Person Page - 1601

     Emily Lynn Vass was buried at Webb-Skyview Cemetery, Fancy Gap, Carroll Co., Virginia.³ She Emily Lynn Vass Collins, Aug 13, 1952 - Dec 14, 2020. Emily Lynn Vass Collins, born on August 13, 1952, gained her angel wings on Monday, December 14, 2020, at her home in Hillsville, Virginia. Welcoming Emily to her heavenly home were her beloved parents, Emmett and Dina Vass, who preceded her in death. Left to carry on her legacy of love, faith, and strength is a family who cherished her. Surviving is her husband of fifty-one years, John Collins, of Hillsville. After meeting Emily at a VFW dance, John promptly declared to his friends about the beautiful green-eyed girl in the blue dress, “I’m going to marry her one day.” Anyone close to Emily knew how much her family and friends meant to her. She is survived by daughters Tracy (Matt) Koski of Marysville, Ohio, and Susan (Darin) Byrd of Galax, Virginia. Emily’s girls loved her beyond measure. Emily was also the proud grandmother of four grandchildren: Brittany Byrd of Manassas, Virginia; Dylan Koski of Marysville, Ohio; and twins Noah and Nathan Koski of Marysville, Ohio, who proudly call themselves “Nans’ boys.” Her grandchildren absolutely adored their “Nans” and will treasure all the special memories, traditions, and adventures they shared with her. A registered nurse at the Southwestern Virginia Training Center for thirty-seven years, Emily was devoted to the residents and her work family. Full of compassion, she always saw the best in others. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Emily to the charity of the donor’s choice or to Special Olympics, as Emily dedicated her entire career to working with individuals with special needs. Smart, funny, and with a bright smile for everyone, Emily was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Led by her strong faith and never asking “Why me?”, Emily fought cancer with the same grace and courage that she had shown throughout her life, never complaining and always trying to be strong for those around her. A graveside service with burial following will be held at Webb-Skyview Cemetery.³ She was born on August 13, 1952 at Radford, Virginia.^1,3,2,4 As of September 6, 1969,her married name was Collins.⁴ She married John Waitman Collins on September 6, 1969 at Hillsville, Carroll Co., Virginia.^1,5,6,3,4 Emily Lynn Vass died on December 14, 2020 at Hillsville, Carroll Co., Virginia, at age 68.³

     Steven Randall Roberson was born on November 1, 1964 at Martinsville, Virginia.^1,2,3 He married Julia Kathleen Hairfield on December 26, 2001 at Watauga Co., North Carolina.⁸ Steven Randall Roberson and Julia Kathleen Hairfield were divorced on July 29, 2004 at Martinsville, Virginia.⁴ Steven Randall Roberson died on November 20, 2019 at Martinsville, Virginia, at age 55.² He Stephen Randall "Steve" Roberson, 55, of Martinsville, passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2019. He was born November 1, 1964 to Lynwood Doyle Roberson and Zora Goode Roberson of Martinsville. His parents preceded him in death. Steve graduated from Martinsville High School in 1983. He worked as a Hearing Care Provider for many years at Miracle Ear. He was a sports enthusiast and an avid North Carolina fan. He is survived by an older brother, Mark L. Roberson and nieces, Molly and Lindsay Roberson. on November 29, 2019.²

     Charles Allen LaPrade was born on August 19, 1946 at Guilford Co., North Carolina.¹ He married Mary Delle Simmons on June 9, 1968 at Rowan Co., North Carolina.^3,5 Charles Allen LaPrade and Mary Delle Simmons were divorced on March 14, 1973 at Cabarrus Co., North Carolina.⁶ Charles Allen LaPrade died on February 8, 2016 at South Carolina at age 69.² He HANAHAN - Mr. Charles Allen LaPrade, 69, of Hanahan, SC, entered into eternal rest on February 8, 2016. He graduated from Florida State University in 1969 with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. Following school he entered into the Army and went to the officer's training school, where he was a commissioned officer and was honorably discharged as First Lieutenant. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall J. LaPrade and Lorena B. LaPrade. He is survived by his brother, Michael (Donna) LaPrade, and nephews, Joseph and Steven LaPrade, all of Atlanta, GA. on February 9, 2016.²

