The Roanoke Times New River Obituaries Published on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- AKERS, Willie Lawrence, 82, of Christiansburg, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2001 in Lewis-Gale Hospital, Salem. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2001, in the Horne Funeral Chapel conducted by Mr. C. E. Mannon with burial to follow in Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2708 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville, Va. 22901. Arrangements are being handled by Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- EPPERLY, Mayme Morris, 93, formerly of Radford, died Tuesday, January 23, 2001. Arrangements by Mullins Funeral Home in Radford. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- FARMER, Nina Brown, 88, of Christiansburg, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2001. Arrangements by Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory, Radford. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- GUNSTEN, Paul Harold Jr., 77, of Blacksburg, died Monday, January 22, 2001 at Montgomery Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at 2 p.m. in the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Don Roberts and the Rev. Don MacNicoll officiating. Interment will follow in the Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. Paul requests that no flowers be sent, but memorial contributions may be made to the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 931, Blacksburg, VA 24063, or the Humane Society of Montgomery County, P. O. Box 287, Blacksburg, VA 24063-0287. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- LYONS, Lois Emajean, 63, of Blacksburg, died Sunday, January 21, 2001. Funeral Wednesday, 2 p.m., Vaughan-Guynn Chapel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- MORTON, Valerie Lewis, 68, of New River, and formerly of Abingdon, lost her battle to cancer on Monday, January 22, 2001. She was born November 22, 1932, in New River to the late Ray Whitfield Sr., and Regina Casey Lewis. Valerie was married for 38 years to the late James (Tip) Morton. She was also preceded in death by one sister, Christine Wright, two brothers, Ray Whitfield Lewis, Jr., and Joel Rodney Lewis. She was a faithful member and worker for Valley Street Baptist Church in Abingdon for 43 years. Those left to cherish her memories are one aunt, Julia Black, New River; one son and daughter-in-law, Christopher Lee Lewis, Sr., and Cheryl, New River; one daughter and son-in-law, Richie Ann Williams and Gerald R. (Gary), Woodstock, Maryland; grandchildren, Christopher, Jr., and Casey Lewis, New River, Andrienne and Andre McKinney, Columbia, Maryland, Randy Williams, Woodstock, Maryland; three sisters and brother-in-law, Caroline Manns and Charles, New River, La Verne Brown, Queens, New York; and her devoted sister, Eliza Charlton, New River; five brothers and sisters-in-law, Anthony (Tony) Lewis and Diana, Norfolk, Walter S. Lewis and Clydia, New River, Richard C. Lewis and Terry, New River, Leander V. Lewis, Radford, and James W. Lewis, New River; four sisters-in-law, Nenzerine Lewis, New River, Lullabell Lewis, Radford, Billie Knight, Abingdon, and Geraldine Morton, Abingdon; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 26, at 11 a.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church in New River. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday night at First Missionary Baptist Church. Public viewing Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. only. Claytor-Dean Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- PRICE, Jennifer Lea, 19, of Blacksburg, departed this life Tuesday, January 23, 2001 as the result of an automobile accident. She was our beautiful, precious angel and will live in our hearts forever. She was born September 13, 1981. She was a 1999 graduate of Blacksburg High School. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Francis Irvin Hatcher. She is survived by her parents, Donald G. and Lois H. Price; one brother, Jason C. Price and friend, Nyoka Stanley; maternal grandparents, Allene and Logan Slusser; paternal grandparents, Ellen and Vance Price; special aunt and uncle, Ieda and Michael Sturgill; aunts and uncles, Joan and Ira Smith, Jenean Hodge, all of Blacksburg, Bob and Ursula Hatcher of Denver, Colorado; numerous cousins, friends and special cat, Ellery. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, January 26, 2001 at 2 p.m. in the Blacksburg First Wesleyan Church with the Rev. John Hopkins and Rev. Ira Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. Friends may call at the funeral home anytime after 12 noon Thursday, and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SMITH, Ruby Dobbins, 81, of Hiwassee, passed away Monday, January 22, 2001. Funeral services 2 p.m. Thursday, January 25, at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SUTHERLAND, Boyd H., 89, of Tallahassee, Fla., formerly of Radford, passed away Monday, January 22, 2001. There will be no service. Obituary courtesy of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- TURNER, Gene, 69, of Clarence Martin Road, Bassett, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2001 in Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County. He was born on December 22, 1931 in Floyd County, the son of Cam Turner and the late Hopie Dillon Turner. Mr. Turner was a member of Mt. Hermon Church of the Brethren and was in the army during the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his wife, Reva Turner of the home; two sons, Michael R. Turner of Ohio and Ed Turner of the home. Also surviving are one sister, Christine McGuire of Willis; two brothers, Lewis and Curtis Turner, both of Floyd. