Melody Ann Lowery Roberts, 69, of Alum Creek, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 21, 2020, after suffering a long battle with liver disease.

She was born on April 25, 1951 in Charleston, WV. She was a 1969 graduate of Duval High School. She was a Christian and a member of Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek. She loved church and her church family.

Melody was preceded in death by her father, Robert H. Lowery and her brother Bobby Lowery.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Johnny Roberts; her children, Chris (Rebecca) Roberts of N.C., Andy (Erin) Roberts of Nitro, and Lindsay (Stephen) Dunlap of Alum Creek; mother, Patsy Lowery of Charleston; sisters, Susan (John) Brininstool of Charleston, and Cindy Lowery of Alum Creek; and twelve grandchildren.

Private graveside service will be held Monday, December 28, 2020 at Graceland Memorial Park with Pastor Daniel Dent officiating. Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek is taking care of arrangements.

Carolyn Sue Barker, 74, of Chesapeake, went home to be with the Lord Monday, December 21, 2020 at CAMC Memorial Hospital.

Sue was a retired secretary for the City of Chesapeake with over 20 years of service.  She was a former hairdresser at The Diamond in Charleston and attending McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church in Sod, WV.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruby Eplin; grandparents, Everette and Goldie Edelman; and brother, Randy Radcliff.

Sue is survived by daughter, Leaha (J.D.) Elswick and Carrie (Bobby) Slack; four grandchildren, Sam, Ethan, Abby, and Skylar; sisters, Lisa Collins, Pam (Matt) Suder, and Tammy (Donald) Nelson; brother, Ray Eplin; and several nieces and nephews.    

Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 27, 2020 at Marmet Cemetery with Reverend Damron Bradshaw officiating. 

Oshel Bell, 87, of Yawkey, went home to be with the Lord Friday, December 18, 2020, after suffering a stroke on December 11, 2020.

He was born July 29, 1933, at Bernie, WV and was a 1950 graduate of Duval High School. Oshel served his country in the United States Army and was a former employee of Pennzoil Company. He was a Christian and pastored several churches in Lincoln and Putnam Counties, including Merritts Creek Freewill Baptist Church, Pine Grove Baptist Church, Joes Creek Baptist Church, and Beech Grove Baptist Church. He most recently attended Yawkey Methodist Church, Beech Grove Baptist Church, and Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek.

Oshel was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary (June 2018); parents, Tom and Merle Bell; infant daughter, Belinda Bell; daughter, Teresa Lowery; sons-in-law, Bobby Lowery, Max Hill, and Frank Chapman; siblings, Hercie Bell, Docie Morrison, Irene Bias, and twin sister Opal Baylous.

He is survived by daughters, Debbie Hill of St. Albans, and Kim Chapman of Alum Creek; grandchildren, Rob (Lauren) Lowery of Charlotte, NC, and Melinda (Brian) Greathouse of Dunbar; nieces and nephews, Sonya Stickler, Lowell Bias, Janet Tully, and Susie Agee all of WV, Brenda Birchett of VA, Sharon Wilson of FL, and Phil Richardson of OH.

Service will be 2:00 Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jimmy Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey. Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service. Social distancing and masks will be required as mandated by the Governor during COVID.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that you provide a Christmas dinner for someone in need.

Mary Lu Ellyson Rymer, age 90, of St. Albans, WV went home to be with the Lord on December 17th, 2020 at CAMC Teays Valley Hospital after a battle with COVID-19.

She was born in Gilmer County, WV. Her parents were the late Odbert and Ruth Ellyson.

Preceding her in death were her son, William A. “Skip” Rymer II; sisters, Colleen Collins and Roberta Wright; and brother, Gene Ellyson.

Surviving are her husband of 69 years, William A. “Bill” Rymer; three grandchildren, Mamie Laura Rymer of St. Albans, WV, Sarah Brenon and husband Kyle of Manassas, VA, and Maryellen and husband Nic of Hurricane, WV; sister, Lorene Cunningham and husband Douglas of Tennessee; and ten great-grandchildren.

Mary was a member of Highlawn Baptist Church and a 60-year resident of St. Albans. She formerly worked at Kanawha Union Bank (now United Bank) in Glenville, WV and Waverly National Bank in Waverly, Ohio. She enjoyed reading, sewing, cooking, and baking for her grandchildren.

The family would like to thank all friends and neighbors for their love.

Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek is handling arrangements. There will be no funeral services due to COVID-19 precautions. Private burial will be at Stalnaker Cemetery in Glenville, WV.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Highlawn Baptist Church, 2304 Jefferson Avenue, St. Albans, WV 25177.

“Life is worth the living just because He lives.” -Bill Gaither

Emma Mae Thaxton, of South Charleston, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Valley Center, South Charleston. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Thaxton; and siblings, Mary Scott, Clinton Shaffer, and Charles Pete Scott.

