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     Joseph Wiley "Joe" Smith was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery, Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^4,6 He was born on June 9, 1878 at Floyd Co., Virginia; His WWI Draft Registration Card has a birth date of Nov 16, 1879.^3,4,6 He married Eller Stewart Prather on November 26, 1900 at Fayette Co., West Virginia.^5,7,8 Joseph Wiley "Joe" Smith died on August 19, 1953 at Montgomery, Fayette Co., West Virginia, at age 75.^4,6 He Fayetteville, Aug 19 - Funeral services for Joseph W. Smith, 75, of Fayetteville, who died Wednesday as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday from the Pleasant View Brethren Church with the Rev. W. T. Wampler and the Rev. E. L. Clover officiating. He was born in Floyd County, Va., in 1878, was a retired coal miner, and a member of local union 5875. Survivors include: three brothers, G. T. of Route 1, Fayetteville, Don H., of Route 1, Princeton, and Eli Lee, of Alderson; three sisters, Mrs. Nancy McNeil of Prosperity, Miss Elizabeth Smith of Fayetteville, and Mrs. Laura Stull of Fayetteville; one daughter, Mrs. Bessie Adkins of Hopewell, Va; six sons, R. V., William, Charles, and Walter of Fayetteville, Route 1, Arnold of Kaymoor, and Homer , of Quinwood; 70 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. The body will be removed from the Dodd-Payne Mortuary to the home of a son, William Smith at 2 p.m. Thursday, and will be removed to the church one hour prior to the funeral hour. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery. on August 20, 1953.⁶

     Albert Sidney Smith was buried at Lee Webb Cemetery, Dothan, Fayette Co., West Virginia.³ He was born on August 17, 1891 at Oak Hill, Fayette Co., West Virginia; His death certificate has a bith date of Aug 17, 1896.^1,4,3 He married Gretchen Clara Bragg circa 1912.^5,3 Albert Sidney Smith died on December 3, 1945 at Oak Hill, Fayette Co., West Virginia, at age 54.³

     John Harvey "Coe" Smith was buried at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Courthouse Road, Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^3,4 His Social Security Number was 235-10-7123.³ He was born on July 9, 1895 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia; His death record has a birth date of Jul 20, 1895.^2,3 He married Pearl May "Pearly" Austin, daughter of Phillip Elijah Austin and Adelia Attaline "Delia" Walters, on March 24, 1920 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,4 John Harvey "Coe" Smith died on November 26, 1968 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia, at age 73.^3,4 He Princeton - John (Coe) Smith, 73, died Tuesday morning in a Bluefield hospital. A retired coal miner, he was last employed by Pocahontas Fuel Co. at Dearfield. Smith was a member of the United Mine Workers of America Local No. 9690 at Itmann and Pentecostal Holiness Church at Princeton. Born in Fayette County, he was a son of the late John (should be William) R. and Ellen Conner Smith. Survivors include his wife, Pearl Austin Smith; two sons, Alvis, serving with the Navy, and John Junior Smith of Concord, N.C; two daughters, Mrs. Laura Thorn of Mullens and Mrs. Bondean Spence of Shenandoah, Va; a brother, Bruce of Alderson; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. today in the Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Marvin Richardson and Rev. Arthur Repass in charge. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at Memorial Funeral Directory in Princeton. on November 27, 1968.⁴

     Her Social Security Number was 401-42-9476.⁶ Nannie Belle Ratliff was born on June 17, 1903 at Gatewood, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^1,2,6 As of October 14, 1923,her married name was Lewis.³ She married Elmer Dale Lewis on October 14, 1923 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.³ Nannie Belle Ratliff died on August 30, 1997 at Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at age 94.^2,6

     His Social Security Number was 228-16-0554.¹¹ John Tyler Prillaman was buried at Restvale Cemetery, 7529 Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^12,7,8 He was born on May 18, 1897 at Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia.^{11,12,9,4,5,8} He married Elvada Esther Conner, daughter of James Mearmon Conner and Laura Byar Walton, on November 27, 1919 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^{9,1,2,13,5,7,8} John Tyler Prillaman died on December 29, 1975 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 78.^7,8 He COPPER HILL -- John Tyler Prillaman, age 78, died Monday, Dec. 29, 1975, in a Roanoke hospital. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elvada Conner Prillaman, Copper Hill; one daughter, Mrs. Frank F. Carmack, Roanoke; four sons, James T. Prillaman, Alton W. Prillaman, both of Delray Beach, Fla., John L. Prillaman, Lovittsville, Donald Q. Prillaman, Orlando, Fla; two sisters, Mrs. Annie Richards, Floyd, Mrs. Doris Kanode, Roanoke; two brothers, J. Huffman Prillaman, Copper Hill, L. Clinton Prillaman, Roanoke; 15 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild. Funeral was Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1975, at 11:00 a.m. at Copper Hill United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gene Sowder officiating. Interment in the Restvale Cemetery. on January 1, 1976.⁷

