EDDIE RAY HONEYCUTT, JR.

DUFFIELD, VA - Eddie Ray Honeycutt, Jr., 68, formerly of Norton, died Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at the James H, Quillen Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN.  Born in Norton, VA, he was son of the late Eddie Ray Honeycutt and Ida Stapleton Honeycutt.  Eddie was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was also preceded in death by two sons: Samuel Shuelar Honeycutt and Eddie Ray Honeycutt III, a daughter, Malisa May Honeycutt, a brother, Gregory Stapleton, and his grandparents:  Elizabeth and Ike Robbins, and Maggie and Emmit Honeycutt.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Honeycutt, daughters: Melanie (Donn) Goin, Marina (Michael) Berry, and Mary (Fred) Ballard; a brother Buck Robbins, a special sister, Bell Collins, a half-sister, Donna Sturgill, and two half-brothers, Bobby Stapleton and Ernie Stapleton; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive from 5-7 PM Saturday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Burial services will be private at a later time.

VIOLET ESTEP JONES

WISE, VA - Violet Estep Jones, 77, died Friday, May 13, 2016 at Johnson City Medical Center after a brief illness.  Born in Dorchester, VA to the late Robert Lee and Virginia Estep, she was a long-time resident of Wise and retired from the Wise County Health Department.  In recent years, she pursued her passion of writing, both short stories and poetry.  Her short stories were published in two compilations, “Gathering Leaves” and “Rooting Branches.”  Her Christian poetry became the inspiration for many and is known to have been distributed throughout at least 38 states and 10 countries.  Her faith carried her through life and she was an inspiration to those who knew her.  She was a member of Higher Ground Baptist Church in Kingsport, TN.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Warren Jones of Wise, VA; one son, Steven Jones (Ty Justice) of Knoxville, TN; one daughter, Kim Coomer (Bubby Turner) of Wise, VA; three grandchildren, Isaiah Coomer (Shayla Coomer) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Chase Coomer (Lori Weiss) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Christian Coomer (Devin Willingham) of Myrtle Beach, SC; three brothers, Robert Lee Estep, Jr. (Janeen Estep) of Wendell, NC, Roy Estep (Debbie Estep) of Calabash, NC, and Roger Estep (Deborah Estep) of Wise, VA; several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to send a special thanks to the Emergency Room staff at Norton Community Hospital, as well as the staff of the 4200 wing at Johnson City Medical Center.  Not only did many of you touch her life, but also the lives of her family during her brief illness.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Mountain States Foundation, 2335 Knob Creek Road, Suite 101, Johnson City, TN 37604.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Phil Hoskins officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Monday, May 16, 2016, at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 10:30 am Monday to travel in procession to the cemetery.

MARGARET JEAN SHERMAN

NORTON, VA – Margaret Jean Sherman, 86, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at Indian Path Medical Center in Kingsport, Tn. She retired from General Motors having worked at the Fleetwood Plant in Detroit, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Sherman.

She is survived by her son, Danny Smith and his wife, Sue, of New Boston, Mi.; two grandsons, Ryan and Danny Smith; two great granddaughters, Calista and Ellese Smith; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 12-1 pm Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 pm Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Roger Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens.

SHELDON HUGH MEADE

NORTON, VA – Sheldon Hugh Meade, 73, died Monday, May 9, 2016, at Ridgecrest Manor in Duffield, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sheldon Meade and Bureta Hill Meade; a nephew, John Mitchell Meade, Jr.; a niece, Jenifer Brooks Estep; and a brother-in-law, Lowell T. Slemp.

