Emma Lee Childress, 84, of St. Albans, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, January 27, 2010, after a long illness.

Emma Lee Was born in Ranger, WV on November 1, 1925 to the late Isaac and Ellen Baker.

She graduated from Guyan Valley High School and worked at Kay Jewelers and then moved on to Head Secretary at Rish Equipment. Afterwards she owned and operated Childress Grocery in Teays Valley. Her love for music inspired her and her sister to play music and sing on WOKY in Oak Hill and on the radio on WRDS in St. Albans, they were known as The Baker Sisters.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years James “Darius” Childress, grandson Derick Childress, 1 sister, and 3 brothers.

Left to cherish her memories are her son’s and their wife’s, Neil and Donna Childress,  Roger L. and Sharon K. Childress, sister Jean Burgess, 2 grand-daughters, 3 grandsons, 14 great-grandchildren and 2 great grand-daughters.

Services will be 11:00 AM  Monday, February 1, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Minister Eddie Cooper officiating. Burial will be held in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. A gathering of family and  friends will be  from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday, at the funeral home.

Eleanor M. Buffington, Age 87, Charleston, WV, died on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Hubbard Hospice House after a long illness.  She was a clinical administrator with the Kanawha County Dental Health Council for 23 years. She also worked in the Better Sportsware Department at Stone & Thomas and Diamond Department Stores. She was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church in Charleston and the SouthRidge-Pacesetters Lions Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John D. Buffington and son, John G. Buffington.  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol Buffington and William J. Artrip III, Charleston; Grandchildren: John G. Buffington, Jr., & Mark B. Buffington both of Jacksonville, FL; William J. (B.J.) Artrip IV – Attending Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; Daughter-in-Law: Linda Kaye (Katie) Buffington, Jacksonville, FL.

Services will be at 11:00am Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the St. Marks United Methodist Church, 900 Washington St., East, Charleston, WV with the Rev’d Monty Brown and Rev’d Janet Harman officiating. Entombment will be at Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, South Charleston.  Friends will gather from 6:00 to 8:00pm, Wednesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., West, Charleston, WV 25312 or WV Lions Sight Foundation, P.O.Box 162, Lesage, WV 25537-0162.  Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek is in care of arrangements.

Eloise Stowers Pauley, 78, of Sumerco died Saturday, January 23, 2010 at home after a long illness.  She loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing & growing flowers in her greenhouse.  Eloise was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; parents, Neval & Icie Stowers and sister, Imogene. 

She is survived by: 2 Sons: Jim of Franklin; Terry of Sumerco; 4 Sisters: Ann, Shella, Maxine & Barbara; 3 Brothers: Neval Junior, Bill & Jerry; Special nieces: Michelle Sizemore and Rhonda Weaver; 5 Grandchildren: Jeremy, Tracey, Jason, Michael & Joshua; and 4 Great Grandchildren.

Service will be 11:00 am Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Jimmy Lawrence officiating. Burial will be in Lively Cemetery, Sod, WV. Family and Friends will gather Tuesday from 6 to 8 pm at the funeral home.

Hezekiah Shifflett Jr., 83, born on May 13, 1926 went home to the Lord Friday, January 22, 2010 at home after a long illness. He was born in Kellys Creek, WV.  Hezekiah was a longtime resident of Buckeye Fork Road in Sumerco, WV. He was a member of the Army and a Veteran of the Korean War. He was a retired coal miner with 43 years service and was a member of the UMWA.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nona; son, Mark; and his grand-daughter, Julie; father, Hezekiah Shifflett; mother, Della; brother, Paul and sister, Judith.  Hezekiah was a lover of bluegrass music, playing his mandolin with his many friends and acquaintances. He was a member of the Alum Creek Church of Christ.

He is survived by:  Daughters: Debbie Wyant of Wheeling and Nancy Lewis of Charleston; Son: Rick of Sumerco;five grandchildren: Jason McCallister, Jennifer Korngiver, Alicia Carr, Karsha Shifflett and William Shifflett; six great- grandchildren; sisters: Glenna Peden of Nashville, TN and Verna Snodgrass-Lucas of Bell, WV; numerous nieces and nephews. 

A private funeral service will be held Monday at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road Alum Creek with Minister Justin Imel officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens at Yawkey. Family and friends will gather from 4-6 pm Sunday at the funeral home.  A special thank you to Dr. Ed Grey, Dr. John Lewis and Hospice for their exceptional care and concern.

Wanda I. Price, 86 of Alum Creek went home to the Lord Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Valley Center after a long illness.   She was a member of the Church of God. 

