Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014
HIGGS, Nellie Mae
Nellie Mae Higgs, 86, of Pearisburg, died Monday morning April 19, 2004 at the home of her son in Cana, Va. after a long illness. Born in McDowell Co., W. Va. on April 22, 1917, she was a daughter of the late John Willie and Elizabeth Tickle Griggs. She was beloved by her family as a mother and grandmother for her special love for her family. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert F. Higgs and James Harvey Higgs; a brother, Woodrow Griggs, two sisters, Naomi Harry and Ruth Viars; and a "special daughter" Shirley Stafford. She leaves to cherish her memory five sons and daughters-in-law, Harvey Lee Higgs of Christiansburg, William Robert and Juanita Higgs of Pearisburg, Clarence Edward and Erma Higgs of Pearisburg, James Mayo and Linda Higgs of Cana, David Erick Marquess of Cana; a brother Robert Lovell of Princeton, W. Va.; two sisters, Mary Virginia Price of Trinity, N.C. and Lillie Esther Riddle of Blacksburg; thirteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke. Burial will follow in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m.
CALDWELL, Clara Elizabeth
Clara Elizabeth Caldwell, age 73, of Fairlawn, died Wednesday, August 11, 2004, at New River Valley Medical Center. She was born in West Virginia on December 1, 1930 to the late Edward and Laura Rogers Quesenberry. She was also preceded in death by her husband, William Davis "Billy" Caldwell; as well as four brothers. She is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and James Patrick, Connie Lovern, Barbara and Ronnie Shelton, all of Christiansburg, Vickie Caldwell and Milton Simpkins of Pilot, Bonnie and Neal Seamen of Christiansburg; two sons and daughter-in-law, William Jeffery Caldwell, Russell Wayne and Dana Caldwell, all of Radford; two sisters, Ellen Hartman of Pearisburg, Carol Thorn of Rich Creek; two brothers, Buck Quesenberry of Rich Creek, Ricky Quesenberry of Pembroke; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, August 15, 2004 at 2 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Davis officiating. Interment
will follow in Westview cemetery, Blacksburg. Friends may call anytime after 12 noon Saturday, and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg.
STAFFORD, Ernest Blake
Ernest Blake Stafford, 71, of the Trigg Community, Pearisburg, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at his home. He was born June 15, 1933 at Trigg, Va., the son of the late Leslie Clyde, Sr. and Lillie Kate Riddle Stafford. Also preceded in death by one sister, Hazel S. Higginbotham; four brothers, Eugene, Fred, Junior and Robert Stafford; and his first wife, Polly Stafford. He was a member of French's Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, was a retired steel worker from L.T.V. Steel, Cleveland, Ohio an was an army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his wife, Betty Hooser Stafford; four sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Sherry Stafford, Leslie and Terrie Stafford, Fred and Debbie Brumfield and John Rainie of Cleveland, Ohio; three daughters and sons-in-law, Loretta and Christopher Reeves, Lindside, W.Va., Brenda and Tim Barker, Melissa and Mike Lawson of Greensboro, N.C.; one brother, Basil Stafford, Herndon; three sisters, Mary Ann Stafford and Frieda VanKeuren of Pearisburg, Janice Robertson, Greensboro, N.C.; three sisters-in-law, Jean M. Stafford, Pearisburg, Lena C. Stafford, Dublin, and Louise H. Stafford, Cleveland, Ohio; and eight grandchildren, Joshua Stafford, Tiffany, Alicia and Sarah Barker, Brittany and Matthew Stafford, Rebecca Reeves and Emily Lawson. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 14, 2004 at 2 p.m. at French's Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church on the Little Creek Road, Dublin with the Rev. Billy Akers and Rev. David Stafford officiating. Military graveside rites by the Giles County American Legion and V.F.W. Posts at the Staffordsville cemetery, Staffordsville. Visitation will be at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, Friday after 1 p.m., and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
THOMAS, Ethel Lolene
Ethel Lolene Thomas, 67, of Draper Creek Drive in Pembroke, died Wednesday morning, August 11, 2004 at Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg. Born in Penhook on June 4, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Willie Tosh and Annie Amos McCrickard. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Pembroke Ward and was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Kay Barnett. She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband, Jack L. Thomas; son, Wayne Smith of Fairlawn; and step-son, Bobby Smith of Dublin, brother, Clyde McCrickard of Danville and sister, Estel McCrickard of Charleston, S.C.; and her most joyous treasures, her ten grandchildren, Jamie, Jason, Melanie, Jeremy, Misty, Chilsi, Heather, Amanda, Lori, Matthew; and her five great-grandchildren, Hunter, Montana, Melinda, Jamie and Josh. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, August 15, 2004 at 2 p.m. in the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow Street in Pembroke with burial following in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
MONTGOMERY, Pauline K.
