Person Page - 2032

     Alcie May Lester was buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.³ She was born on May 27, 1877 at West Virginia.^1,3 As of April 13, 1898,her married name was Bryson.⁵ She married James Bryson on April 13, 1898 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^5,2 Alcie May Lester died on November 19, 1934 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 57.³

     Lee Andrew Lester was born in April, 1880 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,3 He died on December 27, 1939 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 59.¹

     Jasey Belle "Josey" Lester was buried at Sunset Cemetery, North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,7 She was born on July 1, 1885 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^3,7,5 As of June 30, 1921,her married name was Bryson.³ She married Simeon Thomas "Simon" Bryson on June 30, 1921 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^3,5 Jasey Belle "Josey" Lester died on May 11, 1959 at Richmond, Virginia, at age 73; Her gravestone has a death date of May 13, 1959.^4,7,5 She Mrs. Josey B. Bryson Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. today for Mrs. Josey B. Bryson, 73, who died Monday in Richmond. Rites were conducted at Richardson's Funeral Home. She was a former resident of Cambria.Surviving are a son, William W. Bryson, Christionsburg; two daughters, Mrs. Iris Witshire and Mrs. O. C. Johnson, both of Richmond; a brother, Lacy Lester, Lester, W.Va. Burial was in Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg. on May 13, 1959.⁴

     His Social Security Number was 719-14-6626.¹⁰ Lacy French Lester was buried at Slab Fork Cemetery, Slab Fork, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹¹ He was born on May 20, 1893 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia; His WWI Draft Registration card has a birth date of May 22, 1893.^1,2,4,10 He married Lucy Jane East on November 21, 1923 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^6,12 Lacy French Lester died on May 20, 1966 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 73.⁵

     His Social Security Number was 236-05-2719.¹² Lacy Lee Gray was buried at Slab Fork Cemetery, Slab Fork, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^7,8 He was born on April 24, 1897 at Sweeneysburg, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^5,12,7,8,9 He married Bertha Mae Farley on May 18, 1920 at Glen White, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹³ Lacy Lee Gray and Bertha Mae Farley were divorced before 1932.¹⁴ Lacy Lee Gray married Goldie Emeline Clark on March 19, 1932 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.¹⁵ Lacy Lee Gray died on October 30, 1962 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 65.^6,7,8 He Final rites for Lacy Lee Gray, 65, of Slab Fork, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Akers Missionary Baptist Church at Maple Meadow with the Rev. Dewey Akers and the Rev. Charles Browning officiating. Burial will follow in the Slab Fork Cemetery. He died at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in a local hospital following a long illness. Born April 24, 1897, in Raleigh County, he was a son of the late William Tazwell and Lora Alice Edmonds Gray. A lifelong resident of Raleigh County he worked for 32 years at the Slab Fork Coal Co., and was a member of the Akers Missionary Baptist Church at Maple Meadow. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Goldie Gray of Slab Fork; eight sons, Herbert and Shirley, both of Beaumont, Tex., William, Henry, James, Charles, Frank and John, all of Slab Fork; five daughters, Mrs. Dennis (Eva Mae) Perry of Beckley, Mrs. Glida Lilly and Miss Lois Gray, both of Havre de Grace, Md., Miss Mary Gray and Miss Ruth Fray Gray, both at home; two brothers, Joe Gray of Sophia and Sherman Gray of MacArthur; three sisters, Mrs. Tessie Moore of Jenkinjones, Mrs. Birdie Dowdy of Blacksburg, Va., and Miss Della Hendricks of Pontiac, Mich; 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The body will remain at the Calfee Funeral Home until one hour prior to the service when it will be taken to the church.
on November 1, 1962.⁷

     Della Franklin Gray was born in June, 1899 at Fayette Co., West Virginia.^3,2 As of March 17, 1916,her married name was Hendricks.² She married Grady Hendricks on March 17, 1916 at Eccles, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.²

