Obituaries

Tanyell Pandora "Tani" Hunter 33, of 341 E. Prospect St, passed away peacefully on Sunday October 3, 2021, at her residence. She was born September 25, 1988, in Covington. She was the daughter of the late Keith Laws and Sandra Ardelia Hunter, other than her parents she is preceded in death by a son Ki'ari Wright and nephew Jacob Bryant. Tani worked at America-Care Plus and was considered to everyone and loved being with her family and friends, she would be the life of the party. Surviving are her grandmothers Ruby Lewis and Betty Laws, two children Talyin Neison and Maijor Wright, one sister Ka'tia Bryant and her husband Frank, one brother Gavin Hunter and his wife Kayla, also surviving are host of aunts, uncles, and cousins who she loved dearly and nieces and nephews Sadrionne "Sadie" Mack, Myriana Bryant, Elijah Bryant all of Covington. A graveside service will be held Tuesday October 19, 2021, at 2:00 PM in Alleghany Memorial Park with Elder Pete Moore officiating. The family will ...

Winifred June Stone Scott Fridley, 96, went to be with her Lord September 29, 2021, at her residence. Mrs. Fridley was born June 7, 1925, a daughter of the late Lonza and Rayma Tucker Stone. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, R. Russell Scott; her second husband, Berland A. Fridley; one sister, Sarah Brumfield; and two brothers, Marvin Stone and Bob "Doc" Stone. June retired from Dawn Warehousing as an administrative assistant. She attended Grace Brethren Church and Faith Baptist Churches. She was a graduate of Covington High School and attended Emanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. Following school, she worked in the woodyard office at WestRock during World War II, joining millions of women in filling positions left vacant during the war. June loved her family and took great interest in her Irish heritage, studying the genealogy of the Stone and Scott families and passing that on to future generations. Surviving are her daughters, Jean Wade...

Hettie Blakley Miller, 62, of 1770 Summit Drive died Monday, September27, 2021, in Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital at Low Moor. Mrs. Miller was born July 7, 1959, in Richmond a daughter of the late Herbert L. and Mary Louise Anderson Blakley. She was an employee of A & B Bakery and loved to shop, play Bingo and be on Facebook. Surviving are her Husband of 47 years, Steven Miller; of Covington; two Daughters, Crystal Miller and Kayla Smith and her husband, Ryan, all of Covington; six grandchildren, Noah Hall, Isaiah Butler, Elizabeth Butler, Heidi Smith, Bentley Lewis and Branson Smith; two Brothers, Pete Blakley, of Richmond and Randy Blakeley and his wife, Doreen, of Wilmington, NC, and several nieces and nephews including a special niece, Melissa Swoope, and her husband Jeffrey of Clifton Forge. In keeping with her wishes, her body has been cremated. A funeral service will be held at a later date. Arritt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements....

Cary Lee Shultzaberger, 61, of 200 Watahala Lane, died, Monday September 27, 2021, at his residence. Mr. Shultzaberger was born January 10, 1960, in Washington D. C. a son of Alverda Mae Sneath Shultzaberger of Front Royal and the late Charles Edward Shultzaberger. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his beloved girlfriend Phyllis Stull Cook. He was a survey instrument repairman for the Sesco Company in Fairfax. He also attended First Christian Church and Cliff Dale Christian as well as an avid outdoorsman. Surviving in addition to his mother are two sisters Debbie Wines of Roanoke and Lisa Allen and husband Bill of Fairfax, four brothers Bruce Shultzaberger of Herndon, Mark Shultzaberger and wife Kimberly of Lancaster, Craig Shultzaberger and wife Christy of Bealeton, and Brian Shultzaberger and wife Felicia of Linden, a son Charles Cook of Covington, and a number of nieces and nephews. In accordance with his wishes his body has been cremated. A private memorial se...

Rev. Johnnie Thomas 'John' Burnham,Sr. 88 of 513 Brentwood Dr. died Wednesday 22, 2021 at his residence. He was born August 27, 1933, in Norfolk Va., he was the son of the Late Johnnie T. Burnham and Ola Mae Bryant Burnham other than his parents he preceded in death by a son Christopher Burnham, a daughter Sandy Burnham and grandson Christopher Broughman. Rev. Burnham was an associate pastor with Faith Baptist Church for many years and at Moss Run Baptist Church. Surviving is his wife of 70 years Jane Harris Burnham of Covington, a son Johnnye Burnham, and his wife Barbara of Stockbridge Ga., four grandson Jonathan Burnham, Jordan Burnham, Brandon Burnham, and Bryan Stone, also surviving is his sister Joann Midgett of NC. The funeral service will be held Sunday at 2:00 PM in Faith Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Price officiating, assisted by Rev Frank Sizemore. The interment will be made in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive their friend one hour before service. Memorial Con...

Rev. Johnnie Thomas John Burnham,Sr. 88 of 513 Brentwood Dr. died Wednesday 22, 2021 at his residence. He was born August 27, 1933, in Norfolk Va., he was the son of the Late Johnnie T. Burnham and Ola Mae Bryant Burnham other than his parents he preceded in death by a son Christopher Burnham, a daughter Sandy Burnham and grandson Christopher Broughman. Rev. Burnham was an associate pastor with Faith Baptist Church for many years and at Moss Run Baptist Church. Surviving is his wife of 70 years Jane Harris Burnham of Covington, a son Johnnye Burnham, and his wife Barbara of Stockbridge Ga., four grandson Jonathan Burnham, Jordan Burnham, Brandon Burnham, and Bryan Stone, also surviving is his sister Joann Midgett of NC. The funeral service will be held Sunday at 2:00 PM in Faith Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Price officiating, assisted by Rev Frank Sizemore. The interment will be made in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive their friend one hour before service. Memorial Contr...

