Person Page - 2315

     Her Social Security Number was 235-84-3158.³ Dorothy Kennedy was buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,4 She was born on January 11, 1903 at Mercer Co., West Virginia.^1,3,4 As of August 11, 1931,her married name was Bryson.¹ She married George Wayman Bryson, son of James Bryson and Alcie May Lester, on August 11, 1931 at Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^1,2 Dorothy Kennedy died on May 6, 1974 at Nemours, Mercer Co., West Virginia, at age 71.^2,4 She Mrs. Dorothy Bryson, 71, of War died Monday morning in at Haga Nursing Home at Nemours after a long illness. She was a daughter of the late Stephen and Rose Kennedy. Survivors include her husband, George of War, one daughter, Mrs. Katheryn Ann Davis of Wreston, Va; a sister, Katheryn Kennedy of Princeton, and two grandchildren. Mrs. Bryson was a graduate of Concord College and a teacher in the elementary school systems of Mercer and McDowell counties. She lived at War for the past 43 years and was active in the Girl Scouts of America and the War Womans Club, and was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church at War. Her body will be placed in the Calvary Baptist Church today where friends may call from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the church at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday with Vance Yost and Rev. H. H. Mills officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park at Beckley. The Douglass Funeral Home at Welch is in charge of arrangements. on May 7, 1974.²

     Ernest Elbert Martin was buried at Bryson Family Cemetery, Maple Meadow, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,3 He was born on March 31, 1914 at Patrick Co., Virginia.^1,2 He married Rosina Lindy Webb on July 3, 1935 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,2,4 Ernest Elbert Martin died on August 3, 2002 at West Virginia at age 88.^1,3 He LESTER - Ernest E. Martin, 88, of Lester died Aug. 3, 2002. Graveside service will be at the Bryson family cemetery, Maple Meadow. on August 5, 2002.³

     Crockett Newton Shumate was buried at Calfee Cemetery, Mount Tabor Road, Mount Tabor, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^4,6,5 He was born on September 18, 1888 at Bolt, Raleigh Co., West Virginia; His draft cards have a birth year of 1892.^1,4,5,7,2,3 He married Lillie Mae Bryson, daughter of Manser Henry Bryson and Mary Frances DeWeese, on November 21, 1912 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹ Crockett Newton Shumate died on October 22, 1951 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 63.^4,6,5 He Funeral services for Crocket Newton Shumate, 63 year old lifetime resdient of Raleigh County who died Monday night at a Beckley hospital, will be held today. Burial will be in Calfee Cemetery at Mt. Tabor. Born at Bolt, he was the son of George and Sarah Trump Shumate. He was a retired coal miner and had worked as a blacksmith at Glen White for 31 years. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lillie Shumate; three brothers, Burton and Chris, both of Oak Hill, and B. J. Shumate of South Charleston; two sisters, Mrs. Dora Clements and Mrs. Lula Burleson, both of Beckley; a son, Howard, and a daughter, Mrs. Juanita Smith, both of Lester, and four grandchildren. Activive pallbearers will be Oaky Henderson, Gomer Farley, Coy Moore, George Ohler, Joe Bond and Frank Humphrey. on October 24, 1951.⁶

     Juanita Mae Shumate was buried at Calfee Cemetery, Mount Tabor Road, Mount Tabor, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^6,7 Her Social Security Number was 235-46-1461.⁸ She was born on March 14, 1917 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,8,7,9 As of October 6, 1932,her married name was Smith.² She married George Clayton Smith on October 6, 1932 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.² Juanita Mae Shumate died on March 23, 1998 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 81.^8,6,7 She Juanita Mae Smith, 81, of Lester died March 23, 1998, in a Beckley hospital after a long illness. She was a lifelong resident of Lester, a member of Lester Baptist Church, received degrees in education from Concord College and Marshall University and was a retired elementary schoolteacher with 29 years' service, having taught in Slab Fork, Glen White and Lester schools. Surviving: daughters, Wanda O'Dell of Falls Church, Va., Florence Kuhn of Poquoson, Va., Ellen Houchins of Daniels, Virginia Hall, with whom she resided; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Burial will be in Calfee Cemetery, Beckley. on March 24, 1998.⁶

