Brenda Grace Counts, 61, of St. Albans went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Hospice West, South Charleston after a long courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

 She was a graduate of St. Albans High School and West Virginia Institute of Technology, Montgomery; a lifetime member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in St. Albans. Her first job out of college was at the Legislative Services for the State of WV, following that she worked at the Engineering Dept. for Union Carbide and also several family businesses, most recently CrownMax, Inc., in Dunbar.

 She was preceded in death by her father, Millard “Tickle” Perry.

 Brenda is survived by her husband of 39 years, Charlie; 2 Daughters, Joy Curry and husband, Brian and their children, Charles Clenton and Jackson Albert due in March 2012, Lori Counts-Smith and her husband, Vincent John “V.J.” Smith; mother, Dorothy Grace “Dot” Perry, her loving brothers and sisters, Stephen Perry, Diana and husband, Joseph Taylor; Phillip and wife, Betty Perry; nieces and nephews, Robert Taylor, Adam Taylor and wife, Carla, and their children, Addison Grace and Makenna Rae, Emma and her husband, Geoffrey Plagemann and John Perry II.

 The funeral service will be 3:00 PM Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, St. Albans with Rev. Loretta Isaiah officiating. Burial will follow at Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. Family and friends will gather from 5 to 8 PM Tuesday at the church.

 The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Michael Schiano and wife, Mary and Dr. Liz Young and all the wonderful staff at Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Hospice West. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 815 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans, WV 25177.

 Brenda was loved and admired by all who knew her. She always had a positive outlook and was able to find the good in everyone. She will be dearly missed by all.

Services are in care of Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek.

Benny Cecil Huffman 67, of Alum Creek, went home to his Lord and Savior Wednesday, October 26, 2011.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Jearldine Stowers Huffman.

 He was a 1962 graduate of Duval High School, a member of the Cobbs Creek Missionary Baptist Church at Sod were he served as Treasurer and on the trustee board and most recently served as church clerk. He served in the U.S. Army under active duty for 2 years, then retired from the WV National Guard as a Senior Master Sergeant, he was a life time member of the Alum Creek Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768, where he was serving as commander.   He was also a member of the Griffithsville Masonic Lodge AF & AM.

 He is survived by his wife, Pauletta; daughters, Nikki (Eric) Smith, Shannan Huffman (John Donegan III), Rhonda (Steve) Wood, and Jody Hensley; sister, Betty (Shannon) Dotson; bothers: Danny (Audella) Huffman and Bobby (Peggy) Huffman; grandchildren, Nicholas Graley, Paige Huffman, Stephen Wood, Cameron Bryant, John Donegan IV, 2 month old twins girls, Bristol and Berkley Smith and Austin Hensley; and very special friend Tom Stevens.

 Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Sunday, October 30, 2011 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Pastors Frank Chapman and Butch Leadman officiating and eulogy by Bryant Bowman. Burial with military rites conducted by the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768 will be at Forks of Coal Memorial Park Alum Creek. Family and friends will gather from 7 to 9 pm Saturday and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Pallbearers provided by the WV Air National Guard 130^th Air Lift Wing.

 The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice caregivers, Edie, Sherry and Libby. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25387-2536 or the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768, P.O. Box 6, Alum Creek, WV 25003.

Rodney T. Hoffman, 45 of Alum Creek passed away Thursday October 20, 2011 at Massachusetts Medical Center after a short illness.

He was preceded in death by his mother Phyllis, sister Anita, and brother Tommy.

Rodney was in the chrome plating business for 30 years and also served in the U.S. Air Force.

He is survived by his children: Donald Thomas and Scotti Layne, father: D.T. Hoffman, sister: Debbie Vance, brother: Curtis Hoffman, nephews: Brent and Cole Vance and niece: Ashley Vance.

Funeral service will be 4:00 pm Saturday October 29, 2011 at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating.

Burial will follow at Rywant Cemetery at Dunbar.

Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Betty Songer, 40, died on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at home after a short illness.

She was a graduate of South Charleston High School.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frederick Harrison Songer ,Jr., and her brother, Frederick Harrison Songer III.

She is survived by two children Katelyn and Austin Lowe; mother, Carolyn L. Songer; brother, Don (Stacey) Songer; niece, Ciara Songer.

Funeral service will be at 2:00pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at the Curry Funeral Home Chapel, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Pastor Gene Pauley officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Songer Cemetery at Trace Fork of South Charleston.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions toward funeral service.

