Obituaries

Jan 9, 2026

Freeman Elwood Huff, 87, of Hillsville, Virginia passed away on January 9, 2026. Elwood was born on November 19, 1938, in Willis, Virginia. He was the son of the late Carl and Mary Lee Huff. Elwood lived a life marked by devotion to his family, a steady and dependable spirit, and a strength that those closest to him came...

Jan 5, 2026

Donald Ray Gibson, 86 of Galax, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2026 in Waddell Nursing Home. He was born May 8, 1939 in McDowell County, WV to the late Shirley and Leona Gibson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Gibson; sister, Dreama Gibson; brothers, Bernard Gibson, Lawrence "Hoot" Gibson, Howard Gibson, and Junior...

Jan 4, 2026

Shirlene Thompson Slate, 87 of Hillsville, passed away on January 4, 2026 at her daughter's home in Florida.  Mrs. Slate was born in Dugspur, Virginia to the late Sherman and Edith Dalton.  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her daughter, Debra Thompson Nester.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and...

Jan 1, 2026

Donald Ray Pettry 60 of Hillsville, Virginia passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Addie Sue Pettry.

Survivors include his brothers and spouse, Michael and Pam Pettry, and Ronald Pettry; niece, Crystal (Brooke) Carver; great nephew, Theodore Carver; great niece, Grace Carver.

...

Dec 31, 2025

Valda Frances Hawks 89 of Hillsville, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Lousia Bowman Horton; daughter, Lisa Branscome; several brothers and sisters.

Survivors include her husband, Marvin W. Hawks; daughter and spouse, Debbie and Melvin Shockley; brother-in-law, Danny Branscome; two...

Dec 29, 2025

Kenneth Lawrence Dalton, age 90 of Hillsville, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025 at Hillsville Health and Rehab. Mr. Dalton was born in Carroll County, Virginia to the late Fred and Goldie Higgs Dalton. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Estelle Dalton; brother, Shirley Dalton; and sister Bertie Mae...

Dec 28, 2025

Faye Marshall Mills

On a Sunday in February 1927, Martha Faye, everyone's beloved Faye, youngest daughter of Edna Lucy (Guynn) and Vasco Elmond, was born into The Marshall Family.  She was one of seven children and grew up in the Sunnyside area of Carroll County.  Her siblings Ethelene, Clyde, Roberta, Gale, J.B. and Wayne were extremely close...

Dec 26, 2025

Billy Ray Wright, Sr, 76, of Mount Airy, North Carolina passed away peacefully Friday, December 26, 2025 at his home.  Mr. Wright was born March 1, 1949 in Davie County, North Carolina to the late Clinton Shasta Wright, Sr., and Kathryn Nora Styers Wright. He was also preceded in death by sister Betty (Joe) Howell, brother Bobby Wright, brother-in-law...

Dec 26, 2025

Clara Violet Spangler Sutphin, age 91, of Laurel Fork, VA. passed away peacefully Dec. 26, 2025 at Heritage Hall Laurel Meadows. Ms. Sutphin was born in Laurel Fork, to the late Claude Calvin and Mandy Webb Spangler. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a son, Michael Huston Sutphin, and 17 siblings, Hazel, Recie,...

Dec 26, 2025

Mrs. Kathleen Sowers Melton, 96, of Hillsville, VA, passed away Friday, December 26, 2025 at Heritage Hall Laurel Meadows of Laurel Fork, VA. Mrs. Melton was born in Coalwood, WV to the late Rev. Walter Christa Sowers and Velma Martin Sowers.

She lived in Carroll County and retired from her teaching career in the Carroll County School...

Dec 26, 2025

Angie Edwards, 65, passed away Friday, December 26, 2025 at the Woltz Hospice Home, Dobson, North Carolina.  Ms. Edwards was born May 21, 1960 in Henry County, Virginia to Sanders Junior Russell and Nellie Gay Jackson Russell.  She was preceded in death by her father Sanders.

Angie is survived by son Richard Edwards and daughter Christina (Eric)...

Dec 25, 2025

Lucille Caroline Burnett Iroler, 95, passed away Thursday December 25, 2025 at Hillsville Health and Rehabilitation.  Mrs. Iroler was born on September 21, 1930 to the late Fredrick Washington Burnett and Odell Dickens Burnett.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Charles Kenneth Iroler, brother and sister-in-law James and Estelle Burnett.

...

Dec 23, 2025

John "Rod" Rodney Kirkendall, 75 of Woodlawn, passed away at his home on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.  Mr. Kirkendall was born October 1, 1950 in Canton, OH to the late John Albert and Nesta Danilkonvich Kirkendall.  In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sisters, Nancy Stout and Jeanne DePasquale.

Mr. Kirkendall...

Dec 22, 2025

Ricky Lee Alderman, 67 of Fancy Gap, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025 at Twin County Regional Hospital.  Mr. Alderman was born in Virginia to the late Kenneth and Goldie Nester Alderman.  In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Susie Alderman; brother, Kenneth Alderman, Jr.; nephew, Dillon Young; several aunts and...

Dec 21, 2025

Lydia Ellen Phillips, 91 of Hillsville, passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at Rocky Mount Health and Rehab.  Mrs. Phillips was born in Carroll County, Virginia to the late Lee and Ruth Reynolds Franklin.  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Chester Ray Phillips.

Survivors include her children, Chip...

Dec 21, 2025

Robert Edward Fender, Jr., 84 of Austinville, passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at the Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson.  Mr. Fender was born in California to the late Robert E. Fender, Sr. and Carroll Jean Sims.  In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Billy Fender.

Survivors include his...

Dec 20, 2025

Mary Ann Newman Griffin, 76 of Austinville, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at her home.  Mrs. Griffin was born in Carroll County to the late Monte B. and Mary E. Smythers Newman.  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Ray Lester Griffin; siblings, Mabel Jennings, Faye Davidson, and Gene Newman;...

Dec 20, 2025

Walter David "Hoot" Gibson, 58 of Woodlawn, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at his home.  Mr. Gibson was born in Maryland on May 24, 1967.  He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald D. Gibson.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Donna Cornett Gibson; children, Emily Underwood (Ethan), Amy Wagan (Sam), Natalie Gibson,...

Dec 18, 2025

Dewey Ray Caviness, 81 years old of Austinville, Virginia, died on December 18, 2025 in his home surrounded by his family.  His daughter, Joanna Myers sang "Go Rest High on that Mountain".  Dewey was born, September 28, 1944 to the late George Washington Caviness and Georgia Ellen (Parnell) Caviness.  He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Alvin...

Dec 16, 2025

Carolyn Lee Sumner Worrell, 78 of Laurel Fork and formerly of Hillsville, passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Heritage Hall Laurel Meadows.  Ms. Worrell was born on June 15, 1947 to the late Otto and Mary Clements Sumner.

Carolyn had the biggest, brightest smile and the sweetest personality of anyone to ever walk this earth....