Obituaries

Jan 18, 2026

William (Bill) Eugene Russ, Jr., 83 of Hillsville, passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at Twin County Regional Hospital. Mr. Russ was born in Bladen County, NC to the late William Eugene Russ, Sr. and Ellen Norton Russ.  In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Darrell Russ, and a sister, Pam Russ.

Survivors...

Jan 16, 2026

Tilda Lucille Phillips, 88, of Ararat, Virginia passed away Friday, January 16, 2026 in the Waddell Nursing Home, Galax, Virginia. Mrs. Phillips was born October 7, 1937 to the late Lee and Annie Atkins Eastridge.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Andrew Phillips; children Winfred Phillips, Lonnie Phillips and Lora Mae...

Jan 15, 2026

Gayla Dale Stilwell, age 80 of Hillsville, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at her home.  Mrs. Stilwell was born in Carroll County, Virginia to the late Earl and Virginia Lucille Ogle Dalton.  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband Edgar Marion Stilwell; son, Edwin "Marty" Martin Stilwell; and brother, Ronnie...

Jan 14, 2026

Ann Bennett Branscome, 93, of Hillsville, VA, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.  Mrs. Branscome was born June 14, 1932 in Mount Airy, NC to the late Caleb Henderson and Evelyn Tolbert Bennett.

In addition to her parents. she was preceded in death by her brothers, Archie and Jack Bennett, and sister, Betty...

Jan 14, 2026

Mary Alice Banks Dalton, age 89 of Virginia Beach, Va., formerly of Fancy Gap, Va. went to be with her Lord on January 14th, 2026 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Assisted Living in Virginia Beach, Va. Mrs. Dalton was born on June 3, 1936 in Carroll County, Virginia to the late William Posey Banks and Lilly Virginia Webb...

Jan 14, 2026

April Bailey Reed, 59 of Woodlawn, passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.  She was born in Martinsville, Virginia on April 10, 1966.  She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Barbara Gray (Ralph); two brothers, Anthony Bailey and Vincent Lee Bailey.

Survivors include her husband, Alan Alderman; father and...

Jan 13, 2026

Paul Richard "Rick" Riccio, 83 of Woodlawn, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Waddell Nursing and Rehab.  Mr. Riccio was born in Schenectady, NY to the late Alfonso and Pansy Riccio.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Quesenberry Riccio; sons and daughters-in-law, David and Kim Riccio of Mount Airy, NC and Glennon and Lisa Riccio of...

Jan 11, 2026

Diane Elizabeth Burcham, 77 of Hillsville, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at her home.  Mrs. Burcham was born in Washington, DC on May 11, 1948.  She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" Harrison Burcham, Jr.; father, Raymond Porelle; mother, Alice Brown; and brother Michael Porelle.

Survivors include her daughters, Sharon Edwards and...

Jan 11, 2026

Sandra Lynn Arvizo, 62 of Hillsville, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Novant Forsyth Medical Center.  Mrs. Arvizo was born in Carroll County, Virginia on September 5, 1963.  She was preceded in death by her infant son, Alejandro Worrell; father, Elmer Jefferson Worrell; mother, Lyndell Carylon Gravley Lemons; and sisters, Patricia Ruiz and Deborah Padron.

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Jan 10, 2026

Benjamin Albert Engeldinger, 79 of Hillsville, Virginia passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Junior Willis Engeldinger and Helen Marie Abraham Engeldinger.

Survivors include his wife Peggy Mabe of the home; daughter, Jessica Engeldinger of Michigan; sons Brian Engeldinger of Michigan, and Bradley Engeldinger of Kentucky;...

Jan 10, 2026

Elizabeth "Betty" York Wilson Humphreys, 87 of Hillsville, passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026.  Betty was born on January 26,1938. Her parents were Elizabeth "Lib" Wilson and Julius Vassie Wilson Jr.  She also had a brother, Robert "Bob" Wilson. Her family originated in High Point, NC, but they then relocated to Sanford, NC.

As Betty was...

Jan 10, 2026

Linda Lou Stanley Goad, 84 of Laurel Fork, Virginia passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Heritage Hall Laurel Meadows in Laurel Fork, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wise Martin and Hallie Cox Stanley; husband, Oumah "Lucky" Goad; siblings, Luther Stanley, Frank "Joe" Stanley; brother-in-law, Gary Bartley

Survivors include her sons, Vince...

Jan 9, 2026

Peter Kirton, 69 of Laurel Fork, Virginia passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026 at Greeneville Community Hospital in Greeneville, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Thomas and Mabel Kirton.

Survivors include his wife, Alison Jennifer Kirton; two sons, Joshua Albert Thomas, and Matthew James Nicholas; brother and spouse, Michael and Shelia Kirton;...

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.

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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...