Donald Hubert Cummings
Donald Hubert Cummings, 94, of Milton, passed away Monday, August 4, 2003, in Putnam General Hospital. Funeral services were conducted Friday, August 8, 2003, at Heck Funeral Home, Milton, with Dr. Thomas J. DuBose officiating. Burial in the Milton Cemetery in Milton, W.Va. Graveside services were conducted by members of the Milton Masonic Lodge. Mr. Cummings was born July 25, 1909, in Milton, a son of the late James and Fannie Cummings. He graduated from Milton High School in 1928 and Marshall University in 1932. He taught school in Cabell County continuously from 1932 until 1971, having taught at Milton High School prior to serving as principal of Balls Gap, Milton, Ona and Altizer Elementary Schools and Milton High School. He was a member of Milton Baptist Church, Milton Lions Club, Milton Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge and Marshall University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, Honorary Educational Fraternity. He served as a Scoutmaster, Master of the Masonic Lodge, President of the Cabell County Principals Association, President of the Milton Lions Club, Recorder for the town of Milton and President of the Cabell County Education Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Cummings; two brothers, Creth and Everette Cummings; and one sister, Nevada Stewart. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James and Dixie Cummings of Milton; one daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Patrick Wisman of Milton; four grandchildren and their spouses, Dr. Richard Wisman and DeAnna, Dr. James Lee Cummings II and Linda, Robert Cummings and Kim and Don Wisman and Patty; 10 great-grandchildren, Suzanne, Aaron, Elizabeth, John, Julie and Cameron Wisman and Alex, Katie, Brittany and Robbie Cummings. Heck Funeral Home, Milton, was in charge of arrangements.
Thomas D. Brown
Thomas D. Brown, 60, of Milton, W.Va., went home to be with the Lord Monday, August 4, 2003. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, August 6, 2003, at the Jefferson Avenue Church of God by Minister Paul Farley and Minister Greg Tomblinson. Burial in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. He was born August 8, 1942, in Logan, W.Va., a son of the late Millard and Pearl McCloud Brown. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Ronald Brown. He retired from Verizon with 27 years of service and was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was a member of Jefferson Avenue Church of God, where he served as sound system coordinator. He is survived by his wife, Marlene Mays Brown; one son, Tommy Brown of Huntington; four sisters, Genevieve Keenan of Huntington, Marilyn Barker and her husband Carl of Chapmanville, W.Va., Rene Counts and her husband John of Logan, and Doris Brown of Teays Valley, W.Va.; two grandchildren, Zack and Paige Brown of Huntington; two special sisters-in-law, Darlene Napier and Geneva Cabell; and special friend Leaetta Collins. Memorial contributions may be made to, Hospice of Huntington. The family would like to thank Hospice of Huntington, Dr. Kimmey, and the nurses and staff of the 6th Floor Oncology Unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Jearl C. Hickman
Jearl C. “J.C.” Hickman, 65, of Leon died July 28, 2003, in St. Mary’s Hospital following a sudden illness.
He was a retired coal miner with 20 years of service, a lifelong resident of the Leon area and a member of the Bison Hunting Club, Buffalo.
Surviving: wife, Betty Shaffer Hickman; daughters, Beth Snyder of Gassaway, Cheryl Brooks of Rittman, Ohio, Arlene Blankenship of Leon, Patricia Cobb of Robertsburg, and Jo Ciarapica of Leon; sons, Raymond and Robert McCullough, both of Leon, and Thomas Hickman of Paradise; brothers, Jerry Hickman of Evans and Teddy Hickman of Stouts Mills; sisters, Lorena Stout of Stouts Mills, Beverly Kingery of Cabin Creek, Margie Freeman of Cedarville, Janie Vanhorn and Lucille Brake, both of Weston; 15 grandchildren.
Service was held Thursday, July 31, 2003, at Raynes Funeral Home, Buffalo, with Pastor Jake McCarty officiating. Burial was in Wolfe Valley #3 Cemetery, Leon.
Earl Smith Jr.
Earl “BJ” Smith Jr., 32, of Culloden died July 29, 2003, at home after a lifelong illness.
Surviving: mother, Sylvia Smith of Culloden; father, Earl Bernie Smith of Hurricane; sister, Cathy Haupt of Hurricane; nephew, Michael Haupt of Hurricane; good friend, Patricia Wilmoth of Hurricane.
Graveside service was held Thursday, July 31, 2003, at Sycamore Cemetery, near Hurricane, with the Rev. Dewayne Porter officiating. Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, was in charge of arrangements.
Okey L. Sumner
Okey L. Sumner, 70, of Hurricane died July 28, 2003, in Putnam General Hospital after a long illness.
He was a Baptist and was retired from the Putnam County Board of Education after 21 years of service and was a house painter for over 25 years.
Surviving: wife of 51 years, Patricia Luella Sumner; sons, Okey Sumner Jr. of Milton and Charles Sumner of Hurricane; daughters, Jo Ann Evans of Palm Coast, Florida, Kathryn Dean of Lakeland, Florida, Kimberly Dowhower of Tuscon, Arizona, Sandra Wade of Griffithsville, and Patricia Joleen of Ormond Beach, Florida; 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Service was held Thursday, July 31, 2003, at Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, with the Rev. James Jobe officiating. Burial was in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
Charles Wayne Smith
Charles Wayne Smith, 48, of Hurricane died July 28, 2003, at home following a long illness.
