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Roger Dale Allen, Sr., 53, of Lillydale, WV, passed away on Sunday January 31, 2010
following a long illness. Roger was born December 18, 1956 in Pineville, WV. He was a
disabled coal miner, having worked at Kopperston # 2 Mine, a member of the UMWA and
an avid Harley Davidson fan. His father Henry Allen preceded him in death. Survivors
include his mother Virginia Grace Harris Allen of Lillydale, WV; a son Roger Dale Allen, Jr.
of North Carolina; two grandsons Logan Skylar Dale Allen and Dillon Slade Cordell Allen;
four sisters Darlene Francis Allen of Lillydale, WV, Ruth Ann Allen of Ashland, KY, Arlene
Faye Al-Younis of New Jersey, Retha Carol Massie of Oceana, WV; four nieces and
nephews Tiffany Nicole Allen, Natasha Ryan Walls, Zachary Kyle Bailey and Austin Tyler
Allen; a great nephew Ethan Ray Lusk; and a host of other loving family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday February 5, 2010 in the Chapel of Stafford
Family Funeral Home, Lynco, with Rev. Timmy Kennedy officiating. Roger will be laid to
rest in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6
– 9:00 PM on Thursday February 4, 2010 at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve
as pallbearers. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Nora Lena Coleman, 88, of Oceana, WV, passed away on Monday January 18, 2010 at
Raleigh General Hospital. Nora was born on August 1, 1921 at Guesses Fork, Virginia, a
daughter of the late Paris and Edna Littles Coleman. She was a gardener and loved
canning her own food. She loved going to church and flea markets. She was of the Church
of God faith. She loved spending time with her family and friends. In addition to her parents
she was preceded in death by four sisters Ellen, Gevena, Pauline and Maudie; five
brothers Sampy, Paul, James, Hassel and Harlen; several nieces and nephews. Those left
to cherish her memory are a brother Ronnie Coleman and wife Carolyn of Rollins Branch,
whom she helped raise and loved as a son; a niece Zell Walker and husband Harold of
Bland, VA, who she also helped raise and loved as a daughter; three sisters Rosie
Blankenship and husband Willard of Bland, VA, Ann Coleman and husband Sanford of
Bluewell, WV and Thelma Coleman of Oceana; a special and loving caregiver Dana
McMillon; a host of nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends. Funeral services
will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday January 21, 2010 at the Chapel of Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV with Pastor Sanford Coleman, Rev. Terry Coleman and Rev.
Oscar Roberts officiating. Nora will be laid to rest in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny,
WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6 – 9:00 PM on Wednesday at the funeral
home. A special thank you to the staff and nurses at Heartland of Beckley and the SICU
nurses at Raleigh General Hospital. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral
Home, Lynco, WV.
Bernice Clare Evans Whitaker, 71, of Corrine, WV, passed away on Thursday January 14, 2010 at
Raleigh General Hospital. Bernice was born December 6, 1938 in Glen Rogers, WV, a daughter of the
late Enos J. and Hazel Lamb Evans. She was a homemaker and member of New Richmond Chapel. Also
preceding her in death was a son Frankie Redden, her first husband Frank Redden, second husband
Andy Whitaker and a brother Harold Evans. Survivors include a son Michael Redden of Mullens, WV; two
sisters Priscilla James of Hanover, MD and Mabel Bailey of Hernshaw, WV; two brothers Johnny Evans
and wife Jean of Kopperston, WV and David Evans and wife Kathye of Glen Rogers, WV; her other
daughter Sandy Hall of Bud, WV; numerous stepchildren and a host of other loving family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday January 16, 2010 at the Chapel of Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV, with Rev. Mickey Mitchell officiating. Friends may gather with the family from
1:00 until service time. In keeping with her wishes she will be cremated and burial of her cremains will be
at a later date. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.. The family
is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Lela June Jackson Lester, 60, of Mile Branch Road on Indian Creek went home to be with the Lord on
January 14, 2010 due to medical complications. She was born March 12, 1949 at Mile Branch Road,
Indian Creek, WV a daughter of the late Urchel Blaine and Burley Fay Barrett Jackson. She was a loving