He is survived by four brothers, Duane G. Meade and his wife Christine of Wise, Va., John M Meade and his wife Theresa of Big Stone Gap, Va., Joseph K. Meade of Coeburn, Va. and David H. Meade of Clintwood, Va.; five sisters, Rita A. Slemp of Decatur, Al., Linda M Harvey and her husband Adam of Big Stone Gap, Va., Lisa Jones and her husband Gary of Norton, Va., Mary E. Taylor and her husband Walter of Dungannon, Va. and Lauren D. Belcher and her husband Chuck of Big Stone Gap, Va.; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; an uncle, Douglas Meade and his wife Betty of Abingdon, Va.; an aunt, Marquita Slemp and her husband Sam of Meadowview, Va.; and a special friend, Ronnie Hurley of Duffield, Va.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 7 pm Thursday in the funeral home chapel. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Friday, May 13, 2016 at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 10:30 am Friday to travel in procession to the cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

BARBARA BENTLEY

NORTON, VA – Barbara Alice Bentley, 75, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at Holston Valley Medical Center. She was of the Pentecostal faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Douglas and Lou Ella Brummitte Thacker.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Raymond Bentley, Jr.; a son, Ellis Aaron Bentley of the home; a host of family and friends including a special friend, Juanita Thacker.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Friday, May 6, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Friday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Larry Mullins and Rev. Roger Sloce officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Saturday, May 7, 2016, at White Oak Gap Cemetery. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 10:30 am Saturday to travel in procession to the cemetery.

PAMELA COOKE

NORTON, VA – Pamela Michelle (Dean) Cooke, 39, died Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at her home on Guest River Road in Norton.  Pam was a graduate of J.J. Kelly High School and Mountain Empire Community College.  She was a former ward clerk at Mountain View Regional Medical Center.  Her grandmothers, Ruth Dean Jackson and Polly Clark preceded her in death. 

Surviving are her children Alyson Sue Cooke and Dylan Wayne Cooke, the children’s father, Jerry “Jay” Cooke, her parents Carl Wayne and Carol Sue (Jackson) Dean, and several aunts, uncles, cousin.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Thursday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be at 2 PM Friday in the funeral home chapel with the Reverend Mike Hunsucker officiating.  Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton.

DON FARMER

NORTON, VA – Don Farmer, 82, died Monday, May 2, 2016 at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born in Dungannon, Virginia to the late Arthur and Lola Blevins Farmer. He was retired from Norfolk & Southern Railroad after 36 years of service. Don was a member of the Wise Baptist Church and served in the choir. He was a member of the Wise County Historical Society and was a U.S. Army veteran. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Earl Taze.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bobbie Farmer of Norton, Va.; two sons, Sam Farmer and his wife Cindi, and Steve Farmer all of Norton, Va.; two daughters, Donna Hutchinson and her husband, Butch of Norton, Va. and Deanna Jarman and her husband, Tony of Cincinnati, Oh.; eight grandchildren, Greg Hutchinson, April Jarman, Cory Harris, Ashley Lopez, Andrew Farmer, Hunter Farmer, Elora and Jayda Hutchinson; seven great grandchildren; a sister, Louann Farmer of Weber City, Va.; an uncle, Lester Blevins, formerly of Appalachia, Va.; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton, Va. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Collie officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Thursday, May 5, 2016, at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 10:30 am Thursday to travel in procession to the cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wise Baptist Church, P.O. Box 777, Wise, Va. 24293.

HENRY VANOVER

WISE, VA - Henry Vanover, 83, died Monday, May 2, 2016, at his residence in Wise.

Military graveside rites will be conducted at 2 pm Wednesday at Laurel Grove Cemetery. Committal services will follow with Kevin Wampler officiating. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery for services.

ROY K. "JIG EYE" DEAN

NORTON, VA – Roy K. “Jig Eye” Dean, 78, died Sunday, May 1, 2016, at Heritage Hall Health Care in Big Stone Gap, Va. He was self-employed having operated a tire retail store and a trucking company. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Pauline Jackson Dean and his brothers, Earl Dean, Bud Dean and Jimmy Dean.

He is survived by his son, Rusty Dean of Wise, Va.

Burial of Mr. Dean’s cremains will be conducted at a later date.