Person Page - 6745

     Joseph Wayne Stafford was buried at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, 3888 Highway 70 West, Goldsboro, Wayne Co., North Carolina.⁴ His Social Security Number was 224-21-7865.² He was born on September 13, 1964 at Goldsboro, Wayne Co., North Carolina.^1,4,2 He married Christine Belinda McGhee, daughter of William Oakley McGhee Jr. and Cynthia Belinda Hogwood, on November 10, 1984 at Hopewell, Virginia.¹ Joseph Wayne Stafford and Christine Belinda McGhee were divorced on May 2, 1994 at Hopewell, Virginia.³ Joseph Wayne Stafford died on August 2, 1999 at Tampa, Hillsborough Co., Florida, at age 34.^4,2,5,6 He Joseph Stafford, 34, of Tampa died Monday at home under the care of LifePath Hospice. A native of Goldsboro, N.C., he was a nurse technician at University Community Hospital. He is survived by his mother, Rose of Hopewell, a brother, Billy of Chester, a sister, Tina Proffitt of Richmond, and his grandmothers, Pauline Pulley, of Hopewell and Myrtle of Pikeville, N.C. He also is survived by a companion, Jerry Williams. on August 5, 1999.⁵

     Billy Ray Webb III was buried at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, Abingdon, Washington Co., Virginia.¹ He died in 1988 at Virginia.¹ He was born in 1988 at Virginia.¹

     Bertha Vivian Meadors was buried at Appomattox Cemetery, 703 North 21st Avenue, Hopewell, Virginia.^1,2,3 Her married name was McGhee.¹ She married Arthur Cleveland McGhee, son of William Thomas McGhee and Elizabeth Conner.^1,3 Bertha Vivian Meadors was born on May 10, 1888 at Omar, Logan Co., West Virginia.^1,2,3 She died on October 2, 1946 at Hopewell, Virginia, at age 58.^1,2,3 She Mrs. Bertha Vivian McGhee, 58, died at her home, Cedar Level, Wedneeday afternoon following a brief illness. A native of Omar, West Virginia, she has lived here the past year. She is survived by her husband, Arthur C. McGhee, a son, Robert W. Owens and one grandchild also of Cedar Level. Interment will be in Appomattox Cemetery. on October 4, 1946.³

     Carlyle Franklin Purvis was buried at Alberene Cemetery, 3061 Alberene Church Lane, Esmont, Albemarle Co., Virginia.² His Social Security Number was 577-32-0867.⁴ He was born on September 19, 1927 at Washington, D.C..^1,2,4,5,6 He married Elizabeth Jenean "Betty" McGhee, daughter of William Arthur McGhee and Georgia Lee Scott, on April 23, 1948 at Alexandria, Virginia.^1,3 Carlyle Franklin Purvis died on April 27, 1984 at age 56.^2,4,6

     Joseph Edgar "Joe" Yates Jr. Joseph Edgar Yates Jr., September 25th, 1949 - December 24th, 2022. Joseph Yates departed this earthly home at the age of 73 on Christmas Eve morning. Joe was one of the best and he touched so many people and communities with intelligence and humor. He was loved and supported by his loving wife of 27 years, Lynne Arnold Yates. They shared faith, recovery, love, commitment, family, and of course fun and laughter. Joe was a wonderful husband, brother, friend, musician, classmate (Andrew Lewis ’67 and Virginia Tech ‘71), Hokie, mentor, and co-worker. He loved the City of Salem and Virginia Tech and shared a brotherhood with members of the Corps of Cadets and the Highty-Tightie Regimental Band. Joe worked for the City of Salem for more than 32 years, retiring as the Director of Planning and Economic Development. He was very proud of his roots in Salem and carried on a high level of service and knowledge that cannot be matched. In retirement, Joe worked for Balzer and Associates for 10 years where he had an amazing group of co-workers. He loved it! Joe was involved with music his entire life. He began as a drummer banging out tunes on his crib. In addition to the Highty-Tighties, he played in the ALHS marching band and also some local bands beginning with Conspirators in 1963, Nobles, Chevelles, Premiers/Nathan Shakin’, Malcolm Melrose, Dr. Dark, Grievous Angels, Hi-liters, Martin, Bush, & Yates, and The Kings, In 1978 he and other local musicians formed the Rhythm Doctors; Joe as the lead singer and frontman but he also playing the harmonica and sometimes the drums. If you got to see these guys play once, you were a “Doctors” fan and a friend. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, J. Edgar Yates and Hazel Cundiff Yates; his oldest sister, E. Connie Wardle, and his youngest sister, Betsy K. Harrison; and his mother-in-law, Ellen Arnold. He is survived by his wife, Lynne Arnold Yates, his sister, Peggy Weaver (Tom), his brothers-in-law, Bob Wardle and Mike Harrison (Cathy), his father-in-law, Bill Arnold, all of Salem and his sister-in-law, Delores Gordon (Jerry) of Winchester, VA. Joe is also survived by many nieces and nephews and he was so proud to see them grow up and have strong families. Joe would want people to gather and be together with great music, laughter, and joy.⁴ He was born on September 25, 1949 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^2,3,4 He married Lynne Ellen Arnold, daughter of Billy Thomas Arnold and Eulala Ellen Martin, on October 6, 1995 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2,4,5 Joseph Edgar "Joe" Yates Jr. died on December 24, 2022 at Virginia at age 73.⁴