     Rosa E. "Rosella" Ratliff was buried at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.² Her Social Security Number was 233-96-5091.⁶ She was born on June 9, 1906 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^6,2 As of August 5, 1925,her married name was Dennler.⁴ She married Charles Clifford Dennler on August 5, 1925 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^3,4 Rosa E. "Rosella" Ratliff died on October 2, 1998 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 92.^6,2 She GARTEN - Rosella Dennler, 92, of Garten, Fayette County, died Oct. 2, 1998, in a Beckley hospital after a long illness. She was born in Fayetteville. Surviving: sons, Fred of Oak Hill, Charles of Louisville, Ky., Bernard of Bean Station, Tenn., Robert of Fayetteville; daughters, Betty Hall of Charleston, Beverly Fulghum of Toccoa, Ga; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren. Service will be 10 a.m. Monday at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Morris Nutter officiating. Burial will be in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
on October 4, 1998.²

     Myrtle M. "Nettie" Ratliff was born on May 16, 1908 at Lively, Fayette Co., West Virginia.⁴ As of February 13, 1928,her married name was Underwood.³ She married Gordon Clifford Underwood on February 13, 1928 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^3,4 Myrtle M. "Nettie" Ratliff died on July 28, 1930 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 22; Died of tuberculosis.⁴

     His Social Security Number was 231-03-5417.¹¹ Lee Ward Conner was buried at Saint Michael Lutheran Cemetery, 9534 Belair Road, Perry Hall, Baltimore Co., Maryland.⁴ He married Margaret L. Smith.¹ Lee Ward Conner was born on February 10, 1909 at Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia.^11,2,3,4 He died on October 13, 1986 at Maryland at age 77.^1,4,12

     His Social Security Number was 227-09-0895.¹² Samuel Henry "Sam" Conner was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,13,5 He was born on February 28, 1910 at Floyd Co., Virginia; His death certificate has a birth date of Feb 28, 1909.^{12,1,2,3,13,4} He married Elzora Emma "Alorza" Conner, daughter of Jacob Valentine "Doll" Conner and Mary Elizabeth Hill, on November 26, 1930 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^{1,2,3,13,11,5} Samuel Henry "Sam" Conner died on November 3, 1980 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 70.^1,3,13,5 He Samuel Henry Conner, age 71, died Monday night in a Salem hospital. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elzora Conner, Copper Hill; one daughter, Mrs. Laverne Manning, Copper Hill; four sons, Maynard Conner, Elliston; Jerry Conner, Roanoke; William Conner, Roger Conner, both of Copper Hill; his mother, Mrs. Betty Conner, Bristol, Tenn; two brothers, Lee Conner, Woodrow Conner, both of Perry Hill, Md; ten sisters, Mrs. Pauline Rakes, Mrs. Hazel Ferris, both of Floyd; Mrs. Golda Bartlett, Mrs. Iva Morgan, Mrs. Mabel Poff, Mrs. Dexter Sowers, Mrs. Bonnie Conner, all of Copper Hill; Miss Virginia Conner, Mrs. Velva Harris, both of Roanoke; Mrs. Georgiannia Link, Bristol, Tenn; 14 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at the Salem Church, Copper Hill, with interment in the church cemetery. on November 5, 1980.⁵

     Hazel Sarah Conner was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹⁰ Her Social Security Number was 229-82-7972.¹¹ She was born on March 6, 1912 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^11,9 She married Coy William Ferris, son of Valentine T. Ferris and Lucinda Ann Elizabeth "Cindy" Aldridge, on August 10, 1935 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,12,4,2,13 As of August 10, 1935,her married name was Ferris. Hazel Sarah Conner died on September 3, 2001 at Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 89.^11,4,13 She FLOYD - Hazel C. Ferris, 89, passed away Monday, September 3, 2001 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Olen Gardner. She was preceded in death by her husband, Coy Ferris, her mother and father, Jasper and Elizabeth Conner, two brothers, Lee W. Conner and Samuel H. Conner, and sisters, Golda Bartlett, Pauline Rakes and Mabel Poff. Surviving are: daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Olen Gardner, Riner; two sons and daughters-in-law, Paul C. and Hilda Ferris, Floyd, Bentley and Rio Ferris, Floyd; brothers and sisters, Iva Morgan, Roanoke, Woodrow Conner and wife, Reba, Sarasota, Florida, Virginia Conner, Roanoke, Velva Conner, Roanoke, Dexter Sowers, Copper Hill, Bonnie Conner and husband, Arthur, Copper Hill, Georgianna Link and husband, Leon; grandchildren, Debra Ferrell and husband, Bill, Christiansburg, Rebecca Stanley and husband, Scott, Pilot, Amanda Ferris, Christiansburg; great-grandchildren, Justin Harris, Christiansburg, Travis Harris, Christiansburg, Chris Spencer, Riner; twelve step-grandchildren; thirteen step-great grandchildren; 7 step-great-great-grandchildren and several special nieces and nephews. Interment was in Salem Church Cemetery. on September 6, 2001.⁴