He was awarded multiple medals during the Special Olympics and was a member of Spirit Life Church, Dunbar.
Surviving: brothers and a sister-in-law, Paul and Susie Smith, with whom he lived, Phillip Smith of Nitro and Donald Smith of Barboursville; sister, Rosemary Buckingham of Palmetto, Florida.
Service was held Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Michael Dent officiating. Burial was in Asbury Cemetery, Liberty.
Memorial donations may be made to Special Olympics of Kanawha County, PO Box 803, Charleston WV 25325.
Delmar L. Sovine
Delmar L. “Del” Sovine, 73, of Rockford, Illinois died July 25, 2003, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born July 12, 1930 in Hurricane, the son of the late Gainer and Mamie Sovine. He was also preceded in death by sisters, Virginia Fletcher, Alzada Sovine and Florence VanNoy.
He married the former Doris Briscoe in St. Albans on December 21, 1954.
He was a crew chief with the United States Air Force for 19 years, serving in the Vietnam War. Prior to his service with the Air Force, he was in the United States Marine Corps for two years, service in the Korean Conflict. After retirement from the military, he was employed by J.L. Clark Manufacturing Co. for 12 years. He was a member of Kishwaukee Baptist Church and had been a member for many years of Victory Baptist Church. He loved to garden and fish and enjoyed woodworking in addition to being deeply devoted to his family and his Lord.
Surviving: his wife of 48 years, Doris; daughters and a son-in-law, Linda Sovine of Charleston, Cathy and Mike Cook of Stotts City, Missouri; sons and their wives, Victor and Toni Sovine of Winfield, Greg and Amy Sovine of Lindenwood, Illinois; grandchildren, Rikki, Aaron, Josh, Justin, Billy, Jonathon, Joey, Emma, Luke and Danny; brothers and their wives, Dawn and Jean Sovine of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Edward and Wanda Sovine of Ravenna, Ohio; sisters and a brother-in-law, Ollilee Ward of Culloden, Vola Wright of Milton, Jessie and Lawrence Gillispie of Hurricane, Loretta Young of Mount Vernon, Ohio; several nieces and nephews.
Service was held Thursday, July 31, 2003, at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with the Rev. Mike Cook and the Rev. Billy Robertson officiating. Burial was in Culloden Community Cemetery.
Jane Pauline Lloyd
Jane Pauline Lloyd, 83, of Poca died July 26, 2003.
Jane was a long-standing member of Poca United Methodist Church where she was a former member of the Methodist Women. In 1985 she retired from Putnam County schools as a cook at Poca Elementary. She adored working as a cook and helping needy children that she she came to know in her job. Upon her retirement, she received a special “Cook of the Year” award for her nearly 40 years of service. Helping needy children was the catalyst for her involvement in various charitable activities. She was a former president of Good Samaritan League. She helped organize a clothing bank in her church and for many years she was in charge of the Christmas basket and gift program at her church.
Jane not only helped people, she was a guardian angel for countless animals. She had a great love for animals, especially her own pets, Riley, Justice and Bobby.
In May 2001, Jane received the prestigious Jefferson Award for community service to countless needy families in Putnam County. A special “Jane Lloyd Day” was also commissioned for her selfless giving.
Jane was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Linda, son, Jack Lloyd, a daughter, Carolyn Sue Bailey, and husband, Charles Burdette Lloyd.
Surviving: grandchildren, Tami and husband, Brady Lanham, Bridget Bailey, Beth and husband Joy Lloyd, Jacqueline Bailey and Lori Perry; great-grandchildren, Zachary and Lexi Lanham, Tyler Jack Lloyd and Drew Boggess; daughter-in-law, Josephine Lloyd; son-in-law, John Bailey; special caregiver and true friend, Martha Goodwin; special helper, Phyllis Beard.
Service was held Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at Gatens Funeral Home Chapel with Pastors Stephen J. White, Delbert L. Hawley and Jonathan Nettles officiating. Burial was in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens.
Jessie Potter
Jessie Lambert Potter, 80, of Scott Depot died July 26, 2003, at home following a long illness.
She was a retired science teacher from the Putnam County Board of Education. She was a graduate of Morris Harvey College and received her master’s degree from Marshall University. She was a 38-year resident of Scott Depot.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ellie Morgan Lambert, son, Robert C. Potter II, brothers, Arlie Lambert, Bernard Lambert and George W. Lambert II, sisters, Irene Lusk and Lina Stone.
Surviving: her husband of 61 years, Robert C. Potter; daughter, Alleta Machmer of Milton; sons, John Gregory Potter of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and William David Potter of Ona; sisters, Freda Sloan of Hurricane and Garnet Sisk of Lawton, Oklahoma; brother, Otie Lambert of Hyattsville, Maryland; grandchildren, Jessica Machmer, Cynthia Machmer, Kathryn Machmer Lunsford, Jonathan Potter, Jennifer Potter and Robert Blankenship.
