Jacqueline “Jackie” Stowers, 93, of Alkol, a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend passed away peacefully to Heaven at Meadowbrook Acres Nursing Center, Charleston, on February 17, 2025 after a long illness.

She was a member of Sycamore Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, taught Bible School for many years, and directed numerous Christmas plays through the years.

She graduated from Duval High School in 1949 where she played basketball, was a cheerleader and participated in the senior play.

Jackie loved her family and anytime they could celebrate with a good meal she was ready to provide from her classic recipes which included angel food cake with peanut butter icing along with her famous chili.  She had the opportunity to travel over the years throughout the world and from coast to coast.  She loved a good game of putt putt, gin rummy, and aggravation.  She always had a great time playing “gotcha last” with all the kids.  She was a devoted WVU fan and attended many football games including the 2006 Sugar Bowl in Atlanta, GA.  She was a devoted housewife but also helped out with the family business, Stowers and Sons, when needed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Denzil Stowers, and 6 siblings:  Curtis, Jake, Bernard, Charles, Crete and Arminta.

She is survived by her children:  Gerard (Ann), Barry (Brenda), Phil (Terri), and Amy; grandchildren:  Steven (Carmen), Josh (Jenny), Travis (Samantha), Sarah, Andrew and Allicen(Austin); great grandchildren: Reilly (Brandon), Everett, Ellen, Joshua, Issac, Bennett, Janson, Aleah and Lowry.

Services will be at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Clint Craddock officiating.  Friends may call at 1:00 p.m.  Following the service a private burial for the family only will be at Orchard Hill Memory Gardens, Yawkey.

Special thanks to Meadowbrook Acres Nursing Center for their exemplary care of Jackie over the past seven years.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Sycamore Grove Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 94, Alkol, WV  25501.

Betty Messer Chandler, 89, of Alum Creek, WV passed peacefully to Heaven at Hospice House, following a brief illness.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Carl Chandler, parents Joseph(Jody) Messer and Stella(Cubby) Messer and infant brother Carl.

She is survived by her daughters at heart, Kelly Kinsolving (Athel) and Cathy Childress Busch. Other survivors include; brother in law, Doug (Lowell) Chandler (Ivonne), sister in law, Ruth Vickers (Jack), special nephew, Barry Smith (Marsha), nieces, Renee Ryan, Michelle Ferri and Katrina King.  Also survived by several great nephews and nieces as well as numerous beloved friends, including Arvata Kinder, Barbara Slone, Maxine Cooper, Betty Curry, Brenda Frazier, Norma Blankenship, Jean Lloyd, and Pat Hunter.

Betty was a 1953 graduate of Sherman High School.  She retired from Travelers Insurance Company and later Union Carbide Corporation.

Betty enjoyed shopping, travel, sending greeting cards and buying gifts for others. She was a member of the G&L Travel Club, Forks of Coal Church, where she sang in the choir, The Red Hats of Jackson, Ohio and The Alum Creek Lions Club.

After residing in Jackson, Ohio for 17 years, Betty most recently relocated to Harmony Southridge where she enjoyed the many social activities, bingo and church services with Alum Creek Independent Missionary Baptist Church.

Service will be 1:00pm, Tuesday, February 18th at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek. Visitation one hour before the service, presided by Pastor Daniel Dent.  Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey. 

Betty requests no flowers, as she enjoyed them while living.  Donations can be made to Alum Creek Independent Missionary Baptist Church, or the Alum Creek Lions Club.

Justin Thomas Young, 42, of South Charleston passed away Thursday, February 6, 2025, at CAMC Memorial Hospital.

Justin was a 2000 graduate of South Charleston High School and Marshall University. He was a former employee of the State of West Virginia and CAMC ER registration and lab works. Justin was a sports fanatic, especially the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, but there was nothing he loved more than his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Claude Thomas Young, Jr.; grandparents, Claude, Sr. and Patricia Young, Darrel and Patsy Beard.

Justin is survived by his wife, Jessica; children, Connor Young, Savannah Young, and Keith Rose; mother, Denise Beard (Debbi Creech); siblings, Ashton Holbrook (Drew), Brett Young, and Ryan Young (Amanda); nieces, Emilia, Reese, and Grace; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Pamela and John Rose; sister-in-law, Natalie Henry (Tim); best friend, Ernie Mangus.

Justin will be cremated and a celebration of life will take place at a later date.

Larry Kent Cooper, 84, of Charleston passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston.

Larry was a 1958 graduate of Charleston High School, a United States Army Veteran, and a member of Union Local 317. He retired from the City of Charleston as a Fire Captain with 25 years of service. He loved the outdoors, hunting, and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman Cooper and sister, Carol Fizer.

Larry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marian Cooper; children, Chris Cooper (Mary), Lori Porter (Kevin), and Kelly Vandale (James); 7 grandsons and 1 granddaughter, Halli Vandale; numerous great grandchildren; and sister, Ola Moore.

Larry will be cremated and laid to rest at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery with military honors at a later date.

Patricia Lynn Holstein, 47, of Charleston passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025, at CAMC General Hospital.

Trish was a very caring person who loved gospel music and everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Gail Smith Holstein.

Trish is survived by her father and stepmother, Joseph and Rebecca Ann Holstein; brother, Mooney Smith; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 1:00pm, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Pastor Mark Thaxton officiating. Burial will follow at Smith Cemetery, South Charleston. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Neil Aaron Hasen, 45, of Alkol passed away Friday, January 24, 2025, at Hubbard Hospice House West, South Charleston.

