Thomas Clay Mitchell

Thomas Clay Mitchell, 31, of Danville died July 17, 2010. Service was held Tuesday, July 20, at Handley Funeral Home, Danville. Burial followed at Stanley Cemetery, Mud River.

Juanita J. Lawson

Juanita J. Lawson, 72, of Twilight died July 15, 2010. Service was held Monday, July 19, at Handley Funeral Home, Danville. Burial followed in Mid-Ferrell Cemetery, Bandytown.

Amy Gail Egnor Cheeks

Amy Gail Egnor Cheeks, 27, died July 17, 2010. She was a homemaker. Service will be 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 21, at Koontz Funeral Home, Hamlin. Burial will be in Stowers Cemetery, Griffithsville.

Larry Joseph Farley

Larry Joseph Farley, 50, of Branchland died July 17, 2010. Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at Harts Tabernacle, Harts. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Donald D. Parsons

Donald D. Parsons, 74, of Alum Creek went home to his Lord Friday, July, 16, 2010, at home.

He was a former employee of Goodrich Gulf and retired from Rhodes St. Clair Moses Auto Mall, Charleston, was a born again Christian, a member of the Brier Creek Baptist Church, served in the U.S. Army 82nd Air-Bourne, and was a member of the Old Time Fiddlers Association.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Connie Holstein Parsons, godchildren, Brendan and Kate Raincy; brothers and sisters-in-law; and many special nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, July 20, at the Alum Creek Lions Club Community Center on Coal River Road at Alum Creek with Pastor Tommy Roberts officiating.

Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, is in charge of the arrangements.

Herbert E. Jones Jr

Herbert E. Jones Jr., a lifelong West Virginia resident and community philanthropist, died Thursday, July 8, 2010, at his home, surrounded by family.

Mr. Jones was president of Amherst Coal Company in Charleston from 1970 to 1982.

Mr. Jones was a fourth-generation West Virginian. His great-grandfather, Llewellyn Wills Jones, moved to Fayette County from Amherst County, Virginia, in 1843. Born in Pittsburgh November 6, 1920, the second son of Nancy Munce Jones and Herbert E. Jones Sr. of Oak Hill, Herbert E. Jones Jr. resided in Amherstdale in Logan County, Charleston, and in Oak Hill in Fayette County. The family moved to Charleston in the fall of 1927.

During World War II, Mr. Jones' Princeton class of 1943 was accelerated, and he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942. After graduation, he reported to the Naval Reserve Midshipmen School at Columbia University, where he served as the commander of the Second Company. Commissioned as an ensign, he was assigned to the U.S. Navy Submarine School of New London, and subsequently reported to the USS Tunny 282 at Hunters Point, Calif.

In 1946, Mr. Jones went to work with Amherst Coal Company in Lundale as a production engineer. He earned his Mine Foreman's Certificate and Registered Professional Mining Engineer’s Certificate while working in the Buffalo Creek Division and, in 1956, became division superintendent. In 1960, Mr. Jones became vice president of Operations. He served as president of the Logan Coal Operators Association and as a director of the West Virginia Coal Association, with five years as chairman.

In 1952, Mr. Jones traveled to Germany to study mines in the Ruhr with the Marshall Plan. In 1960 he traveled to India to advise on mining technology.

Later, as director of the National Coal Association, Jones served as a member of a team that visited mines in Germany and, later, mines in Russia, including Siberia. Jones was a founding member of the Mining Development Committee that built an early continuous miner. Jones was also a director of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association. With this group, Mr. Jones traveled to South Africa to advise on South African mining. He was also frequently involved in negotiations with the United Mine Workers union.

In 1970 Mr. Jones became president of Amherst Coal Company, remaining in that position until 1982, when he initiated a merger with Diamond Shamrock Inc. Since then, he had been associated with Port Amherst Ltd., a river transportation and construction company, and served as a director of the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railroad.