Pauline K. Montgomery, 78, of Pembroke, died Tuesday, August 10, 2004 at Heritage Hall Health Care in Blacksburg. Born in Pembroke on January 23, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Morton and Virginia Lybrook King. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Pembroke and was preceded in death by her husband, George Sidney Montgomery; sons, Bobby Lee Montgomery and George S. Montgomery, II; daughters, Virginia and Helen Montgomery; brothers, Ira, Daniel, and Refus King; and sisters, Ozella Dickerson and Marie Saunders. She leaves to cherish her memory a son and daughter-in-law, Jerry E. and Charlotte Montgomery of Pembroke; a brother, John W. King of Pembroke; grandchildren, Marval Turner of Pembroke, Dashan (Terry) Washington of Washington, D.C., George Sidney Montgomery III (Tasha) of Washington, D.C.; five great-grandchildren; three great-grandsons; sister-in-law, Vellen King of Pembroke; sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and John Morris of Willingboro, N.J.; brothers-in-law, Nelson Saunders of Pembroke, James and Katherine Montgomery of Bronx, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Lila Hicks of Roanoke; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Pembroke with Pastor James Cooper, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the church Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. The Kendall Funeral Home in Pembroke is in charge of arrangements.
STAFFORD, Ernest Blake
Ernest Blake Stafford, 71, of Pearisburg, died Wednesday, August 11, 2004. Funeral, 2 p.m. Saturday, at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home.
Amanda Honaker "Bobbie" Painter
PAINTER, AMANDA HONAKER. “BOBBIE”, 95 of the Kroontje Health Care center in Blacksburg, formally of Pearisburg, VA. passed away Sunday morning, December 14, 2008 at Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg, VA. Mrs. Painter was born on March 17, 1913 in Honaker, VA., and was a daughter of the late Henry and Rosa Hess Honaker. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Painter, two sisters, Mollie H. Frazier and Lee H. Taylor. Bobbie was a hairdresser and owned a shop in Pearisburg for many years and she was a member of the Pearisburg Presbyterian Church. She is survived by one sister, India Bevins of Pikeville, KY. She was a special aunt to Evelyn & Tommy Johnston of Pearisburg, Erma & Jim Miller of Hardy, VA., Tom and Emily Johnston of Richmond, J.B. and Kristin Miller of Roanoke and two very special little girls, Elissa Miller and Amanda Miller of Roanoke. Other special nieces and nephews surviving include Ruth and George Brackenrich of Rupert, WV, and Patty Taylor of Honaker, VA. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 2:00 at the Birchlawn Abby in Pearisburg with the Rev. Shirley Larson officiating. Donations may be made to the Kroontje Health Care Center or the Pearisburg Presbyterian Church.
