NORTON, VA – Brenda Lynn
Blackburn, 49, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. She was preceded in death by her
mother, Gertrude Kilgore Dean in 2005.
She is survived by her daughter
and son-in-law, Bridgette and Justin Bates of Duffield, VA; a granddaughter,
Kaitland Bates of Duffield, VA; her father, Walter Dean of Norton, VA; 2
sisters, Janice Bolling of Norton, VA, Lynda Stallard of Coeburn, VA; 3
nephews, Ryan Bolling, Brandon Stallard and Orrin and Tesha Stallard.
The family will receive friends
from 3-5:00 PM Monday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. A memorial service
will be conducted at 5:00 PM Monday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. R.J.
Rose officiating. Family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Hagy
& Fawbush Funeral Home, 956 Park Ave. NW, Norton, VA 24273.
MICHAEL KEITH BLACKBURN
NORTON, VA – Michael Keith
Blackburn, 50, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. He was preceded in death by a brother,
William Anthony Blackburn.
He is survived by a daughter and
son-in-law, Bridgette and Justin Bates of Duffield, VA; a granddaughter, Kaitland
Bates of Duffield, VA; his father, William Blackburn of TN; his mother, Shelby
Delp of Norton, VA; a brother, Brent and Michelle Blackburn of Coeburn, VA;
nieces and nephews, Justin Ramey, Seth Blackburn, Haley Blackburn and Ethan
Blackburn.
The family will receive friends
from 3-5:00 PM Monday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. A memorial service
will be conducted at 5:00 PM Monday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. R.J.
Rose officiating. Family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Hagy
& Fawbush Funeral Home, 956 Park Ave. NW, Norton, VA 24273.
NERVA JEAN DARTER
WISE, VA – Nerva Jean Darter, 76,
died Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at her home. She was a loving homemaker and
was devoted to her family.
She is survived by her husband of
56 years, Jack Darter of Wise, VA; a daughter, Reba Darter Ramey of Wise, VA; 3
sons, Jackie Darter, Bo Darter and Paul Darter all of Wise, VA; 5
grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 2 aunts, Orpha Sproles and Lucille Miller
both of Wise, VA; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends
from 4-6:00 PM Saturday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral
services will be conducted at 6:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Adam
Hall officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 1:00 PM
Sunday at the Darter Family Cemetery in Wise. Family and friends will meet at
the funeral home at 12:30 to travel in procession to the cemetery.
ROGER COOKE
NORTON, VA – Roger Clark Cooke,
62, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012 at Mountain View Regional
Medical Center. He was a pastor and ministered at the Wise Mountain Fellowship
Baptist Church. Roger played the mandolin
and ministered in the region for many years and enjoyed helping people and
especially children. He was a former employee with Westmoreland Coal Co. for 25
years. Roger joined the Norton Police Department in 1998. He was currently serving
as the Assistant Chief/Captain and Lead Investigator. He was preceded in death
by his father, Carroll Cooke in 1981. He will be sadly missed by his church family.
He is survived by his wife,
Rhonda Cooke, of Norton, VA; a daughter and son-in-law, Penny and Freddie
Greear of Norton, VA; a granddaughter, Sierra Greear; other family members
include Melissa and Josh Stover; Brooklyn Stover; his mother, Agnes Cooke of
Norton, VA; 2 sisters, Caroleen Gardner and Janie Williams both of Norton, VA;
a brother and sister-in-law, Doyle and Peggy Cooke of Norton, VA; several
nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The family will receive friends
from 4-7:00 PM Friday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will
be conducted at 7:00 PM Friday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Mike
Hunsucker officiating. Committal services will be conducted at 11:00 AM
Saturday at the White Oak Gap Cemetery with the Norton Police Department and area Police Departments conducting funeral honors. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home
by 10:30 AM Saturday to travel in procession to the cemetery. Memorial
contributions may be made to the Wise Mountain Fellowship Church, c/o Angie
Mulkey, 6707 Jessee Cooke Rd., Norton, VA 24273
RALPH GLENN FREEMAN
SURGOINSVILLE, TN - Ralph Glenn
Freeman, 81, of Surgoinsville went to be with the LORD Wednesday, December 19,
2012 at Johnson City Medical Center.