 Romea Curtis Alford, 76, of South Charleston died Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Valley Health Center after a long illness.

He was owner and operator of Alford Swimming Pools in South Charleston. He attended Maranatha Fellowship in St. Albans.

He is survived by one son, Tony C. Alford (Sharon) of St. Albans; daughter, Reva Louise Shealy (Keith) of Greenville, South Carolina; brother: Junior (Peggy) Alford of South Charleston; five Grandchildren: Chris (Cami) Alford and Melisa Alford (Larry), Ross, Rocky and Renee Lewis; and three Great Grandchildren: Jaylon Abbott, Caleb Alford and Trenton Lewis

Funeral service will be 11:00 am Monday, October 24, 2011 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Terry Hogue officiating. Burial will follow in Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. Family and friends will gather from 4 to 6 PM Sunday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be to Union Mission – Food Drive, PO Box 112, Charleston, WV 25321.

Paul J. George, 93, of Alum Creek went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 16. 2011, at home surrounded by his family after a long illness.

He was born at Olcott, WV, on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918 to his parents Rome and Sarah George. He was also preceded in death by one brother, James, and two sisters, Genevieve Myers and Ruth Villane.

He was retired rigger from FMC with 39 years of service, and a member of Hopewell Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for 25 years. He was part of the greatest generation who served in the U.S. Army during WWII.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Loraine Harmon George.  He is also survived by daughters, Kay McClure and her husband, Gary, of Charleston, JoAnn Bare – Charleston and Connie Comer and her husband, Romie of Lewisburg; Brother: Bill (Ruth) George – Arizona; Sisters: Katie Hill – South Charleston and Wanda (Wilmer) Creech – Alum Creek;  11 Grandchildren,  27 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great. Great Grandchild.

Services will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, October 19^th at the Hopewell Baptist Church, which is located at the intersection of Route 119 Corridor G / Brounland Road, with grandson Pastor Jonathan Comer and Rev. Dorris Walls officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00pm on Tuesday evening at Hopewell Baptist Church.

Burial will be at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston with Military Graveside Rites, Benny Padilla, VFW Post 4768.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested contributions to the Lewisburg Baptist Church Building Fund, 113 Montvue Dr., Lewisburg, WV 24901. Special thanks to all caregivers and staff of Hospice Care, family, friends and neighbors.

Arrangements are in the care of Curry Funeral Home

Elmo Meadows, 87 of Alkol went home to the Lord Friday, October 14, 2011 after a long illness.

He was a retired coal miner, a lifelong member of Sycamore Grove Baptist Church, was a Army Veteran of WWII and a recipient of the Purple Heart. 

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Dorothy, children, Joyce Taylor (Arthur) Berea, KY, Jill Saul (Mike) of Alkol, Michael “Elmo” Meadows (Rena) of Alkol, Anthony Meadows (Beverly) of Alkol, Andrew Meadows (Laura) of Madison, Laura F. Mallory (Earl) of Winchester, VA and Melissa G. Clay (Tony) of St. Albans; brothers; Bill Meadows Alkol and Edward Meadows of Wharton; sisters Betty Lou Young of Bucyrus, OH, Mary Jane Hunter of Hewett, and Gloria Jean Price of Florida;  14 Grandchildren, 20 Great Grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews

Service will be 2:00 pm Monday October 17 , with Military Rites conducted by the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768 of Alum Creek at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Paul Meadows officiating. Burial will be in the Meadows family cemetery on Flat Creek. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 6 pm Sunday at the funeral home.

Robert “Bob’ Rubin, 80, of Charleston passed away on October 9, 2011 at Dunbar Care and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Harriett, and his parents, Charles and Hilda Rubin. He is also proceeded in death by his brothers, Charles Jr., Edward, John, Raymond, George, Harry, Denver “Dink” and sisters Rosie Gray, Katherine Nagy, Mary Powers.

Bob owned and operated Bob’s Exxon, with his longtime partner Kermit Hill. His quick wit and humor were known by his loyal customers.

He served as a scoutmaster to Boy Scout Troop 57 at Davis Creek Church of the Nazarene. He enjoyed his years of scouting enriching both his life and the lives of many young boys.

 Bob also served his country in the United State Marine Corps. His friends and family always enjoyed his many stories from his days as a young Marine, Boy Scout leader, and service station owner. Bob also had a passion for fishing trips to Nags Head. 