     His Social Security Number was 227-90-0062.¹⁰ John Darrell "Johnny" Wray was born on July 23, 1957 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,5,7,10 He married Karen Lee Hodges on June 12, 1976 at Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., Virginia.⁵ John Darrell "Johnny" Wray and Karen Lee Hodges were divorced on March 9, 1995 at Franklin Co., Virginia.⁶ John Darrell "Johnny" Wray married Susan Moses circa 1996.⁷ John Darrell "Johnny" Wray died on October 17, 2013 at Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., Virginia, at age 56.^4,7,10 He Johnny Darrell Wray, 56, of Rocky Mount, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2013, at his home. He was born July 23, 1957, a son of the late John "Shangie" and Ann Wray. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Jackie Dean Wray; and father-in-law, William S. Moses. Johnny was a truck driver for seven years at Mountain Milk Hauling, a member and Past Governor of Rocky Mount Moose Lodge #1053, and a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles, Collinsville. He was also a former funeral director with Arrington-Bussey Funeral Home, a paramedic at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, and a volunteer with Franklin County Rescue Squad and Rocky Mount Fire Department. He was the type of person who gave 110% at any and everything that he did, and he was a very loving and devoted "Papa" to his miracle grandson, Pheonix. He is survived by his loving wife of 17 years, Susan Moses Wray; children, Jace and Andrea Wray, Jade Wray and Fiance Anthony Teaford, and Will and Jamie Wilson; grandchildren, Pheonix Teaford, Daniel, Amelia, and Graceann Wilson; sister-in-law, Connie P. Wray; nieces, Stephanie and Taw Hodges, and Brittany Wray; brother-in-law, Mark Moses and Janet; and mother-in-law, Doyne Moses. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park. on October 18, 2013.⁷

     Jackie Dean Wray was buried at Franklin Memorial Park, Virgil Goode Highway, Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., Virginia.⁷ His Social Security Number was 227-90-0079.⁵ He was born on October 31, 1959 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^3,5,6,7 He married Connie Jean Perdue on June 20, 1981 at Redwood, Franklin Co., Virginia.^6,7 Jackie Dean Wray died on March 28, 2000 at Franklin Co., Virginia, at age 40.^4,7 He WRAY, Jackie Dean, 40, of Rocky Mount, died Tuesday, March 28, 2000. He was born October 31, 1959. He was the owner and operator of Rocky Mount Auto Repair, Inc. and was a member and past governor of Rocky Mount Moose Lodge #1053. Jackie was a former service manager at Gil Farmer Chevrolet. Surviving are his wife of 18 years, Connie Perdue Wray; two daughters, Stephanie and Brittany Wray of the home; his father and mother, John and Ann Wray of Rocky Mount; brother and sister-in-law, Johnny and Susan Wray of Glade Hill; one nephew, Jace Wray; niece, Jade Wray, both of Glade Hill; stepnephew, Will Wilson; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Shelby and Mitchell Turner of Glade Hill; and father-in-law, Eugene Perdue; brother-in-law, Bradley Turner and fiance, Monica Walker; several aunts, uncles, cousins and many special friends. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park. on March 29, 2000.⁷

