Person Page - 959

     Lydia Leona Miles was buried at Piedmont Cemetery, Rt. 11 to Shawsville, turn at nursing home, Rt. 637, about 8 miles on the left, Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁴ She was born on December 4, 1865 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,5,3,1 She married Stanley David Sisson, son of James Madison Sisson and Elizabeth Jane "Eliza" Coon, on January 11, 1883.^4,5,3 As of January 11, 1883,her married name was Sisson. Lydia Leona Miles died on June 15, 1922 at Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 56.^4,5,3,1

     George Stanley Shields Jr. and Betty Jane Vest were divorced.³ George Stanley Shields Jr. was born on June 10, 1933 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2,3 He married Betty Jane Vest, daughter of Larncie Howard "Lawrence" Vest Sr. and Hursle Adell Bower, on June 3, 1961 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ George Stanley Shields Jr. died on December 11, 2021 at Davidsonville, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, at age 88.³ He George Stanley "Buddy" Shields Jr. died peacefully on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the age of 88 at his home in Davidsonville, Md. The founder and owner of two wholesale optical labs, B&W Optical of Balitmore, Md., and Southeastern Optical Inc. of Roanoke, Va., he is survived by his wife, Maria Shields; his son, Tim Shields; granddaughter, Amanda Shields; stepdaughter, Angela Cheatham; niece, Lisa Manley (husband, David Manley) and grandnieces, Allison and Sara Manley; nephew, Mark Patterson (wife, Karen Patterson); grandnephews, Ryan, Charles and Grayson Patterson; great-nieces Amanda and Jolan Patterson; and brother-in-law Charles Garland. Born in Roanoke, Va. on June 10, 1933 to George Stanley Shields Sr. and Beulah Phelps, he was the youngest of three children, and predeceased by his siblings, Nancy Patterson and Jane Garland. He served in both the Army as a Private (SP2) and Electronics Specialist, and in the Marines from which he was honorably discharged in March of 1950. A two time cancer survivor, Buddy was sensitive to fellow cancer sufferers, particularly children. on December 15, 2021.³

     Joseph Albert Sowers was buried at Jacksonville Burial Ground, Rt. 8, 0.25 miles south of Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ He married Lucy Etta "Bea" Scott.^1,3 Joseph Albert Sowers was born on April 8, 1883 at Virginia.^1,2 He died on March 23, 1967 at age 83.¹

     Lucy Etta "Bea" Scott married Joseph Albert Sowers.^1,3 Lucy Etta "Bea" Scott was buried at Jacksonville Burial Ground, Rt. 8, 0.25 miles south of Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3 Her married name was Sowers. She was born on December 1, 1894 at Virginia.¹ She died on January 11, 1979 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 84.^1,3 She FLOYD -- Mrs. Lucy Scott (Bea) Sowers, age 84, died in a Roanoke hospital Thursday night, January 11, 1979. She was the widow of Joseph A. Sowers. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Lucy Jo Ernst, Summerville, S.C; four sons, Frank Sowers, Freeman, W. Va., Scott Sowers, Salem, Ralph Sowers, Gate City, Paul Sowers, Pulaski; one sister, Mrs. Lillian Sowers, Christiansburg; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 13, 1979, at 2:00 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Clarence Dishman and the Rev. Gary Kelly officiating, with interment in Jacksonville Cemetery. on January 18, 1979.³

     Gustavus Wingfield "Gus" Jamison was buried at Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton, Carter Co., Tennessee.^6,7 He was born on January 13, 1861 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^1,8,6 He married Auslebie "Leebie" West, daughter of John Thrash West and Lydia Light, on December 1, 1897 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ Gustavus Wingfield "Gus" Jamison died on December 28, 1935 at Elizabethton, Carter Co., Tennessee, at age 74.^6,7

     Jacob Robert West was buried at Radford Cemetery, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Route 888, Floyd Co., Virginia.² He was born on July 2, 1856 at Monroe Co., West Virginia.^2,1 He married Rhoda Rosann Radford on October 28, 1879 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 Jacob Robert West died on November 19, 1939 at age 83.²

     Rhoda Rosann Radford was buried at Radford Cemetery, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Route 888, Floyd Co., Virginia.² She was born on October 4, 1856 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,1 She married Jacob Robert West on October 28, 1879 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2 As of October 28, 1879,her married name was West. Rhoda Rosann Radford died on July 26, 1949 at age 92.²

     Joseph Valentine Byrd was buried at Head of the River Cemetery (also known as Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery), Rt. 221, Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.⁶ His Social Security Number was 224-24-5470.⁷ He was born on December 23, 1886 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4,8,6,5 He married Florence Virginia Oliver circa 1907.^9,10 Joseph Valentine Byrd and Florence Virginia Oliver were divorced before 1913.¹¹ Joseph Valentine Byrd married Adeline M. "Addie" Davis circa 1921.^2,12 Joseph Valentine Byrd married Ima Claire Saunders on November 6, 1937 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^4,13 Joseph Valentine Byrd died on November 24, 1957 at age 70.⁶

     His Social Security Number was 226-01-3180.⁸ William Ennis Byrd was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.⁵ He was born on December 12, 1883 at Check, Floyd Co., Virginia.^8,6,9,5 He married Mary Letitia Lovell circa 1912.^1,10,5 William Ennis Byrd died on September 15, 1975 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 91.^8,5

     Martha E. Byrd was born circa 1888 at Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ She Not enumerated with her family in the 1900 Census on June 4, 1900.²

     Esther Mae Whitlow was buried at Jacksonville Burial Ground, Rt. 8, 0.25 miles south of Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ She was born on September 30, 1921 at Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.¹ She married John William West, son of Terry Samuel West and Ima Claire Saunders, circa 1941.¹ As of circa 1941,her married name was West.¹ Esther Mae Whitlow died on July 13, 2011 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 89.^1,2 She Esther Whitlow West, 89, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Born in Floyd, Va., on September 30, 1921, she graduated from Floyd High School attended Radford College, and taught in elementary schools in Floyd for 35 years before retiring and moving to Roanoke. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, John West; three daughters, Linda Harry, Joan West Bork and her husband, Casey, and Becky Smythers and her husband, Clyde. She is also survived by five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Suzanne Cipolla and her husband, Rob, and their children, David and Caroline; Dr. Brian Mitchell and his wife, Sue Ann, and their children, Brianna, Emma Sue, and Annslee; David Harry and his fiancée, Linda Arnold; Angela Mitchell Miss and her husband, Stephen, and their children, Abigail and Stephen Patrick; and Erin Naiman and her husband, Jeff. In addition, she is survived by one sister, Vera Tolbert. She also leaves behind many dear sistersin-law, brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews. Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Pat and Malissa Whitlow; her twin sister, Lillian McClure; another sister, Allie Caldwell; and son-in-law, William Harry. She was passionate about her faith, family, teaching, and hobbies. A life long Methodist, she displayed her strong faith through prayer and daily devotions, which carried her through many difficult illnesses. A dedicated, creative teacher, she was loved by all of her students. She was a loving, devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt, who cared more for the welfare of others than herself. She will be greatly missed. A Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Oakey's South Chapel, Roanoke. The Reverend Reginald Tuck will officiate. Interment will follow in Jacksonville Cemetery, Floyd, Va. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Breast Cancer and Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies. on July 16, 2011.¹