Gladys Mae Atkins, 79, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Gladys Mae Joyce Atkins, 79, passed away Monday (April 29, 2002) at Wexford House.
She was born in Tate Springs, Tenn., and had lived in Kingsport for over 28 years. She was of the Freewill Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie M. Atkins; an infant daughter, Sharon Atkins; her parents, Samuel Robert Joyce and Edna Mason Simmons Joyce; four brothers and one sister.
Surviving are her niece, Dorothy Perry of Kingsport; nephew, Kenneth Burke of Elizabethton; two special sisters-in-law, Emma Joyce Mitchell and Sabra Atkins, both of Kingsport; special friends, Rev. Mark Street, Jewell Kelley, Maude Ellis, Dickey Atkins and Gary Netherland; four nieces, Peggy Hawkins of Greeneville, Francis Clark, Shirley Collins and Willa Dean Overbay, all of Kingsport; and several other nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport.
Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. today in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Mark Street officiating.
Music will be provided by Jimmy Don Greene and his wife Delonia.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Liberty Hill Cemetery.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 1010, Rockville, Md. 20852-9813.
Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail at cartertrentfh@chartertn.net.
Virginia "Gay" Byrd, 76, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Virginia Gaynell "Gay" Byrd, 76, answered the call of our Lord to enter eternal rest on Monday (April 29, 2002) after a lengthy illness.
Gay was a loving sister, devoted aunt and very proud great-aunt. We find great comfort in knowing, "Earth has no sorrows that Heaven can't heal."
She was a lifelong resident of Sullivan County and retired in October, 1980, from Eastman Chemical Company.
Throughout our lives she had been the "strength" of our family, always putting others first and loving quietly her Lord and Savior. Although we are sad by her passing, our memories of her we will cherish. We thank God that He intervened in her illness and has given her peace at last.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James A. and Maude Frazier Byrd; three brothers, Billy Ray Byrd, James E. Byrd and Ray Byrd; one sister, Ann R. Byrd.
Survivors include one sister, Jean Hathaway, Kingsport, who lovingly and unselfishly had been Gay's caregiver for the past several years; one brother, Harold Byrd, Kingsport; a special nephew, Jim Byrd, Mount Carmel, who she took great pride in loving as a mother would love her "son"; several devoted nieces, nephew, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport.
Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Joe W. Byrd and the Rev. Lonnie (Buddy) Wooten officiating.
Graveside services will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steeles Creek Road, Bristol, Tenn. 37620 or to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1905.
Kyle H. Christian, 56, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Graveside services for Kyle Haynes Christian, 56, who went to be with the Lord at his residence Saturday (April 27, 2002), will be at 11 a.m. today in the Garden of the Mausoleum of the East Lawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Glen Templeton, Tommy Lawson, Roy Roller, Charles Atkins Jr., Mark Christian and Tony Christian.
East Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Irene Church, 89, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Mabel Irene Church, 89, passed away Sunday (April 28, 2002) at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center.
Mrs. Church was born in Hilton, Va., a daughter of the late Clayton F. and Amanda (McDavid) Sampson. She was married to the late Clarence Preston Church. She was retired from the Preparation Department of J.P. Stevens Corp. and worked at the Village Market.
She was a member of Bible Way Baptist Church and attended Sunrise Baptist Church.
Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Eileen and Robert Steadman, Eva and Jim Bishop, all of Kingsport; sons and a daughter-in-law, Gary and Bobbie Church, North Carolina, and Don Church, Kingsport; grandchildren, Steve Church, Rick Steadman, Tim Steadman, Dennis Fields, Jeff Church, Phillip Church, Randy Church, Terry Chase, Rhonda Copas and Christie Myers; sisters, Faye Peck, Kingsport, and Lillian Gilreath, Blountville; brothers, Joe Sampson and Ray Sampson; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. today at East Lawn Funeral Home.
Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. today in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Kelley Dykes and Robert L. Steadman officiating.
Music will be by the Jim Bishop Family Singers.