wife, mother and grandmother. She was of the Jesus Name Faith and a member of the Church of Zion at
Ikes Fork, WV. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister Barbara “Bobbie”
Barnett. She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years Ronald Leroy Lester; three daughters Ronda,
Traci and Shawna Lester; a granddaughter Alexis McKenna Lester (Momaw’s little sugar dumpling`); two
sisters Rosalie Beverly and husband Gerald and Kathy Belcher and husband David all of Mile Branch
Road, Indian Creek; two brothers Donald “Gene“ Jackson and wife Barbara of Mile Branch Road, Indian
Creek and Bernie “Jum” Jackson and wife Pamela of Jeffersonville, Georgia; a host of nieces and
nephews; a very special great-nephew Braeden Edward Belcher (Ne Ne’s little sugar foot); and a host of
other loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held at Noon on Monday January 18, 2010 at the
Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, with Rev. Alvie Lilly and Rev. Elzie Blankenship
officiating. Lela will be laid to rest in Brewster cemetery, Indian Creek, WV. Friends may gather with the
family from 6 – 9:00 PM on Sunday January 17, 2010 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be family and
friends. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.. The family is
being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Mabel June Hughes, 87, of Montgomery, Alabama, formerly of Clear Fork, WV passed away on Sunday
evening January 10, 2010 at the home of her daughter, Bonnie Hughes Ely. Mabel was born June 15,
1922 in Simon, WV, a daughter of the late George and Laune Toler Brinegar. Mabel lived in the
community of Clear Fork, West Virginia and was a member of the Sun Hill Methodist Church. She lived in
Clear Fork until 2005, at which time she moved to Montgomery, Alabama to be closer to her daughter,
grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her loving
husband Stacy Hughes and a sister Edith Walls. Always the loving and devoted Wife, Mother,
Grandmother, Great Grandmother and friend, Mabel always had a smile and a kind word for all. Her loving
good nature will be missed by all who came in contact with her. She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie
Hughes Ely; granddaughter Nancy Kocan; grandsons Brian and Darren Salmons; great granddaughters
Meredith and Samantha Kocan; and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held
at 1:00 PM on Saturday January 16, 2010 at the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, with
Rev. Jay Blankenship and Rev. Glen Hatfield officiating. Mabel will be laid to rest beside her husband in
Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 11:00 AM until service
time at the funeral home. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home..
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Oceana, WV.
Vencil Ray Harper, 58, of Hinton, WV, formerly of Crouches Farm, WV went home to be with the Lord on
Monday December 21, 2009 at his home. He was born October 6, 1951 in Simon, WV, the son of the late
Buster G. S. and Nora Ellen Mouk. He was a retired coal miner and a US Army Veteran. Survivors
include his loving wife of 30 years Gloria J. Hager Harper; a daughter Elizabeth E. Beckner and husband
Dean of Princeton; two sons Thomas B. Harper and wife Tameka of Princeton, WV and James Dewayne
Hager and wife Lorraine of Belmont, NC; seven grandchildren Michelle, Cory and Haley Beckner, Dylan
and Eric Harper, Patrick and Matthew Hager; four sisters Sandra (Aaron) Carper of Mullens, Minnie (Kyle)
Rudisill of Forest Hill, WV, Flora Halstead of Lester, and Rosanna (James) Diggs of Ashboro, NC; his
step-mother Betty Harper Short of Ashboro, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews and lots of friends. Funeral
services will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday December 27, 2009 at the Chapel of Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV with Rev. Firg Proffitt and Larry “Duke” Morgan officiating. Vencil will be laid to
rest in Wolf Pen Hollow cemetery, Long Branch, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6 – 9:00
PM on Saturday December 26, 2009 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Richard Halstead, Ronald
Halstead, Denver Halstead, JJ Hayes, Michael Hayes, George Carper, Justin Fernet, Anderson Bishop,
Vincen Bishop, Danny Cline and Pete Sprouse. Letters of sympathy may be sent at to Stafford Family Funeral Home.