Surviving are his son, Bill, and wife, Judy. Daughter, Frances Pack, and husband, Mark. Granddaughters Kelly Pack and husband Michael Miller, Nikki Pack and Leslie, Candice, and Courtney Rubin. He is also survived by his brother, Fred Rubin, of Akron, Ohio.

Special thanks are extended to the staff at Dunbar Care and Rehabilitation Center and SweetBriar Assisted Living for their many days of care and attention.

Friends and family may call on Wednesday October 12, from 6 to 8 pm at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek. Service will be held on Thursday October 13, at 11:00 am at the Funeral Home with Rev. Frank Goff officiating.   Committal service with military graveside rites conducted by the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768 will follow at Graceland Memorial Park So. Charleston.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to Buckskin Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2829 Kanawha Blvd East, Charleston, WV 25311

Olive M. White, 91, of South Charleston died on Thursday, October 6, at Hubbard Hospice House. She was the daughter of the late Ulysess (Lissie) and Bartola McClure Mccormick of Lincoln County. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ephraim H. White; a son, Frederick Alan White; a grandson, Charlie Taylor; a great grandson, Christopher L. Fromal II and all of her 7 siblings.

She graduated from Duval High School in Lincoln County in 1937. She worked and lived in the Charleston area since 1947 when she and her husband operated a grocery store and gas station in Ruth. She later worked for F.W. Woolworth and Montgomery Ward. She retired from Mountain Electronics Co./Midwest in 1985 after 28 years service.

She became a member of the Women of the Moose, Charleston Chapter #317, in 1949, serving as Deputy Grand Regent for WV in 1973-74. She was co-worker of the year in 1988-89 and chairman of the monthly Birthday Party at Marmet Health Center for 17 years. Among other volunteer activities, she was a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and volunteered at Ronald McDonald House for 17 years. She was named volunteer of the year for WV in 1988. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 0073. She was a member of the 5^th Avenue Church of God in South Charleston since 1989.

She is survived by three daughters, Carol Thompson of South Charleston; Judith Lookabill (Bob) of Spotsylvania, VA and Anita Taylor (Jim) of Ripley. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Greg White, Terri Crowder, Candi Stowers, Joe Lookabill, John H. Thompson, Monita Smith, Jeffery Lookabill, Jimmy Taylor and Paul E. White; 15 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. In addition, she is survived by several nieces and nephews including a special nephew, Kenneth Elkins of South Charleston, who was of great help to her in her later years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Olive’s name to Ronald McDonald House, 302 – 30^th Street, Charleston, WV 25304.

Visitation at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek will be on Tuesday, October 11, at 12 Noon followed by a service at 1:00 pm officiated by Pastor Frank Chapman. Burial will be at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston.

Sharon Marie Dent, 59, of Alum Creek, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Cabell County, after a complicated ilness stemming from Pyoderma Gangrenosum.

Sherri was born in Charleston, W.Va., on October 5, 1952. She served as a system analyst/computer programmer for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. After graduating from George Washington High School, Sherri attended Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn., and graduated from West Virginia State University. She had worked for many years as a programmer in Charlotte, N.C., and was previously employed by the West Virginia Department of Revenue.  She was a member of the Forks of Coal Missionary Baptist Church, Alum Creek, where she served as the church clerk for the past 7 years and had been active in the youth department.

She was preceded in death recently by her mother, Janet Lee Priestley Dent, and father Howard Maxwell Dent, Sr. 

Sherri was that special friend who was loved by everyone who knew her. She was always lending a hand to help those around her and had returned to Alum Creek to care for her mother. She was a talented decorator and enjoyed scrap-booking. She loved to travel with family to visit family and friends across the U.S. Sherri left us far too early in life and we are deeply saddened for our loss.

She is survived by brother, Max Dent and his wife Cathy of Winfield; nieces, Julie Marie Sigmon (Jeremy), and Kristin Lee Fridley (Gary); grandnieces, Daka Marie Sigmon and Miley Gail Sigmon; grandnephew, Dylan Maxwell Fridley; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 10, 2011, at the Forks of Coal Missionary Baptist Church, 4002 Coal River Road (Route 214 & Coal River Road), Alum Creek, with Pastor Keith George officiating. Reception immediately following.  Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Granvil George Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Forks of Coal Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 506, Alum Creek, WV 25003.

Curry Funeral Home Alum Creek is in charge of arrangements.