Obituaries

Audrey Reigh Lear, age 86, of Covington, died Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Brian Center Rehabilitation and Nursing Care in Low Moor.

She was born January 2, 1939, in Altoona, PA., and was preceded in death by her mother, the late Blanche L. Reigh and her husband, Charles W. Lear.

Surviving her loss are her sons, Jefferey Lear of Covington and Thomas (Lynn) Lear of Norfolk; a special friend, Tootie Bowen of Covington; cousins and other family members.

Audrey was a hostess for many years at the Virginia Welcome Center; a former teacher’s aide for the city of Covington school system and was a former Board of Director’s member for the Jackson River Enterprise. She was a member of Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025...

James William “Jamie” Church 53, of Iron Gate died Friday, March 7, 2025 at the Lewis Gale Medical Center, in Salem Va.

He was born August 17, 1971 in Marlington, WV to James Church and Betty Woody Harrison of Marlington, WV.

Jamie was a former employee of the Alleghany County Public Works and was the owner of the Daewoo Lanos Car and he enjoyed going to car shows.

Surviving are his parents, his wife Angle Wright Church of Iron Gate; two daughters, Brittany Phillips of WV, and Cheyanne Andrews of Hot Springs; one brother Allen Dale Franklin of Hot Springs; special nieces Ashley Crance of Roanoke, Sierra Wilkerson and Megan Barron of Covington; and one nephew Zander Harris of Covington and Uncle Allen Woody.

In keeping with his wishes his body has been cremated.

Linda Austin Brown, age 79, of Covington, died on Monday, March 3, 2025, peacefully at her residence surrounded by her family.

She was born in Covington, on July 6, 1945, and was preceded in death by her mother, the late Mable N. Austin and a sister, Sherry Stanley.

Linda was the accounting supervisor for the City of Covington until retirement. She was a member of Grandbery United Methodist Church. Linda enjoyed watching television and her favorite shows were, QVC, Murder She Wrote and Perry Mason, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and family that she adored.

She leaves to mourn her loss, her husband, Buford Brown; two daughters, Shannon (William) Rock and Devon (Keith) Morris; four grandchildren, Ethan (Sarah), Lucas, Addison and Kay Kay; great-great grandchildren, Kenzie, Hunter and one on ...

Thomas Gilbert Perkins, 87, of Falling Spring, passed away on March 2, 2025, after a brief hospital stay.

Born on February 3, 1938, in Bath County, a son of the late John Darrell and Icyphene Shifflett Perkins. Best known as Tommy, he was a devoted husband and a hardworking man. He enjoyed going to flea markets, hunting, fishing, took great pride in his garden, and enjoyed living off the land. Above all else, Tommy was a great storyteller, never losing his sense of humor. He was loved by all.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers: Edgar Perkins, Gene Perkins, Odell Perkins, Gordon Perkins, Oliver Perkins, and Joe Perkins; three sisters: Ernestine Phillips, Liz Crowder, and Emma Palmer; and one son, Thomas Edward Perkins Sr.

He is survived by his loving wife of more than 60 years, Shirley Broughfman Perkins; one brother, Robert Perkins; one sister, Blanche Perkins; one grandson, Thomas Edward ...

Rita Ann Carper Dodd, age 64, of Covington, died Saturday, March 1, 2025 at her residence.

Mrs. Dodd was born on March 15, 1960 in Riverdale Md., she was the daughter of the late Billy J. Evans and Norma Goodwin Evans of Clifton Forge other than her father she was preceded in death by a sister Deborah Mantz.

Other than her mother, she is survived by one daughter, Nina Hale of Covington; two sons, John McCormick of Sterling, Va. and Richard Carper of Covington; four grandchildren, Matthew Melendez, Vanessa Brown, Maddalyn Greene and Noah Combs; two brothers, Fred Evans of Clifton Forge and William Evans of Covington, numerous nieces and nephews and other family members and a special friend Michael Drewry of Covington.

In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated.

The...

Billy Gene Booker, Sr., 84, of Covington, went to rest peacefully on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, surrounded by his loving family, including his grandchildren, Deja, Deziraye and Devon.

Mr. Booker was born February 16, 1941, in Beckley, WV, a son of the late Jesse and Ada Henderson Booker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Imogene Poindexter; three brothers, Clarence Booker, Jesse Booker, and Charles Booker.

Billy was a very special man, always whistling or singing a tune. His love for people was outstanding and he was always ready to help others. From building to car repair, he was always there with a smile on his face and would say “I don’t know if I can help but I’m here and will do what I can”. Billy enriched others in his life with his kind and comforting words. He loved to talk about his creator wh...

