Person Page - 671

     Failous Mason Rakes was buried at Sunset Cemetery, 501 South Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁴ His Social Security Number was 230-03-0128.⁵ He was born on December 28, 1919 at Alleghany Springs, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^4,5,6,3 He married Alice Regent Main, daughter of Walter L. Main and Celesta Alma Vest, on April 10, 1946 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^7,6,8 Failous Mason Rakes died on August 2, 1991 at Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 71; His tombstone reads "Pfc US Army WWII."^4,1,5 He F. Mason Rakes, age 71, of 2832 Alleghany Springs Road, died Friday, August 2, 1991, at his home. He was retired from the VA Medical Center in Salem and is survived by his wife, Alice Regent Rakes; one son, F. Morris Rakes, Shawsville; one daughter, Linda Rakes Thompson, Christiansburg; his father, Samuel M. Rakes, Shawsville; one brother, Wilton Rakes, Radford; three sisters, Stella Akers, Christiansburg; Helen Reed, Sylvia Linkous, both of Shawsville; five grandchildren and on August 4, 1991.¹

     His Social Security Number was 225-98-1391.¹⁰ Steven Floyd Sweeney was born on March 9, 1968 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,3,10 He married Pamela Gay Holleman on August 24, 1986 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ Steven Floyd Sweeney and Pamela Gay Holleman were divorced on February 22, 1996 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁴ Steven Floyd Sweeney married Jennifer Janette Armel on June 30, 1999 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.³ Steven Floyd Sweeney and Jennifer Janette Armel were divorced on June 23, 2008 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁴ Steven Floyd Sweeney died on November 27, 2010 at Elliston, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 42.^1,5,10 He Steven Floyd Sweeney, 42, of Elliston, Va., passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, November 27, 2010. He was a graduate of Glenvar High School. He was a mechanic at Hart Old's, a weaver at Precision Fabric's, and a retired from Atlas Kroger warehouse. Steven is survived by his parents, Dock Floyd and Virgie M. Sweeney; children, Heather, Ashley, Daniel and Mitchell Sweeney; five grandchildren, Cerria and Tyler Moore, Morgan Sweeney, Austin Watts and Colin Hodges; many aunts, uncles, cousins; and many special friends including family friend, Kent Cramer. on November 29, 2010.¹

     Her Social Security Number was 225-22-0405.⁵ Minnie P. Blackwell was buried at Wilson Cemetery, Daniel's Run Road (Rt. 661), Locust Grove, Floyd Co., Virginia.^6,7 She was born on June 26, 1903 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^5,6,1,7,2,3 She married William Ernest Conner, son of Joseph Flemon Valentine "Joe" Conner and Sarah Melvina "Cuzzie" Conner, on April 8, 1923 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,3 As of April 8, 1923,her married name was Conner. Minnie P. Blackwell died on May 26, 1989 at age 85.^6,7,3

     John Oliver Akers was buried at Piedmont Cemetery, Rt. 11 to Shawsville, turn at nursing home, Rt. 637, about 8 miles on the left, Montgomery Co., Virginia.² His Social Security Number was 225-22-2636.⁶ He was born on July 28, 1923 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^6,4 He married Naomi Florence "Granny Akers" Vest, daughter of James Noah Vest and Lottie Ellen Light, on June 9, 1945 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,7,3,8 John Oliver Akers died on October 31, 2002 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 79.^2,6,5 He AKERS, JOHN OLIVER, 79, of Elliston passed away Thursday, October 31, 2002. He was the son of the late George Harvey and Sally Mae Green Akers. He was preceded in death by a son, Donald C. Rumburg. Survivors include his wife, Naomi Akers of Elliston; six children and their spouses, Dorothy Stewart of Shawsville, Mary Booth of Shawsville, Rev. Eddie and Sandra Booth of Elliston, John Micheal and Martha Akers of Shawsville, Ricky and Cathy Stanger of Riner, Keith and Vickie Garman of Salem; one brother and sister-in-law, C.W. and Betty Akers of Winston-Salem, N.C; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann and Dayton Vest of Shawsville, Josephine and T. R. Vest of Elliston, Juanita Underwood and Carol McCMackin both of West Virginia; 18 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 3, 2002 at 3 p.m. at the Horne Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ben Whitaker officiating. Interment will follow in the Piedmont Cemetery. Friends may call anytime after 12 noon, Saturday, November 2, 2002 at the Horne Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. The Akers family is being served by Horne Funeral & Cremation Service in Christiansburg. (382-2612) on November 2, 2002.²