In other activities, Mr. Jones served as a member and chairman of the West Virginia Air Pollution Control Commission, a member of the West Virginia Graduate College (now Marshall University Graduate College) Advisory Board, and was chairman until 1983. He was interim president of the Graduate College for one year. A project very dear to his heart was the West Virginia Veterans Memorial Commission, on which he served as chairman. Without Mr. Jones' devotion and perseverance, this project would not have been completed.

Mr. Jones was an active vestry member and trustee of Charleston's St. John's Episcopal Church for many years. He was honored to be a knight with the Venerable Order of St. John. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the West Virginia Symphony, the Clay Center, and The Avampato Museum in Charleston.

As a young man, he enjoyed horseback riding, golf, flying his own plane, and visiting his family farm in Fayette County. Later he took up carriage driving and occasionally drove his team of Belgian horses around the town of Oak Hill. The long, lean Mr. Jones was also a familiar figure swimming at the Charleston YMCA.

Mr. Jones is survived by his wife of 67 years, Gloria Marie Callen Jones; and his four children, Christine Jones (Joel) Huber of Durham, N.C., and their children, Mary and Amanda, Herbert E. (Hollis Hampton) Jones III and their children, Deirdre and Logan, of Nashville, Tenn., Callen Jones (Thomas) McJunkin of Charleston, and their children, Jameson, Allison and Jennifer, and Adelyn Munce Jones of Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Jones is also survived by his brother, Charles Tandy Jones of Charleston and Oak Hill; and his sisters, Adeline (Mrs. S. Coerte Voorhees) of Merry Point, Va., and Nancy (Mrs. Joe Guest) of Palm Beach, Fla. Mr. and Mrs. Jones also have four great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was held Saturday, July 17, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1105 Quarrier St., Charleston.

A private family burial service was held on Sunday, July 18, in the Jones family cemetery in Oak Hill.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25312, or to charities serving West Virginia veterans or miners.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Oma Mae Estep Pauley

Oma Mae Estep Pauley, 83, of Sumerco went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Tammy Berry.

Surviving are her children, Janet Sue (Lenzo) Egnor of Yawkey and Paula Clay of Sumerco; brothers, Romie Estep, her twin, and Carlos and Chuckie Estep; sister, Verona Williamson; grandchildren, Dale and Tim Egnor, Mindy Treadway and Tabitha Smith; great-grandchildren, Johnna Treadway, Tyler Smith, Steven Treadway and Sophie Smith; and her special pet, Holly.

Services were held on Saturday, July 17, at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Pastor Richard McCallister officiating. Burial followed in Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey.

Wendell W. Chapman

Wendell W. Chapman, 69, of Lyburn died July 13, 2010. Service was held Saturday, July 17, at James Funeral Home, Logan. Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Pecks Mill.

William R. Harris

William R. Harris, 73, of Bim died July 14, 2010. Handley Funeral Home, Danville, is in charge of arrangements.

Juanita Sue Bragg

Juanita Sue Bragg, 83, of Jeffrey passed away on July 12, 2010.

She was born August 20, 1926, in Hazard, Kentucky, and was a daughter of the late Noah Calvin and Edna Accord Sublett. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Shirrel; and two sons, Danny and Tim.

She was a retired teacher and a member of Tomorrow’s World Church.

She is survived by one son, Charles “Butch” Bragg; three daughters, Neva King, Linda Browning and Patricia Bragg; 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services were held Thursday, July 15, at Handley Funeral Home, Danville, with Minister Paul Shumay officiating. Burial followed in Family Gardens, Madison.

You may express your condolences to the family at www.handleyfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in honor of her name.

Jameel “Jim” Rahall

Jameel “Jim” Rahall, 77, of Beckley passed away Saturday, July 10, 2010, at a local hospital following a short illness.

Born November 18, 1932, in Beckley, he was the son of Lebanese immigrants, the late Abraham Rahall and Farida David Rahall.

