Excerpted from an article written by Shirley Donnelly
in the Beckley Post-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia
February 25, 1970:
OUR OBJECTIVE was the Drewry Farley Cemetery on the tip-top of Bear Wallow Mountain. There we buried Albert Louis Gentry (April 15, 1898, Feb. 16, 1970).
This burial ground gets its name from Rev. Drewry Farley (June 16, 1866 - May 1, 1923), an elder in the Primitive Baptist denomination. By the old elder's side rests his wife. "Minerva A. Farley, April 30, 1858 - October, 1929."
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cox served as my guide in making the rounds of this hamlet of the dead. Mrs. Cox pointed to the tomb of her father, "Aaron Washington Farley, Died Oct. 10, 1967, Aged 90 years, 10 months and 23 days." He was the son of Drewry Farley and grandson of Robert Hanley Farley.
Mrs. Cox told of her father's baptism. It was a long delayed matter, not until he was 85 years old, and invalided to a chair. They carried him down to a Suck Creek place known as "The Blue Hole." There he was baptized, chair and all, because there was much water there.
NEAR THE GRAVE of Drewry Farley is the U. S. government marble marker that a grateful nation gave to note the last resting place of the old elder's son, "Robert Simeon Farley, W. Va., Private, U. S. Army, World War I. Born August 20, 1890. Died March 7, 1960."
Such headstones are given by the government to be erected at the graves of all service men who served the country and were honorably discharged.
Other tombstones identified graves of "Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Lily, April 18, 1886 - May 29, 1964"; "Thomas H. McBride, Sept 17, 1880 - April 25, 1960"; "Philena McBride, March 2, 1879 - July 14, 1953"; "Ocie A. Cox, April 30, 1888 - April 15, 1964"; "Pansy Adkins, April 2, 1910 - July 26, 1931."
There are graves marked only by dornicks but Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cox are mapping the cemetery and listing the names of those interred in the small plot.
Over the fields from the Drewry Farley Cemetery stands the long abandoned Pleasant Farley School House. Some who taught there include Wade Akers, Thomas Lilly, Aaron Farley, Drewry Lilly, Ira Patrick, Lorene Bowlen, and others who long ago passed to sit at the feet of the master teacher of all time.
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Relevent obituaries for this cemetery and family:
Drewry O. ‘D.O.’ Farley Jr.
CAYCE, S.C. — Service for Drewry O. “D.O.” Farley, Jr., 69, of Cayce, SC, will be 3 p.m. today, Feb. 14, 2006, in Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, officiated by Rev. Paul Aebischer and Rev. Virginia Aebischer. Burial and military rites will follow at Celestial Memorial Gardens.
The family received friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Ame-rican Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association.
Mr. Farley died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006.
He was born in Whitby, W.Va., and was the son of the late Drewry O. Farley, Sr. and Pearl Hylton Farley. He was a veteran of the United States Army and was retired from the U.S. Postal Service.
Mr. Farley enjoyed music and one of his favorite pastimes was playing guitar at Bill’s Music Shop in West Columbia.
Mr. Farley was preceded in death by one brother, Lacy Farley.
He is survived by his wife, Roberta L. Wessinger of Cayce; daughters and son-in-law, Janet and Odell Neeley, and Gail Brazell, all of Lexington; grandchildren, Amanda Jefferson, Jennifer Velina, Crystal Griffin, Lee Brazell; great-grandchildren, Kaitlynn Jefferson, Logan Neeley Velina, Lea Velina, Arianna Griffin, Clarissa Griffin; three brothers, Leslie Farley and wife, Frances, of Whitby, Arnold Farley and wife, Pauline, of Beckley, and Wendell Farley and wife, Stella, of Tacoma, Wash.; nine sisters, Juanita Hogan of Cocoa, Fla., Arnetta Filipowicz of Kent, Wash., Joan Hoylman of Beckley, Frances Bolen and husband, Don, of Beckley, Daphne Harrold and husband, Max, of Brownwood, Texas, Peggy Sibigtroth and husband, Bob, of Elkton, Md., Marie Capps and husband, Bob, of Leland, N.C., Linda Brown and husband, Wylie, of Beckley, and Patricia Graham and husband, Kelly, of Fairdale; a sister-in-law, Lucille Farley of Daniels; and a number of nieces, nephews and friends.