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco,
WV.
James Alonzo Bryant, 68, of the Iaeger – Panther Road near Iaeger, WV, passed away on Thursday
December 17, 2009 at Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division following a short illness. He
was born November 25, 1941 in Horse Creek, WV a son of the late Ephe and Velda Steele Bryant. He
was affiliated with the Holliness Faith and a disabled coal miner. Also preceding him in death were his
brothers Andy, Charlie, Robert, Cecil, Hershel and Edward “Ed” Bryant; a son Dexter Bryant of Welch; a
grandson Daniel Bryant; a sister and brother-in-law Frances and Billy Dillon, Sr. of Justice; and a sister-in-
law Lona Belle Bryant. Survivors include his loving wife of 43 years Loraine Collins Bryant; a son Ravon
“Ray” Bryant and wife Lisa of Panther; two grandsons Joshua Alonzo Bryant of Panther and Joseph Ray
Bryant and wife Cynthia “Cindy” of Bradshaw; two great granddaughters Alexis and Ryleigh Bryant; a
sister Bertha Mae Branham of Oceana; brothers Hartsel Bryant and wife Barbara of Roderfield, Curtis
Bryant of Justice, Riley Bryant of Iaeger, and Hansel Bryant of Kendallville, Indiana; former sisters-in-law
Sandra, Florence and Agnes; brothers-in-law Eugene Reed of Hanover and Ronald Reed and wife
Brenda of Hanover; several nieces and nephews and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral
services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday December 22, 2009 at the House of Gethsemane on the
Iaeger – Panther Road officiated by speakers of the church. James will be laid to rest in the Charlie
Williams Memorial cemetery, Hanover, WV. Friends may gather with the family after 5:00 on Monday
December 21, 2009 at the church, evening services will begin at 7:00 PM with speakers of the church
officiating. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home,
Oceana, WV.
Ed Norman Murphy, 71, of Oceana, WV, passed away on Wednesday December 16, 2009 at Beckley
Appalachian Regional Hospital. Norman was born July 29, 1938 in Harlan County, Kentucky, a son of the
late Raymond and Marjorie Ross Murphy. He was a retired coal miner having worked at Eastern
Associated Coal Company’s Harris #2 Mine and a member of the UMWA. Five brothers also preceded
him in death Robert Estil Murphy, Billy Ray Murphy, Dudley Murphy, Larry Murphy and Dennis R. Murphy.
Survivors include his loving wife Darlene Sheppard Murphy; two daughters Tammy Murphy and April
Blankenship both of Cyclone, WV; two sons E. J. Murphy and wife Tammy of Reedsville, NC and Norman
Dewayne Murphy of Clairmount, NC; two step-sons Danny Walker and wife Wanda and Damon Walker
all of Kopperston, WV; ten grandchildren Chad Perry, Matthew Murphy, Todd Perry, Whitney Blankenship,
Hope Blankenship, Wanda (Herbert) Cook, Dena (Kris) Spence, Josh Walker, Marissa Walker and
Sarah Walker; four great grandchildren Nathan Cook, Kaylin Spence, Madison “Maddie” Cook and
Abigail Cook; four sisters June Phillips (the late Wayne) of Clovis, NM, Wilma (Delano) Acord of
Roanoke Rapids, NC, Debbie Tyler and Nina (Roscoe) Plymale all of Accoville, WV ; two brothers Glen
(Mary) Murphy of Pigeon Forge, TN and Ed (Carol) Murphy of San Marcos, TX; two sisters-in-law Juanita
Copley Murphy of Dunlow, WV and Carol Plymale Murphy of Landville, WV; and a host of other loving
family and friends. Funeral services will be held at Noon on Monday December 21, 2009 at the Chapel
of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco with Rev. James Walker officiating. Norman will be laid to rest
in Highland Memorial Gardens, Pecks Mill, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 10:00 AM until
service time at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Todd Perry, Chad Perry, Norman Dewayne Murphy,
Danny Walker, Damon Walker and T.J. Hannah. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco,
WV.