Harry Dameron Atkins
ATKINS, HARRY DAMERON (TOMMY), 90, of Maybrook, VA., went to his Lord, Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Mr. Atkins was born on December 9, 1917 in Mullins, WV, and was a son of the late Hiram Atkins and Alberta Porterfield Atkins. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Maury, Gene, Buster and two sisters, Claudine and Edna. Mr. Atkins was an Army Veteran of WWII, a graduate of VA Tech, a former public school educator, a member of American Legion Post #68 in Narrows, American Legion Post #311 in Pembroke and VFW Post #6000 in Narrows, a 50 year member of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Masons of Virginia, a member of the Pembroke Ruritan Club, a retired employee of the Celanese Plant in Narrows, and a partner in Atkins’ Brothers, John Deer Equipment Business. He was a charter member of the Lucas Memorial Christian Church in Maybrook and loved his new church, God’s House in Hoges Chapel. He loved his home and community, especially his gardening, vacationing with family and friends and above all, serving the Lord. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Clarice M. Higginbotham Atkins of Maybrook; two sons, Ronald L. Atkins and wife Rose of Richmond, Thomas Eugene Atkins of Annapolis, MD, one daughter, Brenda Martin and late husband, Dr. Donald L. Martin of Pulaski, five grandchildren, Pamela, Cynthia, Heather, Katherine, Ronald Andrew (Andy), eight great grandchildren, Matthew, Lauren, Mark, Emily, Paul, Kierra, Dawson, Abigail and one sister, Helen Smith of Maybrook. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:00am at God’s House Church in Hoges Chapel, VA., with the Rev Wayman Crigger officiating. He will receive burial and full military Honors following, by American Legion Post #68 in Narrows American Legion Post #311 and VFW Post #6000 in Narrows, in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at God’s House Church, Thursday evening from 6 – 8 pm. Special thanks to God’s House, his many friends and everyone who prayed and continues to pray for the family. Memorial contributions may be made to God’s House in Maybrook, VA or to the Local VFW or American Legion.
Harold Eugene Chafin
Harold Eugene Chafin, 72, went to be with the lord on Monday, November 10, 2008, surrounded by his loving family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Eugene Chafin and Ruth Akers Chafin.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Norma Johnston Chafin; four children, Sheree Williams and husband, Mike of Chilhowie; Teri Eppling and husband Ricky of Pembroke; Steven Chafin and wife, Sandra of Pearisburg; and Janet Millirons and husband, Morgan of Pembroke; ten grandchildren: Geof Allen and wife, Shannon; Josh Allen and wife, EJ; Seth and Shay Davis; Adam Eppling and wife, Beth; Andrew Eppling; Kyle and Elise Chafin; Anna Morgan and Eli Millirons; and one great-grandchild, Nolan Eppling. He is also survived by a sister, Carolyn Chafin Johnston, Blacksburg, two sister-in-laws Sallie Moore, Hickory, N.C., and Brenda Mutter, and husband Melvin, Yorktown, VA ; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as a host of friends.
Harold was born and raised in Riner, VA. He spent his adult life in Giles County where he worked as a banker and contributed his time and energy to numerous professional and civic organizations. Harold had a passion for Giles High School athletics and, as “The Voice of the Spartans”. Harold was also a loyal Boston Red Sox fan and could almost always be seen sporting a Red Sox hat. He enjoyed golfing and will be remembered by his golfing friends by all the pranks he liked to play on them. He was very quick-witted and will be remembered by many for his great sense of humor.
Far more important than his professional, civic, or other interests, his family was Harold’s foremost passion and pride, especially his grandchildren. Known to them as “Poppa”, he was a reliable presence over the years during their milestone transitions such as graduations and weddings, as well as during all their more routine events, such as ballgames and dance recitals. Most importantly, Poppa was an ever-present source of love and encouragement in their daily lives, and it is not surprising that he was the topic of choice in countless school writing assignments about “The Person I Most Admire.”
In tribute to the significance of Harold’s impact on their lives, his grandchildren wish to share the following thoughts:
Geof – Poppa taught me that laughter was without a doubt the best medicine for everything. I would like to think I inherited his sense of humor. He also taught me how to treat everybody with dignity and respect.
Josh – My Poppa meant the world to me. He always gave me good advice about being the best I could be in everything I did. I’ll never forget him and he will always hold a huge spot in my heart!
Seth – Poppa was everything we could ask for in a grandfather. We played a lot of cards together and he was my “Ace of Trumps” and will always be “the champ” in my heart. I hope that I can be half the man he was. I will always love him!
Shay - My grandfather was far from ordinary. He was loved by everyone who knew him. When I needed a good laugh or smile, I knew he was the one to run to. He will always have a special place in my heart so that I can carry him with me forever.
