Obituaries

Ronald (Ronnie) Evans Downer, Jr., age 63, of Wilmington, NC passed away on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. Tragically, Ronnie's wife and love of his life, Tricia Downer, passed away two days after. Their love story was meant to last through eternity as Ronnie was there to welcome her with open arms. He was born on July 11, 1958 in Covington, VA to Mary Davis Downer and the late Ronald Evans Downer. In addition to his father, Ronnie was preceded in death by his brother, Chris Downer. Ronnie spent most of his life in Covington, VA. After retiring from Mead Westvaco Paper Mill, Ronnie and Tricia moved to Wilmington, NC. Ronnie was a compassionate man who would help anyone out and do anything for a stranger. He was a member of Lifepoint Church in Wilmington and was strong in his faith. Ronnie enjoyed spending time with his wife, grandbabies, his dog, Lola, and his 1971 Barracuda. He also liked visiting the beach, being outdoors, da...

William Sutton Hubbard was born on July 2, 1962, to Withrow Hubbard Jr. and Shirley Mae Redman Hubbard and ended his journey on earth on January 23 at the Cleveland Clinic after a courageous battle against liver disease. William was a loving husband to his wife Amy Rae Glazzard Hubbard. He was a proud father of Michael Hubbard (Rebecca) and Mark Hubbard (Kelsey) all of Covington. He treasured his grandchildren Dakota Hubbard, Levi Hubbard, Bryson Hubbard, and Alaina Hubbard. He adored being "Yum-Yum" to Ray, Ellie, Evie, and Elorah Glazzard. He is further survived by his mother Shirley Hubbard. Four brothers Carlos Hubbard (Gail), of Charlottesville, Greg Hubbard (Susan), Bobby Hubbard (Lillian), and Tommy Hubbard (Jennifer) all of Covington, and one sister Lisa Fridley (Barry) of Daleville. Many nephews and nieces whom he loved deeply, Jason Hubbard, Crystal Hubbard, Scottie Hubbard, Sarah McKinney, BJ Hubbard, Amanda Paitsel, April Blevins, and Shane Fridley as well as many great ni...

Gilbert Perry Smith, Sr., 94, of 1023 Lincoln Ave., died, Saturday January 22, 2022, at his residence. Mr. Smith was born on March 4, 1927, in Covington, a son of the late Samuel and Annie Leftwich Smith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son Stephen A. "Looney" Smith; two grandsons Clayton Jackson and Andre Smith; six sisters and three brothers. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was a truck driver for 45 years at Westvaco and a member of the Historical First Baptist Church on Lexington Ave. Surviving are his wife of 66 years Letha Sampson Smith; two sons Gilbert "Courtney" Smith, Jr. and Barry Smith; two daughters Tawanda "Lynn" Smith all of Covington and Aurelia Jackson of Severn, MD; thirteen grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held on Saturday January 29, 2022, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Rosetta Stewart officiating. The ...

Bobby Wayne Gaines, 67, of 606 Summit Dr., died, Saturday January 22, 2022, at VCU Medical Center in Richmond. Mr. Gaines was born December 18, 1954, in Alleghany County a son of the late Rev. William "Doc' and Helen Tucker Gaines. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers Larry Gaines and Dee Austin; two nieces and two nephews to include a niece Angie Nicely and a Nephew Andy Austin. He retired in 2005 after 30 years from the #1 Paper Machine from MeadWestvaco. He loved farming. Surviving are his wife of 39 years Darlene Hepler Gaines; a son Bobby Gaines Jr. and wife Trista; a daughter Amanda Clifford and husband Kenny; two brothers Jackie Gaines and Eugene Gaines and wife Linda all of Covington; his beloved dog Kasey; and a number of nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held on Thursday January 27, 2022, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. David Brown officiating. The interment will follow in Lone Star Cemetery. The fam...

Katie Caldwell Moody, 80, of 5410 Hayes Gap Road, died, Thursday January 20, 2022. Mrs. Moody was born on March 7, 1941, in Clifton Forge, the daughter of the late Carl Burton and Ruby Cahoon Caldwell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William Henry Moody in 2014; a brother Jack Caldwell; and Jessie Howard. She was the co-owner of Moody Homes, Inc. and a member of the South Covington United Methodist Church. She was a member of the CHS Class of 1958 and loved to eat, travel, spending time with people and she loved her family and spending time with them. Surviving are two sons Todd Moody of Covington, and Mark Moody and wife Miriam of New Bern, NC; four grandchildren Steven Todd Moody, Brandi Moody Smith, Emily Arrena Sanders and husband Jeremy, and Alex Danielle Moody and fianc Andrew Welch; six great grandchildren Malayah Allen, Kolton Moody, Kiercyn Clark, Wyatt Smith, Reyna Sanders, and Jacob Sanders; two brothers and sisters in law Buck and Vicki...

Melissa Seldomridge Grant, 52, of Covington, died Wednesday, January 19, 2022. She was born January 24, 1969, in Alleghany Co., a daughter of the late Albert D. "Bert" Seldomridge, Sr. and Christy Swartz Seldomridge. Melissa was a graduate James Madison University and was registered nurse for many years. Surviving are her three daughters, Jordan Bunting of California, Sarah Grant and Camron Hindman of Georgia, and Rachel and Roland Jones of Charlottesville; grandchildren, Hunter Frazier and Lennox Jones, both of Charlottesville; a sister, April and Josh Garrett of St. Johns, Florida; a brother, Albert D. "Buddy" and Lynne Seldomridge, Jr. of Covington; and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 23, 2022 in Fletcher's Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Lynn Wright officiating. The family will receive their friends from 12:30 to 1:30 PM at Arritt Funeral Home. Cemetery Information Sunday, January 23, 2022 Fletcher's Chapel Cemetery , - ...