She is survived by her children, Harris and Darrell Moran, Albert and Tim Treen and Jane Hill; 10 Grandchildren and 19 Great Grandchildren and several half sisters and brothers.

Service will be 1:00 PM Tuesday at Curry Funeral Home Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park So. Charleston. Family and friends will gather from 6 to 8 pm Monday at the funeral home.

Barbara O. Greene, 85, of South Charleston passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at The Haven personal care home in Cedar Grove after a long illness.

She was the daughter of the late Albert and Mauda Rabel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry C. Greene and brother, Charles Rabel.  She is survived by her three daughters, Brenda Tate and husband, Phil, of Charleston; Bonnie Bridges and husband, Mike, of Greenville, SC; and Peggy Landers, and husband Simon Cairns, of Woodruff, SC; granddaughters, Lily Maud Cairns, Mylissa Bridges Vickery; great-granddaughter, Ashley Vickery; sister, Betty (Gene) Curry and brothers, Hubert and Danny (Libby) Rabel.

Barbara was a 1941 graduate of South Charleston High School. After high school, she worked as a draftsman at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron, OH, during World War II. She was a homemaker, avid gardener, and employed by Dwight Spencer & Associates, a marketing research company, who ran the Charleston Consumer Panel.  She was a faithful member of the Southridge Freewill Baptist Church where she served in many capacities including pianist, children/youth Sunday School teacher, and member of the church quartet.

The family wishes to express our thanks to Patty and Elbie Thurman and their staff at The Haven in Cedar Grove for the wonderful care given to our mother the last five months.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 16, at Southridge Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. David Cooper officiating. Entombment will follow at Graceland Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Visitation will be from 6-8 PM Friday at the Bible Center Church, Southridge.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25312 or to Southridge Freewill Baptist Church, 186 Ruthdale Road, South Charleston, WV 25309.

Esther Eleanor Lovejoy, 85, of Charleston (formerly of Lincoln County) passed away January 10, 2010, at The Ridgemont at Edgewood Summit.

Born October 15, 1924, in Palermo, WV, Lincoln County, to Asa and Versie Lovejoy, Esther was active in her church and community. In the 1970s, she was a seamstress for Mountain Artisans, making quilts and clothing. She worked for and retired from WVU Extension Service. She was a member of the Alum Creek Church of Christ. Before moving, she was active in the Bear Branch and Griffithsville congregations. As a volunteer, she logged countless hours as a 4-H leader, Duval High School volunteer, church volunteer and auxiliary member at Thomas Memorial Hospital and as a volunteer at a nursing home in Hamlin, WV. Her quilting talents provided her the chance to be a demonstrator at the West Virginia Arts and Crafts Fair for several years. Her dedication to family, friends and community earned her the honor of Alum Creek Citizen of the Year in 1997. One of her most prized titles, however, was being named Champion Hog Caller of the Alum Creek Pig Roast.

Before moving to Alum Creek and before her husband, Emmett, passed away, Esther worked the family farm. With the fruits of their labor, her table was full of fresh vegetables during season, and she canned to provide food year round. She was known for her blackberry jelly and apple butter. She and Emmett welcomed everyone to the dinner table and never missed a World Series game on television.

After the death of her husband, Esther met special friend John McLean of Florida. After living a selfless life, she found someone to pamper her. She would winter in Florida, where they golfed, dined out daily and made pots of vegetable soup and gallons of fresh orange juice. However, one of their favorite activities was driving to McDonald’s for fresh coffee and an apple pie.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Emmett R. Lovejoy; her sons Roger R. Lovejoy and Gary Dale Miller; grandson, Joseph Preston Lovejoy; sister, Mildred (Lovejoy) Orris; brother, Cebert Lovejoy; and special friend John McLean.

Survivors include daughter, Mary Ann Green, and husband, Larry, their daughter, Emma, of Charleston; daughter-in-law Pauletta (Pam) A. Lovejoy of Sumerco; grandson, R. Ray Lovejoy II, and wife, Corrie, their daughter, Savanna, of Charleston. She also leaves behind many dear friends, including Carole Holder and Roseanna White, both of Alum Creek; Roseanne Asbury of Bear Branch; and Lisa Graley of Lafayette, LA.  She also will be missed by a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews – all of whom she loved dearly.

Funeral service will be 1 PM Saturday, January 16, at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Ministers Charles McKinney and Justin Imel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning two hours before the service. Orchard Hills Cemetery will be her final resting place.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Hospice Care 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston 25312 or to Alum Creek Church of Christ at 2368 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV 25003. Special thanks are given to Ruthie Craddock and Libby Krueger, personal caregivers; the Ridgemont staff; Hospice nurse Stacy Smith and the Hospice support team; and Dr. Tom Takubo, his partners and staff at Pulmonary Associates of Charleston. Each touched her life and made a difference in its final chapter.