Adam – Words can’t describe what kind of grandfather he was. I’ll never forget the countless trips and ballgames he would take me to and him always calling me before my games telling me at the end of our conversations to “go get ‘em tiger”. I will always love him!
Andrew – Harold Chafin was not a regular grandfather to me, he was my Poppa, full of love, energy, pride, enthusiasm and encouragement. It always made him happy to hear about my grades or sports accomplishments. He loved me with all his heart and often told me he loved me. I will always miss and love him.
Kyle – Poppa was the one who taught me to play basketball. He is the reason I play. He never missed one of my games. If I won or lost, it never mattered because he was always proud of me and told me I’d played a good game. Elise – Poppa came to every activity I did. He taught me to play cards and he always let me win.
Anna Morgan – I have a lot of memories with Poppa. I will miss him coming to all my softball and volleyball games. He was a wonderful grandfather and I will always love him. Eli – I will always remember Poppa pulling quarters out of my ear, shooting basketball with me, taking me fishing and watching me play baseball. He called me “Big Poppy” and #10 for being the tenth grandchild. I want to be just like him.
Family will receive friends at the Pearisburg First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, November 12, from 6 to 8 p.m., and again on Thursday one hour prior to the 2 p.m. service. Memorials may be made to the Pearisburg FUMC, Capital Fund, P.O. Box 400, 1101 Valleyview Dr., Pearisburg, VA 24134.
Ms. Katherine McArthur Westmoreland
MS. KATHERINE McARTHUR WESTMORELAND, 90, ALSO KNOWN AS “KITTY” OR “GRANNY,” passed away PEACEFULLY ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD, 2008, AT RIVERVIEW NURSING HOME IN RICHCREEK, VIRGINIA. KITTY WAS BORN IN HOPEWELL, VIRGINIA ON AUGUST 28TH, 1918. HER PARENTS WERE THE LATE WILLIAM McARTHUR AND ETHEL MAY WATSON. SHE SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE AS A HOME MAKER, MARRIED TO THE LATE WILBUR CLAUDIE WESTMORELAND FOR 57 YEARS AND RESIDED IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. SHE RAISED THREE SONS AND LIVED THE PAST 10 YEARS WITH HER YOUNGEST SON, JAMES McARTHUR WESTMORELAND, HIS WIFE AMY, AND THEIR DAUGHTER EMILY. SHE DIVIDED THE REST OF HER TIME TRAVELING TO DALLAS, TEXAS AND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA TO VISIT HER OTHER SONS, WILBUR CLAUDIE WESTMORELAND, JR. AND WILLIAM EDWARD WESTMORELAND. KITTY ENJOYED TRAVELING THROUGH THE YEARS WITH THE GOOD SAM AND NATIONAL RAILROADERS CAMPING CLUBS AND VISITED EVERY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT FOR ALASKA. SHE HAD MANY FOND MEMORIES OF THESE TRAVELS. KITTY ALSO ENJOYED GOING TO THE GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER AND LOVED WORKING JIGSAW PUZZLES. SHE RESIDED AT RIVERVIEW NURSING HOME FOR THE PAST 11 MONTHS. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER THREE SONS: JAMES AND AMY WESTMORELAND OF PEARISBURG, VA, WILBUR WESTMORELAND OF DALLAS, TEXAS, AND WILLIAM AND LIZ WESTMORELAND OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA; TWELVE GRANDCHILDREN: EMILY WESTMORELAND, ANDY AND KERI WESTMORELAND, JEANNIE AND JASON ALEXANDER, AMANDA WESTMORELAND, DAVID AND JEANNIE WESTMORELAND, CHARLIE WESTMORELAND, PAULA TROUPE, MICHAEL AND BEVERLEY WHITE; AND NINE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. A GRAVESIDE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH, 2008 AT 10:00AM AT WESTHAMPTON MEMORIAL PARK IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, WITH THE REV ERNEST HOGGE OFFICIATING. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS AT THE GRAVESIDE FROM 9:00 AM TO 10:00AM. MEMORIALS CAN BE MADE TO EITHER GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER OF PEARISBURG, VIRGINIA OR FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF PEARISBURG, VA.
