Obituaries for the week of June 4, 2008

Staff
Published: June 4, 2008

James Alvin Abbott
James Alvin Abbott of Troy, died on May 25.
He was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Greenwood, son of the late James Frank and Elsie Noble Abbott.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Hankins Abbott; two brothers, Wayne Abbott and Raymond Abbott; and three sisters, Marie Taylor, Garnett Barton and Ruby Pollock.
He is survived by three children, Linda Lynch of Gates, N.C., Daniel Abbott of Lowell, Fla., and J. Michael Abbott of Scottsville; two sisters, Elizabeth Brooke of Charlottesville and Joline Ewell of Greensboro, N.C.; six grand-children, several great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was a retired plumber and served aboard the naval ship USS Kearsarge during World War II. He was a member of VFW Post 1827 and the Loyal Order of the Moose. In his younger years, he was in a Blue Grass band which performed for local dances, and he also played at Carnegie Hall as well as the Grand Ole Opry.
The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

Jerry Wayne Bryant
Jerry Wayne Bryant, 58, of Lynchburg, died May 27. He was the husband of Linda Aardema Bryant.
He was born in Lynchburg on Jan. 13, 1950, a son of the late Gloria Spencer Bryant and the late Charles L. Bryant Sr.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Matthew Wayne Bryant of Atlanta; daughter, Jamie Anne Bryant of New York; stepdaughter, Kara Bebko and husband, Michael, of North Carolina; grandson, Justin Bebko, and granddaughter, Jordan Bebko, both of North Carolina; sister, Wanda Burnett and husband, Tom, of Lynchburg; brother, Charles L. Bryant Jr. and wife, Lucy, of Madison Heights; two nieces; and a grandnephew.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kaitlyn Bebko.
He was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church, where he was an active and devoted member of the Freedom Ministry. He was a self-employed general contractor.
A funeral service was conducted on May 31 in Pate Chapel at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Irene H. Carter
Irene H. Carter, 51, of Lynchburg, died on May 30.
Born in Harlem, N.Y. on July 16, 1956, she was the daughter of Ruth Jackson and the late Harold L. Jackson. She was preceded in death by a sister, Phyllis Vance.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Edward Carter of Lynchburg; a daughter, Lisa Lea Carter of Lynchburg; her mother, Ruth Jackson and her step-father, James Elleyby, of Lynchburg; one brother, Theodore Vance and his wife, Christine, of Afton; seven sisters, Teresa Jackson of Richmond, Thelma Robinson and her husband, Daniel, of Charlottesville, Denise Valentine, Shirley Elleyby, MaryAnn Williams, Hope Elleyby and Jamie Elleyby all of Lynchburg; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service was held on June 3 at the J. F. Bell Funeral Home.

Mildred Theresa Doersch
Mildred “Millie’ Theresa Doersch, 74, died on May 27.
Born Feb. 7, 1934, in Sharpsville, Penn., she was the daughter of the late John and Mildred Oris. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Mark D. Doersch; a granddaughter, Susan Doersch; and a daughter-in-law, Genevieve Doersch.
She is survived by her husband, Kirt D. Doersch; two sons, Karl E. Doersch of Chesterfield, and Eric D. Doersch and his wife, Barbara, of Ashland; four grandchildren, David Doersch, Thomas Doersch, Kyle Doersch and Tony Doersch; and three great-grandchildren, Preston Doersch, Conner Doersch and Julie Stephens.
She spent many years doing volunteer work for the Navy Relief Society, the Fluvanna County Library, the Lake Monticello Fire and Rescue Auxiliary and the Lake Monticello Owners Association Election Committee.
A memorial mass was held May 30 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Palmyra.

Geneva Moses Ellington
Geneva Moses Ellington, 85, of Browns Mill Road, Rustburg, died June 1. She was the wife of the late Washington Lee Ellington.
She was born in Campbell County, Aug. 9, 1922, the daughter of the late Robert Yancey Moses and Foster McHaney Moses. She was a member of Sharon United Methodist Church.
She is survived by one son, Ronnie Ellington and wife, Kathy, of Evington; four daughters, Joyce Moses and husband, Luther, of Evington, Annie Lewis and husband, Welton, of Madison Heights, Judy Parcell and husband, J.T., of Chase City, and Virginia Malone and husband, Jay, of Lincolnton, N.C.; nine grandchildren, Michelle Wade, Robert Moses, Randy Moses, Grover Ellington, Jennifer Lewis, Joel Parcell, Lisa Eagle, Karen Archer and Kevin Ringo; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Mary Frances Ellington of Danville; two sisters-in-law, Antha Koleznar of Gladys and Pauline Bomar of Lynchburg; a brother-in-law, James Ellington of Gladys; and friends.
She was preceded in death by a son, James R. Ellington.
A funeral service was conducted June 4 at Sharon United Methodist Church in Naruna. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Matthew Fletcher Elliott Jr.
Matthew Fletcher Elliott Jr., 82, of Waynesboro, died on June 1.
He was born July 23, 1925 to Matthew Fletcher Elliott Sr. and Charlotte (Johnson) Elliott.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Gene and Leslie Elliott.
He is survived by his wife, Ernestine Elliott; son, Kevin; and daughter-in-law, Emily.
He was a Signalman Second Class on LST 639 in the South Pacific during World War II. He earned citations for American Area, Victory-World War II, Philippine Liberation (one battle star), and Asiatic Pacific.
After completing his tour of duty, he attended St. Helena Extension of William and Mary in Norfolk. He then went on to earn a BS in Commerce from UVA in 1950.
He retired from Dupont in 1984, where he had been an accountant and safety supervisor. He dedicated his retirement to his Christmas tree farm in Beech Grove. The farm was named for his birthplace, Fox Hill, in the Hampton Roads area.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on June 5 at Main Street United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Augusta Memorial Park with honors by the Stuarts Draft V.F.W. Post 9339.

