Person Page - 539

     Fletcher Lee DeWeese was buried at Pocahontas Cemetery, Rt. 102, Pocahontas, Tazewell Co., Virginia.² He was born on April 3, 1888 at Simpsons, Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,1,2,3 He married Bertha "Vidie" Hufford on June 20, 1917 at Mercer Co., West Virginia.^7,8 Fletcher Lee DeWeese died on June 9, 1924 at McComas, Mercer Co., West Virginia, at age 36; Burned to death in a fire that claimed the lives of four other Deweese family members.^6,2 He 8 DEAD IN MERCER FROM CLOUDBURST. Home Buried Under Slate Pile; New Roads in McDowell Badly Damaged. WELCH, June l0. - State highway construction received a set-back here yesterday when several miles of newly graded road were washed out by a cloudburst on the North fork of the Elkhorn river. Roads east and west of Welch were blocked. In some places being under five or six feet of water. A coal tipple at Rolfe and a number of small houses along the river bank at Keystone, Northfork and Superior were washed away, and basements of about 20 stores were flooded. Damage in the Elkhorn valley was estimated to reach at least $100,000. Much damage was done in Mercer county where eight lives were lost and bridges and sections of rail lines washed away. The fatalities occurred on Crane creek near the tipple of the American Coal company. A huge pile of slate, undermined by the water, crushed onto a house at the foot of the pile, burying seven people. The eighth victim was a member of a rescue party. The dead: Mrs. Shellmon C. Vest and 5-year-old son; Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Dewese, Mrs. Toney Dewese and two daughters, 2 and 5 years of age, and Amelio Premoveno, the last named being a member of a rescue party. It may be several days, it was said, before the bodies can be recovered from under the slate. on June 10, 1924.⁹

     Melvin Lee King married JoAnn Simmons.^2,7,3 Melvin Lee King was buried at Sunset Cemetery, 501 South Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁴ He married Diane Unknown.^5,4 Melvin Lee King was born on March 7, 1942.^1,2,3 He died on March 23, 2010 at Virginia at age 68.⁴ He Melvin Lee King, 68, of Floyd, Va., passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. He was a veteran of Vietnam and served his country in the United States Navy. Melvin retired from Verizon after 34 years of service and he served as Secretary/Treasurer for 25 years with CWA Local #82162. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arvil and Indie Whiteneck King; and his sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Martin. He is survived by his wife, Diana L. King; daughter and son-in-law, Angie and Tom Petty; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Missy King; stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Dawn and David Wimmer; three grandchildren, Taylor Petty, Hunter Petty, Lucas King; two stepgrandchildren, Ethan Wimmer and Zack Wimmer; niece and nephew, Carol Rector and Robert "Bubba" Martin; and great-nephew, Daniel Edwards. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2010, at Gardner Funeral Home, Floyd, with the Rev. Hebron Quesenberry, Pastor Cecil Brown and Pastor Darren Landon officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, with Military Graveside Rites by Floyd VFW Post #7854 and American Legion Post #127. Friends may call after 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2010, at Gardner Funeral Home, Floyd, where the family will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Flowers would be appreciated or donations may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, Calif. 90245, www.pancan.org. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Harry McCoy and staff and to Alta Pickford of Carilion Hospice. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. gardnerfuneralhomefloyd.com on March 25, 2010.⁴

     Herman Pierce Bell was buried at Moran-Agee Cemetery, about mile post 150, Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,4 He was born on December 17, 1911 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,4 He died on July 26, 1929 at Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 17.^2,4,5 He Funeral services for Herman P. Bell, 18, who died Friday morning at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. M. J. Bell, of Copper Hill, Virginia, were held Saturday afternoon at the Salem church, Copper Hill. He had been a patient at Catawba Sanatorium, returning home two months before his death. He is survived by two brothers, Ray and Curtis Bell. on July 30, 1929.⁵

     His Social Security Number was 227-46-5298.⁶ Carl Lawrence Vest was buried at Stonewall Cemetery, 4382 Route 221 N, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ He was born on December 29, 1910 at Virginia.^6,1,5,4 He married Mary Ingram, daughter of Eslie Turner Ingram and Della Brammer, on July 30, 1934 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,1,4,7 Carl Lawrence Vest died on December 1, 1998 at Virginia at age 87.^6,2 He VEST, Carl Lawrence, 87, of Copper Hill departed this life on December 1, 1998. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Vest of Copper Hill; daughter, Nancy Poff, of Copper Hill; son and daughter-in-law, Sheldon and Barbara Vest of Copper Hill; two grandsons and wives, Michael and Carol Poff of Sterling, Kevin and Christy Vest of Roanoke; great-granddaughter, Kacie Vest. on December 3, 1998.²

