Washington County obituaries

Shirley Fullerton Abell
Shirley Bushnell Fullerton Abell joined her parents in death on Monday,  July 16, 2007 at her home in Abingdon, VA.
She was surrounded by her  daughters, who with the thoughtful nursing care by Naomi Barrett of Southwest Virginia Hospice, had cared for her in her home through her final illness.
Shirley’s compassion for others was shown through her thirty years of dedicated service at Southwest Virginia State Hospital. She retired as Director of Social Services in 1991. Her scholarly curiosity, her wide ranging interests and knowledge, and her classic wit will be remembered with  pleasure by those who knew and loved her.
Shirley was a daughter of the late T. B. Fullerton and Eula St. John Fullerton and was also preceded in death by her sister Ann Fullerton Neely.
She is survived by her daughters, Vincy Tuttle Abell, Alyson Blair Abell,  Melissa Ann Abell Watson, her son-in-law Brett Matthew Watson; her grandchildren, Blair Abell Watson, Emily St. John Watson, Ian St. John Patterson, Zeke Lee Kite; her sister, Phebe Fullerton Cress and many loved nieces and nephews in a large extended family.
A service will be conducted at 2:00 P. M. Thursday, July 19, 2007 in the  Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service.  Burial will follow in the Holston Conference Emory & Henry Cemetery in Emory, VA. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions  can be made to your local library.  Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy on-line may do so by visiting http://farrisfuneralservice.com.
The Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon is serving the family of Shirley Bushnell Fullerton Abell.    

John Edward Belcher
Mr. John Edward Belcher, age 70, passed away Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at Wellmont Bristol Regional after a long illness.  He was born in Honaker, Virginia, a son of the late Ellis Roosevelt Belcher and Lola Sauls Belcher.  He had lived most of his life in the Abingdon area and was of the Baptist faith.  He had worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: Clyde Belcher; Ellis Belcher, Jr.; Earl Belcher; Clarence Belcher; and Carl Belcher; and by his sisters: Bessie Ray and Clara Hinchey.
Mr. Belcher is survived by his wife of 48 years, Phyllis Shew Belcher; his son, John Edward Belcher, Jr. and wife Coleen of Lovettsville, VA; three daughters: Ava Bowman and husband Rick of McCordsville, IN; Edna Bowman and husband Glen of Kingsport, TN; and Donna Ala of Damascus, VA; three brothers: Arnold Belcher of Bristol, TN; Ernest Belcher of Widener’s Valley; and Ralph Belcher of Abingdon; two sisters: Mary Jones of Bristol, TN and Hazel Hawthorne of  Bristol, VA; and nine grandchildren: Richard Bowman, Justin Belcher, Cherish Bowman, Matthew Bowman, Sahra Belcher, Katie Ala, Kelli Ala, Samantha Martin and Drew Martin.
The family would like to offer special thanks to the nursing staff at Bristol Regional Medical Center, Dr. Forrest Swan, Dr. Polly Billips, and Dr. Manoj Srinath.
Funeral services for Mr. John Belcher will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Farris Funeral Service, Main Street Chapel, with Pastor David Gibson and Randy Davenport officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens.  Active pallbearers will be P. J. Vandagriff, Steve Belcher, Jeff Belcher, Darrell Hawthorne, Darrell Belcher, and Robert Belcher.  Honorary pallbearers will be his other nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 20, 2007, at the funeral home.  Those wishing to share memories or express sympathy on-line may do so by visiting http://www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA  24210 (276-623-2700) is serving the family of Mr. John Belcher.

James Delmer Blevins
James Delmer Blevins, age 70 passed away Saturday, July 14, 2007 at his home in Damascus, Virginia.  He was born on April 2, 1937 in Grayson County, Virginia to the late Albert and Hattie Moore Blevins.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, R.C. Blevins.  He was a skilled carpenter and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include; his wife of 34 years, Dorothy Gail Blevins; two daughters Kimberly Blevins and husband Abdul and Crystal Meadows and husband Mitchell; one brother, Ernie Blevins and wife Marion; a sister-in-law, Nancy Blevins and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM, Monday, July 16, 2007 at the Bradley’s Funeral Chapel in Chilhowie with Pastor Jerry Heaton and Pastor Stephen Burke officiating.  Interment followed in the Laurel Valley Cemetery in Konnarock.  A reception was held at the Konnarock Community Center in honor of James following the graveside service.  Pallbearers were Ernie Blevins, Jr., Chris Blevins, R.C. Blevins, Jr., Phillip Blevins, Mitchell Meadows and Fealous Stamper.  The family received friends Monday from 11:00-1:00 at the funeral home’s chapel.  Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bredleysfh.com.  Bradley’s Funeral Chapel of Chilhowie is serving the Blevins family.

