OBITUARIES

Apr 28, 2022

Helen “Jean” (Harper) Chestnut, 79, of Bridgewater, passed away on April 28, 2022, at Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

She was born on June 27, 1942, in Cave, WV to the late Roscoe Thomas and Bessie May (Mowery) Harper.  She grew up in Franklin, WV, and graduated from Franklin High School.

Jean married Lyle Douglas Chestnut...

Apr 24, 2022

Donald “Don” Lee Rexrode, 74, of Franklin, WV, passed away Sunday, April 24, 2022, at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va.

He was born in Franklin on October 9, 1947, the son of the late Mary Catherine Rexrode.

Don was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Franklin Moose Lodge and proud member of the...

Apr 17, 2022

Deborah Kay (Stuart) Miller, 66, of Pasadena, Md., passed away, Sunday, April 17, 2022 while visiting her son in Ruckersville, Va.

She was born In Staunton on February 16, 1956, the daughter of the late Weldon Allen and Laura Alice (Kiracofe) Stuart.

Debbie graduated with honors from Fort Defiance High School and Magna Cum Laude...

Apr 15, 2022

Edward Leroy "Squeecy" Blackwell, 63, of Churchville passed away Friday, April 15, 2022 at UVA.

Mr. Blackwell was born in Staunton on July 27, 1958, a son of the late Homer Thomas Sr. and Mary Alice (Weaver) Blackwell.

A service representative, Eddie was employed with Lab Corp, who loved visiting with the staff in the...

Apr 15, 2022

Virginia Lee (Botkin) Kisamore, 84, of Churchville passed away Friday, April 15, 2022 at her home.

She was born in Highland County on February 8, 1938, a daughter of the late Roy A. and Pansy Elizabeth (Varner) Botkin. On February 8, 1958 she married Ray Edward Kisamore.

Mrs. Kisamore was a member of Hiner Church...

Apr 8, 2022

Joyce “Joy” Thelma Darnell, 85, of Sugar Grove, WV passed away Friday, April 8, 2022 at her home.

She was born in Laytonsville, Maryland on April 27, 1936, a daughter of the late Donald and Marion Madge (Royer) Fraley.

A 1954 graduate of Gaithersburg High School, Joy was a cheerleader and member of the Maryland...

Apr 1, 2022

Helen (Lindsay) Durrett, 81, of Warm Springs, passed away, Friday, April 1, 2022 at Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital in Blacksburg.

She was born February 8, 1941 in Bath County, a daughter of the late Raymond Frank Lindsay and Lillie Virginia (Rowe) Lindsay Bogan.

Mrs. Durrett was a member of Faith Covenant Family Church. She had worked...

Mar 23, 2022

Irene (Arbogast) Hefner, 82, of Staunton and formerly of Mill Gap passed away, Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at the home of her son.

She was born in Highland County on September 7, 1939, a daughter of the late Robert Samuel and Alice M. (Puffenbarger) Arbogast. On June 20, 1959 she married the late James Lee Hefner.

Mar 20, 2022

Paul C. Bennett, 93, of Moyers, WV, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022 at his home.

He was born March 1, 1929 in Circleville, a son of the late Curtis and Alpha (Sponaugle) Bennett. On June 16, 1961 Paul married Nancy Cunningham, formerly of Whitmer, WV.

A graduate of the Circleville High School, Class of...

Mar 6, 2022

Mary Elizabeth Whitelaw, 50, of Hot Springs, passed away, Sunday, March 6, 2022 at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville.

She was born in Baltimore, MD on May 22, 1971, a daughter of the late Robert Eugene Whitelaw and Mary Lougene (Parks) Sublett.

A sweet and caring soul, Mary never let her disability get in the...

Mar 3, 2022

Clarence Joseph “Joe” Brock, 84, of the Valley Center community of Mill Gap, went to be with his Lord and Heavenly Father and his son, Joey, Thursday, March 3, 2022 at his home surrounded by family.

He was born in Mill Gap, July 8 1937, a son of the late Adam Hevener Brock and Alta Geneva (Crummett)...

Feb 26, 2022

Norma “Jean” (Hayward) Smith, 86, of McDowell, passed away Saturday, February 26, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family.

She was born November 2, 1935, in Gaithersburg, MD, a daughter of the late Ralph James and Pearl Irene (Vanhouten) Hayward.

On September 24, 1956 she married Garner Emerson Smith who predeceased her on September...

Feb 24, 2022

Austin Linwood Shepherd, 94, of Monterey passed away Thursday, February 24, 2022 at the Legacy of North Augusta.

He was born January 12, 1928 in Columbia, son of the late David Wiley and Elizabeth (Seay) Shepherd.

Austin spent his formative years on the family farm in Fluvanna County where he learned how to work hard...

Feb 22, 2022

Audrey Ritchie Simmons, of Stuarts Draft, passed away on February 22, 2022. She was born in Blue Grass, Virginia, as was her late husband, Eugene Douglas Simmons, the love of her life. Audrey is survived by a daughter, Ann Simmons and daughter-in-law Susan Mello of NY, loving family members, very dear neighbors and close friends, and one adorable neighbor...

Feb 19, 2022

Jeffrey Wayne Grant, 60, of McDowell, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Sentara RMH Medical Center.

He was born in Staunton on August 13, 1961, a son of Charles William “Billy” Grant of McDowell and the late Shelby Jean (Hevener) Grant.

A 1979 graduate of Highland High School,...

Feb 16, 2022

Sandra Leigh (McCray) Snyder, 74 of Head Waters, passed away Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at Augusta Health Care.

She was born August 3, 1947, in Head Waters, a daughter of the late William “Peyton” and Anna Lee (Botkin) McCray. On July 26, 1968 she married Carson Snyder. She was raised and held membership in the former Head...

Feb 9, 2022

Edmund Randolph Hevener, Jr., 68 of Blue Grass, passed away on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

He was born June 28, 1953 in Staunton, a son of the late Edmund Randolph Hevener Sr. and Pauline Thacker Hevener. He was preceded in death by his wife Sandy Hevener, December 4, 2021.

In his youth Edmund cultivated a...

Jan 27, 2022

Elwood Neal Sawyers, age 84, husband of Peggy (Faircloth) Sawyers of McDowell, passed away Thursday, January 27, 2022.

Born July 9, 1937 in Elk Creek, he was a son of the late Ted Clarence and Lillie Ethel (Poole) Sawyers.

Mr. Sawyers had retired as a Chief Warrant Officer following a 20-year career with the U.S. ...

Jan 22, 2022

Bertha Gail (Stinespring) Robertson, 64, of Warm Springs was called to her heavenly home by her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at University of Virginia Medical Center.

She was born in Bath County, December 6, 1957, a daughter of the late Samuel Allen and Faye Lois (Kennedy) Stinespring. On August 29,1981 she married Billy...

Jan 20, 2022

Katherine Ann (Hupman) Lindsey, 58, of Grottoes passed away Thursday, January 20, 2022 at Sentara RMH.

She was born April 18, 1963 in Bath County, a daughter of the late James Lyle and Mary Edith (Robinson) Hupman.

Katherine enjoyed putting puzzles together and took pride in taking care of her kitties. Above all, she loved...