JERRY CLINE

NORTON, VA - Jerry Wesley Cline, 61, died Monday, November 18, 2019 at Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, VA.  He was the son of the late Charkes Wesley Cline and Dorine Haynes Cline.

Jerry was a avid outdoorsman and enjoyed frequent camping trips in the mountains.

He is survived by Pam Adams Cline, and several cousins.

Friends and family of Jerry will gather at 1 PM Thursday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton.  At 2 PM they will depart from the funeral home to Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood for a graveside burial service.

DAVID BALL

NORTON, VA – David Ball, age 91, passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, following a brief illness.

Preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Hannah Ball, and brother, Bill, David is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jewell Ball of Norton, VA. Also surviving are his son, Mike (Tina) Ball of Norton, and his daughter, Brook Davis of Myrtle Beach, SC as well as eight grandchildren: Hannah Davis, Josh Ball, Corey (Mackenzie) Ball, Raelyn Ball, Hagan Ball, Ashley Caudill, Alex Robinson, and Aidan Gibson, along with several extended family members whom he loved.

David proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy from 1951-1955 during the Korean War, serving on the U.S.S. Sperry. He was the founder of Ball Construction Company and of Southwest Tool Rental of Norton, VA. A long-time member of Norton’s First Baptist Church, David also served on various church committees through the years and took these responsibilities seriously.

An avid tennis player, David won numerous championships and received many trophies for his athletic skills. Perhaps stemming from his competitive spirit on the tennis court, David’s favorite saying was “Winning is not everything; it’s the only thing.” As a sports enthusiast, David loved all things Auburn football.

In his later years, anyone who visited with David would have gone to his “office” where he showcased his rows of tennis trophies and die-cast cars all the while being regaled with some of David’s favorite stories about when he was in the war, how he laid the foundation for this building or that building or the fun he had constructing all those stairs at what was then still Clinch Valley College. His friends heard stories of how he loved and cared for his wife, and story after story of how proud he was of his children and his grandchildren. His friends listened to George Jones on repeat if they were in a vehicle with David for longer than one Norton City block, and these same friends often shared a meal with him at the Prime Sirloin in Norton where David knew every employee’s name and most of their family’s names too.

David Ball loved life, welcomed any reason to celebrate, and will be missed.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers, lead by Merry Pease, for caring for David in recent years.

The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 2 PM. Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev Jim Collie officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens.

GENNETT STRENGTH

NORTON, VA - Neidth Gennett Strength, 77, died Sunday November 10, 2019 at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN.  Gennett was born and spent much of her life in Norton, VA.  She later moved to the Murfreesboro, TN area where she retired as a nurse at the Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Noah Thacker, Sr. and Lillian Andersen Thacker and a brother Steve Thacker.

Surviving her are her sons and daughters-in-law:  Scott and Cayce Strength, Jason and Theresa Strength, James and Amy Strength, all of the Murfreesboro/Rockvale, TN area.  Her grandchildren are:  Macy Strength, Sienna Strength, Adelay Strength, Roxann Wombacher, and Nicholas Strength.  She is also survived by her brothers and sisters:  Noah Thacker, Jr., Lynn Thacker Nina Buchanan, and Charlene Jackson.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Friday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home, 956 Park Ave. NW, Norton, VA  24273.  Her funeral service will be at 7 PM in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Ken Taylor officiating.  The family and friends will gather at the funeral home by 10:30 AM Saturday to then travel in procession to Laurel Grove Cemetery for burial.

OCIE ROBERTS WOODS

NORTON, VA - Ocie Roberts Woods, 89, passed away at her home on November 8, 2019.  She was a daughter of Joseph and Mary Roberts, and was the widow of Robert Lee Woods.  Ocie was a retired nurse at the former St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton.  She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, and was of the Baptist faith.  A son, Delmar Hensley and a granddaughter, Missy Hensley preceded her in death.

Surviving are her children (and spouses):  Mildred Hershman, Baltimore, MD, Randy (Marilyn) Hensley, Patricia (Sandy) Burton, Wayne (Della) Woods, and Beverly (Ken) Adams, all of Norton.

There are 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 3 great- great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 PM Sunday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton.  Her graveside funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Monday at the Laurel Grove Cemetery with Jacob Messer officiating.  Family and friends will gather at the funeral home Monday between 10:00 and 10:30 AM, and then travel in procession to the cemetery.

MARY COWDEN

NORTON, VA – Mary Cowden, 98, died Saturday, November 2, 2019, at the home of her son in Kingsport, TN. She was a member of Central Freewill Baptist Church in Norton and was a Life Member of the DAV Ladies Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Cowden and two children, Willie Ray Cowden and Brenda Sue Cowden.

She is survived by two daughters, Loretta “Jean” Stidham and her husband Bob of Norton, Va., Joyce Ann Watts and her husband Greg of Kingsport, TN; three sons, James Harold Cowden of Kingsport, TN, William Clinton Cowden and his wife Shirley of Gulf Shores, AL and Jackie Ray Cowden of Circle, GA; 17 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 PM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Steve Powers officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 12 noon Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 11:30 AM to travel in procession to the cemetery.

Memorial contribution may be made to the Central Freewill Baptist Church, PO Box 621, Norton, VA 24273.