Arlan Lanier Bates, Sr., 78, of 303 E. Main Street died Tuesday, September 21, 2021. He was born September 24, 1942, in Alleghany County, the son of the late Basil L Bates, and Ethel Boone Dickson. He was also proceeded in death by one sister, Carol Fleshman. He worked as an equipment operator for the United States Forest Service for many years. Surviving are his wife, Hilda Byer Bates, of Covington; a son, Arlen Bates Jr., of Covington; three stepsons, Billy Gill of Hopewell, VA, Bobby Gill of Hopewell, VA, Keith Byer of Covington; a step-grandson, Brady Byer of Chester, VA; an aunt, Vernie Sexton of Covington; also several nieces and nephews. A private memorial service will be held at a later date....

Rev. Leotha Paul Burns, 72, of 332 E. Madison Street died Sunday, September 19, 2021, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke. Rev. Burns was born March 16, 1949, in Covington a son of the late L.W. Burns and Nellie Kennedy Burns. Paul worked at Washington and Lee University as a director of Environment and Health Safety He received his Masters Degree in divinity from Erskine College. Rev. Burns was the minister of Johnson Creek Presbyterian Church for a number of years. He proudly served in United States Army and Army reserves for 42 years and received a Bronze Star and an expert infantry badge. Paul was a retired member of the Covington Rescue Squad and a former member of the Covington Fire Department. He was a member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member and Past Master of Covington Masonic Lodge and Clifton Forge Shrine Club and he loved his Corvettes . Surviving are his Wife, Patsy Peters Burns, of Covington; three Sons, Aaron Burns and Jas...

Mary Sue Fry Deaner, born October 17, 1934 to the late Mary Margarette Andrews Fry and Calvin Hilary Fry, died Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Bath Community Hospital in Hot Springs. Sue was married to Winford Theodore "Wink" Deaner, who died September 28, 1979. They were married 22 years. She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Charles Glenn "Chuck" Stinnett. She worked at the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs for 16 years. She is survived by one son, Michael Deaner and his wife Crystal; three grandchildren, Joey Deaner and Haley Shaffer, Josh Deaner and Kristen McKinnell, and Kaylee Deaner, all of Covington; one sister, Patricia Stinnett of Pembroke Pines, Florida; and cousins, June Preskey, Mickey Bowyer, Bobby Bowyer, Marie Cleek, Bobby Fry, and Basil Fry; and numerous other cousins and special friends. A memorial service will be held October 17, 2021 at 2PM at Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. William E. Graham officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mike Deaner, Joey D...

John William Groves, II, 63, of 924 N. Beverly Avenue died Saturday, September 18, 2021. He was born July 28, 1958, in Prince George County, MD, the son of the late John W "Jack" Groves, Sr. and Bertie Wolfe Burgess, in addition to his parents, he preceded in by a Son, Billy Groves, a Sister, Sharon Brookman, his stepmother, Evelyn Groves, his stepfather, Jim Burgess a nephew, David Hall and two brother in laws Ken Meadows and Junior May. John was the owner of JWG Carpentry for many years. Surviving are his Wife, Pamela Harvey Groves, of Covington, a Daughter, Becky Groves, of Covington, a daughter in law Amy Groves, and Alex Laviolette of Covington one Brother, J.D. Burgess, of Covington; six Sisters, Susie Meadows of White Sulphur Springs, WV, Shelia Davis and her husband George of Pasanda, Md , Shelby Florey and her husband Tim of Arbutus Md. Sandy Beal and her husband Joe of Covington, Ruby May of Covington and Bonnie Miller of Halethorpe, Md; eight grandchildren, Brady Groves, Wa...

Catherine Spencer Humphreys, 91, formerly of Paint Bank, died, Saturday September 11, 2021, at the Richfield Recovery and Care Center in Salem. Mrs. Humphreys was born May 17, 1930, in Alleghany County a daughter of the late Gordon Spencer and Louise Lockhart Lunsford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Willis Ferguson Humphreys. She retired as a Dietary Supervisor for the Richfield Nursing Center in Salem. She was a member of the Humphreys Chapel UMC and the Central Methodist Church in Salem as well as a ladies auxiliary member of the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. Surviving are many cousins and close friends. A private service will be conducted at a later date. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home....

Leonard Blaine Tucker, Sr., 82, of 800 Summit Drive, died, Friday, September 10, 2021, at his home. Mr. Tucker was born August 12, 1939, in Alleghany County a son of the late Estelle and Ella Bess Tucker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Leonard B. Tucker, Jr., in 2010 and by a number of brothers and sisters. He was retired from the maintenance department of the Alleghany County School System. Surviving are several nieces and nephews including Darlene and Buzzy Moore of Lexington, Beverly and Mike Carson, Teressa Dawson and husband Dean, Michael "Sike" and Linda Tucker all of Covington and a number of great nieces and great nephews. A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at Lone Star Cemetery with the Rev. J.B. Broughman officiating. The family will receive their friends Wednesday from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM at Arritt Funeral Home. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home. Cemetery Information...