Emma is survived by her son, Kevin Thaxton; daughter, Denise Martin; four grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. 

There will be no services and private burial will be at Thaxton Family Cemetery, South Charleston. 

Emma Jane Miller, 90, of Alkol went home to be with the Lord Sunday, December 13, 2020 at Teays Valley Center in Hurricane, WV.

Emma was a retired Lincoln County teacher with over 30 years of service.  She was also a member of Left Fork Baptist Church.

Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace “Gus” Miller and son, Gregory Miller.

She is survived by nephew and niece, Stanley and Anita Miller, along with other nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Graveside service will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey with Lonnie Lovejoy officiating.

Carey “Lee” Stevens, 73, of Varney, WV, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at home.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Stevens and Loie Carey Sears.

He was a residential carpenter, a disabled Vietnam Veteran, and a friend to everyone he met. 

Lee is survived by his brothers, Bill (Debbie) Bowes and Garrell (Irana) Stevens.

In accordance with Lee’s wishes he will be cremated and there will be no services.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association, 1248 Greenbrier St., Charleston, WV 25311.

Betty Jo Childress Gill, 81, of South Charleston, went home to be with the Lord Monday, December 7, 2020 at Hospice House at CAMC-Memorial.

Betty was co-owner operator along with her husband of Allstate Roofing.  Since a young age Betty was a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  She was a member of Ruth Community Church. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Evelene Martin Hill; and husbands, Delbert Bo Childress and Clifton Gill.

Betty is survived by her sister, Sandra Easter; nieces Kimberly Moore and Kama Tribble; and an abundance of great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Danny Huffman officiating.  Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to HopsiceCare 1606 Kanawha Boulevard West, Charleston, WV 25312.

Ray Harvey Pauley, 91, of Sod, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 6, 2020.  He was a coal miner for 10 years until being injured in a mining accident. He devoted his life to serving God.  He was a member of the McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church where he was a Deacon for many years prior to becoming a Trustee.

Ray loved his wife, family and community.  He was born on Ivy Branch, WV, and lived most of his life in Lincoln County.  He was a faithful husband, brother, father and friend.  In addition, his grandchildren immensely enjoyed his funny sense of humor, contagious laughter, delightful singing and tremendous talent for playing the guitar.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas & Annie Gay Quintrell Pauley, sisters, Freda, Lula, Gladys, Nina and (infant) Sharon, brothers, Junior, Hassell and (infant) Lester.

Ray was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Wanda Fay.

He is survived by his  daughters, Dora Vickers of Spring Hill, FL, Brenda (Kim) Matthews of Sumerco, WV, Gail (Buck) McCallister of Sod, WV, and Gerri (Steve) Triplett of Wilkesboro, NC.  He was known as Papaw by his 7 grandchildren, David (Cindy) Coon, Eric Coon, Chastidy (Rod) Hoover, KK (Marsha) Matthews, Holly (Frank) Hitt, Jessica (Erin) Mitchell and Jonathan Mitchell.  In addition, he was also blessed with 14 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held at Lively Cemetery, Sod, WV, with Minister Kim Matthews officiating. 

The family of Ray Pauley would like to thank Lisa Queen and the staff of SWVHS, the Hospice Care Team: Libby, Melanie, Connie and Izzy, as well as the Hubbard Hospice House.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice Care 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25312.

“I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan. I’ll be sitting drawing pictures in the sand.  And when I see you coming, I will rise up with a shout.  And come running through the shallow waters, reaching for your hand.”

“Far Side Banks of Jordan” written by Terry Smith

Troy Randall Burford, 52, our beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at home. 

He was employed by Frontier Communications for 23 years as a cable splicer.  Troy was an excellent cable splicer. He was a 1986 graduate of George Washington High School and a graduate of West Virginia State College. Troy’s most-loved possession was his ‘69 Camaro that he has owned since he was 17 years old.  He was also was an amazing golfer. A close friend, Calvin Daniels, would often tell Troy if he ever joined the PGA tour, Calvin would be his caddy.

Troy loved his family more than anything.  His kids and grandbabies were his whole heart. 

Troy had a sense of humor that would make you belly laugh and his commentary in any situation was quick and witty. So, please cry happy tears for Troy. Think of a comment he would say to make you laugh.

He is survived by his parents, Steve & Sue Burford, of Charleston, WV; wife, Laura Burford of Charleston, WV; daughters, Haley (Chase) Pickering and Kasey Reed; son, Cameron Burford; grandchildren, Kaden Tucker, Myra Pickering, and Madeline Pickering. Troy is also survived by his brother, Ed (Joy) Burford; nephews, Dylan and Dru Burford, Christopher and Weston Rafferty; niece, Sabrina Rafferty; and many friends and family.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 7, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV, with Pastor Kent Estep officiating.  Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. 

Family & friends will gather from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home.