Obituaries

Terry Lee "Smokey" Powell, of Ohio, died, Saturday June 3, 2017. He was born Hickory, NC, a son the late John and Lois Bolick Powell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son Tommy Powell; two brothers, Denny Powell and Tony Powell and a granddaughter, Natasha Powell. Surviving are his wife, Melissa Paxton Powell of Ohio; two daughters, Teresa Curran of Hickory, NC and Tammy and Bill Harris of Danville, VA ; one son, Dusty and Heather Hicks of Covington, VA; grandchildren, four grandsons, Kyle Cooley, Kolin Cooley and Kameron Cooley all of Danville, VA and Lee Curran of Lakeland, FL; two granddaughters, Natalie Eggers of Hickory, NC and Brooklyn Hicks of Covington; one sister, Joan Powell of Hickory, NC; 5 great grandson; 1 great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews . The funeral service will be held Thursday June 8, 2017 at 11:00 AM in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel in Covington, VA with Shannon Cox officiating, assisted by Mike Tripp. Interment will fol...

Lewis Arnold Persinger 84, formerly of Potts Creek, left his earthly home on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at The Woodlands Health and Rehab Center in Clifton Forge where he and his Wife of 65 years, Virginia Pearl Simmons Persinger, shared a room together. Mr. Persinger was born June 11, 1932, in Alleghany County a son of the late Isaac Benjamin and Phoebe Demaris Gaines Persinger. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first born Son, Lewis Arnold Persinger, Jr., three brothers, Joe, Isiah and Charles, and four sisters, Catherine Persinger, Fanny Persinger, Melvina Ailstock and Annie Switzer. He was veteran of the Korean War with the US Army. He was a former employee of Hercules, Inc. and the Virginia Department of Transportation and had retired after 26 years with the City of Covington Public Works Department. Surviving are his Wife, Virginia Pearl Simmons Persinger, of The Woodlands; his Son, Harvey Lucian Persinger and his Wife, Debbie, of Covington; his Daughter, D...

Robert Earl Myers III, 59, of 127 Hawthorne Street died Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem. Mr. Myers was born January 1, 1958, in Covington a son of the late Robert E. "Abie" Myers, Jr. and Kathryn Burdette Myers. Surviving are two Brothers and Sisters-in-law, Todd and Glenda Myers and Steve and Pam Myers, all of Covington and one Sister, Robin Myers, of Covington. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. A memorial service may be held at a later date....

Sandy Whiting, 57, of Frostproof, FL, passed away Wednesday May 10, 2017. She was born February 19, 1960 in Camp Lejune, NC to the late Desmund and Doris Richie Gibbons. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Thomas J. "T. J." Whiting and Donna of Covington; three grandchildren, Bryson, Brayden and Brantley; one sister Dorothy Becker of Clearwater, FL and one brother Robert Gibbons and his wife Melissa of Spring Hill, FL....

Marie Terry May, 82 of Falling Spring passed away on Monday, May 8, 2017 at her residence surrounded by her family. She was born on April 14, 1935 in Bath County. She was the daughter of the Charles Ernest Terry and Daisy Doyle Terry, both who preceded her in death. She was employed by the Homestead Hotel for many years and was a loving mother and grandmother. In her younger years she enjoyed bowling and tending to her flower gardens. She loved to take long rides in the country and observe nature and the Lord's creation. Mrs. May is survived by her loving husband, Billy of 59 years who was also a wonderful caregiver to her; her daughter Margie Ryder and husband Danny of Falling Spring; grandchildren, Caileb and Caitlen Ryder and Fiance, Brad Bailey, all of Falling Spring; brothers Tommy Terry and Lowell Terry and wife Anna Gale; sisters Carol Waybright and husband Elmer, and Linda Hodge and husband, Stephen. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews,...

Minnie Lucille Bess Kemper, 92, of Covington, died, Friday, May 5, 2017 at Lewis Gale Alleghany in Low Moor. She was born February 19, 1925 in Alleghany, a daughter of the late James Raymond and Minnie Chapman Bess. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert Kemper 2005; a son- in - law Paul Morgan in 2000 and also by nine brothers and sisters. Mrs. Kemper had worked for the former Industrial Rayon Corp. for a number of years. She was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church where she had served as secretary of the Fellowship Class and had held many jobs and served on numerous committees over the years in the church. She loved her family and helping anyone she could. Surviving are her daughter, Catherine Morgan of Covington; her son and daughter-in-law, Neal and Nicole Kemper of Blue Ridge; four grandchildren, Heather and Greg Entsminger of Covington; Ben and Jessica Jackson of Troutville; Jackson Kemper of Blue Ridge and Coralyn Morgan Good and ...

Sarah Miley Kesner, 80 of Louisa, VA, died Friday May 5, 2017 at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville. She was born May 2, 1937 in Alleghany County, a daughter of the late William and Nellie Lockard Miley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her Husband, Ronald H. Kesner, Sr. Surviving are two sons, Ronald H. Kesner and his wife, Col. Jodi J. Smith of Louisa; Carl Kesner and his wife Barbara of Ruther Glen, VA; one daughter, Candice Carman and her husband Michael of Stanardsville; a brother Bob Miley and his wife Joan of Roanoke ; her grandson Matthew Carman one niece, Jennifer Roberts and one nephew, John Miley. The funeral service will be held Monday, May 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM at the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Clay officiating. The family will receive their friends one hour prior to service time on Monday at Arritt Funeral Home. The interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Cemetery Information Monday, May 8, 2017 Cedar Hill Cem...