Interment will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in East Lawn Memorial Park in the Garden of Prayer.
Pallbearers will be grandsons: Steve Church, Dennis Fields, Phillip Church, Rick Steadman, Tim Steadman, Jeff Church and Randy Church.
Lou Ethel Davis, 84, Gate City, Va.
Graveside services for Lou Ethel Davis, 84, of Route 1, Gate City, Va., who departed this life early Friday evening (April 26, 2002), will be at 11 a.m. today in Holston View Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Pat Davis, Cecil Davis, Mack Price, Wendell Price, Dana Davis and Brian Reynolds.
Scott County Funeral Home, Weber City, Va., is in charge of arrangements.
Bessie Freeman, 83, Kingsport.
Services for Bessie Irene Vaughn Freeman, 83, of Kingsport, who died Saturday (April 27, 2002), will be conducted at 2 p.m. today in the chapel of Oak Hill Funeral Home with the Rev. Fred Gilreath officiating.
Graveside services will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers for the Freeman family include Kevin Bellamy, Jon Freeman, Josh Yates, Jon Yates, Brad Guinn, Nick Bland and Allen Yates.
An on-line guest book may be signed at www.legacy.com.
Kenneth Hensley, 67, Kingsport.
Graveside services for Kenneth E. Hensley (The Rabbi), 67, of Kingsport, who passed away Friday (April 26, 2002), will be at 11 a.m. today at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family and friends will meet at the grave.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish you make make donations to the Ward Missionary Fund, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 100 Cannongate Road, Kingsport, Tenn. or send flowers, he loved them so much.
An on-line guest book may be signed at www.legacy.com.
Oak Hill Funeral Home is serving the Hensley family.
James M. Hilton, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - James M. Hilton, 345 Hidden Acres Court, died at 12 noon Monday (April 29, 2002) at his residence.
He was a lifelong resident of Sullivan County (Kingsport), and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
He was retired from Waste Management Corp. as a truck driver.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cassell Hilton; two brothers, Cassell "Snoots" Hilton and Paul Hilton.
Survivors include his wife, Freda N. Hilton of the home; his daughter, Jackie Hilton Daniels of Kingsport; son, James Hilton of Oakland, Calif., and special son, Anthony Laughlin of Kingsport; mother, Rosie Miller Hilton of Kingsport; one grandchild, Kaitlin Daniels; sisters, Hazel Butler of Greeneville, and Joyce Roberts of Kingsport; brothers, Charles Hilton of Hickory, N.C., and John Hilton of Kingsport; several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later.
Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail at cartertrentfh@chartertn.net.
Carter-Trent Funeral Home of downtown Kingsport is serving the James Hilton family.
Christopher Hurd, 26, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Christopher Gary Hurd, 26, of Kingsport, went to be with the Lord Monday (April 29, 2002).
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Gate City Funeral Home, Inc., and other times at the residence. Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Gene Falin Memorial Chapel of the funeral home with the Rev. Kyle Falin and the Rev. Joe W. Byrd officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Horton Roller Cemetery in the Fairview community of Scott County, Va.
Online condolences may be made to the family at gcfh@mounet.com.
Kenneth E. Jennings, 93, Abingdon, Va.
ABINGDON, Va. - Kenneth E. Jennings, 93, formerly of Gate City, Va., and Kingsport, died Monday (April 29, 2002) at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center after a brief illness.
Mr. Jennings was a 1931 graduate of Emory and Henry College and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He taught at Fairview High School and owned several businesses in Kingsport and Scott County.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ida Mae and Benjamin B. Jennings; and by a son, Kenneth E. Jennings Jr.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Susan Hill Jennings, Abingdon; a son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Merry Jennings, Abingdon; sister, Vena Bernard, Kingsport; and a grandson, Will Jennings, Cape Town, South Africa.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Gate City Funeral Home, Inc.