Born November 26, 1931 in Norton, Virginia, he was a son of the late
Walter and Ida (Osborne) Freeman. He was
retired with 23 years of service in the United States Air Force. Ralph was also preceded in death by a son,
Danny Freeman, a grandson, Ricky Rollins, Jr., a brother, James Edward Freeman,
and four sisters: Ruby Freeman, Hazel
Chandler, Ann Braswell, and Lucille Rollins.
Surviving are his wife, Betty
Freeman, two sons: Walter Freeman, Westfield, WI, Rickey Freeman Rollins,
Florida; three stepsons, Jonathan
Hunter, Kingsport, TN, Jimmy Hunter, Erwin, TN, Rickey Hunter, Coeburn, VA, and
a step-daughter, Sherry Watts, Erwin, TN.
He had seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and several nieces
and nephews.
The family will receive friends
from 6-9 PM Wednesday, December 26th, at the Hagy& Fawbush
Funeral Home in Norton, Virginia.
Funeral services will be at 2 PM Thursday, December 27th in
the funeral home chapel, with the Reverend Charlie Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove
Cemetery in Norton, with military honors provided by the Virginia National
Guard Honors Team and local veterans service organizations.
ROBERT L. PHELPS
When I am gone, release
me, let me go, I have so many things to see and do.
You musn’t tie yourself
to me with tears, be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my
love. You can only guess how much you
gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the
love you have shown, but now it’s time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for
me if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while
that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away,
for life goes on. So, if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can’t see or
touch me I’ll be there, and if you listen with your heart,
You’ll have all my love around you, soft and
clear. And then, when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a
smile and welcome you home.
NORTON, VA - Robert Louis “Bob”
Phelps, 77, went to be with his LORD, Monday, December 17, 2012, at Mountain
View Regional Medical Center in Norton.
Born in Norton, Virginia, he was a son of the late William Dow and Ella
Mae (Absher) Phelps. Bob was a retired
sales manager for Free Service Tire Centers, and he attended the Norton Church
of God. He was a veteran E-3 Sergeant of the U.S. Army National Guard, an
Honorable Kentucky Colonel and an Arkansas Traveler. Active in community events and projects, he
was instrumental in organizing the annual Ramsey Community Reunion. Bob was a
devoted member of the Norton Lions Club for over 40 years where he actively
served on the local and district levels.
He served as club president multiple times and was awarded the Lion of
the Year recognition several times as well.
He served as the Lions District Governor in 2001-2002, chaired the Big
Heart Fund Drive annually for a number of years, and over his years of service
was credited with raising over $2 million for Lions charities. For his outstanding service, he was awarded
the coveted Melvin Jones Fellow Award by Lions International. He was preceded in death by a brother, Terry
Jackson Phelps and several nieces and nephews.
Surviving are his wife of fifty
years, Greta P. Phelps, a daughter, Andrea Phelps Mullins of Northern Virginia,
a grandson Ryan Phelps Mullins, a granddaughter, Sydney Paige Mullins, his
brothers: Richard (Cathy) Phelps, Howard
(Diana) Phelps; sisters: Wanda Phelps
(Ralph) McFarland, Vonda Phelps; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Salyers, and several
nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends
from 4 – 7:30 PM Wednesday, December 19, at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home
in Norton. A Lions Club memorial service
will begin at 7:30 PM, the funeral following, with the Reverend Ralph McFarland
and the Reverend Freddie Powers officiating.
Family and friends will gather at the funeral home from noon until 12:30
PM Thursday, where they will then depart in procession to the Laurel Grove
Cemetery for burial. Memorial
contributions may be made to the Norton Lions Club, PO Box 974, Norton, VA 24273.
JUNIOR RAMEY
COEBURN, VA – Carl Junior “Chicken
Man” Ramey, 55, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 15, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his father, Tommy Ramey and his mother, Maxie
Ramey.
