mentone, IN, Rita Charles of Warsaw, IN and Sherry Jackson of Akron, IN; one grandson and two granddaughters.
  Services will be held today (Thursday), September 7 at 1 p.m. at Elkins Branch Pentecostal Church with the Revs. Ronald Lee Lester and Connie Cline officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers will be family and friends.
  Grundy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kennith Jessie Boyd
(Vansant)

  Kennith Jessie Boyd, 60, of Vansant, died Monday, September 4, 2006 at his home following an extended illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late William McKinley and Edith Charles Boyd. He was a retired employee of Island Creek Coal Company, Beatrice Mines, and was of the Baptist faith.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Geraldine Ratliff.
  He is survived by his wife, Barbara S. Compton Boyd; two sons, Shannon Boyd of Vansant and Jessie Dwayne Boyd of Tazewell; one brother, James Boyd of Roanoke; and two grandchildren.
  Services were held Wednesday, September 6 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Ministers Eddie Wilson and Ronnie Sliger officiating. Burial followed in the Coleman Cemetery at Leemaster.
  Active pallbearers were Kennith Compton, Carl Williamson, James Coleman, Shannon Boyd, Richard Coleman and Travis Cantrell.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ashby Mullins
(Pilgrim's Knob)

  Ashby Mullins, 74, of Pilgrim's Knob, died September 3, 2006 in a Johnson City, TN hospital.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Sonny Mullins and Linnie Church Mullins.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Mae Sweeney Mullins; two sisters, Virginia Mullins and Dora Cooper; and one grandson, Joel Ryan Owens.
  He is survived by six daughters, Betty Owens and husband, Carl, and Orpha Kelly and husband, Bill, of Pilgrim's Knob, Pat Joyce and husband, Steve, and Peggy Joyce and husband, Johnny, of Claypool Hill,  Nancy Nichols and husband, Shannon, of Abingdon, Rhonda Alley and husband, Kenneth of Hillsville; two sons, Bobby Mullins and wife, Debbie, of Thompson Valley and Elmer Mullins and wife, Jennifer, of Jewell Ridge; seven sisters, Norma Horn of Pilgrim's Knob, Carma Blevins of Iaeger, WV, Elsie Reed of Brenton, WV, Gaynell Potter of Athens, TN, Ora Workman and Kay Bailey, both of Falls Mills and Rita Bailey of Bluefield, WV; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  Services were held Wednesday, September 6 at Loggy Bottom Pentecostal Church with the Revs. Luther Rife, Lawrence Horn and Clell Daniels officiating. Burial followed in the Sonny Mullins Cemetery at Compton Mountain.
  Pallbearers were Phil Kennedy, Norman Hagerman, Calvin Keen, Franklin Miller, Ricky Cooper, Lawrence Deel and Herman Keen.
  Honorary pallbearers were his C.B. radio friends.
  Singleton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Hassie A. Brown
(Keen Mountain)

  Hassie A. Brown, 73, of Keen Mountain, died Saturday, September 3, 2006 at her home following an extended illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Elbert and Rachel Street Boyd.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Nelson Boyd; one sister, Lacy Rowe; and three step-sons, Jimmy Brown, Danny Brown and Ronnie Brown.
  She is survived by her husband, Aubrey D. Brown; one son, Robert Brown, of Bristol, TN; one daughter, Patricia B. Huffman, and husband, John, of Columbia, SC; two step-sons, Eddie Wayne Brown of Keen Mountain and Jerry Brown and wife, Joyce, of Garden Creek; one step-daughter, Teresa Hale of Little Garden; one brother, Charlie (Jack) Boyd of Abingdon; four sisters, Bonnie Street of Keen Mountain, Fonnie Coleman and Lonia Stout, both of Oakwood and Dorothy Potter of Abingdon.
  Buchanan Funeral Service, Keen Mountain, was in charge of arrangements.

Agnes Gaye Tilton
(Welch, WV)

  Agnes Gaye Tilton, 63, of Welch, WV, died Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at her home in Welch.
  Born in Paynesville, WV, she was a daughter of the late David and Mae McGuire Mullins.  She was a homemaker.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Lottie Degner, Tilda Viars, and Mildred Payne, and two brothers, Harold and Arnold Mullins.
  She is survived by one son, Michael Tilton, of Center Harbor, NH; three daughters, Brenda Tilton of New Hampshire, Sharon Tilton of Free Port, FL, and Barbara Tilton of Martinsville, WV; five sisters, Patricia Toler of Slate Creek, Jacqueline Wess of Hurley,  Rebecca Payne of Jolo, Melda Addair of Abingdon, and Valorie Justice of Austinville; five brothers, Elza Mullins of Slate Creek, Mack and Tom Mullins, both of Paynesville, James Mullins of Logan, and John Mullins of Thomasville, NC; and three grandchildren, Lisa, David, and Shawn.
  Funeral services were held Saturday, September 2, 2006 at Cross View Church of Christ on Stateline Ridge near Paynesville with Evg. Vernor Blankenship and Preacher Hobert Kennedy officiating. Burial  followed in the John R. Stacy Cemetery on Stateline Ridge.
  Pallbearers were family and friends.
  Fanning Funeral Home, Iaeger, WV, was in charge of arrangements.