     His Social Security Number was 232-28-6643.⁷ Howard Francis Shumate was buried at Beaver Cemetery and Mausoleum, Beaver, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.⁸ He was born on December 12, 1919 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^7,2,9 He married Betty Eloise Leatherman in July, 1954 at Maryland.³ Howard Francis Shumate died on November 17, 1983 at Cecil Co., Maryland, at age 63.^7,9

     George Clayton Smith was buried at Calfee Cemetery, Mount Tabor Road, Mount Tabor, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.² He was born on June 24, 1908 at Carroll Co., Virginia.^1,2 He married Juanita Mae Shumate, daughter of Crockett Newton Shumate and Lillie Mae Bryson, on October 6, 1932 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹ George Clayton Smith died on April 28, 1945 at West Virginia at age 36.²

     Wandalee Nelle Smith was born on September 9, 1933 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^4,5 As of November 21, 1953,her married name was O'Dell.⁴ She married Mordof Floyd O'Dell on November 21, 1953 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.⁴ Wandalee Nelle Smith and Mordof Floyd O'Dell were divorced on December 24, 1970 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.⁵

     Mordof Floyd O'Dell Mordorf Floyd "Mork" O'Dell, 70, formerly of Beckley, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, in a hospice unit in Fairfax, Va., after a long battle with cancer. Mr. O'Dell was born in Lynhurst, Va., on Nov. 7, 1932, the son of the late Joseph C. "Joe" O'Dell and Dixie Simms O'Dell. He spent most of his childhood in Raleigh County, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; sons, Michael of Sterling, Va., Mark of Mclean, Va., and Jerry of Sterling; seven grandchildren; four brothers, Ronald O'Dell and wife, Nada, and Gary O'Dell and wife, Rosemary, all of Beckley, Benjamin O'Dell and wife, Ella Jean, of Marion, Va., and Joseph William "Bill" O'Dell and wife, Suzanne, of Sterling; and five sisters, Joan Wells and husband, Herb, Betty Curtis and husband, Wade "Buck," Connie Brown and husband, William "Bill," and Wilma Phipps, all of Beckley, and Linda Allen of Daleville, Va. Floyd worked for Beckley Newspapers before going to the Falls Church area in 1956. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Mr. O'Dell was an active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Falls Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene B. O'Dell, on Jan. 21, 1974. Interment will be at Mount Comfort Cemetery, Arlington, Va.³ He was buried at Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway, Fairfax Co., Virginia.^3,4 His Social Security Number was 235-52-4004.¹⁰ He was born on November 7, 1932 at Lyndhurst, Augusta Co., Virginia.^{1,2,4,3,6,8,10,9} He married Wandalee Nelle Smith, daughter of George Clayton Smith and Juanita Mae Shumate, on November 21, 1953 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹ Mordof Floyd O'Dell and Wandalee Nelle Smith were divorced on December 24, 1970 at Loudoun Co., Virginia.² Mordof Floyd O'Dell died on November 19, 2002 at Alexandria, Virginia, at age 70.^3,4,7,10,8

     Her married name was Martin.² Lala Florence Smith married Gene Martin.² Lala Florence Smith was born on December 10, 1934 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^4,5 As of June 6, 1962,her married name was Faulkner.⁴ She married Millard Fillmore Faulkner on June 6, 1962 at Hampton, Virginia.⁴ As of July, 1969,her married name was Kuhn.⁶ Lala Florence Smith married John A. Kuhn in July, 1969 at Honolulu Co., Hawaii.⁶