Ashton Liam Rambo, infant son of Catrina Deniece Hill and Christopher Louis Rambo, died February 28, 2025 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his twin sister, Addalyn Rambo and other sibblings, Kiersten (Justin) Stogner, Dylan Atkinson, Shaun Rambo, Abigail Rambo, Landon Hill and Giovanni Amato; Paternal grandfather, Ben (Linda) Rambo; Paternal grandmother, Mary (Scott) Synder; great-grandmother, Marie (Robert) DeGuzman; a nephew, Lennon Stogner; and number of aunts, uncles, cousins, and a full NICU team at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. 

We come together with hearts heavier than words can express. We are here to honor Ashton Liam Rambo, our sweet Ashy Boy, who was with us for only a short time but left an imprint that will last forever. Though his time on this earth was brief, his love, his spirit, and his pre...

Benjamin Hubbard Jr., age 64, of Covington died on February 25, 2025.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Pastor Nancy and Benny Hubbard Sr.; his wife, Deniece Hubbard; and a granddaughter, Taylor Atkinson.

Benjamin was survived by three daughters, Catrina Hill (Christopher), Britany Cox (Keven), and Merissa Hubbard (Derek); a son, Benjamin Lanier Hubbard III (Megan); a brother, Timothy Hubbard; a stand in sister, cousin and friend, Kimberly Hepler (Gary); and his grandchildren, Kiersten (Justin), Dylan, Cameron, Kendall, Landon, Giovanni, Christopher, Jaxson, Donovon, Ashton and Addalyn; a great-grandson, Lennon Stogner; and a number of nieces and nephews.

We say goodbye to a man who meant so much to so many—Benjamin Lanier Hubbard Jr. Losing him so soon after Deniece is a heartbreak none of us could have prepared f...

Maybelle Sampley Wright, 81, of Covington, died Monday, February, 24, 2025.

She was born November 18, 1943 in Mesa, Arizona, a daughter of the late Elmer and Cordie Byrd Sampley. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Don Sampley and Ferris Sampley.

Maybelle loved reading, shopping, and traveling to new places and especially loved Branson, MO and Nashville, TN. She especially loved spending time with her family.

She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, Ronald E. Wright, Sr. of Covington; a son Ronnie (Debra) Wright of Oklahoma City, OK; four daughters, Debbie (Don) Stevens of Napa, ID, Patty Kern of Ephrata, WA, Christy (Tim) Waters of Othello, WA, Mindy (Blair) Evens of Royse City, TX; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Flora Hampton an...

Frank D. Williamson, age 91, passed away on February 24, 2025 at the Brian Center.

Mr. Williamson was born in Bluefield, WV of parents Lawrence A. Williamson and Julia B.

Davidson Williamson.

Educated in the public schools of the Bluefield area, he graduated from Concord (College) in

1955. He was employed by the First National Bank of Bluefield for a number of years, after

which he decided to try teaching instead. He became a business teacher at Bland High School,

Bland, VA in 1961 and taught there for 4 years. Having decided that teaching would be his life’s

work, he obtained a M.S. in Business Administration from Virginia Tech during 1966-67.

In the fall of 1967, he became a business instructor at DSLCC (now Moun...

Thomas Daniel (Danny) Warlitner, age 88, of Covington, died Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Salem Virginia Medical Center in Salem.

Danny was born April 13, 1936, in Alleghany County, and was preceded in death by his parents, the late Frank Edward Warlitner, Sr. and Mamie Gladys Fix Warlitner; his wife Barbara Gail Sites Warlitner, of sixty years; four brothers, Sonny, Tony, W.L. and Donnie Warlitner.

Danny retired in 1994 from the Alleghany Sheriff’s Department after thirty-one years of service and during that time he was the sheriff for eight years. He served his country in the United States Marine Corp for eight years. He was a loving husband, a great dad, a loyal friend and loved spending time with his grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing golf and going to the beach.

Leaving to mourn his loss are hi...

Mary Ann Tucker Bowen, age 81, of Covington, died Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Lewis Gale Hospital Alleghany.

Mary Ann was born, June 1, 1943, in Alleghany County, and was preceded in death by her parents, the late Harry Mark Tucker and Virginia Wright Tucker Bowen; her husband, Luther Bowen; and a sister, Zetta Martin.

Surviving are two daughters, Teresa (Carl) Simmons and Charlotte Ann (Lonnie) Hepler both of Covington; a son, Phillip Wayne (Tina) May of Covington; eleven grandchildren, twenty-eight great grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; several step-children and step-grandchildren; three brothers, James Tucker, Harry Lewis (Deb) Tucker and Ellis Tucker, all of Covington; and numerous other family members.

For many years she worked at the former Halmode, Inc. in Covington as a seamstress. She enjoyed spe...