     Her Social Security Number was 225-44-1654.⁹ Iva Lillian Conner was born on March 14, 1914 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^10,1,9,4,3 She married Robert James "Bob" Morgan Sr., son of William Henry Morgan and Florence Mayle Woodward, on December 22, 1934 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^4,1,3,11 As of December 22, 1934,her married name was Morgan. Iva Lillian Conner died on August 13, 2004 at Virginia at age 90.^1,9 She Iva Lillian Morgan, formerly of Copper Hill, went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 13, 2004. At 90 years young, and known for her wittiness, she was a devoted wife and mother of seven children; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was a member of Copper Hill Church of the Brethren and was a Sunday School teacher and a long time faithful member of the Women's Fellowship. Born March 14, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Jasper and Elizabeth (Betty) Conner. She is preceded in death also by her husband, Robert (Bob) Morgan; three brothers, Lee, Sam and Woodrow Conner; five sisters, Pauline Rakes, Goldie Bartlett, Mabel Poff, Hazel Ferris and Virginia Conner; two sons-in-law, Alton Shaver and Walter (Bob) Poff. She is survived by two sons and their wives, Wilburn Harris (Will) and Diane Morgan of Hardy and Robert (Bobby) and Joan Morgan of Roanoke; and five daughters and three sons-in-law, Ruby Poff, Sylvia and Wayne Wimmer of Salem, Betty Shaver of Roanoke, Phyllis and Richard Phillips of Richmond, Dorma and Lowell Yeatts of Check. She is also survived by four sisters, two brothers-in-law, Dexter Sowers and Bonnie and Arthur Conner of Copper Hill, Velva Harris Davis of Roanoke, Georgianna and Leon Link of Bristol, Tenn. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. We loved her very much and will miss her dearly. The family wishes to especially thank the staff at Raleigh Court Health Care Center for their loving care. Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, August 16, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Copper Hill Church of the Brethren with Rev. Jim Worline and Rev. Doug Jones officiating. Flowers are welcome, as well as memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, Adventa Hospice, Bent Mountain Rescue Squad, or Copper Hill Church of the Brethren. The family will receive friends Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's South Chapel. on August 14, 2004.¹

     Virginia Dare Conner was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ Her Social Security Number was 223-48-0433.¹² She was born on April 10, 1918 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^12,2,11 She died on January 21, 2004 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 85.^1,12,4 She Virginia Dare Conner, 85, of Vinton, formerly of Copper Hill, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Surviving are her sisters, Velva Davis, Iva Morgan of Roanoke, Dexter Sowers, Bonnie Conner of Copper Hill, Georgianna Link of Bristol, Tenn; several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, January 23, at Salem Church (Head of the River) with Elder W.T. Conner officiating. Interment will follow in Salem Cemetery (Head of the River). The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Maberry Funeral Home, Floyd. on January 22, 2004.¹

     His Social Security Number was 227-14-1442.¹³ Woodrow Blaine Conner was buried at Restvale Cemetery, 7529 Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,4 He was born on March 31, 1920 at Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia.^{13,9,2,3,4,5,6} He married Reba Odessie Collins, daughter of Asa William "Ace" Collins and Annie Adaline King, on July 8, 1939 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^9,14,1,10 Woodrow Blaine Conner died on November 2, 2002 at Sarasota, Sarasota Co., Florida, at age 82.^13,1,3,4 He CONNER, Woodrow Blaine, 82, formerly of Copper Hill, passed away Saturday, November 2, 2002 in Sarasota, Fla. He was a veteran of World War II. Surviving are his wife, Reba Collins Conner of Sarasota; two sons and daughters-in-law, Glenn and Dottie Conner, Larry and Pat Conner, all of Baltimore, Md; two daughters and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Walter Morey of Sarasota, and Barbara Joyner of Delaware; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; six sisters, Georgianna Link of Bristol, Tenn., Bonnie and Arthur Conner of Copper Hill, Velva Davis, Virginia Conner and Iva Morgan, all of Roanoke, and Dexter Sowers of Copper Hill. Interment in Restvale Cemetery. on November 4, 2002.¹