A private committal service will be held for the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorial contributions be made to either the Washington County Habitat for Humanity, c/o Wythe Hull, 136 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Va. 24210 or to the Shoemaker Scholarship Fund of Emory and Henry College, c/o Stanley Bateman, Box 845, Gate City, Va. 24251.
Katie Light, 90, Bristol, Va.
BRISTOL, Va. - Katie Kestner Light, 90, 509 Euclid Ave., died Sunday (April 28, 2002) at Wellmont Hospice House.
She was born in Russell County, Va., and was the daughter of the late Walter J. and Lottie Gilmer Kestner. She had lived in Bristol since 1950 and was a member of State Street United Methodist Church.
Surviving are her husband of 72 years, Roy Light; a son, R.L. and his wife Marcy of Abingdon, Va.; three sisters, Cleo Donald of Bristol, Va., Bessie Hayter of Abingdon, Va., and Virginia Cannon of Kingsport; three grandchildren; four great-grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, Bristol, Tenn.
Services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at State Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Clarence Dishman, the Rev. Fred Dearing and the Rev. Jack Heister officiating.
The committal service and burial will follow in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Dirk Crandell, Everett Kress, Keith Spicer, Arthur Singleton, Cliff McConnell and Dave Parris.
Condolences and memories may be sent to the family at oakley-cook@funeral-plans.com.
Ethel Massey, 89, Blountville.
BLOUNTVILLE - Ethel Molly Massey, 89, of 542 Spurgeon Lane, went to be with our Lord on this day, Monday (April 29, 2002), after a lengthy illness.
Ethel was born July 8, 1912 in Shady Valley, Tenn., a daughter of the late Earnest and Martha Triplett. She married Guy Massey on December 24, 1932 in Gate City, Va.
She was a lifelong resident of Sullivan County and Blountville. Mrs. Massey was a lifetime homemaker and a member of Wheeler United Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Triplett; sister, Margie Carday; and grandson, Josh Massey.
Surviving are her husband of 70 years, Guy Massey Sr.; daughters and sons-in-law, Elva and Buford Smith and Eulola and Paul Justice, all of Kingsport; son and daughter-in-law, Guy F. Jr. and Bridgett Massey of Kingsport; grandchildren, Robert Massey, Edward Smith, Randy Smith, Ronnie Justice, Jennifer Massey, Janet Justice, Rose Gregg and Tracy Vinson; great-grandchildren, Chris Willis, Ashley Justice and Christian Vinson; brother, Claude "Toby" Triplett; sister, Bonnie Deakins; several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at East Lawn Funeral Home.
Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Dennis Loy and the Rev. Tom Blackburn officiating.
Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Tri-Cities Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Robert Massey, Ronnie Justice, Wayne Coffman, Fred Massey, Jim Massey and Robert Wagner.
The family requests those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Wheeler United Methodist Church building fund, 2376 Hwy. 75, Blountville, Tenn. 37617.
Janie Maxwell, 72, Church Hill.
Services for Mrs. Janie Lonetta Maxwell, 72, of 335 New Canton Rd., Church Hill, who passed away at her home following a brief illness, will be conducted at 7 p.m. today in the chapel of Johnson Funeral Home, Church Hill, with Dr. Wm. R.W. Douglas, the Rev. Frank Lynch and Minister Randy Turner officiating.
Calling hours are from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home, and anytime at the residence.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the New Canton Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Nathaniel Robinson, Larry Manis, Steve Hoard, David Wolfe, Wallace Ross Jr. and Lamar Hoskins.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ozine Bly, James M. Jarrett, Tom Long, Vincent Maxwell and Shelton Lyons.
The flower girls will be family and friends.
Condolences may be sent to the Maxwell family at johnsonfh@chartertn.net.
James (J.T.) Osborne, 74, Glade Spring, Va.
GLADE SPRING, Va. - Mr. James Thomas (J.T.) Osborne, born November 1, 1927, went to be with the Lord Monday (April 29, 2002) in Johnston Memorial Hospital at the age of 74.
