New River Obituaries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- BUTT, Nellie Clowers, 91, of Elliston, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, April 25, 2001. Mrs. Butt was a trusting servant of God, she was a faithful member of Big Spring Baptist Church for 80 years. She was devoted to her family and enriched the lives of those who knew her. At a Billy Sunday sponsored revival service at the Elliston Methodist Church, in February 1921, she made her profession of faith and was converted to Christian Service. After being baptized in the Roanoke River, she became a member of Big Spring Baptist Church. At the youthful age of fifteen, in 1925, she was elected Secretary of the Sunday School and served for four years. At nineteen, she began teaching the Young People's Class and faithfully taught this class for more than thirty-five years, from 1929-1964. In 1931, she started playing the piano and organ at the church. Mrs. Butt served as Treasurer of the church from 1935 to 1953. In 1931, she began working with the Women's Missionary Society and served as the leader for the Sunbeams. She also served as a leader for the Young People's Group from 1945-1953, and the Girls Auxiliary (G.A.'s) from 1970-1973. Mrs. Butt was elected President of the Woman's Missionary Society for a number of years. She was the Mission Study Chairman for the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association for two years. At the annual meeting of the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association, October 18, 1978, she was recognized for her many years of devoted, Christian service. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter L. Butt, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clowers, two sisters, four brothers and a foster grandson, David F. Long, II. She is survived by a niece and foster daughter, Lorene S. Long and her husband, David; foster granddaughter, Amy Long Ebel and her husband, Mark; foster great-granddaughters, Alexandra and Nicole Ebel. She is also survived by special nieces and nephews, George and Annabelle Saunders, Shelby and Woody Shortt, Jim and Lore Saunders; and a number of other nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 12 noon Saturday, April 28, 2001 at Lotz Salem Chapel with Rev. Ken Gray officiating. Interment will follow in Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Big Spring Baptist Church, Elliston, Va. 24087. Arrangements are being handled by Lotz Funeral Home, Salem. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- NELSON, Helen Tilley, 75, of 410 Pulaski Street, Pulaski, departed this life early Thursday morning, April 26, 2001 at her home. She was born in Pulaski on July 1, 1925, and was the daughter of the late Oscar Vernon Tilley and Nannie Blanche Burton Tilley. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Lewis Nelson; her brothers, Ralph Lee Tilley and David Ray Tilley; and by a sister, Lucille Belle Tilley Chaffman. She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church. Mrs. Nelson leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Sheila D. Nelson, Pulaski, Trina N. Rupe of Pulaski; beloved granddaughter, Kristel Rupe Dickerson and her husband, Roy A. Dickerson, Jr., Pulaski. Visiting will be anytime after 3:00 p.m. on Friday, and the family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Stevens Funeral Chapel with Dr. Don R. Pegram officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will be meeting at the home of Kristel and Roy Dickerson at 135 Lake Street, Pulaski. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Roope, Emily Alverta Lawson Oct. 28, 1902 - April 24, 2001 of Christiansburg, died Tuesday, April 24, 2001 in Kroontji Health Care Center. Mrs. Roope was a faithful member of St Paul United Methodist Church. The daughter of the late John H. and Laura Sheppard Lawson, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Harry L. Roope, Sr., sons, H. L. Roope, Jr. and Glennard J. Roope, daughters, Edna Roope Case and Marie Roope Moran, brothers, Ben Lawson, Arnold Lawson and John Lawson. She is also preceded in death by her sisters, Martha Davis, Flora Bryant and Catherine Heasley. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Louise R. and Ralph Quesenberry; son and daughter-in-law, James W. and Shelby Roope; son-in-law, Rev. James Moran, all of Christiansburg; five grandchildren, Jamie M. Bond and her husband, Wendell, James Jay Moran, all of Christiansburg, John W. Roope and his wife, Cindy of Quencey, Ill., Jennie G. Stewart of Greenville, Tenn., Kimberly R. Brumfield and her husband, Steve of Christiansburg. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Wesley, Winston, Abigail, Tabatha, Joshua, Kelly and Evan, brothers, Sam Lawson of Mississippi and Jack Lawson of Maryland. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2001 at the Horne Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m Friday, April 27, 2001 in the Horne Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Doug Kanney and the Rev. R. G. Quesenberry officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery. The family would like to express their appreciation to the nursing staff at Kroontji Health Care Center for the care given to Mrs. Roope. Arrangements by Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SMITH, Clive Elmer, 80, of Christiansburg, passed away Thursday, April 26, 2001 at New River Valley Medical Center. He was born August 30, 1920 in Floyd, Virginia. He was a retired employee of R.A.A.P. with 36 years service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Burton Smith. Survivors include a son, Deon R. Smith of Christiansburg; daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Richard Phillips of Radford; grandchildren, Amanda Spurrier and husband, Tom of Charlotte, N.C., Christopher Smith of Christiansburg, Jason Phillips of Radford; great-granddaughter, Caroline Spurrier of Charlotte, N.C.; sister, Velma Hollandsworth of Floyd; four nieces and one nephew; special friend, Pete Stockey. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel, Floyd with Rev. Richard Gregory officiating. Burial will follow in Captain George Quesenberry Cemetery, Indian Valley. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Maberry Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- SONGER, Arthur Richard, 75, of 240 Maybrook Road in Newport died Wednesday evening, April 24, 2001 in Pulaski Community Hospital at Pulaski. Born in Giles County on May 22, 1925, he was a son of the late William Harrison and Eva Sue Dowdy Songer. Surviving are his wife Rachel Williams Songer; a son and daughter-in-law, Tony Allen and Betty Songer of Rich Creek; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl Jean and George Albert of Rich Creek, Joanna and Dennis Brown of Pembroke; a sister, Irene Smith of Newport; five grandchildren, Dennis Lee Brown, Bettina Simerly, George Albert, Jr., Christopher Michael Albert, Makayla Nicole Songer; five great-grandchildren, Nicole Brown, Austin Jordan Albert, Joseph Ray Albert, Brandon Scott, Lee Deserea Albert. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow Street in Pembroke with burial following in the Boyds Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/obits.html for the other obits listed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Local content copyright © 2000 The Roanoke Times