     His Social Security Number was 224-16-0211.⁵ Charles B. Belcher Jr. was buried at Wilson Cemetery, Daniel's Run Road (Rt. 661), Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,4 He was born on March 11, 1911 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,6,2 He married Avon Lynn "Ava" Lucas, daughter of Trigg Mosby Lucas and Laura Conner, on May 4, 1946 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,7,3,8 Charles B. Belcher Jr. died on January 14, 1974 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 62.^2,4 He FLOYD -- Charles B. Belcher, Jr., age 62, died in a Roanoke hospital Monday, January 14, 1974. Surviving are two sons, Mack W. Belcher, U.S. Navy, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, Dwight L. Belcher, Pilot; four sisters, Mrs. Waitie Ratliff, Willis, Mrs. Delores Belcher, Chester, Mrs. George Hill, Mrs. Ruth Reed, both of Alexandria; two brothers, Grant Belcher, Floyd, Freeman Belcher, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Funeral was Thursday, January 17, 1974, at 1:00 p.m. at the Creasy Creek Church. The Rev. Everett Reed officiated. Interment is in the Wilson Cemetery. on January 24, 1974.⁴

     Belva Carmen "Velva" Conner was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.³ She was born on March 26, 1925 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,4 She married Wilford Edward Harris, son of Jerry Edward Harris and India Ruth Epperly, on March 30, 1946 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 As of March 30, 1946,her married name was Harris. Belva Carmen "Velva" Conner and Wilford Edward Harris were divorced on December 7, 1979 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,4 As of September 5, 1981,her married name was Davis.¹⁰ Belva Carmen "Velva" Conner married Henry Marshall Davis on September 5, 1981 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,3,10 Belva Carmen "Velva" Conner died on September 16, 2008 at Virginia at age 83.³ She Velva Carmen Davis, 83, of Roanoke, Va., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 16, 2008. She is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Davis; her parents, Jasper Conner and Elizabeth Bowles Conner; eight sisters; and three brothers. Surviving are four sons and daughters-in-law, Randel and Elaine Harris, Allen Harris, Steve and Sally Harris and Maurice Harris, all of Roanoke; five grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Dexter Sowers, of Floyd, Georgianna and Leon Link, of Tennessee, and Arthur Conner, of Floyd; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Berkshire Health Care Center for all their care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Maranatha Baptist Church, P.O. Box 188, Shawsville, Va. 24162. Funeral services will be held noon on Friday, September 19, 2008, at Oakey's South Chapel with the Rev. Olen Gardner and Randel Harris officiating. Interment will be in The Head of the River Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2008, at Oakey's South Chapel, 540-989-3131. on September 18, 2008.³

     His Social Security Number was 229-01-3885.⁸ Leonard Terry "Penny" Yates was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.^4,5 He was born on December 30, 1907 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,8,3,4,5 He married Ruby Edith Collins, daughter of George Washington Collins and Maggie Marie Vest, on April 25, 1933 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,3,5,9 Leonard Terry "Penny" Yates died on February 11, 1984 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 76.^1,4,5

     Her Social Security Number was 229-98-9667.⁹ Emma Roxie Conner was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, 1300 Mountain View Road, Vinton, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^10,8 She was born on September 18, 1896 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^9,10,8 She married Ezra Granville Martin, son of Morrison Celdon "Marson" Martin and Eliza T. Sowers, in 1915 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2,3,8 As of 1915,her married name was Martin. Emma Roxie Conner died on May 20, 1977 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 80.⁸

     Bonnie Jasper Conner was buried at Restvale Cemetery, 7529 Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹¹ Her Social Security Number was 231-24-9352.¹² She was born on July 25, 1927 at Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,12,5 She married Arthur Allen Conner, son of George Lewis Conner and Mary Della Moran, on May 28, 1948 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^{1,6,7,11,3,13} Bonnie Jasper Conner died on June 14, 2005 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 77.^11,12,14 She Bonnie J. Conner, 77, of Copper Hill, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2005. Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Arthur Conner; children, Brenda (Luther) Galyean, Katherine (Clay) Giles, Mickey Conner, Sandy (Richard) DeHart, Tommy (Brenda) Conner, Mary (Leon) Elkins, John Conner; grandchildren, Dixie, April, Dana, Jeaneen, Landon, Shannon, Zachary, Josh, Nathan, Abby, Casey, Meghann; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dexter Sowers, Velva Davis, Georgianna Link; special niece, Frances Gardner. Services will be at Oakey's South Chapel, 12 noon Thursday, June 16, 2005. Elder W. T. Conner will officiate. Interment will follow in Rest Vale Cemetery, Floyd County. The family will receive friends at Oakey's South Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel, 989-3131.
on June 15, 2005.¹¹