     Ellen Frances Smith Ellen Frances Smith Houchins, 83, of Wellford, SC, passed away after a short illness on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. Born August 1, 1936, in Lester, WV, daughter of the late George Clayton and Juanita Mae Shumate Smith; wife of Clayton Leon Houchins, Sr. Employed with Raleigh County schools in West Virginia, teaching children to read for over 30 years. While in West Virginia, she was a devoted member of Memorial Baptist Church. Since coming to South Carolina, Ellen attended Bible Study Fellowship, where she made many wonderful friends. She was a faithful member of Church 247 where she led a weekly prayer group, “Praying for Israel”. Ellen could also be found traveling with her daughter, Debbie, for Hannah’s Hope Ministries. In addition to her husband of 59 years, survived by her daughter, Deborah Ellen "Debbie” Sobeski" (Mickey) of Roebuck, SC; son, Clayton Leon Houchins, Jr., (Hope) of Boiling Springs, SC; three grandchildren, Michael Sobeski (Emily), Andrew Sobeski (Bekah), and Caleb Cabiness (Hannah); two sisters, Wanda O’Dell McGuiness of Ashburn, VA and Florence Martin (Gene) of Poquoson, VA; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her granddaughter, Hannah Marie Sobeski (1988-2006); and a sister, Virginia May Hall. The family received friends from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Thursday, August 15, 2019, at Dunbar Funeral Home. Funeral services were at 3:00 pm, Friday, August 16, 2019, at Church 247, 2610 Boiling Springs Road, Boiling Springs, SC, officiated by Pastor Clayton Houchins and Reverend Sal Barone. Burial followed in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.² She was buried at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg, Spartanburg Co., South Carolina.^2,3 Her married name was Houchins.² She married Clayton Leon Houchins Sr.^2,3 Ellen Frances Smith was born on August 1, 1936 at Lester, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,3 She died on August 13, 2019 at Spartanburg Co., South Carolina, at age 83.^2,3

     Clayton Leon Houchins Sr. Wellford, SC - Clayton Leon Houchins, Sr., 84, husband of the late Ellen Frances Smith Houchins, passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at his home. Born March 29, 1936 in Hinton, West Virginia, he was the only son of the late Clayton Lee and Gladys Lowry Houchins. Leon was a Special Ed teacher with the Raleigh County, WV school systems before his retirement. After his retirement, he pursued his interest and passion of the funeral business. After many years of his children’s coaxing, Leon and Ellen relocated to South Carolina in 2013. Before moving to South Carolina and becoming a Charter member of Church 247, Leon was an active member of Memorial Baptist Church in Beckley, WV. He was a skilled handyman and used his carpentry skills to bless his family and friends. Mr. Houchins is survived by his daughter, Deborah Ellen “Debbie” Sobeski and her husband, Mickey, of Roebuck, SC; his son, Clayton Leon Houchins, Jr. and his wife, Hope, of Boiling Springs, SC; three grandchildren, Michael Sobeski (Emily), Andrew Sobeski (Bekah), and Caleb Cabiness; his fiancé, Carolyn Johnson; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. In addition to his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, he was predeceased by his granddaughter, Hannah Marie Sobeski. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.³ He was buried at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg, Spartanburg Co., South Carolina.^2,3 He married Ellen Frances Smith, daughter of George Clayton Smith and Juanita Mae Shumate.^1,2 Clayton Leon Houchins Sr. was born on March 29, 1936 at Hinton, Summers Co., West Virginia.^2,3 He died on February 25, 2021 at Wellford, Spartanburg Co., South Carolina, at age 84.^2,3

