Debra Rackowski Christopher
Debra Rackowski Christopher, age 51, passed away Monday, May 21, 2007 in Boone, North Carolina.
She is preceded in death by her beloved grandparents, Margaret and Robert Vollriede and her dog Muffin.
She is survived by her parents, Anthony T. Rackowski and Susan Rackowski, one brother, Joey Rackowski of Abingdon, Virginia, two sisters, Marcia Lee Francis of Florida, and Margie Rackowski of Wilmington, North Carolina, three nephews, Thomas Richardson, Michael Richardson, and Jonathan Rackowski, an aunt, Marcia Cipriano and husband Vinnie. Also survived by a life friend, Wendell Johnston of Boone, North Carolina.
A funeral mass will be conducted Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Abingdon, Virginia with Father Paul Maier officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 24, 2007 from 5:00 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main Street Abingdon, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Washington County Animal Shelter, 27252 Porter Lane Abingdon, Virginia 24211.
Irene Fraley
Irene Fraley, 96, died Tuesday, May 22, 2007, at Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Miss Fraley was born in Washington County, Virginia, the daughter of Charles and Salley Fraley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters: Elizabeth Countiss, Eliza Sprinkle and Goldie Garrett. She is survived by one niece, Sally Bentley of Bristol; and by three nephews: Robert Sprinkle, Jr., of Logansville, GA; Rev. Jack Sprinkle and Bill Sprinkle, both of Bristol.
Miss Fraley was a member of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church. She retired as a chemist from Edgewood Arsenal, the national center for research and development. She was a life member of the American Chemical Society.
Services for Miss Fraley will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2007, at the Knollkreg Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel with Rev. Jerry Eggers officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the mausoleum chapel. Pallbearers will be Pete Barker, Hubert Jones, Lester Wright, Larry Thomas, Bill Parsons, Charlie Gilbert, Marc Phillippi and John Mowery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11537, Alexandria, VA 22312.
Ruth Cordellia Taylor
Ruth Cordellia Taylor, age 84, died Friday, May 25, 2007 at her home.
She was a daughter of the late Fletcher Counts and Delilah Dye Counts. She was also preceded in death by her husband Thomas R. Taylor.
She is survived by her sons, Richard F. Taylor of Birmingham, AL and Michael F. Taylor of Deltaville, VA; her grandchildren, Becky Thorn and Stacy Taylor both of Birmingham, AL, Michael Taylor of Portland, OR and Craig Taylor Midlothian, VA; her step-grandchildren, Melanie Gilson and Paul Van Buren; her sisters, Laura Slemp of Easley, SC and Nell Counts of Abingdon, VA; several nieces and nephews, including a special nephew, George Shrader and wife Cathy.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 P. M. Saturday, May 26, 2007 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 27, 2007, at the Mausoleum Cryptside in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Rev. Jerry Eggers officiating. Those attending the funeral service are asked assemble at the Mausolem Chapel by 1:50 P. M. Sunday. Pallbearers will be George Shrader, G. C. Brown, Mark Fields, Scotty Haynes, Kenneth Davenport and Edmond Davenport. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald Slemp, Harold Slemp, Jimmy Slemp, Alan Thorn, Tommy Davenport and Junior Shrader.
In place of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations in memory of Mrs. Taylor be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Dorothy Clark Blackwell
Dorothy Clark Blackwell, age 94, passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, VA.
Dorothy was born on October 28, 1912 in Washington County, Virginia to the late Tobias and Lucy Widener Clark. She was also preceded in death by her husband Frank Blackwell, her daughter Betsy Blackwell Faris, her brothers, Jim Clark, Toby Clark, J. B. Clark and Mack Clark and her sister Evelyn Clark Wilkenson.
She was a retired teacher in the Washington County School System and a past member of the Grace Presbyterian Church of Glade Spring.
She is survived by her daughters Joan Blackwell Asbury of Jacksboro, TN and Nancy Blackwell Duncan of Emory, VA; her son, Ben Blackwell of Lynchburg, VA; nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A. M., Monday, May 28, 2007 in the Old Glade Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery with Rev. Timothy Bird officiating. Pallbearers will be Tim Duncan, Chris Duncan, Rob Asbury, Ron Lawson, John Duncan, and Jim Gentry. Those attending the service are asked to assemble at the cemetery by 10:50 A. M. Monday.
It was Mrs. Blackwell’s request that no flowers be sent; however, memorial donations may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 11457, Alexandria, VA 22312; American Cancer Society, 230 Charwood Drive, NE, Abingdon, VA 24210; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to a charity of one’s choice.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to her wonderful neighbors, Jim, Carolyn, Zach and Seth Gentry for all of their love and support.
Fred Harford St. John
Mr. Fred Harford St. John, age 83, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2007 in Princeton, West Virginia at his son’s home.