Virginia Crawford Halsey, 86, of Covington, Virginia transitioned to eternal rest on Friday, January 14, at Lewis-Gale Alleghany following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her soulmate, the late George W. Halsey, Sr., and their son William M. Halsey. She leaves behind three sons and their families, Reverend David Halsey, Sr., wife Billie Jo, and son David Halsey, Jr. Larry Halsey and children, Natalia Kirk, Lawrence Halsey and Michaela Halsey. George W. Halsey, Jr., wife Clarice, and stepsons Michael Allen, Jr., and Martrell Allen. Two daughters and their families, Denise H. Young, Ph.D. and Billy Young and children Adrienne Young and India Young and great-granddaughter Autumn Marie Young. Nicole Halsey-Fenderson and Robert Fenderson and their children Jayden Fenderson, Braylen Fenderson and stepdaughter Alyka Fenderson. Due to heightened COVID concerns, funeral services will be conducted for immediate family only. A Private service will be held on Thursday. The funeral a...

James Henry Durham, 81, of Union Hall, died, Thursday January 13, 2022, at Runk & Pratt assisted living in Forest. Mr. Durham was born June 19, 1940, in Campbell County, a son of the late Joseph Hermit Durham Sr. and Alice Mae Tucker Durham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother John Roscoe Durham, and a son in law Maurice Harris. He started working at a young age delivering newspapers. In his teen years he worked doing many different jobs from working in a grocery store and at a local gas station. He eventually met our mom and they married on September 20, 1959. In 1965 they made the move to Manassas Virgina and he worked for Scope Corporation working long hours learning the trade of machinist. In 1970 him and his brother established their own company Precision Engineering and Manufacturing company. They started out in a little weight house in the front of Sam's Junk yard in Gainesville, Virginia. He eventually built a larger space there and really gre...

Debra Lee Smith Peterson 71, of 227 E. Marshall St died Thursday January 13, 2022, in Lewis - Gale Alleghany Regional Hospital Low Moor. She was born December 1, 1950, in Alleghany Co. she was the daughter of the late Arden Smith and Sylva Jean Wilcher Smith, other than her parents she was preceded in death by her brother Larry Smith Debra was a retired LPN for over thirty years. Surviving are her two sons Robert Peterson and his wife Ashley of Salem, Christopher Peterson of Covington, four grandchildren Willow Peterson, Khalil Gray, Gabriel Willard, and Shaylee Willard.one brother John Condo of Staunton, also surviving niece and nephew. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated/ A service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handle by Arritt Funeral Home....

Earl Wayne Whitmer, 88, of Covington, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at Lewis Gale-Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor. Mr. Whitmer was born on February 24, 1933, in Covington, a son of the late Linwood E. Whitmer and Ruby Rae Whitmer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Karren Slayton Whitmer in 2018, and a sister, Pat Matheny. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was employed at General Electric for 32.5 years. Surviving are his children; Robbie and Jeff Horn, Gary Whitmer, Jackie and Jeff Baker, and Robert Alan Whitmer, all of Covington; grandchildren, Jennifer and Matt Lodge of Covington, Jason and Kelly Persinger of Roanoke, Neil Horn, Jessy and Brad Hise, both of Covington, and Meagan Whitmer of Roanoke, Jeri Hinebaugh and husband Dwayne; great-grandchildren, Heidi, Maddie, Aiden, Doc, Mila, Kellan, Gemma, Layla, Trevor, and Kember; one brother, Larry Allen and Pat Whitmer of Covington; and several nieces and nephews. The...

Joshua Matthew Schnell, 31, of Covington, died, Monday January 10, 2022. Mr. Schnell was born October 4, 1990, in Findlay, OH a son of Thomas Schnell and Rita Zimmer Reynolds. He was a food lion associate and loved to kayak, hike, play disc golf, ad enjoyed spending time with his dogs. In keeping with his wishes his body has been cremated. Surviving in addition to his father and mother are his stepfather John Reynolds of Hot Springs; two daughters Callie Schnell of Hot Springs and Avery Schnell of Covington; his fianc Ashley Wright of Covington; his maternal grandparents Eva Zimmer Shipley and husband Mike Toledo, OH; his paternal grandparents Donald and Jane Schnell of Indianapolis, IN; two brothers Johnny Schnell of Toledo, OH and Jesse Brown of Napoleon, OH; a half-sister Megan Schnell of Washington D.C.; and a number of aunts and uncles. A private service will be held at a later date. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home....

Jean Elizabeth Wright Taylor of Covington, passed away Monday January 10, 2022 in the Lewis-Gale Alleghany Regional Hospital , was the third of seven children born to late Eugene & Emma Wright on February 15, 1948, in Bath County, Virginia. She was educated at Union Hurst & Jeter Watson School in Covington, VA. After graduation she moved to Mount Vernon, New York where she continued her education in nursing. A tragedy happened and she left NY. She moved to Washington, DC where she met the love of her life, Nathaniel "Pete" Taylor. They joined Master's Childs Church of Deliverance and were married by Bishop Melvin Robinson on May 23, 1981 until the Lord led them to Kelsey Temple Church of God in Christ where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, a Missionary Evangelist and an Altar Worker extraordinaire! She often said, "No one was too dirty or too low for God!" Evangelist Taylor loved God, loved her family and "dem boys," the Dallas Cowboys! She had a special bond with the young peop...