He is survived by his wife,
Kimberly Ramey of Coeburn, VA; daughters, Haley Ramey and Candace Ramey both of
Coeburn, VA, Becky and Greg Seymour of Clintwood, VA, Christina Parks of
Castlewood, VA; sons, Harold “Punkin” Ramey, Brian Ramey, Billy Joe and
Charlotte Ramey, Justin and Misty Ramey, Dustin Ramey, all of Coeburn, VA;
sister, Pam and Charlie Branham of Norton; brothers, Ray and Brenda Ramey of
Ohio, Jerry and Joyce Ramey of Norton, VA, Winky and Christine Ramey, Dell and
Barbara Ramey of Roanoke, VA; 11 grandchildren and a host of family and
friends.
The family will receive friends
after 6:00 PM Sunday at the Tacoma Holiness Baptist Church. Funeral services
will be conducted 12:00 PM Monday at the church. Burial will follow in the
Laurel Grove Cemetery.
BARBARA LEE NELSON
NORTON, VA - Barbara Lee Nelson,
80, died Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Indian Path Hospital in Kingsport,
TN. Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, she was a
daughter of the late Albert Thomas and Janet (Gilbert) Jenkins. She was a
friend to all she met and will be sadly missed.
She is survived by a son, Kevan
(Karen) Nelson, Elmira, NY, three daughters:
Karen Roberson, Norton, VA, Kolleen Heck, Gainesville, FL, and Kimberly
Dean, Gloucester, VA, 7grandchildren, Shane (Amber) Roberson, Ryan Roberson,
Caleb Heck, Keriann (John) Balucha, Keagan Nelson, Morgan (Chad) Dean; and 1 great
grandchild, Bryson Roberson.
The family will receive friends
from 1-2:00 PM Sunday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will
be conducted 2:00 PM Sunday in the funeral home chapel. Entombment will follow
in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
BETTY JEAN FULTZ LARGE
WISE, VA - Betty Jean Fultz Large, 81, died Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. Born in Benham, Kentucky, she was a daughter of Everette and Nealie (Adams) Dobbs. Betty Jean was retired from the Wise Clinic. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Willard Fultz, a sister, Jeanette Jones, and two brothers: Ed and Bill Dobbs.
Surviving are her husband, William H. Large, daughters: Sandra Fultz Kinser, Kathy (Jerome) Kern, and Teresa (Olaf) Roland; sons: Gary (Eleanor) Fultz and Rodney (Sharon) Fultz; her sisters: Margaret Bolling, Dorothy Beason, and Ruby Proffit; three stepdaughters: Sue Ramsey, Linda Tiller, and Joyce Shepherd; thirteen grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 PM Friday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be at 11 AM Saturday at Nash’s Chapel Baptist Church, Pole Bridge Road, Wise, VA, with the Reverend Jamie Mann officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens.
JOSIE ELIZABETH THACKER
COEBURN, VA - Josie Elizabeth
Thacker, 82, died Monday, December 10, 2012. Formerly from Coeburn, she was a resident of
Heritage Hall in Wise at the time of her death.
Born in Blackwood, Virginia, she was a daughter of the late Letcher and
Melvina Hamilton, and the last survivor of her generation that included twelve
brothers and sisters. She was the widow
of Beacher Thacker, and was also preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Wells,
an infant granddaughter, Betty Wells, and a son-in-law, Jerry Thompson.
Surviving are her daughters: Judy Thompson and Patsy Amburgey, both of
Coeburn; her grandchildren: Veronica
(Todd) Richardson, Paula (Greg) Harris, Jennifer Amburgey, and Dale (Ashley)
Amburgey; her great grandchildren: Linda
Wells, Lucas Collins, Logan Collins, Elizabeth Simpkins, Jesse James Simpkins,
Olivia Simpkins, Cameron Amburgey, Chandler Amburgey, Taylor Richardson, and
Tonya Richardson; and an expected great- great grandson, Cole Webb.
The family will receive friends
from 5-7 PM Wednesday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be at 7 PM in the
funeral home chapel, with Pastor Johnny Adkins officiating. Family and friends will gather at 10:30
Thursday morning at the funeral home, where they then will depart in procession
for the White Oak Gap Cemetery on Thacker’s Branch, Norton for burial.
