Smyth County obituaries for Oct. 11, 2008

Davidson

Gloria Jean (Simms) Davidson, 66, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, died at Bristol Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 after an extended illness. 
She was born Oct. 5, 1942 in Montgomery County, Md. She worked for Food City in Bristol, Tenn., and was retired from Kmart (Gaithersburg, Md.) after 15 years of service.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Forrest Simms Sr. and Edith Estelle (Frye) Simms, brothers, Forrest Simms Jr., Billy Simms, and James Simms, and sister, Nancy Dunn. 
Survivors include her husband, Curtis Campbell Davidson Sr. of Bristol, Tenn.; daughter, Donna Lynn Richardson and husband, Michael Richardson of Marion; daughter, Nancy Grace O’Dell and husband, Eddie O’Dell; son, Curtis Campbell Davidson Jr. and wife, Lisa Davidson of Frederick, Md.; twin daughters, Brenda Lee Case and husband, Rodney Case of Bristol, Tenn.; and Linda Kay Romero of Frederick, Md.; grandchildren, Kelly Michelle Richardson of Bristol, Tenn.; Ryan Michael Masten, Harpers Ferry, W.Va., and Teresa Jo Masten of Bristol, Malinda Sue, Tony Orlando, and Victor Yiavon Romero of Frederick, Md., Sara Estelle and Victoria Grace Case of Bristol, Tenn.; one great-grandchild to be; sisters and brothers, Edna Robbins, Denver, Colo., Betty Pollen and husband, Ralph Pollen, Boonsboro, Md.; Donald Lee Simms of Germantown, Md., Patricia Ann Baker, Germantown, Md.; Jeanne Lewis, Gaithersburg, Md.; brother and sister-in-laws, Deck W. Davidson, James L. Davidson Jr., Tom and Ruby Davidson, Elizabeth Roberts of Saltville; Edna and John Brewster of Marion; and Nannie Anders, Gaithersburg, Md.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at D.R. Henderson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Rich Valley Presbyterian Cemetery.
The family received friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the funeral home.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Gibson

Elizabeth J. “Lib” Gibson, 86, of Abingdon, died on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 at Johnston Memorial Hospital.
She was a native of Washington County and was a daughter of the late William Benjamin Sexton and Ruth Susan Jenkins Sexton. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Troy Gibson. 
Survivors include one sister, Virginia Ross, of Bristol, Tenn.; three brothers, James E. Sexton and his wife, Artie, Charles D. Sexton and his wife, Oradell, both of Bristol, and William Garfield Sexton and his wife, Debbie, of Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the graveside at Sunset Memorial Park with Pastor David Griffin officiating. 
There will be no viewing or visitation at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Grace Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 600 Walden Road, Abingdon, VA 24210.
Online condolences may be sent and viewed by visiting http://www.garrettfuneralhome.com. 
Garrett Funeral Home, Damascus, was in charge of arrangements.

Gill

Herbert Denver Gill, 75, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 in Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Bradley’s Funeral Home of Marion

Grubb

William Herbert Grubb, 89, of Pulaski died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 at Pulaski Community Hospital.
He was born May 3, 1919 in Grant. He was the son of the late William Isom and Birdie Ross Grubb. His wife, Naomi Mitchell Grubb, and a number brothers and sisters also preceded him in death. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served in World War II in Europe.
Survivors include daughters and son-in-law, Linda and Larry O’Dell of Salem and Barbara Fincher of La Vernia, Texas; grandchildren, Justin Cate, Christopher O’Dell, and Julie Sherrill and husband, Keith; great-grandchildren, Ryan Sherrill and Hannah Sherrill; brother and sister-in-law, Jay C. and Laura Grubb of Troutdale; sister, Susie Cline of Elkton, Md.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bower Funeral Home, Pulaski, with the Rev. Jerry Gibson officiating. Interment followed at the Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin, with full military honors conducted by the Pulaski VFW Post #1184.
The family received friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 at the Bower Funeral Home, Pulaski, http://www.bowerfuneralhome.com.
Bower Funeral Home, Pulaski, was in charge of the arrangements.

Mitchell

Joseph Woods Mitchell Sr., 81, died on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 at the James H. Quillen Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn.
He was born in Marion and was employed by N.V.F. in Yorklin, Del., where he worked for 39 years as a machinist. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army. He attended the First Church of God Atkins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Adams Mitchell, his parents, William and Bessie Rotenberry Mitchell and two brothers, Alf and Frazier Mitchell.
Survivors include three sons, Joseph W. Mitchell Jr., and wife, Kay, of Rural Retreat; W. Kenny Mitchell and wife, Sherri, of Oxford, Penn., and Bruce A. Mitchell and wife, Linda, of Kennett Square, Penn.; one daughter, Audrey L. Mortzfield and husband, Barry, of Downingtown, Penn.; three sisters, Ann Ross of Willowstreet, Penn., Margaret Phillips of Placerville, Calif., and Alberta Hawthorne of Marion; three brothers, Bob Mitchell of Kentucky, Glen Mitchell of Marion, and Charles Mitchell of Unionville, Penn.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. 
Funeral services were conducted Friday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with the Rev. Nouhad Melki and the Rev. Charlie Walker officiating. Burial followed in Laurel Valley Cemetery, Konnarock.
The family received friends Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Church of God, 6118 Lee Hwy., Atkins, VA.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at http://www.seaverbrown.com.
Seaver-Brown Funeral Services & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Nabti

Helen Parrish Nabti died on Oct. 6, 2008, in Waterford. 
She was born Mary Helen Parrish on Nov. 22, 1919 in Marion.
She attended Marion Grammar School, Marion High School and Marion Lutheran College. Upon graduation from college, she went to Washington, where she worked in the Department of State.  While there she had many notable assignments, attending the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington, D.C., the Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago in 1944 and the first United Nations Conference in San Francisco where she was part of the staff to Alger Hiss. Later she joined the Foreign Service and was posted to the Philippines, Japan right after the occupation and Lebanon.  She resigned her post in 1953 to marry Albert Nabti. In 1972 she retired from the State Department.  She was active in the Democratic Party in Fairfax County for a number of years.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Albert Nabti; one daughter, Zana Metelski; and two grandsons, Peter and Alex Metelski.
Loudoun Funeral Home in Leesburg was in charge of arrangements.