     His Social Security Number was 225-58-7526.⁷ John Allen Blankenship was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.⁴ He and Kathleen Evelyn Thompson were divorced.¹ John Allen Blankenship and Carol Holbert were divorced.¹ John Allen Blankenship was born on May 20, 1945.^1,7 He married Kathleen Evelyn Thompson on February 18, 1966.¹ John Allen Blankenship married Carol Holbert on August 14, 1976.¹ John Allen Blankenship died on December 19, 1997 at Elliston, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 52.^7,4 He BLANKENSHIP, John Allen, 52, of Elliston, died Friday, December 19, 1997 at his home. He is survived by his wife, Tina Blankenship; daughter, Shelia Blankenship, Roanoke; and a son, Jarrod Blankenship, Elliston; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Blankenship, Salem; brother, Paul Wayne Blankenship, Salem; sister, Helen Coleman, Greensboro, N.C. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 22, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lotz Salem Chapel with the Elder Junior L. Connor officiating. Interment will follow in Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Lotz Salem Chapel. on December 21, 1997.⁴

     Evelyn May Sisson was buried at Wilson Cemetery, Daniel's Run Road (Rt. 661), Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,9 Her Social Security Number was 229-24-3265.¹⁰ She was born on July 29, 1926 at Basham, Floyd Co., Virginia.^9,6,10,3,4 She married Curtis Vest, son of Andy Wade "Bud" Vest and Minnie Lottie Perdue, on December 27, 1945 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^{11,12,8,9,13,14,6} As of December 27, 1945,her married name was Vest. Evelyn May Sisson died on March 13, 2005 at Radford, Virginia, at age 78.^8,9,10,15 She Evelyn Sisson Vest, 78, of Check, passed away Sunday, March 13, 2005. She is preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Vest and son, Sherrow Vest. She is survived by three sons and their wives, Glenn and Joan Vest of Crossville, Tenn., Steven and Sue Vest of Check and Charles and Kathy Vest of Pickerington, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Martha Vest, Kari V. and Phil Meek, Nichole V. and Jerry Hatcher, Jr., Caleb Vest, Lindsey Vest, Julie Anna Vest, Benjamin Vest; four great-grandchildren, Michael VanWinkle, Kristen VanWinkle, Samantha Hatcher and Sophie Meek. Interment in the Wilson Cemetery. on March 15, 2005.⁸

     Dorothy Lewis Sisson was buried at Piedmont Cemetery, Rt. 11 to Shawsville, turn at nursing home, Rt. 637, about 8 miles on the left, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^9,10 She was born on March 8, 1929 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,3,10 She married James William Harris on July 3, 1948 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^5,11,6,9 As of July 3, 1948,her married name was Harris. Dorothy Lewis Sisson died on January 31, 2011 at Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 81.^9,12,10 She Dorothy Sisson Harris, 81, of Shawsville, Va., entered into Heaven on January 31, 2011. She was a faithful 32 year member of Open Door Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a loving husband, James W. Harris; and sons, Michael David Harris and Billy Norman Harris. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Carolyn Harris, of Newport; son and daughterin-law, Gary and Jean Harris, of Christiansburg; daughter and son-in-law, Joann and David Shepherd, of Shawsville; daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Kenny Ratcliff, of Ironto; daughter, Stacy Harris, of Christiansburg; eight grandchildren; 13 greatgrandchildren; and many close friends. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at Horne Funeral Home, 1300 N. Franklin St., Christiansburg. The Funeral Service will be held 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2011, at the Open Door Baptist Church, Christiansburg, with Pastor Mike Johnston officiating. Interment will follow at the Piedmont Cemetery in Shawsville. The Harris family is being served by Horne Funeral Home, Christiansburg. on February 2, 2011.⁹

     Charles Hampton "Charlie" "Hamp" Vest was buried at Piedmont Cemetery, Rt. 11 to Shawsville, turn at nursing home, Rt. 637, about 8 miles on the left, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,6 He was born on July 15, 1921 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^{1,17,5,6,7,18} He married Wilda Louise Dickerson, daughter of Clarence Louin Dickerson and Elsie Mary Worrell, on December 28, 1946 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^{19,1,17,3,4,5,6} Charles Hampton "Charlie" "Hamp" Vest The world has no shortage of unsung heroes. Last week I was lucky to meet one. His name is Charles Hampton Vest, but everybody he knows calls him “Hamp.”

They’ve called him that for a long, long time. Hamp will turn 92 in July. Living long is not necessarily heroic. But I’d submit that working full time in a quarry at his age makes him one.

It’s no paper-shuffling desk job. For 40 to 50 hours a week, Hamp operates a dump truck that’s so tall he must clamber up a ladder to get into the driver’s seat.

There are 35-year-old men who couldn’t do it with the grace and ease that he does. Until a little more a year ago he operated a huge bulldozer.

Did I mention Hamp has only one arm? That’s a bit of an exaggeration. He has only one hand. Doctors amputated the left one at his wrist in 1953, long after he’d injured it working on U.S. 460 between Shawsville and Elliston. More about that later.

He’s a husband of 66 years, father of four, and has so many grandchildren he’s lost count. The same goes for his posse of great-grandkids. “You’ll have to ask Louise about that,” he said, referring to his wife. She’s the one who keeps track.