     Mary Ingram was buried at Stonewall Cemetery, 4382 Route 221 N, Floyd Co., Virginia.⁶ She was born on November 1, 1916 at Virginia.^1,2,4 She married Carl Lawrence Vest, son of James S. Vest and Rettie Rachel Lawrence, on July 30, 1934 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,1,4,6 As of July 30, 1934,her married name was Vest. Mary Ingram died on June 18, 2007 at Virginia at age 90.⁶ She Mary I. Vest, 90, of Copper Hill, departed this life on Monday, June 18, 2007. Mrs. Vest was preceded in death by her husband, Carl L. Vest. She is survived by one daughter, Nancy Poff of Copper Hill, Va; one son and daughter-in-law, Sheldon and Barbara Vest of Copper Hill, Va; two grandsons and wives, Michael and Carol Poff of Sterling, Va. and Kevin and Christy Vest of Copper Hill, Va; one great-granddaughter, Kacie Vest of Roanoke, Va; two great-grandsons, Dylan Vest and Nicholas Vest of Copper Hill, Va; one sister, Myra Peters of Floyd, Va; and one sister-in-law, Doris Ingram of Floyd, Va. A private graveside service will be conducted on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 with the Reverend Elbert Lee Naff and the Reverend Pete Bain officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening at the home of Sheldon and Barbara Vest. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Stonewall Cemetery in care of Mrs. Dorothy Janney, 719 River Ridge Road, S.E., Copper Hill, VA 24079. Arrangements are being handled by Gardner Funeral Home, Floyd. on June 19, 2007.⁶

     William Thomas "Bill" Austin was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4 He was born on April 24, 1858 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4,2 He married Lucy Olivia Byrd, daughter of William Bird Jr. and Asenath Sink, on July 20, 1881 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,3,1 William Thomas "Bill" Austin died on October 31, 1938 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 80.^3,4

     Lucy Olivia Byrd was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4 She was born on November 28, 1855 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,4,1 She married William Thomas "Bill" Austin, son of John Robert H. Austin Sr. and Nancy Elizabeth Mills, on July 20, 1881 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3,2 As of July 20, 1881,her married name was Austin. Lucy Olivia Byrd died on June 9, 1939 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 83.^3,4

     Malicia Josephine Hollins was buried at Restvale Cemetery, 7529 Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹² She was born on August 6, 1928 at Bedford Co., Virginia.^1,3 She married Ennis Clifford Shaver, son of Irvin Benjamin Shaver and Cammie Pearl Craighead, on August 19, 1946 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^{1,6,2,3,9,10,4,12} As of August 19, 1946,her married name was Shaver. Malicia Josephine Hollins died on March 5, 2022 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 93.¹² She Malicia H. Shaver died on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Friendship Health and Rehab in Roanoke, Virginia. Born in 1928 in Bedford County, she moved to Floyd County when she was twelve. There she spent most of the rest of her life and was a member of Copper Hill Church of the Brethren for more than eighty years. She married Clifford Shaver in 1946, celebrating 66 years with him before his death in 2012. They had two children, Jim Shaver (Margie) and Sharon Shaver Wood (Frank); six grandchildren, Jim Shaver Jr. (Debbie), Ben Shaver (Danielle), Shannon Wood, Bryan Wood (Cara), Tammi Jewell (Michael), and Stephanie Bush (Chris); and great-grandchildren, Kaylee Wood, Dylan and McKenna Shaver, Quinn Shaver, Corey Powers, and Landon Quesenberry. Other close loved ones include her sister, Elta Wilson; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth S. Wray, Shirley Shaver, and Betty Shaver; her niece, Elizabeth Stone and her family; and two other loved ones, Lisa Goad and her family, and Cindy Gibson and her family. She loved and treasured numerous other nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many good friends. Jim and Sharon had completed college when Malicia decided to seek a career in health care and became a student herself. She was a licensed practical nurse for 40 years. She was an oncology nurse at Carilion, and she also worked in senior care facilities. But her favorite nursing position was in Dr. Gary Kuiken's office in Floyd helping people she knew and regularly making new friends. Her nursing career was preceded by several years working in secretarial positions. A private burial has already taken place at Restvale Cemetery in Copper Hill. on May 1, 2022.¹²