Arrangements by Thompson Funeral Home, West Columbia, S.C.
Oris Lee Harvey
FOREST HILL — Oris Lee Harvey, 97, of Forest Hill passed away Thursday evening, March 26, 2009 in the Summers Co. ARH where he had been a patient since Sunday. Although his health had been in decline for several months, he had been active until recent weeks.
Mr. Harvey was born at the family farm at Cave Ridge in Summers Co. on July 3, 1911 and was a son of the late John Pearly and Ida Elizabeth Lilly Harvey. He was a paternal grandson of Austin and Mary Ann Ellison Harvey and a maternal grandson of Green and Louise (Lilly) Lilly and at the time of his death was the oldest living descendent of each set of grandparents.
Mr. Harvey was a retired employee of the C&O Railway and a cattleman and farmer. He attended Summers Co. Schools and was a member of the Bluestone View Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Harvey was excellent in retaining and sharing information about local families and history.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Bessie Hogan in 1935; a daughter, Lora Mae Williams Fio Rita; a granddaughter, Donna Mae Harvey; two brothers, Basil Green Harvey and Audrey Harvey; two sisters, Mrs. Roscoe (Anel) Bennett and Mrs. David (Erma) Meadows; one son-in-law, James L. Miller Oct. 13, 2008; two half brothers, Elder Owen Harvey and Wade Harvey and one half sister, Estil (Dolly) Pack.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Piney Lilly Harvey; two sons, Alva Harvey and wife Mary of Hinton and Edward Earl Harvey and wife Althea of Forest Hill; one daughter, Joyce Miller of Forest Hill; one sister (Mrs. Lunda) Mary Louise Lilly of Nimitz and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2009 at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel with Elders Tommy Pack and David Bailey officiating. Burial will follow in the Drewry Farley Cemetery at Ellison.
Friends may call at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements are by the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.
Norma Jane Farley
SURVEYOR — Norma Jane Farley, age 62, of Surveyor, W.Va., passed away Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Char-leston Area Medical Center General Division, following a long illness.
Born at Josephine, W.Va., on Nov. 25, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Carlos and Banna Bennett Plumley.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Farley was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Johnson; grandson, Sean Luke Farley; and granddaughter, Breanna Williams.
Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Teddy J. Farley; sons, Douglas R. Farley of Surveyor, W.Va., Jeffrey W. Farley and wife Dana of Fort Worth, Texas, and Bobby F. Farley of Cool Ridge, W.Va.; a daughter, Sherri Williams and husband Danny of Clear Creek, W.Va.; brothers, Carlos Plumley II of Irish Mt., W.Va., Raymond Plumley of Roanoke, Va., and Tolley Plumley of Akron, Ohio; sisters, Joyce Kincaid of Irish Mt., W.Va., Carolyn Bragg of Bragg, W.Va., Anna Bragg of Wisconsin, Kathy of Wisconsin, and Judy Moore of Beckley, W.Va.; three grandchildren, Adrianne Farley, Josh Farley, and Chrystal Williams; and two great-grandchildren, Autumn Dawn Dunn and Nevaeh Skyye Dunn.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home Shady Spring Chapel, with Elder Tommy Pack officiating. Burial will follow at the Drewry Farley Memorial Cemetery at Ellison Ridge, W.Va.
Friends may call from 6 until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home at Shady Spring, W.Va.
Juanita Mae Hogan
COCOA, Fla. — Juanita Mae Hogan, 80, of Cocoa, departed this life Jan. 13, 2008.
