The Roanoke Times New River Obituaries Published on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- AGNEW, Iver Vaughan, 90, formerly of Willis, passed away Friday, December 29, 2000, in a Martinsville nursing home. She was the widow of Heath Agnew. Surviving are one niece, Dr. Vila Rosenfelt of Greenville, N.C.; and a nephew, Henry Edsel Mayberry of Richmond. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2001, at Wood Funeral Home, Floyd with Mr. Mitchell Floyd officiating. Interment will be in Jacksonville Cemetery. There will be no viewing. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- BIRCKHEAD, Louis Oscar, 71, of Christiansburg, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2000. Arrangements by Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- GRIFFITH, Nancy Louise Moricle, 62, of Blacksburg and formerly of Floyd, went to walk among the angels on Thursday, December 28, 2000. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dessie and Alvin Moricle; a daughter, Donna Griffith; and her beloved husband, Buford Griffith. Nancy is survived by her stepparents, Mary and Byron Ferguson of Roanoke; one sister and brother-in-law, Francis Lee and Dasha Kongnom Saripong of Roanoke; three children and spouses, Laurie and Kenny Scott of Floyd, Brian and Shana Griffith of Floyd, and Mary McNiel of Blacksburg. Nancy will also be missed by her eight grandchildren, Stephen Reed, Leslie, Kevin, Ryan, and Amanda Scott, Robin Marshall, Danielle McNiel and Onyia Griffith. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2000, at Red Oak Grove Church of the Brethren with Rev. Elbert Lee Naff, Sr., Rev. Elbert Lee Naff, Jr., Rev. Hebron Quessenberry, and Rev. Marvin Wade. Interment will follow in the Lee Cemetery, Tuggles Gap. Friends may call at Wood Funeral Home after 12 noon Saturday where the family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- HARRIS, Ethel Smith, 87, of Christiansburg, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2000 at Montgomery Regional Hospital. She was the daughter of the late William Bart and Lillie Alice Duncan Smith. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Noah Lee Harris; two brothers, William Thurman and Alfred Smith; three sisters, Icie Bishop, Ella Martin and Rosa Mabry. Survivors are sons and daughters-in-law William "Bill" and Doris Harris of Pulaski, Asa L. and Jeanette Harris of Livonia, Mich., Dennis Ray Harris of Garden City Beach, S.C.; sister, Elizabeth S. Gaillimore of Indian Valley; grandchildren, Tim Harris, Jeff Harris, Scott Harris, Brian Harris; great-grandchildren, Kayla Harris, Sarah Harris, Ashley Harris, Jonathan Harris; many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Willis with Elder Paul Williams and Elder Jay Harris officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call Saturday at the Maberry Funeral Home, Floyd, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- HOLDREN, Donald David, 94, of Rich Creek, died Thursday, December 28, 2000, in the Riverview Nursing Home, Rich Creek. He was born at Elgood, W.Va. on May 31, 1906, and was the son of the late Horace Greeley and Parthelia Jane Wiley Holdren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Icie Clemons Holdren; eleven brothers and sisters; and a grandson, Ikie C. King. He was a member of the Rich Creek United Methodist Church for over 50 years, having served as Deacon and Superintendent. He served with the Outreach Mission at Powell's Mountain and had served many other obligations, too many to mention, and was a loving and caring servant. He was retired from the Celanese Acetate Plant at Narrows after 32 years as a turbin operator. Prior to his employment with Celanese, he worked at the Appalachian Power Plant on Claytor Lake for 12 years. He was a member of John Dove Lodge #78 A.F. & A.M. at Peterstown for 52 years and was a 32 Degree Mason. Many will remember Donald with love and respect including his three children, Malinda H. Smith and her husband, Johnny, of Hoges Chapel, Robert Lee Holdren of Blue Ridge, Freddie Holdren and his wife, Della, of Roanoke; a brother, Kenny Holdren of Glen Lyn; two sisters-in-law, Grace C. Akers of Princeton, Bessie Clemons of Pettrey, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Greg Holdren and wife, Debbie, of Blue Ridge, Malinda Beamer and husband, John, of Hillsville, Ron Smith and wife, Crystal, of Hoges Chapel, Tonja Smith of Christiansburg, J.B. King and wife, Katrina, of Peterstown, W.Va.; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 31, 2000, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Riffe's Funeral Service in Narrows with the Rev. Aubrey Whitlow officiating. Burial will follow in Sunrise Memorial Gardens, Rich Creek with graveside rites conducted by John Dove Lodge #78 A.F. & A.M., Peterstown, W.Va. The family will receive friends at Riffe's in Narrows, Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The family has suggested that in lieu of flowers, contributions made to the Rick Creek United Methodist Church, Rich Creek, Va. 24147 or the Ronald McDonald House, 2224 S.Jefferson St., Roanoke, Va. 24014. