County Historian Passes Away by: Jan Runions/Assistant Editor County Historian, John Kivett The county has lost one of its most treasured assets. Longtime county historian John Jennings Kivett passed away during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 25. Kivett's passing marks the closing of a large, very full chapter in the book of Claiborne County. Kivett is best known for his insightful weekly column "Now and Then", which has for many years been a regular feature in the Claiborne Progress. Hours after his passing, Joyce Trent, who described herself as Kivett's surrogate daughter, was kind enough to comment on the character of the man she considered her father for the past 23 years. Trent talked about the quirky way Kivett had of answering questions. "I always thought a person should never ask him a question and expect a straightforward answer. He gave out of the blue answers for just about everything," Trent said. She spoke of the bounty of knowledge inherent within the man. "People who knew John knew he was a very smart man. He was the smartest man I ever knew," Trent said. During his lifetime, Kivett enjoyed a variety of interests including photography, history, sports, and education. He was a teacher and a loyal veteran, having honorably served during the Vietnam War. He greatly enjoyed conversing with people from varied walks of life and, according to Trent, was adamant about upholding the U. S. Military. "He loved keeping in contact with all his old buddies and always missed the ones who had gone on before him. Now, he's gone to meet them," Trent said. Tazewell Mayor Steve Vass, a pallbearer at Kivett's funeral, was asked to comment on the passing of his longtime buddy. "We grew up together on the streets of Tazewell. We've known each other since we were both pups," said Vass. "I wrote him on a fairly regular basis during the time he was serving in Vietnam. "In later years, when he became so sick, I would occasionally cook for him," he added. Whenever unsure about the finer points of county history, Kivett would call upon his friend for help. "John was never one to get on the Internet. Sometimes, he would ask me to look something up on it, for him," Vass explained. As the news of his passing spread throughout the county, those who knew him best paused for a moment to reflect on the qualities that made up the knowledgeable man with the quirky comebacks. Those who spoke of Kivett expressed the same thought - there will never be another quite like the popular county historian. Kivett was born on March 24, 1941 to parents Kyle and Inez Jennings Kivett. He was a longtime member of both the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8779 and the American Legion. On Friday, Aug. 26, Kivett was interned with full military honors in The Irish Cemetery. He will be sorely missed. ****************** Pearl 'Mae' Barnes, age 92, of Ewing, Va., was born May 20, 1912 in Lee Co., Va. and passed away August 19, 2004 at Tri State Manor. She was a member of Gibson Station Primitive Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, James N. Barnes; daughter, Joyce Lynn; father, Henry Cox; mother, Della Stigall; brother, Floyd Stigall and sister, Harue Brooks. Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy Johnson of Ewing, Va.; son, James Barnes of Ewing, Va.; 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held 8 p.m. Sunday, August 22 at Reece Valley Chapel with Elder Spurgeon Thompson and Elder Bill Rhymer officiating. Music by the Church Choir. Graveside Services were held 11 a.m. Monday, August 23 in the Old Gibson Cemetery, Ewing, Va. Pallbearers: Jeff Barnes, Carson Hounshel, Steve Bufford, Troy Marsee, Sonny Ball and Brian Barnes. Reece Funeral Home & Valley Chapel in charge. 