He was born in Hemphill, West Virginia and lived in McDowell County before moving to Emory during the 1930’s. He graduated from Meadowview High School in 1947. He and his wife, Frances, lived in Richlands, Galax, Marion, Roanoke, Richmond, and Baltimore before returning to Abingdon in 1986.
He served in the U. S. Navy from January 1944 until June 1946 and worked for Exxon Co. USA for over 39 years. He served on the Board of Architectural Review, Zoning Appeals, and the Planning Commission for the Town of Abingdon. During his life time, he was a member of the Jaycees, Lions Club, and the Abingdon Civitan Club. He enjoyed working with the men of Abingdon United Methodist Church doing various building and maintenance projects. He also enjoyed music, auto racing, golfing, and was a railroad enthusiast.
He was the son of the late William and Edna Mitchell St. John and was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Frances Howard St. John, and a sister, Margaret Napier.
Surviving are his son, W. Fred St. John and wife, Santina of Princeton, West Virginia; his daughter, Jean St. John Hall and husband, William of Katy, Texas; four grandchildren, David Hall of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Sarah Hall Ruse of Chicago, Illinois, Megan Muncey of Princeton, West Virginia, and Lauren Muncey of Princeton, West Virginia, and sister-in-law, Penny Howard of Abingdon, Virginia.
Funeral Service for Mr. St. John will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 31, 2007 in Abingdon United Methodist Church with Rev. Walter Weikel officiating. Burial will follow in Old Glade Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 30, 2007 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Abingdon United Methodist Church, 101 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210
Earnest Lee Terry
Mr. Earnest Lee “Popeye” Terry, age 63, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2007 in Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Terry was born July 14, 1943 to the late John Raymond Terry and Susie Isabelle Mumpower Terry in Smyth County, Virginia. Mr. Terry had lived most of his life in Glade Spring, Virginia. He was a member of Abingdon Church of Christ.
Besides his parents Mr. Terry is preceded in death by one son, Gregory Terry.
Mr. Terry is survived by one son, Trenton Terry of Abingdon, one sister, Nannie Groseclose of Abingdon, Virginia and one brother, Jackie Eugene Terry and wife, Betty of Hopewell, Virginia. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 31, 2007 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Mr. Bill Haywood officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Rose Cemetery. Pallbearers will be James Terry, Brady Cox, Jerry Parks, David Estridge, Corey Groseclose, and Derick Groseclose. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenneth Coe and Matthew Groseclose. The family will receive friends Wednesday May 30, 2007 from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. in the funeral home.
Ann Bernadette Mulligan
Ann Bernadette Mulligan, age 65, died on Sunday, May 27, 2007, at home after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, a daughter of the late Carmine and Susan Acerra.
Ann had been a resident of Abingdon, VA, since 2002. She had worked as a teaching assistant in the New York school system for nineteen years. In addition, Ann engaged in a full-time volunteer ministry work for the last nineteen years, which was her greatest passion in life. Ann was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Jessica Richmond.
Ann is survived by her loving husband of forty-three years, Martin B. Mulligan; one daughter and son-in-law, Doreen and Don Lancaster of Lebanon, VA; one grandchild, Caitlyn Lancaster of Lebanon, VA; sister Theresa Vitolo of Brooklyn, NY; sister Susan McGlothlin of Williamsburg, VA; and several nieces and nephews in New York.
Family and friends visitation will be handled by Farris Funeral Service at their Forest Hills location, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, on Friday, June 1, 2007, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. In addition, a memorial service will be conducted at the Meadowview Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 29276 Lee Highway (Route 11), Meadowview, VA 24361, on June 2, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. Officiating will be Ed Beatty of Middletown, NY.
The family would like to say a special thanks to friends of the Meadowview Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and to Hospice of Southwest Virginia, including Dr. Pile, Barbara Mullins, Louise Slone, and all the staff who participated in Ann’s care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Meadowview Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the above-mentioned address.
Charles DeVault Wagner
Mr. Charles DeVault Wagner, age 73, passed away Monday, May 28, 2007 at Abingdon Manor.
Mr. Wagner was born August 2, 1933 to the late Charles DeVault Wagner, Sr. and Georgia Murray Wagner.
Graveside service will be conducted 10: 00 A.M. Friday, June 1, 2007 in Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Rev. John E. Massey, Jr. officiating. Everyone wishing to attend the service is asked to assemble at the cemetery by 9:50 A.M.
Beveridge Tate Quillen
Mr. Beveridge Tate Quillen, a lifelong educator and principal, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. He was 102.
Born in Scott County, Virginia, on August 15, 1904, he was the son of the late Milligan Wood Quillen and Sally Tate Quillen. He resided in southwest Virginia all of his life. He had lived in Abingdon since 1974.
Barely a teenager when he graduated from high school, he was a mere lad when he arrived on the campus of the University of Richmond. At the age of 17, he received his bachelor’s degree, and for many years he held the record of being the youngest graduate of the University of Richmond. He earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia.