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Gardner. Visitation was held Tuesday, January 23, 2001 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Mount Hermon Church of the Brethren. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at 11 a.m. at Mount Hermon Church of the Brethren with Rev. Barry Sink officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Burial Park with full military honors conducted by the Martinsville and Henry County Honor Guard. Bassett Funeral Service is serving the Turner family. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- MENEFEE, Helen Virginia, 90, of Catawba, North Carolina, formerly of Christiansburg, Va., died Monday, January 22, 2001. Surviving are one son, Wilbur Hinkley, Catawba, North Carolina; three daughters, Mildred Ann Nation, Catawba, North Carolina, Betty Lou Martinez, Maryland, and Margaret Louise Marshall, Floyd; 38 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild also survive. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2001, at the DeVilbiss Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Daron Glisson and the Rev. Betty Moore officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2001, at the DeVilbiss Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SIMPKINS, John Joseph, of 508 Straley Avenue, Princeton, W.Va., passed away Sunday, January 21, 2001 in Bridgewater, N.J. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, January 25, 2001 at 2:30 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel, Blacksburg. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time at the McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- LILLY, Rev. J. Virgil, 89, died Monday, January 22, 2001. He was born January 2, 1912 in Winding Gulf, West Virginia to the late Owen Rife and Kate McCoy Lilly. His early education was at elementary and high schools in Montgomery and Pulaski Counties, Virginia. He attended Johnson Bible College, Lynchburg College, Madison College, The American University, The University of Virginia, The University of Richmond and Union Seminary. He was ordained into the ministry on June 10, 1934 at Euclid Avenue Christian Church, Lynchburg, Virginia. He held pastorates at Lebanon Christian Church, Lee Hall, Virginia; First Christian Church, Shenandoah, Virginia; First Christian Church, Rockville, Maryland; First Christian Church, Salem, Virginia; and was Director of Religious Education and Evangelism, United Christian Missionary Society and Arkansas Missionary Society. Rev. Lilly held many interim and supply pastorates throughout the State of Virginia after his retirement from full-time ministry. He was named Pastor Emeritus of the First Christian Church, Salem, Virginia in October, 2000. He was a member of Lions Club International, lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge, Rockville, Maryland and was an avid outdoorsman, gardener and photographer. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Martha Flora Lilly, two infant grandchildren, one sister, Lotus Albert, and one brother, Noel Lilly. He is survived by three children, Elaine Allen, Lynchburg, Virginia, Ashley Lilly and Sue Ann of Bland County, Virginia, Carolyn Newell and Charlie of Salem, Virginia; four grandchildren, Rondys Cook and Bill, Lynchburg, Virginia, Carole Bulter and Bernie, Kernersville, North Carolina, Sherrill Wilson and Louis, Monroe, Virginia, Marty DeBord and Jason, Salem, Virginia; seven great-grandchildren, Ashley, William, Sarah and Andrew Cook, Lynchburg, Virginia, Keith and Mary Wilson, Monroe, Virginia, and Kate DeBord, Salem, Virginia. In addition, he is survived by one sister, Oueta Jones, Blacksburg; two brothers, Oakley Lilly, Christiansburg, Warren Lilly, Pearisburg. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lotz Funeral Home, Salem, Virginia on Tuesday, January 23, 2001. Graveside service will be at Sherwood Memorial Park at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2001, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at First Christian Church, Salem, Virginia, with the Rev. Diann Johnston officiating. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, Salem Virginia, Housecall Hospice, or Salem Educational Foundation. The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to special caregivers, Matilda Bonds, Jan Racel, June Reavis and Pam Madison. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Tami P. Ramsey [email protected] President, Pulaski County Genealogy Club Pulaski County VA GenWeb Coordinator & Listowner http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapulask/ Montgomery County VA GenWeb Coordinator & Listowner http://www.rootsweb.com/~vamontgo/montgomy.htm Washington County VA GenWeb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~vawashin/ Overton Co. TN GenWeb Coordinator & Listowner http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnoverto/overton.htm Fentress & Pickett Co. TN GenWeb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnfentre/fent.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnpicket/pick.htm Webmaster Wilderness Road Regional Museum http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapulask/wrrm/index.htm Webmaster for New River Historical Society Homepage http://www.rootsweb.com/~vanrhs/ RAMSEY Family Webpage http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ramsey/ SULSER Family Webpage & Listowner http://sulser.rootsweb.com/