     Tessa Mae "Tessie" Gray was buried at Dunmore Cemetery, Dunmore, Pocahontas Co., West Virginia.⁴ Her Social Security Number was 224-92-6567.⁵ She was born on June 5, 1901 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,5,2,4 As of circa 1917,her married name was Moore.⁶ She married James Garfield Moore circa 1917.^7,3,8,6,9 Tessa Mae "Tessie" Gray died on December 29, 1980 at age 79.⁴

     His Social Security Number was 236-05-7930.⁹ Joel Herbert "Joe" Gray was buried at Slab Fork Cemetery, Slab Fork, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^4,5 He was born on June 20, 1905 at Sweeneysburg, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^9,4,5 He married Nellie Ruth Sizemore on October 7, 1933 at Pineville, Wyoming Co., West Virginia.^3,4 Joel Herbert "Joe" Gray died on August 23, 1976 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 71.^4,5 He Funeral services for Joe Herbert Gray, 71, of Sophia will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Sophia First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dewey Wilson in charge. Gray died Monday in a local hospital following a long illness. He was a retired miner, having worked 43 years for the Slab Fork Coal Company, and was a member of the Sophia First Baptist Church. He was born June 20, 1905, at Sweeneysburg, the son of the late William and Alice Edmonds Gray. He was preceded in death by one brother, Lacy Gray. Surviving are his wife, Nellie Sizemore Gray of Sophia; two daughters, Mrs. Lois Dew of Sophia and Mrs. Ruth Dew of Beckley; one brother, Sherman Gray of MacArthur; three sisters, Mrs. Della Hendricks of Ponitac, Mich., Mrs. James Moore of Bluefield, Va., and Mrs. James Dowdy of Blacksburg, Va; and two grandchildren. Burial will be in the Slab Fork Cemetery at Tams Mountain. Friends may call at the Williams Funeral Home in Sophia from 6 to 9 p.m. today. The body will be taken to the church one hour prior to services. Nephews will serve as casket bearers. on August 25, 1976.⁴

     His Social Security Number was 236-05-7938.⁸ Sherman Thomas Isaac Gray was buried at Calfee Cemetery, Mount Tabor Road, Mount Tabor, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.⁹ He was born on April 18, 1910 at Trap Hill, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,8 He married Helen Elizabeth McMullin on October 22, 1932 at Slab Fork, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.⁴ Sherman Thomas Isaac Gray died in May, 1983 at age 73.⁸

     James Bryson was buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,4,5 He was born on June 12, 1863 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^6,2,4,5 He married Alcie May Lester, daughter of Cass Lewis Lester and Virginia Lynn "Ginnalin" Gray, on April 13, 1898 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,3 James Bryson died on September 29, 1947 at Maple Meadow, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 84.^2,4,5 He James Bryson, 84, one-time school superintendent of Raleigh county and father of the present superintendent, died at his home in Maple Meadow early Monday morning after an extended illness. He was born at Maple Meadow on June 12, 1863, the son of Alexander and Mary Riffe Bryson. He began teaching school in 1884 and held posts in Raleigh, Mercer and Wyoming counties. He was Raleigh county superintendent form 1889 to 1891, and was sole teacher of the Beckley school when it had only two rooms. Bryson held the post until 1897, when he began farming. He was a member of the Crab Orchard Baptist Church. His wife, Alicia, preceded him in death in 1934. Surviving are two sons, D. W. Bryson, Beckley, Raleigh County superintendent of schools, and George W. Bryson, War. Two brothers and three sisters also survive. They are Henry Bryson, Harper Road, Simeon Bryson, Cambria, Va., Corala Bryson, Lester, Mrs. Reuhamah Smith, Mansfield, Mo., and Mrs. Caroline Canaday, Lester. The body will be removed to the residence at 5 p.m. today. It will lie in state at the Crab Orchard Baptist Church from 12:30 p.m. tomorrow until the funeral services at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Shirley Donnelly will officiate. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park. on September 30, 1947.⁴