Mr. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1950. He worked in his father's restaurant, “Abe's Place,” then the Jeep factory in Toledo, Ohio, until entering the United States Army to serve his country during the Korean War.

Mr. Rahall was a well-known and well-respected businessman in the community. He owned and operated several businesses, but was most known for owning the “Slack Rack,” a men’s clothing store in downtown Beckley, for many years before moving to the Crossroads Mall.

Mr. Rahall was a member of the Beckley Moose Lodge. He was of the Christian faith and a lifelong resident of the community. He was an avid sports fan and coached Little League Baseball for several years. Mr. Rahall was very devoted to his family. He was a wonderful provider and a very loving husband, father, and brother. He will be greatly missed by all fortunate enough to have known him.

Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Theresa Laux Rahall, a son, Tim Rahall and his wife, Toni, of Beckley; daughters, Ann Rahall, M.D., of Maui, Hawaii, and Karan Rahall, who was his caretaker for several years, and her partner, Thomas Goodson Jr., of Beckley; grandsons, Connor McKenney and Michael McKenney, of whom he was extremely proud, of Maui, Hawaii; sisters, Jeanette Cormack and her husband, Sandy, of St. Albans, and Gloria Colby and her husband, Jim, of Smith Mountain Lake, Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Rahall is also survived by his beloved Yorkshire terrier, Poo-Chi, who brought him a lot of happiness.

Funeral services were held Thursday, July 15, at the Calfee Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Vondie Cook officiating. Burial followed in the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Faith Mausoleum.

Pallbearers will be Thomas Goodson Jr., Steve Griffith, Carl Daniel, Michael Acord, Jim Cormack, and Jonathon Cline.

Online condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 101 South Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801.

Arrangements are by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.

Joan Sheppard

Joan Sheppard, 78, of Madison died July 12, 2010. Service was Thursday, July 15, at Handley Funeral Home, Danville.

Burial followed in Sheppard Cemetery, Lower Sheppard Town.

Sally E. Woods

Sally E. Woods of Madison passed away on July 11, 2010, after a long and courageous fight with cancer, surrounded by family and special friends.

She was the daughter of the late John W. and Hazel G. Woods of Reedy.

She grew up in Barrett, graduated from Van High School and attended Marshall University. She was a 25-year employee of Spencer National Bank and was employed earlier by Eastern Gas and Coal Company. She was an active member of Van United Methodist Church, Madison Garden Club, the Julia Price Breast Cancer Foundation of Madison, the Kanawha Trail Club and the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer activities.

She is survived by her three brothers and their wives, John W. and Joyce Woods of Hayes, Va., Walter and Jackie Woods of Roanoke, Va., and Harold and Dawn Rita Woods of Bandytown; nieces and nephews, John Woods of Scott Depot, Cheryl Olander of Midlothian, Va., Gregory Woods of Barbourville, Va., Pam Redmond of Topping, Va., Mike Woods of St. Augustine, Fla., Patrick Woods of Weirton, Chris Woods of Richmond, Va., Neal Woods of Roanoke, Va., Diana Whitney of Naperville, Ill., Patty White of Charleston, Beverly Burdette of Raleigh, N.C., and Harold G. Woods of Danville; and 20 grandnieces and -nephews whose birthdays she never failed to remember. One must make note of her love for Misty, a Boston terrier that was her constant companion.

Many friends and relatives will miss her visiting with them, especially a cousin, Pat Burris, and friends, Sharon Cook, Betty Tatterson and Speedy Casto.

Services were held Wednesday, July 14, at Handley Funeral Home, Danville, with Timmy Spratt officiating. Burial followed in Memory Gardens, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Van Methodist Church or the Julia Price Breast Cancer Foundation of Madison.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the devoted care of Dr. Frame of the David Lee Cancer Center, Karen Shirkey, and HospiceCare.

You may express your condolences to the family at www.handleyfh.com.