Born Feb. 3, 1927, she was the daughter of Drewry and Pearl Hylton Farley. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Hogan Sr.; two sons, Roger Dale Hogan and John L. Hogan Jr.; a daughter, Ella Mae Hogan North; and three brothers, Leslie Farley, Lacy Farley and Drewry Farley Jr.
Survivors include a son, Danny Hogan of Calhoun, Ga.; a daughter, Ava Hogan Zieba of Cocoa; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Arnold Farley of Beckley and Wendell Farley of Tacoma, Wash.; eight sisters, Arnetta Phipowicz of Kent, Wash., Joan Hoylman of Beckley, Frances Bolen of MacArthur, Daphne Harrell of Brownwood, Texas, Peggy Sibigtroth of Elkton, Md., Marie Capps of Leland, N.C., Linda Brown of Beckley and Patricia Graham of Fairdale.
Her body was cremated and a memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the graveside of her husband at Restwood Memorial Gardens, Hinton.
Arrangements by Atlantic Mortuary, Rockledge, Fla.
Leslie Earl Farley
Leslie Earl Farley, 81, of Coal City, died Monday, March 13, 2006, at his home.
Born July 27, 1924, at Stotesbury, he was the son of the late Drewry O. Farley and Pearl B. Hylton Farley.
Mr. Farley was a retired truck driver for Sterling Smokeless Coal Co.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Asiatic Pacific Campaign with five stars. He received the Japan Occupation Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was a lifelong member of VFW Post 4236 at Midway.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Melva Rae Farley, in 1977; brothers, Lacy Farley and Drewry O. Farley Jr.; and a stepson, Mitch Niday.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Frances Bonds Farley; sons, Leslie Earl Farley Jr. and wife, Patty, of Lake in the Hills, Ill., and Gerald R. Farley and wife, Jean, of Wisconsin; daughters, Lois Laverne Wills of Crab Orchard and Vicki Lincoln and husband, Don, of Rising Sun, Md.; brothers, Arnold Farley of Beckley and Wendell Farley of Kent, Wash.; sisters, Juanita Hogan of Cocoa, Fla., Arnetta Flipiwoch of Kent, Jo Ann Hoylman of Beckley, Frances Bolen of Mabscott, Daphene Harold of Texas, Marie Capps and husband, Bob, of North Carolina, Linda Brown of Beckley, Patricia Graham of Fairdale and Peggy Sibigtrotch and husband, Robert, of Elkton, Md.; stepsons, Edwin Niday, Danny Niday and Steven Niday, all of North Carolina; stepdaughter, Yvonne Jones of North Carolina; 10 grandchildren; 11 stepgrandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with Brother Danny Winders officiating. Burial will follow in Thompson Cemetery, Coal City.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
[From the Raleigh Herald, Friday, September 14, 1917]
CAPT. ROBERT W. LILLY DIES.
Capt. Robert W. Lilly, known as "Shooting Bob," died at the home of his son, Rev. James Lilly, at Ellison, Summers county, Friday morning, at an advanced age, being about 90 years old.
Mr. Lilly had been an invalid for a year and his death was not unexpected.
He was a son of Thomas Lilly, one of the pioneer settlers of this section of the state, who came to Camp Creek about 150 years ago. Mr. Lilly leaves five children, as follows: Mrs. Drewry Farley, of Ellison; Mrs. W. E. Meador, of Hinton; Mrs. A. W. Pack, of Warford; Rev. Joseph Lilly, of Ellison, and Naaman Lilly, of Brooklin. In addition to the above he leaves a large number of more distant relatives in Summers and Mercer counties, where he was very well and favorably known.
Mr. Lilly was twice married, his first wife being a daughter of Rev. Joseph Lilly, who died at the close of the war.
Later he married Miss Hallie Farley, who died some years ago.
Mr. Lilly was a soldier in the Confederate army and was promoted to captain during the four years' struggle. He was known to many of the old soldiers of Summers and adjoining counties.
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