Mr. Quillen was a dedicated teacher and principal of Haysi High School, Big Island High School, and Garden High School in Oakwood, from which he retired in 1972. For many years, he served as chairman of the Buchanan County Planning Commission.
A quiet, unassuming gentleman, few knew that in the early 1940’s he was the principal author of a plan for secondary education which was adopted by General Douglas McArthur and implemented in Japan during the American occupation of that country.
In the past several years, Mr. Quillen had enjoyed traveling extensively, taking two trips to Europe and many cruises including ones to Alaska and Hawaii.
He was a member of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church. He was a loving husband, devoted brother, and a helpful friend and neighbor.
Mr. Quillen was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Bess Hillman Quillen; by three sisters: Grace Quillen, Vesta Quillen Easterly, and Juanita Quillen Pratt; and one brother, Carter Livingston Quillen.
He is survived by his brother, Dale Marden Quillen of Nashville, TN, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Quillen will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2007, at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church with Pastor Robert Tolar officiating. Burial will follow at Temple Hill Cemetery in Castlewood. Pallbearers will be Don Lay, Lan Dingus, Dave Hillman, Dwight Hillman, Eugene Hillman, Denton Gary, Paul Gary, Roger Davis and Emerson Brown. The family will receive friends from noon until the time of service in the parlor at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church.
David Daniel Brown
The Honorable David Daniel Brown, age 77, passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at his home. Mr. Brown was born in Meadowview, VA, to the late Hayter C. Brown, Sr., and Mary Gladys Ritchie Brown. His sisters, Frances Brown Wohlford and Mary Louise Brown Baker, and his brothers, Hayter C. Brown, Jr., and Charles Luther Brown, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy Blevins Brown of Abingdon; two daughters: Deborah Brown Harvey of Richmond, VA, and Sharon Brown Taylor and husband Joe of Glade Spring; and two sons: Charles David Brown and wife Petissa of Abingdon, and Robert Daniel Brown and wife Sarah of Floyd, VA. Six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews also survive him.
Mr. Brown was a graduate of Meadowview High School and Emory and Henry College. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and was a graduate of University of Virginia Law School in Charlottesville, VA. From 1950 to 1951, and again from 1953 to 1954, Mr. Brown served as a teacher in the Washington County Public School system; he was also a teacher in the Adult Bible Class at Meadowview United Methodist Church and in the Wesley Bible Class at Abingdon United Methodist Church.
As a leader in his community, he was Chairman of the Cancer Crusade, President of the Abingdon Civitan Club, President of the Washington County Chapter of the Virginia Society of Crippled Children and Adults, and member of the Holston Tuberculosis Association. He was elected Commander of the Washington County Post No. 12 of the American Legion. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was President of the Washington County Young Democratic Club and served as State President of this organization in 1961.
Mr. Brown served as Commonwealth’s Attorney of Washington County, VA, from 1964 – 1978. He was appointed General District Court Judge in 1982 and served until his retirement. While serving as counsel for the School Board, he was instrumental in establishing the magisterial districts named after Virginia Presidents along with staggering the elections of County Board of Supervisor and County School Board members.
Funeral services for Mr. Brown will be held Sunday, June 3, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., at the Abingdon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Walter Weikel officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Entombment will follow at Knollkreg Memorial Park Mausoleum with Pastor Jerry Eggers officiating. A Masonic service will be led by Abingdon Masonic Lodge #48, and military honors will be conducted by the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard.
Active pallbearers will be James Hay, Robert Duncan, Fred Wilson, The Hon. Charles Harrison Smith, Jr., Emmitt Yeary, Tim Barker, Robert Cooper, G. C. Brown, Kenny Parker, Charles Elton, and Reelia Watson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Abingdon United Methodist Church Wesley Bible Class; members of the American Legion; members of the Abingdon Masonic Lodge #48; The Hon. Joseph P. Johnson, Jr.; the Hon. James P. Jones; The Hon. T. L. Hutton, Jr.; and Dr. Martin Monahan.
The family wishes to extend special thanks and gratitude to Dr. Martin Monahan, Betty Gayle McCall, Dr. David Delaplane, Dr. James Mann, the staff of Johnston Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, the third floor nursing staff at Johnston Memorial, and the Home Nursing Services of Southwest Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following: Cancer Outreach Foundation, 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211; The American Heart Association, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216; The American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312; and Abingdon United Methodist Church, 101 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210.
Domonta O'Brian Milliner
Domonta O’Brian Milliner, 5 month old son of Keith Milliner and Ashley Porter passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2007 in the Community Hospital of Roanoke.
Remaining survivors include his maternal grandmother, Pat Storie, Chilhowie, VA, maternal grandfather, Rick Porter, Glade Spring, VA, paternal grandfather, Richard Milliner, Roanoke, VA, an uncle, Chris Milliner, Roanoke, VA.
The funeral service will be conducted Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Rev. Melvin Johnson officiating. Interment
will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 1-2 p.m. in the funeral home.