869-3651 or 626-4249. ************************** Lottie Mae Carmon, age 94, of New Tazewell, was born August 9, 1910, passed away on August 27, 2004 at Claiborne County Hospital. She was a member of Fords Chapel Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Ray Carmon; parents: Will and Rachel Cardwell; son, Billy Ray Carmon; brothers: Rome, Lester and Tip Cardwell; sisters: Pearlie Howard, Orlie Duncan and Laura Watson. Survivors include her daughter, Vola Noah; grandchildren: Jimmy Carmon and Jeffrey Noah; great grandchildren: Emilee Carmon, Jessie Carmon, Alex Noah, Josh Ayers and Kayla Ayers; brother, Paul Cardwell all of New Tazewell; several nieces and nephews; a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Services were held 8 p.m. in Coffey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dallas Harrell and Rev. Timmy Drummonds officiating. Burial in the Ford's Chapel Cemetery. Songs by Charles Carmon Singers. Pallbearers: Gary and Sam Cardwell, Jimmy Carmon, Jeffrey Noah, Dale Duncan, Gary West, Doug and Bobby Cardwell. Honorary pallbearers: Troy Duncan and Ronald Cardwell. Coffey Funeral Home in charge. ****************************** Kinard J. Pillion, age 76, of Mt. Zion Community, of Tazewell, was born July 13, 1928 in Lee County, Va. and passed away August 28, 2004. He was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by parents: Millard and Janie Martin Pillion; brothers: Lucian, Frank, Floyd, Elmo, Shelby, Willard and Obie; sisters: Ella, Annie and Flossie; nephews: Cecil, Billy Pillion and Roger Lee Miracle. Survivors include his nephews: Ray, Cecil, Pascal, Estel, Oscar, David, Millard Lee, Wayne Pillion and Raymond Miracle; nieces: Bernice Yeary, Jerlene Jones, Cathy Sowders, Regina Bartram, Joyce Shepherd, Wanda Bright, Joan Storm, Ella Richardson and Faye Jones; a host of cousins and friends. Funeral Services were held 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 31 at Reece Valley Chapel with Rev. Travis Pressnell officiating. Music provided by Mary Hopkins and Amber Pillion. Graveside Services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 1 at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Pallbearers: nephews. Reece Funeral Home & Valley Chapel in charge. 869-3651 or 626-4249. *************************** Anna "Granny" Niday Lowery, age 72, of Rogersville Care & Rehab Center and formerly of Ewing, Va., passed away August 23,2004. She was a member of Persia Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; 2 brothers and 1 sister. Survivors include her four daughters and three sons-in-laws: Debbie Price, Jackie and Chris Steele, Jenifer and Chriss Mullins, Jami and Sam Warner all of Rogersville; 13 grandchildren; 10 ten great-grandchildren; 2 sisters: Beaulah Luttrell of Ohio, Georgia Sulfridge of Florida; three brothers: Elmer Niday of Morristown, Rev. John Niday of New Tazewell, Charles Niday of Ewing, Va.; several nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral Services were held 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 25 at Christian-Sells Funeral Home with Rev. Beboyce Givens officiating. Graveside Services were held 11 a.m. Thursday, August 26 at Brooks Cemetery in Ewing, Va., with Rev. Fred Diamond officiating. Christian-Sells Funeral Home, Rogersville, in charge Reece Funeral Home & Valley Chapel in charge of local arrangements. 869-3651 or 626-4249. ********************************* Josephine P. Osborne, age 95, of Tazewell, went home to be with our Lord on Saturday, August 21, 2004 at Claiborne County Nursing Home. She was a loving wife, mother and best friend to her family. She belonged to First Congregational Church in Woodbridge, N.J. She was preceded in death by her Danish parents: Peter Joseph and Anna Katrine Petersen; husband of 64 years, Wm. Stanley Osborne who was 95 when be passed away in 1994; sisters: Anna Drews, Katrine Dennis and Mae Callahan; brother, Kjelder Petersen; grandson, Peter W. Pasnak. Mrs. Osborne is survived by 4 daughters: Gloria Osborne McGettigan and husband, Leroy, of Shreveport, La., Dolores Osborne Anello and husband, Carl of Jim Thorpe, Pa., Florence Osborne Caylor of Tazewell, and Josephine K. Osborne of Knoxville; nine grandchildren: Diana McGettigan Davis of Winston-Salem, NC., Lee Ann McGettigan Stapleton of Shreveport, La., Suzanne McGettigan Davis of Mertzon, Tx., Debra Lynn Pasnak of Highstown, N.J., Norma Jean Caylor-King and Dona Jean Caylor of Knoxville, Roger G. Allen of Kodak, Creed CaylorIII; very special granddaughter, Lora Jean Caylor both of Tazewell; 10 great-grandchildren. A very special thanks to all those who