Mr. Osborne was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Glade Spring Baptist Church. He was employed with the Commonwealth of Virginia with 38 years of service and served on the Washington County, Va., Board of Supervisors with eight years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Faye O. Osborne, Glade Spring, Va.; his children, Rev. Daniel G. Osborne and his wife Carolyn G. Osborne, New Rochelle, N.Y., Janie O. Peterson, Johnson City, and Deborah F. Osborne, Clarksville, Va.; his grandsons, Eric A. Davidson, Johnson City, David Osborne and his wife Jenny Osborne, Taylors, S.C., Jon Osborne, New Rochelle, N.Y.; his sisters, Sarah O. Parsons, Gladys O. Huff and Beulah O. Huff, all of Pennington Gap, Va.; several nieces, nephews and a host of other friends and relatives.
Calling hours are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Farris Funeral Service, Abingdon, Va.
Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Stephen Turner and the Rev. Daniel G. Osborne officiating.
Interment will follow in the Old Glade Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mr. Bobby Ingle, Mr. Frank Canter, Mr. Steve Richardson, Mr. Joe Richardson, Mr. Ron Davidson, Mr. Tommy DeBusk, Mr. Tony Edmondson and Mr. Leo Hockett Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will be William J. Baker MD, Thomas R. Johnson MD, Woodrow W. Reeves MD, Mr. Jeff Yuan, University of Va. medical student, Mr. Joe Derting and Mr. John Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Glade Spring Baptist Church, P.O. Box 367, Glade Spring, Va., 24340.
Those wishing to express sympathy on-line may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Johnston Memorial Hospital, Home Nursing Services and Hospice of Southwest Virginia for their loving care.
Roy Richardson Sr., 56, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Roy William "Dub" Richardson Sr., 56, 607 Dale Street, died Monday (April 29, 2002) at his home following a lengthy illness.
He was a lifelong resident of Kingsport.
Surviving are his wife, Sue Ellen Richardson, Kingsport; two sons, Roy Richardson Jr., Blountville, and Bobby Richardson, Kingsport; two grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren; his parents, Harold and Elizabeth Arnold Richardson, Kingsport; two sisters, Geneva Cross, Church Hill, and Linda Collins, Kingsport; one brother, James David Richardson, Kingsport.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport.
Glenn Sexton, 86, Kingsport.
KINGSPORT - Glenn Sexton, 86, died Monday (April 29, 2002) at Wexford House.
Glenn was born April 30, 1915 in Norton, Va., and moved to Kingsport in 1947. He was owner and operator of Groseclose Floral for several years before he retired in 1973.
He was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge and had served in various capacities over the years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Nona; and an infant daughter.
Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Jean Sexton, Kingsport; two granddaughters, Allison Cregger and husband Jeff, Denver, Colo., and Stephanie Sexton, Kingsport; a grandson, Daniel Sexton and wife Ann, Birmingham, Ala.; a brother, Frank Sexton, Norton, Va.; a special friend, Alice Chandler; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, downtown.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Gene Smitherman officiating.
Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Raymond E. Shelton, 70, Big Stone Gap, Va.
Services for Raymond Eber Shelton, 70, Big Stone Gap, Va., who went to be with the Lord Saturday (April 27, 2002), will be conducted at 1 p.m. today in the chapel of Colonial Funeral Home in Weber City, Va., with Brother Kenneth Neeley officiating.
Singers will include the Pearcy Quartet and Bo Stewart.
Military graveside services and burial will follow at Glencoe Cemetery in Big Stone Gap.
Pallbearers will be Ralph and Harley Pearcy, Jeremy and Jeff Glass, Fred Arwood and Mike Dorton.
Jane Marie Weiford, Gate City, Va.
GATE CITY, Va. - Jane Marie Weiford went to be with the Lord Friday (April 26, 2002) at the residence of her daughter.
A memorial service will be announced Wednesday.
Scott County Funeral Home, Weber City, Va., is in charge of arrangements.