  Robert E. O'quinn, 63, of Bee, died Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at the home of his brother.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of Euna Hay and the late Milford O'quinn. He was a 1960 Haysi High School graduate, was last employed as a coal miner and was of the Baptist faith.
  In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a step-father, Silas Hay; one sister, Betty Fletcher, and a brother-in-law, J.C. Fletcher.
  In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sons, Rickey O'quinn of North Carolina and James Robert O'quinn of Alabama; one daughter, Debbie Grubbs of North Carolina; four brothers, James O'quinn, Darrell (Jean) O'quinn and Gary Hay, all of Bee and Charles (Linda) Hay of Haysi; six grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held Friday, September 1 at Haysi Funeral Home with Elders Price Viers, Jim Duty and Jim O'quinn officiating. Burial followed in the A.J. Edwards Cemetery at Birchleaf.
  Pallbearers were Danny Mondrage, Mickey Taylor, Jerry Deel, Ronald Sykes, Brian O'quinn, Kevin O'quinn, Kenny Hay and Victor Mullins.
  Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

  Fonna Mae Ball Wilson, 71, of Bristol, VA, died Wednesday (August 30, 2006) in a Lebanon, Virginia hospital.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Robert L. and Martha Ball. She had lived in Bristol for the past five years, moving from Lebanon. She was of the Holiness faith.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bannard Ball; two sons, Sammy Ball and Eddie Ball; and one granddaughter, Rebecca Fletcher.
  She is survived by one daughter, Margaret Fletcher of Bristol, VA; one grandson, Jimmy Wayne Fletcher; two great-grandchildren, Brittany Annmarie Fletcher and Zachary Wayne Hicks; several cousins and additional family.
  Services were held Friday in Honaker with the Revs. Guy Harris and Kyle Ratliff officiating. Interment followed in the Rose Cemetery at Council.
  Pallbearers were relatives and friends.

Essie Louise Ball
(Bradshaw, WV)

  Essie Louise Sweeney Ball, 66, of Bradshaw, WV, died Friday, September 1, 2006 in Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy.
  Born in McDowell County, she was the daughter of the late Dillard Sweeney and Sythia Atwell Sweeney. She was a homemaker.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Ellis Ball; one son, Michael Ellis Ball; and three sisters, Lassie Hess, Hessie Ball and Patsy Jewell.
  She is survived by one son, David Ball of Bradshaw, WV; two sisters, Carol Stanley of Bradshaw, WV and Ellen Reed of Richlands; one brother, Marvin Sweeney of Winston-Salem, NC; and one grandson.
  Services were held Monday, September 4 at the Jesus Church at Bartley, WV with the Revs. Pete Woods and Jessie Estep officiating. Burial followed in the Tom Sparks Cemetery, Paynesville, WV.
  Active pallbearers were family and friends.
  Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home, Grundy, was in charge of arrangements.

Imal Owens Fuller
(Haysi, VA)

  Imal Owens Fuller, 84, of Haysi, died Monday, September 4, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy.
  Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of the late H. Cleveland and Sarah Evaline O'quinn Owens. She was a homemaker and was of the Old Regular Baptist faith.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Fuller; two sons, Joe and Roger Fuller; five sisters, Bertha Owens, Alta Bailey, Della Yates O'quinn, Dollie Belcher and Pinkie Deel; two brothers, Barney Owens and Jim Owens; and two grandchildren.
  She is survived by two sons, Roby C. (Linda) Fuller and Vaughn (Dianna) Fuller, both of Haysi; five daughters, Phyllis (Eugene) Edwards of Haysi, Myrna (Bill) Campbell of Grundy, Judy Lamkin of Birchleaf, Karen (Jeffrey) Lane of Vansant and Sandy Lingle of Louisville, KY; two sisters, Maxie Hess of Kingsport, TN and Ethel Yates of Breaks; one brother, Ellis Owens of Haysi; 14 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
  Services were held Wednesday, September 6 at Haysi Funeral Home with Elders Toby Bailey, Billy Sam Campbell and William McClanahan officiating. Burial followed in the Blankenship Cemetery at Haysi.
  Pallbearers were Jason Edwards, Jeffrey Edwards, Marc Lingle, Justin Fuller, Billy Campbell, Joshua Campbell, Chris Lamkin and Nick Lane.
  Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.