     His Social Security Number was 229-01-6376.⁹ Cleo Calvin "Buddy" Graham was buried at Felts Memorial Cemetery, Galax, Virginia.¹ He was born on January 14, 1919 at Killarney, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^9,1,4,2,3 He married Mable Frances Hale, daughter of William Elliott "Willie" Hale and Ollie Jane Whitenack, on March 4, 1944 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^4,1,3,10 Cleo Calvin "Buddy" Graham died on April 28, 1999 at Galax, Virginia, at age 80.^9,1 He GRAHAM, Cleo Calvin, ("Buddy"), 80, of Galax, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 1999 at his home. He was born January 14, 1919 in Kilarney, W.Va. but lived the remainder of his youth in Floyd County, Va. He has been a resident of Galax, Va. since 1955. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl Yeatts Graham and Andrew Lester Graham of Floyd County; a sister, Mildred Dallas, and two brothers, Hubert Daniel Graham and James Edward Graham. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Frances Hale Graham of Galax; a dear daughter, Janet Graham Wells and son-in-law, Robert Michael Wells of Winston-Salem, N.C; three precious grandchildren, Laura Elizabeth Wells, Robert Michael Wells Jr., and Christopher Graham Wells; also surviving are his brothers, Andrew Lester Graham, Jr. of Pulaski, Alfred Curtis Graham of Dublin; a sister, Virginia Graham Jones of Radford, many nieces, nephews and many very dear friends. As a young man he served his country in World War II from 1944 to 1946 as a member of the 101st and 331st Infantry Regiment in Germany and Austria. He was later employed by Graves Humphreys Hardware Co., Bluefield Supply Co., and Monroe Hardware Co. before retiring in 1983. He was a member and past deacon of the First Baptist Church of Galax and an active member of Galax Lions Club for many years. He loved his Lord, his family, his country and his many friends and was loved dearly in return. The family will receive friends at Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home in Galax from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 1999. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 1999 at the First Baptist Church, Galax with the Rev. David Slayton officiating. Interment will follow at Felts Memorial Cemetery in Galax. Memorial contributions may be directed to First Baptist Church, Galax. on April 29, 1999.¹

     Mable Frances Hale was buried at Felts Memorial Cemetery, Galax, Virginia.⁴ She was born on September 10, 1922 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,3,4 She married Cleo Calvin "Buddy" Graham, son of Andrew Lester Graham Sr. and Annie Pearl Yeatts, on March 4, 1944 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,10,3,4 As of March 4, 1944,her married name was Graham. Mable Frances Hale died on August 11, 2015 at Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., North Carolina, at age 92.⁴ She Frances Hale Graham, 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Arbor Acres Retirement Community. She was born on September 10, 1922 in Floyd County, Va. to Ollie Jane and William Elliott Hale. Her beloved husband, CC "Buddy" Graham predeceased her in 1999. She was also preceded in death by her dear sisters, Garnet Hale King, Nelva Hale Rutrough and her brother, William Elliott Hale, Jr. Frances is survived by her daughter, Janet Graham Wells and son-in-law, Mike Wells, of Winston-Salem, N.C; three beloved grandchildren, Laura Wells Betz and husband, John, of South Bend, Ind., Michael Wells, Jr. and wife, Jillian, of Greensboro, N.C., and Christopher Wells and wife, Mary, Eileen of, Chicago, Ill. She delighted in being a great grandmother to Emma, Jack, and Jane Betz and Caroline and Emmett Wells. She was a beloved aunt and great aunt to many surviving nieces and nephews. Frances was a graduate of Check High School in Floyd County, Va. She was a graduate of Radford University with a BS in elementary education. She taught in the primary grades in the public schools of Roanoke County, Va., Floyd, Va., and Galax City schools. The majority of her teaching occurred at her beloved Galax Elementary School in the first grade. For 43 years, she was an advocate for her students, some of whom still keep in touch with her. She was a master teacher who received the Teacher of the Year Award. She also was forever a supporter of the hard-working teachers and staff who served the students in the public school system of Galax. After her retirement, she served on the Galax City School Board for five years with distinction. Frances was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Galax for over 60 years, where she had many dear friends. Frances was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma teaching organization. She was also a member of the Lion's Club. Most importantly, Frances was a dear wife to her husband, loving mother to her daughter, and a sweet, kind grandmother and great grandmother. She will be remembered for her strength, intelligence, beauty, her love of singing, her love of poetry, her great sense of humor, the ability to make many friends, and her charm. Our family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Fitzgerald Health Center at Arbor Acres for their loving care and devotion to Frances whom they called "Granny." They provided her family with kindness and a sense of peace. Memorials may be made to the Galax Foundation for Excellence in Education, PO Box 487, Galax, Virginia 24333, or First Baptist Church, 1024 East Stuart Drive, Galax, Virginia 24333, or Arbor Acres Employee Fund, 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 16 at First Baptist Church in Galax, Va. by the Rev. Sam Bartlett and the Rev. Doug Suggs. Burial will follow at Felts Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the sanctuary from 1 to 1:45 p.m. on August 13, 2015.⁴