Smyth County obituaries for April 16, 2008

Branson

Mary Louise (Patsy) Wyatt Branson, 63, of Branson Drive, Thomasville, N.C., died Monday, April 7, 2008 in Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center after an extended illness.
She was born Jan. 26, 1945 in Smyth County to Ira Bane Wyatt and Maude Evans Wyatt. She was a former manager of a convenience store. She was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Tommy Madison Branson of the home; one son, David Lee Branson and wife, Kimberly of Lexington, N.C.; one daughter, Martha Branson Haynes and husband, Doug of Thomasville, N.C; five grandchildren, Tiffany Michael, Joshua Curry, D.J. Haynes, all of Thomasville, N.C., and Alex Branson and Anna Branson, both of Lexington; two great-grandchildren, Madison Louise Bussard and Nathaniel Christon Blackburn, both of Thomasville, N.C.; six brothers, William Wyatt and wife, Mary, Joe Wyatt and wife, Martha, Jerry Wyatt and wife, Donna, Jim Wyatt and wife, Debbie, Richard Wyatt, Larry Wyatt and wife, Holly, all of Virginia; three sisters, Ann West and husband, Kenny, Susie Armstrong and husband, Gary, and Janie Gillispie, all of Virginia.
A funeral service was conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Davidson Funeral Home Chapel with preacher Clyde Akers officiating. Burial followed at Holly Hill Memorial Park.
The family received friends and family from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the funeral home and other times at the home, 270 Branson Dr., Thomasville.
Davidson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Cole
Leon Weaver Cole, 80, of Chilhowie died April 12, 2008 in the Wellmont Hospice.
He was the son of the late Weaver and Maude Parks Cole.
He was a member of Mountain View Chilhowie United Methodist Church, a graduate of Emory & Henry College and a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Betty Sue Cole; two sons and daughters-in-law, Weaver and Vicky Cole and Mark and Lesu Cole; four sisters, Dorthea (Dot) Lewis of West Hartford, Conn., Sallie Hood of Richmond, Helen Campbell of Osprey, Fla., and Sue and John Yeago of Knoxville, Tenn.; two special grandchildren, Ryan and Ellen; and a special friend, Elmer Walker.
Funeral services were conducted at 3 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Mountain View United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Graham officiating.
The family received friends from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial followed at the Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chilhowie.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mountain View United Methodist Church, PO Box 1722, Chilhowie, VA 24319 or Wellmont Hospice, 280 Steele’s Rd., Bristol, TN 37620.
Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, was in charge of arrangements.

Duff

Clarence Duff, 98, died Friday April 11, 2008 at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion.
He was a member and served as a deacon of the Valley View Assembly of God. His life reflected I Corinthians, Chapter 13.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Thelma Dean Duff, and a son, Billy G. Duff.
Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Estil D. and Polly Duff of Princeton, W.Va., Samuel and Charlotte Duff of Danville, W. Paul and Paula Duff of Cambridge, Ohio; three daughters and sons-in-law, Charlotte and Harold Perkins of Baltimore, Md., Helen June Duff of Saltville, and Ida Kay and Jim Townsend of Bel Air, Md.; three brothers, Charlie and Hazel Duff of Glade Springs, Leroy Duff of Bristol, and Graham Duff of Bristol; one sister, Lillie Mae Snead, of Saltville; 26 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; many great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, April 14, in the Valley View Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Dennis Banks officiating. Burial followed in the Forrest Hills Cemetery in Abingdon.
The family received friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home or at the family home anytime.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville was in charge of arrangements.

Henderson

Frances Virginia Henderson, 81, died Sunday, April 13, 2008 at the home of her daughter in Seven Mile Ford.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Douglas Henderson, and her parents, Jerome Francis and Bert Ray McCready.
She was a longtime member of the Methodist church.
Survivors include her daughter, Donna and husband, Tom Conduff, of Seven Mile Ford; two sisters, Juanita and David Catron of Saltville, Billie Jean and Samuel K. Bordwine of Melbourne, Fla.; three grandchildren, David W. Osborne Jr., Charles Thomas Conduff, and Michelle Widener; seven great-grandchildren, Laken Widener, Jayda Harris, Mckayla Shea Conduff, Nolan Thomas Conduff, Madison Conduff, Hannah Osborne, and Matthew Osborne; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at D.R. Henderson Funeral with the Rev. John Roe officiating. 
The family received friends from 12 until 2 Tuesday afternoon prior to the service. Burial followed in the Mount Rose Cemetery. 
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Stamper

Kevin Ray Stamper, 43, died Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Johnson City Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 12, 1964 to Mitchell R. and Gladys P. Stamper.
His memory will live on through his donation of life by being an organ donor.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include his mother, a sister, Michelle Rene Stamper, twin brother, Keith Ray, and wife, Maria, Stamper; brother, Kelly Ray and wife, Melissa, Stamper; several nieces and nephews; and friends and co-workers in Smyth County.
The family received friends from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville, N.C.
Funeral services were conducted following the visitation at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at Gentry Family Funeral Chapel by Pastor Barry Washington, Raymond Cox and Michelle Stamper. Burial followed in Yadkin Memorial Gardens.
This is a courtesy announcement by Bradley’s Funeral Home in Marion.

Zebley

Elwood Beeson Zebley died Friday, April 11, 2008. 
He was born in Elkton, Maryland, on May 11, 1917.
He lived in Saltville for 33 years. He served this country as a Navy seaman in World War II. He was a 32 degree Mason and member of the Masonic Crafton Lodge F. & A.M. of Pennsylvania, a member of the Delaware Consistory, Nur Temple Shriner, Pipefitters Local Union member, former president of the Delaware Babe Ruth Baseball League, a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion, a farmer, gardener, baseball coach, inventor and entrepreneur. 
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, June Nadine Henderson, his father, Joseph Wildman Zebley Sr., mother, Anna May Benjamin Zebley, one brother, Dr. Joseph Wildman Zebley Jr., and stepson Jimmy Boardwine. 
Survivors include his children, one daughter, Amy Zebley Benavidez; one son, Elwood “Bud” Curtis Zebley; three grandchildren, Lauren Zebley, Ethan Zebley and Chad Boardwine; son-in-law, Anthony Benavidez; one sister, Anna May Zebley Cocco; two brothers, George Benjamin Zebley and Harold Webster Zebley; special nieces, Constance Cocco Brooks and Amanda Cocco; special nephews, John Cocco II, Armand “Andy” Cocco Jr., Dr. Joseph W. Zebley III, Benjamin Zebley and Sanders James Henderson; and special friends, Simone and Kirby Henderson, Joseph P. and Mary Ann Johnson, Doris “Miss Dottie” Bounds, Dorothy King and family, T-Boy Aistrop, and all his wonderful neighbors.
A private service was conducted Sunday, April 13, presided over by Pastor Kenny Gilbert of the Calvary Bible Church of Saltville. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Hospice House of Bristol.  Memorial messages may be sent to
. 
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville was in charge of arrangements.