The answer is nine and seven, respectively, Louise Vest informed me later. The grandchildren are ages 7 to 38. The great-grandchildren range from 4 to 12.

Hamp and Louise live in the Check area of Floyd County, on a 72-acre cattle farm off Alleghany Spring Road. He works at the Acco Stone Quarry off Jennelle Road, just outside Blacksburg in Montgomery County. It’s a huge, 400-acre limestone pit that sidles up to the Smart Road and employs 20.

I heard about Hamp from J. O’Brien, president of Salem Stone Corp., which owns the quarry.

“We think so much of him,” O’Brien said. “He’s an example to the other employees, in terms of lifestyle, work ethic and character.”

On a bulldozer, which he operated until he turned 90, Hamp’s skills approach the status of legendary.

Quarry Manager Dennis Tawney (who’s young enough to be Hamp’s grandson), says: “He could smooth a road to the point where you could plant grass on it. That’s high praise in the heavy equipment world.

Hamp calls Acco Stone “the best place I’ve ever worked.”

He’s worked at a lot of places, and for a lot of different companies, many of which are now defunct. Hamp helped build part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Before Lake Gaston, N.C. was a lake, he bulldozed large swaths of overgrown and viney swampland to help create it. He calls that “the hardest job I ever had.”

He also worked on John W. Flannagan Dam, just south of Breaks Interstate Park near the Kentucky border.

He turned the first lick (of dirt) at the site of the Corning plant in Christiansburg. Worked in coal mines down in far Southwest Virginia, on highways up in Augusta County, and helped build Interstate 295, the northern bypass around Richmond.

And that list barely scratches the surface.

It was on one of those jobs that Hamp injured his hand. He was driving a dump truck back then and one day in 1950 rolled over a rock. “Dump trucks didn’t have power steering in those days,” Hamp explained. His left thumb got caught when the rock gave the steering wheel a sudden wrench.

He nursed the mangled hand for three years, until it was so stiff and weak he couldn’t use it to open a car door. Then doctors discovered he’d developed a type of cancer, sarcoma, in it. Was that related to the injury? Who knows? The docs said it had to go.

Now he has a steel hook, which has served him fine for the past 60 or so years.

Why is he still working, at age 91? That was the first question I asked. Hamp offered three reasons.

The first sounded like a line you hear from mountain climbers who’ve summited Mount Everest. Because he can.

The second: Hamp and Louise raised two of their granddaughters. Next year, the younger one, Rebecca Gillespie, will graduate from the Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

“I’m trying to help her get through that,” he said.

The third? He really and truly likes to work. On that one there seems to be little doubt.

“His hobby is work,” Louise Vest told me. “When he’s home, he thinks he’s got to be doing something.”

Will Hamp continue working after Gillespie graduates?

“That all depends on how I feel — if I’m living,” he said.

What’s his secret to a long and productive life?

I don’t know of anything in particular,” he shrugged. “I go to bed at nine or nine-thirty and I get up at five. I eat what I want. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke.”

“Did you ever drink?” I asked. He rolled his eyes.

“That’s a crazy question to ask a miner,” Hamp chuckled.

He was the fifth oldest of seven children, and had three brothers and three sisters. He’s the only one of that bunch still living, although two of his older sisters lived into their 90s.

Hamp didn’t finish seventh grade, which was not too unusual for a farm boy who turned 12 during the depths of the Great Depression.

“I had to go to work,” he said.

His father raised “corn and everything else we ate,” just over the hill from where Hamp and Louise, 86, live now. He quit school to help his dad, who did a lot of produce hauling to the coalfields.

He served three years on a Navy supply ship in the Pacific during World War II. He and Louis married in 1946, after he got back from serving in the military.

I asked where they honeymooned and he snorted.

“Ha, we went to Salem,” he recalled. “I had $20 in my pockets. We got up Monday morning, bought some pots and pans, then went home,” he added.

“Twenty dollars went far back then,” Louise said.

Hamp got into the earthmoving business in 1949, and that’s pretty much all he’s done since.

Louise said he tried retiring in 1989, at age 68, but that didn’t go well. At that time he set about clearing his farm, but he worked himself into the hospital from dehydration.

Within a couple of months, people he knew in the construction industry were calling him, asking if he could help out when they needed some bulldozing in a pinch. The quarry hired him in 1992, when Hamp was 71. He’s been working there full time ever since.

In July 2011, on Hamp’s 90th birthday, he showed up to work just like it was any other day. But it was not.

Salem Stone Corp. had been planning a surprise birthday party. They hatched those plans on the big day, which Louise recalls was a Monday.

“I told him to shave that morning, but he didn’t,” she said. The party was in a large repair garage on the quarry property. All the workers were there, plus some former co-workers of Hamp who had long since retired, plus members of Hamp’s family.

