New River Obituaries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ELKINS, Edith Irene Phillips, 77, of Pulaski, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday morning, June 20, 2001. Born May 10, 1924 in the Snowville Community of Pulaski County. She was the daughter of Walter Earl Blaine and Mary Alberta Dickerson Phillips. She was employed by Virginia Maid Hosiery Mill for over 30 years before retiring in 1984. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Douglas Silvers Elkins, daughter-in-law, Lita A. Elkins; son-in-law, Jim Viers, Sr.; sisters, Alma "Jackie" Davidson, Cora Brunella, Billie Phillips, Effie Alexander; brothers, Landon "Phil" Phillips and Ed Phillips. She is survived by daughters and son-in-law, Patricia "Pat" E. Viers of Dublin, Alberta "Bertie" E. and Clarence "Sonny" Arrington, Jr. of Smith Mountain Lake; son and daughter-in-law, Charles "Sonny" D. and Stella Elkins of Mary Esther, Fla.; sister, Ann P. O'Dell of Draper; brothers, Basil Phillips of Glen Burnie, Md. and C. B. Phillips of Fredericksburg; grandchildren, J. Robert "Bob" Viers, Jr., Jeffrey "Ren" Viers, Tracy A. Murray, Tiffany Arrington, Kathy E. Josey, Mark Elkins and Mike Elkins; ten great-grandchildren; special nieces and nephews, Jackie Duncan, Kathy Millirons, Sarah Hawley and Richard Stevens. Visitation will be at Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, Va. Friday, June 22, 2001 from 6 to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be conducted Saturday, June 23, 2001 at 2 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Chapel. Burial at Cecils Chapel Methodist Church, Snowville Community. The family will receive friends at the home of Pat Viers, 5587 Harris Street, Dublin. Flowers will be appreciated. The family wishes that memorials be made to Carilion New River Valley Hospice Services, 707 Randolph St., Suite 257, Radford, Va. 24141. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, Va. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ERICKSON, Virginia Gee, of Blacksburg, Va., died Thursday, June 21, 2001, in Roanoke. A native of Kenbridge, Va., she taught school in Virginia and North Carolina for several years followed by four years of secretarial services with a Richmond law firm. She was a member of Grove United Methodist Church in Radford for 49 years. Survivors include her husband, Ira H. Erickson of Blacksburg; her niece, Mary Drew Ivey of Virginia Beach; her nephew, Bracey Dennis Gee, Jr. of Danville; grand nephew, Christopher Gee; grand nieces, Pamela Anne Ivey and Mary Jill Castle; a great-grand niece and two great-grand nephews. Graveside funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2001, in the Kenbridge Heights Cemetery, Kenbridge. Clarke Funeral Home, Kenbridge, is in charge of services. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- GARDNER, Hazel Marie, 66, of the Guinea Mt. Community at Pearisburg, died Wednesday, June 20, 2001 in Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg following a long illness. Born in Giles County on March 18, 1935, she was a daughter of Muriel Claudine Dent Fisher of Pearisburg and the late Virgil Fisher. She was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte F. Martin and a daughter, Vanessa Fisher. Surviving are her mother, her husband, David Lee Gardner; two sons, Robert Lewis Whittaker of Pearisburg and Danny Gene Fisher of Bastian; a daughter, Marie A. Ratcliffe of Pearisburg; two brothers, George F. Fisher of Pearisburg and Buddy Fisher of Narrows; two sisters, Sarah Conley of Narrows and Bonnie Ivy of Sumter, S.C.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. A memorial service was conducted Friday at 2 p.m., June 22, 2001 in the Mt. View United Methodist Church at Guinea Mt. with the Pastor David Olinger and Pastor Eddie Kendall officiating. A service of committal will follow in the Anderson Cemetery at Mt. View. Friends may call at the home at any time. Arrangements by Kendall Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- HYLTON, Baby Landon Allen Eugene, born and died Wednesday, June 20, 2001, precious infant son of Scott A. and Khris L. Hylton of Willis, Va. Other survivors include brothers, Justin, Jonathan and Jordan Hylton, all of Willis; paternal grandparents, Jack A. and Darlene H. Hylton of Willis; maternal grandparents, Eugene and Linda K. Schwidde of Wytheville; great-grandparents, Charles and Gladys Schwidde of Farmington, Mo. and Odell Hylton of Mount Airy, N.C. Private graveside services will be held at Topeco Cemetery June 23RD with Rev. Michael Varner officiating. There will be no night visitation at the funeral home. Arrangements by Maberry Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- LONG, Lena Goodwin, 96, of Elliston, passed away Friday, June 22, 2001. Arrangements by Lotz Salem Chapel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- MEADOWS, Mamie Lee Chandler, 94, of Pearisburg, died Wednesday, June 20, 2001. Mrs. Meadows was born in Giles County on March 17, 1907 and was a daughter of the late Charlie and Lucy Raynes Chandler. Mrs. Meadows was the widow of Earl F. Meadows, Sr. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Joyce M. Altizer. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Narrows, Va. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Tony and Linda Meadows of Pearisburg, Bo and Melissa Meadows of Palatka, Florida; four daughters and sons-in-law, Fay M. Smith of Pearisburg, Judy M. Dixon of Pearisburg, Shirley and Leonard McDaniel of Narrows, Caroline and Charles Hamill of Inwood, West Virginia; one sister, Verna Parcell of Rich Creek; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, June 23, 2001 at 2 p.m. in the Givens Funeral Chapel, Pearisburg, Va. with the Rev. Tom Rice officiating with interment in Birchlawn Burial Park. The family received friends at the Givens Funeral Home, Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- MEREDITH, Bessie Bryant, 92, of Pulaski, died Thursday, June 21, 2001. Funeral services 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24 at Thomas M. Seagle & Sons. Visitation 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SHELTON, Frank Akers, 91, of Christiansburg, Va., died Thursday, June 21, 2001, at the Richfield Retirement Community in Salem. He was born in Pilot, Va. on October 2, 1909, the youngest child of Robert H. Shelton and Laura Mae Akers Shelton. He owned and operated Lawrence and Shelton Store on Main Street for more than thirty-five years, was a charter member of the Christiansburg Life Saving Crew, a member of the Lions Club, a member of McDaniel Lodge #86 AF & AM, and a member of the Montgomery Museum. He was a local photographer, and his photographs are enjoyed by many. He loved the Blue Ridge Parkway, his motor home, and picnics on "the creek." He was preceded in death by his first wife, Edith Dobbins Shelton and his second wife, Martha Dobbins Cummings Shelton. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, James Robert "Bob" and Jackie Shelton, Harold Gene and Joyce Shelton; two grandsons, Robert Todd Shelton and his wife, Mary Anne, and Roger Lee Shelton; one granddaughter, Susan Shelton Weaver and her husband, Rick; four great-grandchildren, Steve and Michael Shelton, and Lucas and Lyndee Weaver, all of Christiansburg. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at the Horne Funeral Chapel conducted by Mr. Dennis Curd with interment to follow in Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Montgomery Museum, 300 S. Pepper Street, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or the Christiansburg Rescue Squad, P.O. Drawer 825, Christiansburg, Va. 24068. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday at the Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- YATES, Caleb Brock, infant son of Frankie B. and Sherri Davis Yates of Christiansburg, passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at New River Valley Medical Center. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2001, at the graveside in Sunset Cemetery conducted by the Rev. A. Timothy Hight. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg. Local content copyright © 2001 The Roanoke Times