Samuel Wayne Booher
Samuel Wayne Booher, 87, of Bristol, Tennessee, died on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at the National Health Center of Bristol, Virginia. Mr. Booher was born on March 30, 1920, in Marion, Virginia and was the son of the late Rose Musgrave Booher and Lee S. Booher. Mr. Booher served with the United States Navy in South Pacific during World War II and was a member of the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church. He owned and operated Town and Country Real Estate until his retirement. He was preceded in death by his brother, George Booher.
Survivors include his wife, Janie Estep Booher; his daughter and son-in-law, Sue Clark and her husband Allen of Abingdon, Virginia; and his brother, Paul M. Booher of Orlando, Florida; his three grandsons and their families, Greg Clark and his wife Cindy, their children Brendan and Megan of Roanoke, Virginia, Herb Clark and his wife Annette and their daughter Katie of Bristol, Virginia, and Brad Clark and his wife Kim and their children Allen and Shelley of Cornelius, North Carolina.
The family received friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Thursday evening July 19, 2007 in the Blevins Funeral Home.  The funeral service was held at 11 o’clock Friday morning in the Heritage Chapel of Memories in the Glenwood Cemetery Mausoleum with Dr. Bob Jones officiating.  A private committal and interment followed in the Glenwood Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Scott Smith, Brendan Clark, Allen Clark, Mike Ellis, Jimmy Smith, Eric Smith, and Tom Haws. The family would like to acknowledge the love and care given to Mr. Booher by all of the staff and employees of the National Health Center of Bristol, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Mr. Booher’s memory should choose there favorite charity or organization. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting http://www.friends@blevinsaffordable.com. Blevins Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 417 Lee Street, Bristol, Virginia, 276-669-6141 is serving the family of SamuelWayne Booher.

Jane Douglas
Summers Brown
Jane Douglas Summers Brown, a resident of Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg died Friday July 13th, 2007, at the age of 104.
She was born January 10th, 1903 in Abingdon, Va.  She was a daughter of the noted lawyer and historian, Lewis Preston Summers of Abingdon and his wife Anne Katherine Barbee of White Gate, Giles County.  Douglas Brown’s early education was by private tutors and in private schools connected to the two colleges in Abingdon, Stone Wall Jackson Institute and Martha Washington College.  She graduated from the local William King High School and later from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton in 1923.  Following graduation she spent the summer of 1923 touring Scandinavia, the British Isles and Western Europe.  The following three years she spent teaching high school in Covington, Va. and Lancaster County.
In 1926, she married Henry Dockery Brown, Jr. of Wilson, NC.  At the time, he was completing his preparation for the Presbyterian Ministry at the Theological Seminary in Richmond. While he continued his studies there, she attended The General Assembly’s School of Christian Education.  With this background, she spent the following years as a volunteer in her husband’s several churches, as a trained Christian church worker.  Her major endeavor was in the work of the Women of the Church, where her main interest lay.  In time, she served as president of the Women of the Church of Bethel Presbytery in South Carolina and Savannah Presbytery in Georgia.  She taught Bible in the local churches and in later years ecumenical places in the cities in which they lived.  She also served as “Mistress of the Manse” in Lynchburg, Richmond, and Emporia Virginia, as well as Rock Hill, SC and Waycross, GA.  She was a charter member of her chapter of The Daughters of The American Revolution.  She was a member of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church.
“Douglas” began her early writing for church publications, including The Out Look, The Survey, and The Christian Endeavor.  Lynchburg’s Pioneer Quakers was her first history book, now in its third printing.  It was her introduction to writing local histories.  Over the years, she wrote five books on local history, four of which have been reprinted.  Her book on the Catawba Indians was printed by the University of South Carolina Press and pronounced one of its most notable books published by them over the past 25 years.  She also wrote a number of articles for magazines such as The Virginia Cavalcade, The Sandlapper (S.C.), The North Carolina Magazine, Lynch’s Ferry, and others.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her two sons, Henry Dockery Brown III, of Lowell, MA and Lewis Summers Brown of Lynchburg, Va.
She is survived by her sister Olivia Dutcher (Mrs. Howard Dutcher) of Neptune, NJ, her daughter-in-law Helen J. Brown of Lowell, MA, her six grandchildren, Barbara J. Brown, Marcia D. Maxfield, Bonnie M. Finneran, Henry D. Brown IV, David R. Brown, and Donna Mendonca as well as seven great- grandchildren.
A funeral service was conducted by the Reverend Dr. Corey Ingold in Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church at 12:00 noon on Thursday, July 19th followed by burial in the church cemetery. 
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5810 Fort Ave. Lynchburg, VA 24502.
Diuguid Wiggington Chapel is serving the family, 434-385-8900.