They feted him with a huge cake, decked out with — what else? — bulldozers. And Hamp was definitely surprised.

“He walked in and said, ‘You all are crazy,’ ” O’Brien recalled.

Somehow, I don’t think so.

At the core of that celebration was a profound sense of admiration for a guy who embodies many of the qualities that made America great. Hard work. Devotion to family. Moderation.

To Charles “Hamp” Vest we should all take a bow. on May 13, 2013.²⁰ He died on August 23, 2016 at Virginia at age 95.^3,6 He Charlie Hampton (Hamp) Vest, 95, of Check, lost his battle with cancer and left his earthly journey to continue on to his heavenly home on Tuesday, August 23, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Washington and Wildie McNeil Vest; brothers, Truman Vest (Dorma), Gratton Vest, and Gerald Vest; sisters, Bonnie Willis (Roscoe), Ruby Foster (Clinton), and Iva Sowder (Frank); and daughter, Peggy Vest Bott (Donnie). Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 69 years, Louise Dickerson Vest; daughters, Kathy Dulaney (Haden) and Tammy Hiatt (Donnie); son, Kevin Vest; granddaughters, Kim Gillespie and Becky Gillespie, who live in the home, Angie LeNoir (Barry), and Amanda Anthony (Matt); grandsons, Brad Dulaney (Kim), Wayne Gillespie, Justin Gillespie, Douglas Gillespie, Zachary Vest, and TJ Lunsford; great-grandchildren, Zander, Cyrus, Zora, Jesse, Isaac, Dakota, Sage, Austin and Caleb; sister-in-law, Marie Sowers Vest; and special friend, Neal Dunn. Hamp served in the Navy during World War II as Boatswain's Mate Second Class on the USS Castor. He was an active member of Crockett Springs United Methodist Church. His love for the Lord would find him serving as Sunday School Superintendent for many years, lifting his voice in song, or stirring apple butter. He was a member of both Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star. His work as a construction worker spanned over a period of 75 years. In 1949 he began work with Albert Brothers using for the first time the "big machines"–rollers, pans and dozers. In 1955 he was a Superintendent for Wiley N. Jackson in Lee Countyoverseeing construction of Keokee Dam. He remained working for Jackson until 1985 at which time he went to work for English Construction Company. He retired from English in 1988 and took small jobs with Bandy Construction and Salem Stone. In October 2014 he retired from Salem Stone at the age of 93. He was recognized by the Roanoke Times in a special article as a "Legendary Earth Mover" and was respected and loved by all who knew and worked with him. Internment to follow at Piedmont Cemetery. Special thanks to all his friends from Salem Stone Quarry, those working with him from Good Samaritan Hospice, especially Rhonda and Ashley. on August 25, 2016.³

     Trigg Mosby Lucas was buried at Wilson Cemetery, Daniel's Run Road (Rt. 661), Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,6 He was born on September 13, 1887 at Simpsons, Floyd Co., Virginia; His WWI Draft Registration card has a birth date of Sep 13, 1885.^{1,2,3,4,8,5,6} He married Laura Conner, daughter of Samuel Joseph "Sam Joe" Conner and Sarah Jane Smith, on November 13, 1912 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^7,1,2,3,8,6 Trigg Mosby Lucas died on February 18, 1951 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 63.^2,3,4,8,6

     Avon Lynn "Ava" Lucas was buried at Wilson Cemetery, Daniel's Run Road (Rt. 661), Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,7 She was born on April 10, 1915 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,3,9,7 She married Charles B. Belcher Jr., son of Charles B. "Charlie" Belcher and Ala Ann Reed, on May 4, 1946 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^8,2,4,7 As of May 4, 1946,her married name was Belcher. Avon Lynn "Ava" Lucas died on April 9, 1972 at Blacksburg, Virginia, at age 56.^1,2,3,4,9,7

     Joseph Mowyer Lucas was buried at Wilson Cemetery, Daniel's Run Road (Rt. 661), Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,4,1 He was born on September 1, 1913 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,2,3,4,1 He died on July 5, 1968 at Pilot, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 54.^8,2,3,4,1

     Basil Poff Simpson Sr. was buried at Restvale Cemetery, 7529 Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia; His tombstone reads "Capt. U.S. Army WWII."^1,2,5 His Social Security Number was 227-36-2864.¹¹ He A native of Floyd County, Poff served two terms in the Virginia House of Delegates representing his home jurisdiction and Carroll Co. As an active Republican for more than 35 years, he served the GOP in Floyd Co. as treasurer, secretary and chairman. He also served public education in Virginia as a member of the Floyd Co. School Board for 23 years, a term as president of the Virginia School Board Association and by being a strong supporter of educational television in Southwest Virginia. His interest in education began after his return from service in the Army during World War II when he taught school in Campbell and Floyd Counties. During the war he attained the rank of captain and served in the last troop of horse cavalry trained in the U.S. He owned and operated a general store at Check and was previously affiliated with W. C. Simpson & Sons Cannery at Check and Palatka, Florida. He was born on March 24, 1918 at Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^{1,11,2,4,5,6,7} He married Alice Elizabeth Falls, daughter of Loyd Mason Falls and Cecil Serena Craft, on May 18, 1946 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,12,2,3 Basil Poff Simpson Sr. died on July 20, 1978 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 60.^1,2,5,6