     George Harold Scarborough was buried at Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway, Fairfax Co., Virginia.^7,3 His Social Security Number was 223-36-8020.⁴ He was born on July 20, 1932 at Bassett, Virginia.^1,2,3,4,5 He married Jamie Mahalah Aldridge, daughter of Wilford Osborne Aldridge and Edna Edith Hart, on July 18, 1952 at Bassett, Virginia.^1,6 George Harold Scarborough died on January 31, 1978 at Alexandria, Virginia, at age 45; Shot to death in his home by an assailant. His wife was acquitted of any involvement.^3,5 He FAIRFAX, Va. - James Thomas Clark Jr., of Clinton, Md., has been sentenced to death for the murder of George Scarborough. A Fairfax Circuit Court jury took four hours late Tuesday night to return the execution sentence, after spending only ten minutes earlier in the evening to bring in a guilty verdict. Clark is the fourth person sentenced to die under Virginia’s capital punishment law that went into effect on July 1, 1977. Under that statute, the Virginia Supreme Court automatically will hear an appeal of the case. During opening remarks in the one-day trial, Robert B. Horan, Fairfax commonwealth's attorney, said Clark and his cousin, Charles D. Stewart, 21, were hired by Scarborouoh’s estranged wife Jamie and her friend, Betty M. Holler, to kill Scarborough. Horan also presented as evidence a written confession Clark gave to Fairfax County detectives. In the statement, Clark said he and Stewart went to Scarborough’s home Jan. 31 to wait for him. While, waiting, Clark said, they drank Scarborough’s beer. When Scarborough came home they tried to knock him out with chloroform, Clark said, but when Scarborough resisted, they shot him. Clark said in the statement he went through Scarborough's pockets, took out about $400 and threw the money over the body. Then he took half a dozen steaks from the freezer for a party he would host later that night in Maryland, Clark said. At the party, Clark said, he called Betty Holler and reported, “The beast is deceased.” Separate trials are set next month for Mrs. Scarborough, Stewart and Ms. Holler. on August 30, 1978.⁸ He FAIRFAX, Va. - Betty M. Holler, who was charged with capital murder in the killing of a Fairfax Count service station owner, has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan, Jr. agreed to reduce the charge against Holler from murder-for-hire to first-degree murder as an accessory before the fact. Holler could have faced the death penalty if convicted of murder for hire. Under the reduced charge, Holler 38, faces a possible sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment. Horan, who agreed to reduction of the charge because of Holler's cooperation in the prosecution of other defendants in the case, recommended to Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Middleton that she be given 25 years imprisonment. Holler is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 26. Holler testified in court that she helped arrange the Jan. 31 murder-for-hire of George H. Scarborough at the request of Jamie A. Scarborough, his estranged wife. on December 6, 1978.⁹ He FAIRFAX - A 21-year-old Clinton, Md. man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the murder of Fairfax County gas station operator George Scarborough last January. Charles Stewart had been convicted of capital murder in Scarborough's death, and a circuit court jury had recommended a death sentence. But Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Horan recommended life in prison instead, after Stewart testified in the murder trial of Jamie Scarborough, the victim's estranged wife. Judge William Plummer followed Koran's recommendation but told Stewart that he would suggest to prison authorities that Stewart not be considered for parole. Stewart was convicted of helping to kill Scarborough, 45, in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme. Another man, James Clark, has been sentenced to death in the case. Betty Holler, the alleged intermediary in the scheme, pleaded guilty last week to a reduced charge of first-degree murder. Mrs. Scarborough was found innocent of any involvement in the scheme by a jury. During his trial, Stewart testified that Ms. Holler paid him and Clark $7,000 for the Jan. 31 murder of Scarborough. But he said he never intended to go through with the murder. on December 12, 1978.¹⁰

     Don Anthony Brown Don A. Brown, March 25, 1958 - June 6, 2020. Don Anthony Brown, 62, passed away peacefully June 6, 2020. He was born, a son of Charles R. Brown, Sr. (deceased) and Freeda H. Brown. He is also preceded in death by his grandparents, Stafford and Florence Brown; Kermit and Lucy Holcomb. Surviving are two brothers, Charles R. Brown, Jr. (Peggy) and Carl W. Brown; two sisters, Susan B. Rea (Terry) and Linda B. Davis (Mike); two nephews, Bobby G. Rea (Stephanie), Stephen C. Brown; one great-nephew, Ethan L. Rea. Don retired from the Rocky Mount Police Department after 30 years of service. He continued working as an auxiliary officer. As a police officer, community servant and biker, he touched many lives in many different settings. His family would like to thank Fork Mountain Rest Home for their loving care especially Sarah and Kenny.³ He was born on March 25, 1958 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^2,3 He died on June 6, 2020 at Virginia at age 62.³