William Keith Clay
Mr. William Keith Clay, age 77, passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2007  at his home.
William was born on February 21, 1930 in Bonneville, Utah and was a son of the late Thomas Henry Clay and Ada Caroline Braegger Clay. He  was also preceded in death by his oldest son David Keith Clay.
He was a graduate of the  University of Utah and was a member of their championship football team in 1950 & 1951. William was  a veteran of both the U. S.  Army and Air Force and had served as a member of  the Washington County School Board. He had served as business manager for several business and most recently retired as the owner and founder of CBI Insurance Agency of Abingdon.
William was a member of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bristol Ward. He was and active member of the church and had recently served a  2  year humanitarian mission in the Philippines. He had served as the President of the Kingsport Tennessee State of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 
Survivors include his wife Lillie Ida Clay; his sister Norma Anderton of Kaysville, UT; his daughters, Lillie Larson of Chicago, Il, Teresa Ann Tyhurst, Caroline Hood, Rebecca Lynn Cooper, Rachel Lea Keohane  all of Abingdon, VA Mindi Deane Hawkins of Overland Park, KS, and Robin Kristine Phillipps of Downey, ID ; his sons, William Dennis Clay, Jonathan Jared Clay both of Abingdon, VA and Stephen Andrew Clay of Maple Valley, WA; forty eight grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 – 9:00 Friday, July 20, 2007  at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service (located on the grounds of Forest Hills Memory Gardens at 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon). The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P. M. Saturday, July  21, 2007 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bristol Ward, 13 Heritage Drive, Bristol, VA. The burial and committal service will follow in  Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon, VA. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy  on line may do so by visiting http;//farrisfuneralservice.com. The Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon is serving the family of Mr. William Keith Clay.

James Cornette
“Jim” Combs
James Cornette “Jim” Combs, age 85, of Bristol, VA, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2007, in Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center.
 He was born September 21, 1921, and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area.  He was a son of the late Ernest and Minnie Combs and was a prominent farmer and citizen of Washington County, Virginia. 
 Jim was a graduate of Wallace High School, attended Business College and worked with American Optical Company before going into the service.  He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps serving in the C.B.I. Theater.  After returning to private life, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and retired after 35 years of service. 
 He was a member of the York Masonic Lodge No. 12 and was an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.  He served on the board of Soil and Water Conservation Services in Washington County, the board of The Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, the board of Washington County Department of Social Services, the Game Department, and the Board of Trustees at Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church.  He was also a member of the Reynolds Sunday School Class.
 In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Charles Combs.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Nancy Anderson Combs; two daughters, Patricia “Pat” King and husband Steve, and Sarah Haderer and husband Chuck, all of Bristol, VA; three sons, Jim Combs and wife Janet, and Joe W. Combs and Jackie, all of Bristol, VA, and John Combs and friend, Rita Stevens, of Abingdon, VA; thirteen grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his aunt, Margaret Crumley and cousin, Elinor Vaught; and a special friend, Lois Hardy. 
 The funeral service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2007, in the Akard Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Richie Hayes officiating.  The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Sunday prior to the service at Akard Funeral Home.
 The committal service and interment will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 23, 2007, in the Mountain View Cemetery with military graveside rites presented by the Bristol V.F.W. Honor Guard.  Pallbearers will be David Combs, Jason Combs, Jonathan Combs, William Haderer, Ben Haderer, Wes Combs, Mickey Freeman and Wil Cantrell.  Honorary pallbearers will be friends too numerous to mention.
 In lieu of flowers, those desiring may send memorials to Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church, 327 Mary St., Bristol, VA 24201.  E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at . 
 Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of James Cornette “Jim” Combs.

Monroe Jamison, Jr
Monroe Jamison, Jr., age 52, passed away at his home in Abingdon on July 12, 2007.
Beloved husband, father, brother and son, Monroe was born to Betty and Monroe Jamison, Sr. on March 23, 1955, in Owensboro, KY and graduated from Ohio County High School in Hartford, KY. He received a B.A. in English from the University of Kentucky in 1984 and a law degree from the UK College of Law in 1987. He was an editor of the Journal of Mineral Law & Policy and was the recipient of a fellowship from the Institute of Mines and Minerals Resources Research Institute.
With his wife, Daveena Sexton, he moved to Washington County, VA in 1987, where he was employed by the Penn Stuart law firm prior to opening a private practice in Abingdon. At his death he was employed as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Virginia.
An accomplished bluegrass musician himself, Monroe also originated both The Bluegrass Sampler radio show, for which he served as host for many years, and the Virginia Highlands Festival’s old-time and bluegrass music weekend.
A former president of the Virginia Highlands Festival and the Kiwanis Club of Abingdon, he was also the immediate past president of the Washington County Bar Association.
Monroe leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Daveena Sexton, and their daughter, Hannah Rebecca Jamison, both of Abingdon; his mother and her husband, Betty and Bernard Maupin, of Beaver Dam, KY; his sister and her husband, Becky and Phil Wilder, his niece Jessie Wilder and nephew Zach Wilder, all of Versailles, KY; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wanda and David M. Sexton of Whitesburg, KY; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Stephanie and Michael Williams of Sharps Chapel, TN; and a grieving community of musicians, colleagues and close friends who cherished his intelligence, warmth, generosity, quick wit and abundant talents.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, July 14, 2007, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon.  They will also receive friends from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday, July 16, 2007, and from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam, KY.  A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Danks Funeral Home with burial following at Sunnyside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Outreach Foundation, 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA  24211, or to the American Cancer Society earmarked for research.
Those wishing to share memories or express sympathy on-line may do so by visiting http://www.farrisfuneralservice.com.  Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA  24210 (276-623-2700) is serving the Jamison family. 