Neil was a 1998 graduate of Duval High School. He was a long-haul truck driver and a former employee of Hidden Creek Trucking.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Julius and Merle Seagraves; grandmother, Dorotha Hasen; great grandmother, Lena Griffith.

Neil is survived by his wife, Summer, parents, Mark and Rose Hasen; sister, Krystle Gillispie (Eddie); nieces, Julianna Hasen and Kaylee Lilly; special aunt and uncle, Betty and Sonny Gillenwater.

Graveside service will be 2:30pm, Monday, January 27, 2025, at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey with Pastor Bruce Copley officiating.

Linda Carol Barker, 62, of Ridgeview went to be with the Lord Thursday, January 23, 2025, at home peacefully with family.

Linda was a homemaker and a member of Ashford Church of God. She loved to play with her grandchildren and her dog, Pebbles. She also loved hummingbirds and taking care of her duck pond.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Barker; parents, Glen and Hessie McCoy Angel; sister, Brenda Angel; great grandson, Layken Barker; sister-in-law, Sandra Ball; nephew, Tyler Ball; dogs, Princess and Pepper; and cat, Tinky.

Linda is survived by her daughters, Chloey Barker (James) and Misty Foster; sons, Chase Barker (Abigaile) and Christian Barker; granddaughters, Piper Barker and Macie Coffey; grandson, Rustyn Short; sister, Bonnie Barker; brothers, Rickie and Johnny; brothers-in-law, Ronnie Barker, Douglas Barker, Chris Campbell, and Tim Ball; sisters-in-law, Lorrie Campbell, Denise Angel, and Martha Barker; a host of nieces and nephews; her Yorkie, Pebbles and her cat, Lilly.

Funeral service will be 2:00pm, Monday, January 27, 2025, at Ashford Church of God with Pastor Randell Kinder officiating. Burial will follow at Barker Cemetery, Ashford. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the church.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Melanie Martin with Kanawha Hospice.

Ruth Dean Griffith Jones, 84, of Yawkey, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at her home.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Wayne Jones, parents, Ralph & Virginia Cooper Griffith, and brothers, Larry and Dale Griffith.

Ruth was a member of the Yawkey Missionary Baptist Church and retired from South Charleston Stamping Plant.

She is survived by her daughters, Debbie (Terry) Snyder and Wanda (Randy) Clark, granddaughters, Crystal (Joe) Cummings, Kalea Thompson, Amy Snyder,  Shawna Snyder, Ashley (Jon) Garcia,.  She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Josie (Tyler O’Bryan) Cummings, Kameryn Guthrie, Peyton Bell, Bella Snyder, Emersyn, Carter & Alea Garcia, and great-great-grandson, Jaxon O’Bryan, and siblings, Linda Banks, Ralph (Sharon) Griffith, and Clarence (Sue) Griffith.

Graveside memorial service will be held at a later date.  

Glen Roger Smith, 86, of Sod, formerly of Gloucester Point, VA died Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Glen was a graduate of Duval High School. He retired from Pepsi Company after 30+ years of service. He was a former member of McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents who raised him, Monroe and Emma Smith; mother, Glady Smith Adkins.

Glen is survived by his half-brothers, Richard, Kenneth, and James Adkins of Madison; half-sisters, Mary (Kenneth) Jarrell of Bandytown and Reginna Jarrell of Montgomery; special cousins, Sharon Dunlap and Joan Allen of McCorkle; and many others that loved him very much.

Funeral service will be 1:00pm, Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Sumerco. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Iris Marie (Huffman) Pack, 80, of St. Albans, WV, and formerly of Beckley, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, January 17. She was born October 18, 1944, to the late Raymond Carson Huffman and Pansy (Harper) Huffman.

Throughout her remarkable life, Iris embodied the perfect harmony of faith, family, and music. For over three decades, she served faithfully alongside her husband in ministry, touching countless lives as they pastored churches in Lester, Hotchkiss, and Glen Jean, West Virginia. A gifted musician, Iris filled both homes and sanctuaries with the beautiful melodies of her piano and french harp. Her musical talents earned her numerous accolades for piano performance, vocal solos, and french harp playing. Yet perhaps her greatest gift was her genuine love for people and her dedication to serving others through ministry.

Iris was reunited in heaven with her beloved husband of 55 years, Bishop John R. Pack, who was not only her spouse but her dearest friend throughout life. She also joins her cherished siblings who passed before her: Chalmer Huffman, Russell Huffman, Eva Tucker, and Clarence Huffman.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Hope Young and husband Bob of St. Albans; her granddaughter, Chrystal Wall and husband Bishop JD Wall of Beckley; her step grandson, Dale Harper and wife Barbara of Winfield; her three beloved great-grandchildren: Nathanael, Abigail, and Noah Wall, all of Beckley, WV; her step great-grandson, Jacob Harper of Winfield; and her lifelong best friend, Dana Ayers and husband Gary of Beckley.

Iris’ life was a testament to her faith, dedication to family, and commitment to serving others. Her legacy will continue through the lives she touched and the memories she created with her loved ones.
A celebration of Iris’ life will be held at 4:00pm, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at The Bridge, 279 Dairy Road, Poca, WV, with Pastor Mike Ramsey and Bishop JD Wall officiating. Friends and family may pay their respects during visitation hours from 2:00-4:00 at the church.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to The Love Your Neighbor Project in care of The Bridge, 279 Dairy Road, Poca, WV 25159, in lieu of flowers.