     His Social Security Number was 226-12-3333.¹⁰ Loys Rayburn Conner was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.¹ He married Mary Bell.¹¹ Loys Rayburn Conner was born on March 9, 1917 at Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^10,2,3 He married Helen Marie Maxey, daughter of William Vernon Maxey and Edith Ethel Clower, on October 18, 1947 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^12,13,2 Loys Rayburn Conner and Helen Marie Maxey were divorced on May 21, 1980 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ Loys Rayburn Conner died on October 26, 1995 at Virginia at age 78.^10,1 He CONNER, Loys Rayburn, 78, of Salem, died Thursday, October 26, 1995. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary B. Conner, Salem; two daughters, Mrs. Linda Gail Duncan, Radford, Ms. Geneva DiDanato, Salem; two sons, Robert Van Dowdy, Christiansburg, Leonard James Dowdy, Pulaski; three sisters, Madalene Cousin, Floristene Blankenship, Evadene Dockery, all of Salem; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Marie Conner, Salem; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Graveside service at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. on October 28, 1995.¹

     His Social Security Number was 227-12-3053.¹⁰ Elder Joseph Otie Conner was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia; He and his husband also have stones in Restvale Cemetery.^11,3,4,9 He Elder Joseph Otie Conner, 67, of Rt 1, Salem, died Monday in a Roanoke hospital. He was minister of the Primitive Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Mary Sowers Conner; two sons, W. T. Conner and Junior Conner, Salem; four daughters, Mrs. R. E. Craighead, Mrs. H. N. Hundley and Mrs. D. J. Conner, Salem; Mrs. L. L. Semones, Roanoke; Two brothers, Jesse Conner, Elliston, I. E. Conner, Florida; two sisters, Mrs. J. C. Woods and Mrs. E. G. Martin. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Old Salem Church, Floyd County, with burial in Head of the River Cemetery. Arrangements are being made by Lotz Funeral Home, Salem.⁴ He was born on September 29, 1899 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^{10,11,1,6,2,3,9} He married Mary Lucinda Sowers, daughter of Eld. Frazier Tuggle Sowers and Flora Ann Martin, on April 3, 1921 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,12,6,4 Elder Joseph Otie Conner died on December 26, 1966 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 67.^11,6,3,4,9

     Evadene Vleetis "Deane" Conner was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.² Her Social Security Number was 228-12-3075.⁶ She was born on March 7, 1925 at Virginia.^1,6 She married Henry Paul Dockery on July 23, 1945.^7,1,2 As of July 23, 1945,her married name was Dockery. Evadene Vleetis "Deane" Conner died on February 13, 2008 at Virginia at age 82.^2,6 She Evadene Deane Conner Dockery, 82, of Salem, went to Heaven to join her Lord, husband, and son on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. As an expression of her love to sew and make crafts, she made over one-thousand lap robes for nursing homes and turbans for cancer patients. She was a member of many organizations including the Fort Lewis Women's Club, Eastern Star, Women of the Moose, American Legion Women's Auxiliary (through which she volunteered at the V.A. Medical Center), and was a charter member of the Fort Lewis Rescue Squad Ladies' Auxiliary. She was also retired from Eaton Corporation after many years of service. Preceding her in death were her parents, Moses and Gay Conner; husband, Henry Dockery; son, Richard Dockery; brothers, Avon and Loys Conner; and sister, Madeline Cousins. Her surviving family includes her daughter, Catherine (Kitten) Cumbie and husband, Barry; sister, Florestine Blankenship; sister-in-law, Helen Conner; grandchildren, Celeste Scarzello and husband, Paul, Kerri Cumbie, and Andrea Wills; stepgrandchildren, David Barbour and Lisa Carr; and great-grandchildren, Danny, Ashlen, Anna, Kori, Emily, Hayle, Justin, and Erika. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 15, 2008 from 3 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home's chapel. Interment will follow in Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem. The Rev. Larry Atkin and the Rev. Charles Fisher will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her honor to either the Edgewood Christian Church Benevolence Fund at 1006 Peck Street, NW, Roanoke, VA 24017 or to the Fort Lewis Rescue Squad at 3915 West Main Street, Salem, VA 24153. Online condolences to the family may be made at johnmoakey.com. The Dockery family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 540-389-5441. on February 15, 2008.²