     Cecil Dennis Cooke was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5250 Robert Centre Byrd Drive, Prosperity, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^3,4 His Social Security Number was 233-30-9095.⁵ He was born on September 10, 1905 at Sun Hill, Wyoming Co., West Virginia.^1,5,2,3,4 He married Nelle Bryson, daughter of Oliver Alexandrer Bryson and Sophia N. Jones, on April 3, 1969 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,6,4 Cecil Dennis Cooke died on November 30, 1994 at Morgantown, Monongalia Co., West Virginia, at age 89.^5,3,4 He Cecil Dennis Cooke, 89, of Morgantown, formerly of Queen St., Beckley, died of natural causes, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1994, in a Morgantown hospital. Born Sept. 10, 1905, at Sun Hill, he was the son of the late Robert and Bertha Alice Shannon Cook. Mr. Cooke also known as “Red” and “Cookie,” spent his childhood in Pineville, graduating from Pineville High School where he was an accomplished athlete playing on the Minute Man state champion basketball team. He was a graduate of Concord College where he attended on a full basketball scholarship. He did post-graduate work at Duke University, West Virginia University and Southern Methodist University. He had a 40 year career as a teacher, coach and principal in the Raleigh County School system retiring in 1971. He was an active member of the Beckley Lions Club serving as District Governor in 1976-77, a 4-H All Star, a past board member of the Salvation Army, and had served on the Beckley Common Council. He was a former member of the Beckley Shepherds Center and the Concord He-Man’s Club. He also was a member of the Beckley Masonic Lodge No. 93 AF and AM, Beckley Shrine Club, and the Mt. Hope Commandery. He was a longtime member of the United Methodist Temple where he had served on the Official Board and was a member of the Methodist Men and after moving to Morgantown he became a member of the Drummond Chapel. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances Steele Cook; two brothers, Harold Russell and Robert Paige Cook and three sisters, Agnes Cook, Hazel Shields and Ruby Cook Mann. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Nelle Bryson Cooke; two daughters, Mrs. Sam A. (Martha Jane) McConkey of Fairbanks, Ark. and Mrs. Clark (Margaret Ann) Frame of Morgantown; four grandchildren, Sam Allen McConkey IV, Elizabeth Schok, Carla Hicks and Donna Simpkins; two great-grandchildren, Edward and Patrick Hicks; three brothers, Carlos Bernard Cook of Grandy, N.C., John P. Lane Cook of Newsome, Va., and Ralph Cook of Beckley, and a sister, Rosalie Dixon of Clarmont, Fla. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Beckley. on December 3, 1994.⁴

     Her Social Security Number was 235-50-0507.³ Liza Jeanne Blagg was buried at Kings Chapel Cemetery, Ohio City, Gallia Co., Ohio.⁴ She and Charles William "Bill" Burlingame were divorced.⁵ Liza Jeanne Blagg was born circa 1934 at Boone Co., West Virginia.^5,2 As of October 3, 1954,her married name was Burlingame.² She married Charles William "Bill" Burlingame, son of William Edward Burlingame and Clarice Louise "Clara" Poff, on October 3, 1954 at Parkersburg, Wood Co., West Virginia.^1,2 Liza Jeanne Blagg died on April 4, 1988 at Gallia Co., Ohio.⁵

     Desta Louise Burlingame was buried at Comer Cemetery, Loudendale, Kanawha Co., West Virginia.² Her married name was Lanham.² She married Steven Bruce Lanham.² Desta Louise Burlingame was born on December 4, 1961.² She died on May 13, 2001 at Charleston, Kanawha Co., West Virginia, at age 39.² She Desta Louise Lanham, 39, of Loudendale went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 13, 2001, in CAMC Memorial Hospital after having open heart surgery. Born Dec. 4, 1961, she was the daughter of Charles W. "Bill" Burlingame and the late Liza J. Burlingame. She was employed by Goff's Carry Out, Loudendale, and was a member of the Loudendale Church of the Nazarene. Desta was a person who touched the lives of many people. Surviving: husband, Steven Bruce Lanham; son, Steven Micheal Lanham; stepsons, Steven Bruce Lanham II of Dunbar, Jeremy Keith Lanham and Christopher Steven Lanham of Nashville, Tenn; brother, Charles W. "Chuck" Burlingame II of Jackson, Miss; sisters, Clarice Beaver of Gallipolis, Ohio, Anita Hall, Linda Burlingame and Cynndchildrethia Wheeler, all of Houston, Texas; mother-and father-in-law, Patricia and Danny L. Russell of Charleston; sisters-in-law, Tia Lanham of South Charleston, Kathy O'Neal of St. Albans; many nieces and nephews. Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at Loudendale Church of the Nazarene, Loudendale, with Pastor David Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Comer Cemetery, Loudendale. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Good Shepherd Mortuary, South Charleston, is in charge of arrangements. on May 15, 2001.²