Grover Dale Porterfield, 71, of 8120 Dunlap Creek Road died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Lewis Gale Hospital at Salem. Mr. Porterfield was born October 11, 1945, in Monroe County, West Virginia, a son of the late Grover and Ethel Clarkson Porterfield. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a Son, Robert Dale Porterfield, in 1986, and also by two Sisters, Gail Crosier and Judy Magrum. He was a veteran of the U.S Army in the Vietnam War. He was an employee of the former Hercules, Inc. Forester Plant and had retired from AET in 2007. Surviving are his Wife, Shelby Harry Porterfield, of Covington; two Sons and Daughters-in-law, Timothy and Shannon Porterfield of Covington and Daniel and Michelle Porterfield of Cartersville; seven grandchildren; one great granddaughter; one Brother, Jim Porterfield and his Wife, Sue, of Covington; four Sisters, Betty Jean Flanagan and her Husband, Charlie, of Charlotte, NC, Carol Webb of Newport News, Peggy Cook of Manassas and Margaret Cart...

June Gibson Toombs, 87, of 215 N. High Ave., died Monday, May 1, 2017 at the Brian Center Nursing Home in Low Moor. She was born July 26, 1929 at Ivy, Virginia, a daughter of the late Morton Ezra Gibson and Stella Fisher Gibson. In addition to parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Toombs in 2006 and also by a brother, Morton E. "Bud" Gibson, Jr. Mrs. Toombs retired machine operator with the former H.O. Canfield, Co. Surviving are her daughter and son-law, Libby and Richard Mynes of Covington; two sons and daughters in-law, Berkley and Judy Toombs of Locust, NC and Ronnie and Sylvia Toombs of Covington. Six grandchildren, Duane Oliver and his wife Tina of Hampton; Lorie Oliver and fiance Steve Pultz of Covington; Melany Lykke and her husband Hans of Oakboro , NC; Dr. Kimberly Rappaport and her husband Dave Wilmington NC; Julie Toombs of Covington and Jason Toombs and his wife Marla of Covington; Thirteen great grandchildren, Meghan and fiance Terrell; Luke; Lauren ;...

Ruth Spriggs Tyson, 67, of 334 E. Oak Street died, Thursday, April 27, 2017 at her residence. She was born November 3, 1949, in Marlinton, WV, a daughter of the late Frances Johnson. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Dale Tyson, and two sisters, Shirley Allen and Carolyn Hester. Mrs. Tyson was former employee of the Covington School System in the Cafeteria at Covington High School. She was a member of Pine Street Baptist Church where as active in the Loyal Daughters Club and the Deaconess Club Surviving are her husband Daniel Tyson of Covington; her two daughters, Barbara Tyson of White Sulphur Springs, WV and Nicola Tyson of Covington; her son Daniel Tyson, Jr. of Covington; seven grandchildren, Brandon Motter, Megan Motter , Jorden Motter, Tanesha Tyson, James Hunter, Aysia Massie and Dominique Jordan; one great grandson, Daiqwan Hunter; two sisters Betty Pryor and Josephine Daughtery, both of Charleston, WV, and a number of nieces and nephews. The ...

Edith Mattson Terry, 94, of 4612 Castille Road died Wednesday April 26, 2017, at her home. Mrs. Terry was born August 7, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York a daughter of the late Albert and Eduarda Peterson Mattson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis H. Terry, in 1987, and also by her daughter, Carol West, her sister, Claire Jacobsen and a niece, Joyce Crowder. Surviving are her sister, Lillian Payne of Covington; her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Mary Ann Terry, of Waldorf MD; three grandchildren, Craig West, Jeremiah West and Cheyenne Witherow and her husband, Matt, all of Covington; six great grandchildren; her Special Caregiver, Arlana West of Covington and four nieces and nephews, including Theresa Harrison and her husband, Billy, of Covington. The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 3:00 PM in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Deb Washer officiating assisted by the Rev. Buddy Burks. Interment will be made...

Ruth Hutcheson Goodwin, 68, of 546 Brentwood Drive died Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at her home. Mrs. Goodwin was born November 25, 1948, in Lodi, California, a daughter of the late Alfred and Ruth Arrington Hutcheson. She had retired in 2007 after 37 years as a second and third grade teacher at Edgemont Elementary School and was a member of the National Education Association. She was a longtime member of Covington Baptist Church where she served as the organist and pianist. Ruth also enjoyed giving piano lessons to many people in the area. Surviving are her Husband, Charles Goodwin, of Covington; her Brother, John Hutcheson, and his Wife, Sharon, of Colonial Heights; her nieces and nephew, Teresa Wilkerson of Hopewell, Susie and Brad Aultman of Spring Grove, Joann and Glenn Davis of Clifton Forge and John "Tommy" and April Hutcheson of Covington; great nieces and nephews, William Aultman, Marcus Aultman, Amanda Aultman, Joshua Zehm, Keifer Gove, Lyndzie Davis, Hannah Booth, Brandon Hutc...