James Edward Holstein

James Edward Holstein, 52, of Danville, died Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at home after a long battle with brain cancer.

He was a Christian and a member of Danville Church of Christ. In death, he was victorious, for he lives on in Paradise.

Eddie was born Nov. 14, 1956, and was the tenth child and youngest son of the late Fred D. and Juanita (Lamp) Holstein.

He was an accomplished athlete, playing varsity basketball and baseball for Scott High School, from which he graduated in 1975. He continued to play fast-pitch softball and adult league basketball until his children were born in the early 1990s.

He worked for three years at Westmoreland Coal Company before obtaining a position at Appalachian Power Company in 1978. He worked for 28 years as a lineman and area servicer. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. His work ethic was outstanding and his first sick day was taken on the day that his brain tumor was discovered on May 19, 2006.

Eddie had a jovial, outgoing personality and made friends with ease. He was a true gentleman who was devoted to his family. He loved his wife passionately and his children were the light of his life. Nothing pleased him more than visiting with family and friends. He adored his aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was a loyal and considerate friend to many. His sense of humor was legendary and he brightened the world with his warmth and his smile.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Larry and Dale.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Paula Farley Holstein; two children at home, a son, Dale Edward, and a daughter, Rachel Denise; three brothers, Bobby (Joyce), of Cross Lanes, and Danny (Sandra) and David (Diane), both of Danville; four sisters, Carolyn Miller of Cary, N.C., Patsy (Larry) Cole of Wilmington, Ohio, Judy (Jack) Kelley of Holiday Island, Ark., and Glenna (Jim) Stewart of Danville; mother-in-law, Joyce (Jerry) Hall of Madison; father-in-law, James H. Farley Sr. of Chapmanville; brother-in-law, James (Tina) Farley of Chapmanville; sisters-in-law, Beth (Kevin) Kitchen of Indian Trail, N.C., and Kristinia (Clint) Heavener of Charlotte, N.C.; eight aunts and two uncles; 19 nieces and nephews; 17 great-nieces and -nephews; and a host of cousins, friends and loved ones.

Funeral services were held on Sept. 12 at Handley Funeral Home, Danville, with Kevin Kitchen and Richard Runyan officiating. Burial followed at Memory Gardens, Madison.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Joe Holstein, Scott Stewart, Clayton Cole, Russ Stewart, David Stewart, Jonathan Holstein, Jacob Kitchen, Joshua Farley and Matthew Holstein.

Rita Jane Vanoy

Rita Jane Vanoy, of Pettus, passed away Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, after a long illness.

She was born Sept. 1, 1951, in Charleston and was a daughter of the late Norman and Marcella Mae Buzzard Walker. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie David “Bubbles” Vanoy, and a son, Michael David Vanoy.

She is survived by a son, Richard Vanoy and wife, Sonya, of Pettus; a grandson, Dustin Brock Vanoy of Pettus; four sisters, Brenda Boulet and husband, Marcel, of Rock Creek, Irene Perdue of Joe's Creek, Carolyn Brown and husband, Phil, of North Carolina, and Tammy Hagger and husband, Carlos of Florida; and three brothers, Danny Walker and wife, Julia, of Sylvester, Freddy Walker and companion, Sandra Glass, of Whitesville, and Randall Walker of Sylvester.

Funeral services were held Sept. 9 at Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville, with the Rev. Cecil McClellan officiating. Interment followed at Pineview Cemetery, Orgas.

Betty Ann Workman

Betty Ann Nelson Burns Workman, 80, passed away Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, at Boone Memorial Hospital, Madison.

She was born in Orgas on Sept. 2, 1929, and was a daughter of the late Sidney Stanton and Essie Beulah Atkins Nelson.

She lived in Twilight with her loving caregivers, Dennis and Becky Jarrell. She was a loving wife and wonderful mother and grandmother. She was a member of Twilight Star of Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her seven children, Darious Burns; her second husband, French "Ruce" Workman; daughter and son-in-law, Betty Ruth and James Ball; son, Earnest W. Burns; granddaughters, Sabrina Ann Ball and Michelle Anna Marie Burns; great-granddaughter, Summer Emily Wooten; and

brothers, Alfred, Woodrow, Theodore, Jackie, P.T., Bob, Clyde and Fred Nelson. She is also

preceded in death by her niece Beulah Wiley and nephew Tommy Allen.