Jane Ann Curry, 42, of Alum Creek, WV went home to be with the Lord surrounded by many of her friends and family on January 10, 2010 after an 8 year battle with breast cancer.

She was a loving mother of 2 wonderful children and worked alongside her husband at Curry Funeral Home. She was a Christian and member of Alum Creek Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School and also participated in many different events of the Youth Group. Also, through her sickness she was an avid supporter of the Breast Cancer Survival Walks and gave speeches throughout the Eastern U.S. She was a 1985 graduate of South Charleston High School and held an Associate Degree from WV State University.

She is survived by her loving husband of 20 years, Todd; 2 daughters: Chloe Elizabeth and Malie Jane Curry; Father & step-mother: Albert “Al” & JoAnn Midkiff of Yawkey; Mother & step-father: Wilma & Robert Bradshaw of Sod; Sister: Bronda (Rick) Adkins of St. Petersburg, FL; Brother: Mark (Gail) Midkiff of St. Albans; Father & mother-in-law: Gene and Betty Curry of Alum Creek; and many special nieces; nephews; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law who will greatly miss her. 

Service will be 1:00 PM Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Ministers Louie Watts and Justin Imel officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston.  Friends and family may gather from 6 to 9 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309 or HospiceCare. 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25312.  The family would like to thank all the many friends for their loving support.

Buster N. McCormick 83, of South Charleston died Friday, January 8, 2010,  evening at Thomas Memorial Hospital So Charleston, after a short illness.

He was an employee of Charleston Tile and Marble for 20 years and was owner operator of McCormick Tile Co. For over 30 years. He was a member of the Bricklayers, Mason & Plasterers International Union of America for 50 years and was a WW 11 Army Veteran and member of the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768. He was preceded in death by his parents: Kin & Vina McCormick, Brothers, Harold & Tommy McCormick of Zanesville and a son, Steve Loftis of Lincoln County.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shelby Pauley McCormick, Daughter, Vicki & Andy Titcher of So Carolina 3 sons: Rick & Kim McCormick of Alum Creek, Larry & Debbie McCormick of Charleston, Bob & Brenda Mash of Teays Valley; grandchildren: Drew & Ashley Titcher of So Carolina, Cody & Austin McCormick and their mother Shelia of Alum Creek, Larry McCormick Jr. Of Charleston, Michael Loftis of Alum Creek. Great Grandson: Tyler Titcher of So Carolina; Brothers: Mink & Diane McCormick and Delmer & Betty McCormick all of Ohio, Clyde & Elsie McCormick of Woodville; Sister: Betty & Grady Boner of So Charleston.

Buster loved to hunt & fish and will be sadly missed by his family & friends.   

Services will be 1:00 PM Monday, January 11, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Rd., Alum Creek with Rev Charles D. Pennington officiating. Entombment with military graveside rites by the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768 will be in Graceland Memorial Park Mausoleum at So Charleston. Friends will gather 1 hour prior to the service on Monday.

George B. Elder, 75, of South Charleston died Thursday, January 7, 2010 at Valley Center Health Care Center, South Charleston, WV due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  He was born near Darlington, PA on May 10, 1934 and was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Chalmers Elder; and brother, Ralph Elder.

He is survived by his wife, Decker Elder of South Charleston; 3 Brothers: Nathan Elder of Bradenton, FL; Fred Elder of Webster, NY; and Floyd Elder of Burlington, Ontario, Canada.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

George attended grade school in Darlington, PA and high school in Carrollton, OH. He graduated from Penn State University in 1956 and then joined Union Carbide Corporation, South Charleston, WV. Shortly thereafter, he fulfilled his military obligations by serving two years in the United States Air Force and ended that tour at a radar base in northern Japan. He returned to Union Carbide and was in the corrosion engineering field for his entire career at the Technical Center, South Charleston, and Insitute plants and at Ponce, Puerto Rico. He retired in 1991 and worked part time as a consultant in corrosion engineering for four more years. He was a recognized and dedicated expert in the field of corrosion engineering, and was a fellow in NACE National Association of Corrosion Engineers, and a founding member and fellow of MTI, Materials Technology Institute.

A memorial service will be held at 4PM Thursday, January 14, at Rock Lake Presbyterian Church, 905 Village Drive, South Charleston, WV with Reverend Rick McGuire officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made in George’s name to Rock Lake Presbyterian Church, 905 Village Drive, South Charleston, WV 25309 or to Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25312.