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ILNICKY, James Fulton, 26, of San Francisco, Calif., and formerly of Blacksburg, died Wednesday, December 27, 2000, in an automobile accident at Greenwater, Wash. near Mt. Rainier. James resided in San Francisco, Calif. He previously resided in Tampa, Fla., Highland Park and Bridgewater, N.J. He was the beloved son of his mother and father, Carol and Anthony Antonio of Blacksburg. James is also survived by his uncle, Richard F. Jones and his wife, Clair, and his cousin, Julie of Free Union, Va.; his brother, D. Scott Ilnicky and his wife, Helen, two nephews and one niece of Richmond; his sister, Beth I. Shaffer and her husband, Jake, three nieces and one nephew of Pulaski. James graduated from the University of Michigan in 1996 and was a financial analyst at Sun Microsystems. His wide range of interests, from coaching youth soccer to his avid participation in outdoor activities such as skiing, climbing, and camping, combined with his love for music and traveling, gave him a huge rolodex of friends all over the country. James had brought joy and meaning to our lives and his loss is deeply felt by his family, his beloved Deanna Rossi of Long Valley, N.J., and his many friends. Memorial services will be held at 12 noon on Monday, January 1, 2001, at Northside Presbyterian Church, Progress St., Blacksburg, Va. Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Lung Association, 3512 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, Va. 24018. Earmark "Asthma Camp for 5-12 Years Olds." Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- LINKOUS, Carola Ida, 74, of Blacksburg, died Thursday, December 28, 2000, at New River Valley Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren Linkous. She is survived by one son, Ronnie Linkous, Sr. of Richmond; two sisters, Barbara Linkous and Roberteen Gravely, both of Christiansburg; one brother, Edgar Linkous, Jr. of Riner; five grandchildren, Ronnie Linkous, Jr., Jeff Linkous, both of Dublin, Jennifer, John and Joe Linkous, all of Richmond; one great-grandchild, Alexia Linkous of Dublin; and many nieces, nephews, and special friends at Poly Scientific. The family will receive friends Saturday, December 30, 2000, at Horne Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2000, in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Wallace Yopp officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, Box 554, Roanoke, Va. 24003-0554, or to the American Heart Association, c / o Betty Basham, 200 Evans St., Christiansburg, Va. 24073. Arrangements by Horne Funeral Service in Christiansburg. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- RIGNEY, Marvin Haskell, 72, of Draper, died Thursday, December 28, 2000. Funeral 2 p.m. Sunday from the Stevens Funeral Chapel, Pulaski. Visitation Saturday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- TURNER, Recie E. Rorrer, 76, of Floyd, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2000, in Skyline Manor Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wolford McKinley and Cora C. Rorrer; husband, Tiamon J. Turner; and son, Johnny Turner. She is survived by a son and fiancZ, Tiamon J. Turner, Jr. and Beth Rhodes of Floyd; two grandsons, Scott Turner and T. J. Turner, both of Floyd; one granddaughter, Holly Rhodes of Floyd; daughter by love, Lisa Martin of Floyd; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Ervin and Lake Rorrer of Floyd, Claude and Christine Rorrer of Westminister, Md., Sebert and Jean Rorrer of Hampton, Va.; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Reva Belcher of Floyd, Sylvia and Reginald Hancock of Floyd. Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 31, 2000, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Gardner Funeral Home with the Rev. Glen Sage officiating. Interment will follow in County Line Church Cemetery. Friends may call Saturday, December 30, 2000 after 11 a.m. at Gardner Funeral Home where the family will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WILSON, Artis L., (Red), 90, of Copper Hill, passed into eternal rest Friday, December 29, 2000. He was born on October 10, 1910, in Floyd County, son of the late Joe and Nora Wilson. He was predeceased in death by his beloved wife, Bessie Willett Wilson. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Jack Craighead of Copper Hill; two grandsons, Robert Craighead of Wilkesboro, N.C., Richard Craighead and wife, Annette of Roanoke; one sister, Emma W. Peters of Roanoke; two brothers, Charlie Wilson and wife, Evie of Check, Enzo Wilson and wife, Beulah of Roanoke; two sisters-in-law, Mabel Agee of Bent Mountain, Grace Wilson of Copper Hill. He was retired from Roanoke City Mills and was a member of Mount Union Church of the Brethren. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Funeral 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Union Church of the Brethren with the Rev. Gary Edwards and the Rev. Dale Bowman officiating. Interment will be in Restval Cemetery. Friends may call at Wood Funeral Home, Floyd after 1 p.m. Sunday, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- 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/