She is survived by sisters, Pearl Allen of Beckley and Gloria Sue Littleton of Arkansas; daughters, Becky Jarrell and husband, Dennis, of Twilight and Denita Miller of Twilight; sons, Eddie Burns of Danville, Gaylen Burns and wife, Dena, of Danville, and Danny Burns and companion, Charlotte Walker, of Van;

daughter-in-law, Iris Burns of Danville; stepson, Bruce Workman and wife, Sandra, of Seth; Her loving grandchildren include Angela and husband Tony Harvey, Mark Miller, Kayla Miller, Jimmy and wife Dianna Ball, David and Renae Jarrell, Kim Gibson, Carrie and husband Michael Wilson, Doug and wife Deborah Burns, Samuel Lee Burns, Eddie Burns, Terrica and husband Joey Stover, Rebecca Burns, Dennie Burns, Christopher Burns and Beth Wooten. Four step-children include Sara Beth, Stephanie, Aaron and Steven Workman. Great-Grandchildren are Corey and Connor Harvey, Allie, Brittany and Katie Ball, Daniel and Jazmyn Gibson, Aaron and Austin Burns, Darious Paul and Brandon Burns, Heather Burns, Levi, Darian and Grayson Jarrell, Carrie, Derek and Dylan Burns, Reggie and Michael Burns, Joshua Burns, Joey Stover, Sarah Beth Coleman, Sonny and Wayne Wooten and a host of extended family and friends.

Special thanks for the wonderful service provided by Rev. Steve Burns and Rev. Roy Jarrell and Handley Funeral Home. Thanks to Auxi Health, Dignity Hospice, Medi-Home Care and Girling Health Care.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Chattin, Dr. Chanaa, the staff at Boone Memorial Hospital and the homecare aides, Debbie Shaikh and Ann Stewart.

Dennis and Becky would like to send special thanks to their daughter Angela, husband Tony and children Corey and Connor Harvey. They also send thanks to Ellis Jarrell, Mark Miller, Dianna and Jimmy Ball and the singers, Kayla, Brittany, Katie, Allie and Corey.

Pall Bearers were Dennis Jarrell, Mark Miller, Gaylen, Danny, Eddie, Charles, Billy, Reggie and Doug Burns, Ellis Jarrell, Scotty Epling and Jimmy Ball.

Special thanks to Sabe Ellis for the wonderful video that he

provided of memories of our mother, the Twilight Church, Ladies Aide and the Twilight community for their generosity and support.

Funeral services were held Sept. 10 at the Star of Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church, Twilight, with Steve Burns and Roy Jarrell officiating. Burial followed at Mid-Ferrell Cemetery, Bandytown.

Gary Wayne Perdue

Gary Wayne Perdue, 54, of Nellis, died Sept. 10, 2009, in CAMC Memorial Hospital, Charleston.

He was an employee of Wackenhut Security at the DuPont Belle Plant with over 19 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Trina K. Ferrell Perdue and Elizabeth Kimbler Perdue; son, Chad Perdue; stepson, Chris Saunders; stepgranddaughter, Amber Mullins; and his parents, Jannings D. and Norma Dean Meadows Perdue.

Surviving are a brother and his wife, Terry and Charlotte Perdue of Nellis; sister and her husband, Patty and Stanley Meeks of Nellis; stepchildren, Grace (Aaron) Allred, Shannon Mullins, Bobbie (Jimmy) Arthur and Brad (Mattie) Kimbler; nine stepgrandchildren and five stepgreat-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews,

great-nieces and -nephews; and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held on Sept. 15 at Leonard Johnson Funeral Home, Marmet, with the Rev. Anthony Chambers officiating. Burial followed at Montgomery Memorial Park, London.

Emily Ann Jarrell Sowers

Emily Ann Sowers, 79, passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 with her family by her side.

She was born May 25, 1930 in Madison to the late Howard and Iril Jarrell.

Emily is preceded in death by her parens, one brother, Donn Jarrell.

She was a faithful member of Peoples Baptist Church for 27 years.

Emily was the granddaughter of M.L. Jones, founder of the Coal Valley News and the niece of Luther R. Jones, longtime editor of the Coal Valley News.

She leaves behind her family to cherish her memories, her loving and devoted husband of 62 years, Joe Sowers, of Corpus Christi Texas; two sons, Jonathan Sowers, of Houston, Texas, and Anthony Sowers, of Corpus Christi Texas; three grandchildren, Laura, Eric and David; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Avis Triplitt, of Milford, Del., numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held on July 24 at Peoples Baptist Church. Interment was private.

Elisabeth Ann Sharp

Elisabeth Ann Sharp, 38, of Wharton passed away suddenly Monday, Aug. 31.

She is survived by her

husband, Jeffrey Sharp of Wharton, son Justin Dillon of Madison, daughter Mazie Wheatley of Low Gap, mother Brenda Collins of Wharton, father Wilfredo Mayol of Chicago Ill., sister Anna Mayol of Wharton, niece Brianna Dunn of Wharton. Other surviving family members are father and mother-in-law Sherry and Joey Sharp of Bigson and Gary and Freida Dempsey of Marthatown, sister-in-law Tonya Dempsey and niece Hope Dempsey of Marthatown.

Funeral services were held Sept. 5 at Stephens Funeral Home.