     His Social Security Number was 236-60-7292.⁸ George Wayman Bryson was buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^4,5 He was born on March 29, 1902 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^8,4,5 He married Dorothy Kennedy on August 11, 1931 at Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^9,10 George Wayman Bryson died on January 2, 1984 at Welch, McDowell Co., West Virginia, at age 81.^8,4,5 He Longtime McDowell County school superintendent George Wayman Bryson of War, died Monday in a Welch hospital following a short illness. He was 81. Born in Lester, he was a superintendent of McDowell County chools from 1935 until 1968. He received his bachelor degree from Concord College and his master's degree from the University of Kentucky. His teaching career began in 1921 and spanned nearly 50 years in teaching and administrative work in Southern West Virginia. He was a member and past president of the War Kiwanis Club and was a 50-year member of the Athens Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of th Berwind Masonic Lodge. He was a past president of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators and a member of the state Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of the War Calvary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1974. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Kathryn Ann Davis of Reston, Va; one brother, D. W. Bryson of Beckley; and two grandsons. Funeral service will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church in War with Rev. W.H. Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park in Beckley. on January 4, 1984.⁵

     Daniel Winfred "D.W." Bryson was buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.⁶ He was born on February 18, 1904 at Maple Meadow, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^5,6,7 He married Mary Bridget McGrady on December 24, 1931 at Athens, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^5,9 Daniel Winfred "D.W." Bryson died on February 5, 1989 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 84.^6,7 He Daniel Winfred (D.W.) Bryson, 84, of 204 Foote St., Beckley, died Sunday morning, Feb. 5, at home after a long illness. Born Feb. 18, 1904 at Maple Meadow, he was the son of the late James and Alcia Lester Bryson. Mr. Bryson was a principal and taught at Stoco High School from 1925 to 1928, he taught at Woodrow Wilson High School from 1928 to 1931, he was principal at Beckley Junior High School from 1931 to 1937, was assistant superintendent of schools of Raleigh County from 1937 to 1945, was superintendent of schools of Raleigh County from 1945 to 1957, and was principal of Stoco High School from 1957 until his retirement in 1969. Mr. Bryson was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Beckley Elks Lodge, the Beckley Lions Club, the Beckley Masonic Lodge No. 95, the Scottish Rite Bodies, the Beni-Kedem Shrine Temple at Charleston, and the National Education Association. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Bryson in 1976, and a brother, George Bryson in 1984. on February 6, 1989.⁷

     Fred Gray was born in March, 1895 at West Virginia.¹

     Bertha Alice "Bertie" Gray was buried at Dowdy Cemetery, Toms Creek, Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁶ Her Social Security Number was 230-77-0129.⁷ She was born on July 6, 1912 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^3,7 As of August 18, 1934,her married name was Dowdy.³ She married James Robert Dowdy on August 18, 1934 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.³ Bertha Alice "Bertie" Gray died on February 2, 2003 at age 90.⁷

     Nora Lester was buried at Sunset Cemetery, North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.² She was born on April 23, 1876 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,3 As of April 24, 1915,her married name was Baldwin.⁵ She married Roy Gilmer Baldwin on April 24, 1915 at Williamson, Mingo Co., West Virginia.^5,3 Nora Lester died on October 13, 1959 at age 83.²

     Lora T. Lester was buried at Sunset Cemetery, North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,6 Her Social Security Number was 224-64-9180.⁷ She was born on May 30, 1879 at West Virginia.^1,4,7,6 As of September 1, 1920,her married name was McAlexander.⁵ She married Charles Addison McAlexander on September 1, 1920 at Cambria, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,5,6 Lora T. Lester died on January 21, 1967 at Radford, Virginia, at age 87.^4,6

     Dora Gordon Lester was buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,3 She was born on May 28, 1881 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.² As of November 20, 1913,her married name was McAlexander.⁴ She married Robert Irl/Irle McAlexander on November 20, 1913 at Cambria, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,2,3 Dora Gordon Lester died on August 12, 1943 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 62.²