Mamie Gay Mann
Mamie Gay Mann, 73, passed away Friday, July 13, 2007 in the Wellmont Hospice House. 
She was a lifelong resident of Washington County, VA and was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church.
Survivors include her sons, Curtis Mann and Johnny Mann both of Abingdon, Rich Mann and special friend, Vada Flannagan, Bristol, TN, her daughters, Carolyn Marlow, Abingdon, VA, Gracie Hensley and husband, David, Bristol, VA, Jane Mann and special friend, Craig Harper, Saltville, VA, her brothers, Richard Mann and Gilmer Mann both of Abingdon, VA, her sisters, Eva Wolf, Abingdon, VA and Grace Mahala, Pennsylvania, ten grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be conducted Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. in the Farris Funeral Service, Main Street Chapel with Pastor Bobby King officiating.  The family will receive friends Sunday from 6-8 p.m. in the funeral home.

The committal graveside service will be conducted Monday, July 16, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mountain View Cemetery, Route 75, Abingdon, VA with Pastor John E. Massey, Jr. officiating.  Those attending the service are asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:50 a.m.
Pallbearers will be Rich Mann, Curtis Mann, Dave Hensley, Craig Harper, Ben Collins and Joey Wells.
Those wishing to express sympathy on-line may do so by visiting http://www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
Farris Funeral Service, Main Street Chapel, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA is serving the Mann family.  

Eliza Preston
Cummings Phillips
Mrs. Eliza Preston Cummings Phillips, 95, a Homemaker, died Thursday, July 12, 2007 at her home. Funeral services were 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 16, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church in Brookhaven, MS. with burial in the Rosehill Cemetery. Pastor Edwin Wolff officiated. Brookhaven Funeral Home, on Natchez Drive in Brookhaven, MS handled the arrangements.  
Mrs. Phillips, a native of Abingdon, Virginia, graduated in 1932 from Duke University and moved to Brookhaven, MS in 1934 as the young bride of Robert Pearce Phillips, a practicing attorney. Mrs. Phillips was a Girl Scout leader for all four of her daughters’ troops and mentored other young mothers in scouting leadership. She was a founder of the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Climbers Club, and Colonial Dames, and was a regional representative for Camp DeSoto, Mentone, Alabama. Her home was the setting for annual Easter egg hunts and the lighting of her giant cedar Christmas tree was much anticipated by the community. 
She was a direct descendent of the Rev. Charles Cummings, who was the founding pastor of the Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church and one of the first citizens of Abingdon, Virginia. He is credited with writing the Fincastle Resolves before the American Revolution. 
Mrs. Phillips was an active member for over 70 years of the First Presbyterian Church of Brookhaven where she founded the church kindergarten, taught Sunday school and served as an elder.
 Survivors include: her four daughters; Frances Potts of Burnsville, MN, Mary Eliza (LiLi) Kirkpatrick of Denver, CO, Jenny Godwin of New Bern, NC and Cynthia Lauderdale of Philadelphia, MS, eleven grandchildren; Catherine Potts, Rebecca Potts Murphy, Mary Anne Potts, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Gabriel Godwin, Chloe Godwin, Andrew Godwin, David Lauderdale, Sarah Lauderdale, and Eliza Lauderdale and three great-grandchildren; Emma Godwin, Avery Godwin and Olivia Lauderdale. Evelyn Stewart provided care for Mrs. Phillips in her last years.  
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Eliza Cummings Phillips, her husband Robert Pearce Phillips, and her sisters: Mary Willett and Frances Moore. Mrs. Phillips will always be remembered for her deep and abiding faith, her warm hospitality and her steadfast love.  
Memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Brookhaven, P O Box 346, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or to Middle Mississippi Girl Scouts, 214 West Court Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601.