     Kathleen Lucille Conner was buried at Sunset Cemetery, 501 South Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁸ She was born on July 10, 1926 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,4,8,5 She married Clarence Chester Jennings on November 22, 1947 at Riner, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,6,7,3,4,8 As of November 22, 1947,her married name was Jennings. Kathleen Lucille Conner died on July 30, 2012 at Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 86.^8,10 She Kathleen Conner Jennings, 86, a resident of Radford Health and Rehab, and formerly of Christiansburg, passed away on Monday, July 30, 2012. She was born on July 10, 1926, to the late Ernest and Minnie Blackwell Conner of Pilot; preceding her in death also was her husband, Clarence Jennings; and two brothers, Edward Conner and James Marvin Conner. She is survived by a sister-in-law; one niece and three nephews and their families. The funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Friday, August 3, 2012 from the Horne Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bobby Fuller officiating. Interment followed in Sunset Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff of Radford Health and Rehab and the Staff of Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, CCU for their excellent care. on August 4, 2012.⁸

     Annie Mae Akers was buried at Piedmont Cemetery, Rt. 11 to Shawsville, turn at nursing home, Rt. 637, about 8 miles on the left, Montgomery Co., Virginia.³ She was born on April 21, 1929 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2,4 She married James Dayton Vest, son of James Noah Vest and Lottie Ellen Light, on December 31, 1948 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2,6,3,5 As of December 31, 1948,her married name was Vest.¹ Annie Mae Akers died on May 8, 2019 at Virginia at age 90.³ She Annie Mae Vest, 90, of Shawsville, Va., passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband, James "Dayton" Vest. Annie leaves behind her children, James E. Vest, Bobby Vest and wife, Julie, Randy Vest and wife, Debbie, Patti Montgomery and husband, Bob, Teresa Hughes; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; siblings, C. W. Akers, Juanita Underwood, and Carol McMahan; as well as many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the staff of Heritage Hall for your loving care of mom, and to New Century Hospice. Funeral Services will be from 2 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 2019, in the Horne Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Jerry Dowdy officiating. Interment will follow in Piedmont Cemetery. on May 10, 2019.³

     Edgar Lee Vest Jr. was born on April 15, 1947 at Athens, Limestone Co., Alabama.^1,2,3,4 He married Hazel Marie Akers, daughter of Glen Lee Akers and Marcenia Elsie Linkous, on December 17, 1966 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2 Edgar Lee Vest Jr. and Hazel Marie Akers were divorced on September 18, 1980 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁴ Edgar Lee Vest Jr. died on November 29, 2021 at Highlands Ranch, Douglas Co., Colorado, at age 74.³ He Edgar Lee Vest, Jr. ("Ed" or "Junior"), 74, passed away on November 29, 2021, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Ed was born on April 15, 1947, to Edgar Lee Vest, Sr., and Minnie Elnora Clem. The oldest of five children, Ed was raised and lived in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Ed graduated from Alleghany District High School (Shawsville) in 1965 and later attended college. Ed served as a medic and firefighter in Christiansburg and Radford. Later, Ed lived throughout the south and eventually moved to Colorado. Ed was predeceased by his father (d. 2014), mother (d. 2000), and his sister Sherry Vest Anderson (d. 1994). Ed is survived by his brothers – Johnny Raye Vest and Kenneth Wayne Vest – and his sister, Debbie Vest. Ed is also survived by his children. on January 2, 2022.³

     James Marvin Conner was buried at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 2880 North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.⁸ His Social Security Number was 229-36-7400.¹² He was born on June 29, 1932 at Virginia.¹² He married Shelby Jean Wood, daughter of Robert Stanley Wood and Maggie May Bean, on September 9, 1955 at York, York Co., South Carolina.^2,3,5 James Marvin Conner and Shelby Jean Wood were divorced on March 17, 1977 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^10,5 James Marvin Conner married Cynthia Arlene Hixon, daughter of William Bryant Hixon and Gaye Clydie Linkous, on July 1, 1977 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^8,10,7 James Marvin Conner died on March 3, 2004 at Virginia at age 71.^8,12 He James Marvin Conner, 71, of Pilot, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2004 after a brief illness. He was a long time employee of Adams Construction Company of Roanoke. He was the son of the late Earnest and Minnie Conner. Mr. Conner is survived by his wife, Cynthia (Barbara Hixon) Conner of Pilot; daughter, Brenda Conner and Kyle Eanes of Elliston; sons and daughter-in-law, Mike and Kaye Conner of Indian Valley, Jason Conner and girlfriend, Laura Thomas; stepson, Jeff Sowers; all of Pilot; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Clarence Jennings of Christiansburg. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday evening at Horne Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 6, 2004 at the Horne Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ray Kingrea officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens with military graveside rites by VFW Post #7854 & American Legion Post 127. The Conner Family is being served by Horne Funeral & Cremation Service, Christiansburg. (382-2612) on March 5, 2004.⁸