A private funeral service and entombment was in Forest Memorial Park, Milton. Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Edith C. Nichols
Edith C. Nichols, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.), 90, of Scott Depot died June 29, 2003, following a short illness.
Born August 20, 1912 in Cairo, West Virginia, she was a daughter of Bethuel Marion and Alcinda Grace Schrader Cowell. She attended Ritchie County schools and graduated from Pennsboro High School. She became a registered nurse, graduating from the Capital City School of Nursing in Washington D.C. Working at Gallinger Hospital and Columbia Hospital, she specialized in fever therapy and was assistant head nurse. She continued her education, taking graduate work at George Washington University.
She entered the service on September 1, 1942 as a first lieutenant in what was then the Army Nurse Corps. She served as charge nurse on the medical ward of the 52nd General Hospital and as charge nurse on the surgical wards with the 117th General Hospital in Kidderminister, England. Service also in North Africa, she was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon.
After being released from active duty, she worked as a private duty nurse for several years before reenlisting in the service (Air Fore) where she remained until her retirement in 1965.
She was a member of The Retired Officers Association, the Society of Retired Air Force Nurses, and was a charter member of Women in Military Service for America. Having previously attended the Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor (Florida), she was presently a member of Teays Valley Presbyterian Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, Charles Finan and later by Richard H. Nichols, whom she married while serving at Thule Air Base in Greenland; sisters, Susan Weaver, Hannah Mae Bachtel, Dorothy Wilson, and Helen Range; brothers, John Ruskin “Eddy” Cowell and Robert Cowell; nephew, Glen Cowell.
Surviving: nieces, Linda Wimer of Scott Depot, Susanne Bachtel of Arlington, Virginia, Mary Louise Cowan of Knoxville, Tennessee, Barbara Jean Deutschman of Massillon, Ohio, Carolyn Cowell of Ellenboro, Betsy Bryan of O’Fallon, Missouri, and Nancy Blanks of Wichita, Kansas; nephews, Richard M. Bachtel of Ashland, Ohio, Robert Cowell of St. Peters, Missouri, Larry Cowell of Oxnard, California, William Cowell of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Temple E. “Ike” Cowell of Haltom City, Texas; great nephews, Brian Wimer of Green River, Wyoming and John Wimer of Arthurdale.
Graveside service was held Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at Arlington National Cemetery. Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, was in charge of arrangements.
Amy B. Bailey
Amy Beatrice “Shorty” Bailey, 77, of Poca died July 29, 2003, at home.
Surviving: husband of 51 years, Tomie E. Bailey; sons, Jewel ‘Bud” and Melvin “Hard Luck” Bailey, both of Poca, David and Johnny Bailey, both of Rocky Fork; sister, Gladys Wright of Oregon; brothers, Donald Wright of Washington, C.J. and Matthew Wright, both of Oregon, David Wright of Michigan, and Johnny Wright of Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
Service was held Friday, August 1, 2003, at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with Pastors Delbert L. Hawley and Mayford Witt officiating. Burial was in New Antioch Cemetery, Red House.
Memorial donations may be made to Kanawha Hospice Care, 1143 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar WV 25064.
William A. Bryant
William Andrew “Bill” Bryant, Jr., 62, of Scott Depot died July 31, 2003, at CAMC Memorial Hospital after complications from open heart surgery.
He was born April 1, 1941 in Charleston, a son of the late William A. “Fritz” Bryant, Sr. and Stashie McClure Bryant. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Thelma Lee Bryant, and a brother, Patrick Bryant.
He was a 1960 graduate of Winfield High School, where he was an outstanding athlete. During his football career there he held the stare scoring record, which he held for 17 years. He also was a recipient of the Kennedy Award and was a member of the Teen Magazine All-American Football Team. He attended Georgia Tech and West Virginia State College and received his master’s degree in education from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. He was employed by the Putnam County Board of Education at Winfield High School and was retired from Cedar Coal Co. and American Electric Power.
He was a member of Nitro Masonic Lodge No. 170, AF & AM, Scottish Rite Bodies and Beni Kedem Shrine. He also was affiliated with the United Mine Worker’s Association District 17 and a member of the Winfield Alumni Board.
Surviving: wife, Susan Mallory Bryant; sons and daughters-in-law, William A. “Andy” Bryant III and Tina Bryant of Scott Depot, Christopher P. “Chris” and Erin Bryant of Scott Depot; grandchildren, William A. “Drew” Bryant IV, Mallory Elaine-Marie Bryant, Molly Erin-Christine Bryant, Cody Christopher William Bryant; step-granddaughters, Megan and Sarah Richardson; brother, Toby Wayne Bryant of Charleston; nieces, Kelly Marie Bryant of Charleston and Jennifer Gwen McNally of Cashiers, North Carolina; several cousins.
Service was held Monday, July 4, 2003, at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans, with Pastor Doug McComas and Coach Leon McCoy officiating. Burial was in Teays Hill Cemetery, St. Albans.
Memorial donations may be made to the Special Education Fund at Winfield High School, Winfield Road, Winfield WV 25213.