cared for our mother at the nursing home. Private Services were held at Coffey Funeral Home Sunday August 22, with services at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home in Woodbridge, N.J. on Wednesday, August 25th. Burial on 10:30 a.m. August 26 at the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery. (P) ****************************** Delta Mae Cook McDaniel, age 84 of Sean Station, was born May 13, 1920 and passed away August 24, 2004 at Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown. She was saved at the age of nine and joined Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church where she remained a member the rest of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Winton McDaniel; parents: Isaac and Lizzie Cook; brothers: Wylie, George and Frank Cook; sister, Nervie Davis; step grandson, Shannon Welch. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law: Lawrence and Sue McDaniel of Morristown, Isaac "Cotton" and Wanda McDaniel of Bean Station, Bruce and Donna McDaniel of Rutledge, Dale and Darlene McDaniel of Bean Station; daughter and son-in-law: Ina Lee and Clifford Doyle Carpenter of Orlando, Fl.; sister, Velva Manning of Tazewell; 10 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral Services were held 10 a.m. Saturday, August 28 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Owens and Rev. Fred Reed officaiting. Songs by Jennifer Carpenter and the Reed Family. Burial in Cook Cemetery. Pallbearers: Terry McDaniel, Butch Fowler, Chad Seals, Stephen Debord, Chad McDaniel, Tristan McDaniel, Keith McDaniel and Marvin "Tex" Bolden. Coffey Funeral Home in charge. ****************************** John Jennings Kivett, age 63, of Tazewell, was born March 25, 1941 and passed away August 25, 2004 at Claiborne County Hospital. He was a member of V.F.W. and American Legion. He loved sports especially the University of Tennessee ball games. He was Claiborne County Historian. He served in the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his father, Kyle Kivett; mother, Inez Jennings Kivett. Survivors include his dear friend who will miss him so much, Pauline Seal; extended family who love him very much; several surrogate grandchildren and great grandchildren; cousin, David Rose, Tommy Jennings, C.P. Redmon, Ann Snow, Marilyn Jean Miller and family, Betty Williams; several other relatives and friends. Funeral Services were held 2 p.m. Friday, August 27 at Coffey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Alexander officiating. Songs by the Turner Family. Burial in Irish Cemetery with Military Honors. Pallbearers: Guy Jenkins, Tony Seal, Vernon Seal, Earl Seals, Lynn Bailey, Barney Harlin, Harvey Scott and Lowell Lynch. Claiborne Funeral Home in charge. ************************ Hazel Smith Mills, age 91, of Tazewell, was born March 31, 1913 and passed away August 25, 2004 at Claiborne County Hospital. She was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church. She was a member of the Homemakers Club in Fredrick, MD for 30 years. She was also part of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Carroll Manor Fire Department in Adamstown, Md. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Ross Mills, Sr.; grandson, Ross Mills III. Survivors include her sons: Paul and wife, Melba Mills of Purcellville, Va., Ross Jr. and wife, Mossie Mills of Tazewell, James Mills of Fredrick Md.; daughter, Barbara and husband, Wayne Snurr of Tazewell; sister, Media Yeary of Hopewell; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Services were held 12 p.m. Friday, August 27 in Claiborne Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Eddie Overholt and Rev. Kenneth Brummett officiating. Music by Barbara and Andy Hatfield. Burial in Irish Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers: Ross Michael Mills, Wayne Snurr Jr., Lawrence Pressnell, Bob Smith, Gary Fetcher and Philip Kennedy. Claiborne Funeral Home in charge. ***********************End of obits

All, Here is a link that contains information on several Claiborne County ancestors. Please check it out and send me any corrections. http://www.cardwellfamily.org/articles/claiborne1.htm Thanks, Rand Cardwell