Ruby Lee Gibson
Ruby Lee Gibson, 70, of Batesville died May 27.
She was born on April 7, 1938, in Albemarle County, the daughter of the late John F. Dunnivan and Ruth L. Dunnivan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth L. Gibson Jr; .and a sister, Gertrude Hunt.
She is survived by two daughters, Sharon K. Gibson and friend, Billy Miller, of Louisa; Deborah Gibson and friend, Martin Jenkins, of Batesville; two sons, Clinton L. Gibson and friend, Mary Green, of Batesville, and Ronald W. Gibson and his wife, Debra K., of Batesville; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and one on the way; three brothers, John Dunnivan and his wife, Pat, of Amherst; Edward Dunnivan and wife, Arlene, of Gordonsville; Donald Dunnivan and wife, Glenda, of Afton; one sister, Alma Hunt of Batesville; and a special sister-in—law, Virginia Kirby.
She retired from Con-Agra with 33 years of service, and was a member of Mount Ed Baptist Church in Batesville.
A funeral service was held on May 29 at the Mount Ed Baptist Church in Batesville. Interment followed at Mount Ed Cemetery in Batesville.

Karen Sue Franklin Hudson
Karen Sue Franklin Hudson, 51, of Schuyler, died on June 1.
Born April 26, 1957, in Charlottesville, she was the daughter of Frieda S. Franklin of Charlottesville and the late Carl H. Franklin.
She graduated from Charlottesville High School in 1975. She married Thomas W. Hudson and recently celebrated their 13th anniversary on May 20, 2008.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Thomas W. Hudson of Schuyler; her brother, Keith Franklin and his wife, Betty, of Earlysville; two nieces; four nephews; her sister-in-law, Joann Brown; and friends.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 5 in the Holly Memorial Gardens.

Sylvia Jeanette Campbell Jennings
Sylvia Jeanette Campbell Jennings, 66, of Roanoke, died on May 28.
She was a daughter of the late Roy B. and Virginia Napier Campbell.
She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Kay Powell of Roanoke, Lori C. May and her husband, Randall, of Madison Heights, and Annette Harper of South Carolina; former husband, James Powell of Roanoke; grandchildren, Timothy Lee Harper, Brandon Lee Powell, Kayla Lynn May, Kyle Alexander May, Jennifer Annette Smith and Wayne Eugene Smith; and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Lee Harper, and a brother, Roy C. Campbell.
A memorial service was conducted May 31 at the Oakey’s Roanoke Chapel in Roanoke.

Carol Elizabeth Johnson Goff
Carol Elizabeth Johnson Goff, 70, of Madison Heights, died June 1. She was the wife of Robert Irvin Goff for almost 54 years.
Born Dec. 13, 1937, in Lynchburg, she was a daughter of the late Edward Lee and Gladys Stillwell Johnson. She was a retired deli manager with Winn Dixie and was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church in Madison Heights.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Teresa G. Doss and her husband, Marvin, and Kathy G. Tomlin and her husband, Anderson; one brother, Warren L. Johnson and his wife, Dee; one sister, Nancy J. Tyree and her husband, Butch, all of Madison Heights; four grandchildren, Matthew Tomlin and his wife, Judylynn, Starr Harris and her husband, Chad, Molleigh Tomlin and McKain Tomlin; and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was conducted June 4 at Faith Baptist Church. Interment followed in Briarwood Memorial Gardens, Amherst.

Ray William Maddox
Ray William Maddox, 62, of Amherst, died on May 29. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Jordan Maddox.
Born Nov. 14, 1945, in Amherst County, he was a son of the late Osel and Pearl Shorter Maddox. He was retired from Dean Steel after over 20 years of service.
He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Brenda Kay Johnson Maddox; his stepdaughter, Denise Michelle Sloan; a brother, Maxie V. Maddox; and a sister, Pearl V. Maddox and her husband, Arnold.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Ray William Maddox Jr. of Rustburg; his daughter, Linda Kay Burnette and husband, Danny, of Lynchburg; stepdaughter, Sherry Lynn Sloan of Lynchburg; four brothers, James R. Maddox Sr. and wife, Helen, Osel W. Maddox Jr., David W. Maddox and wife, Dawn, and Hampton E. Maddox; two sisters, Minnie G. Maddox Ballard and husband, Paul, and Betty E. Maddox Murray and husband, Keith; three grandchildren, Ray William Maddox II, Raeann Michelle Maddox and David Thaxton Burnette; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A graveside service was conducted on June 1 at the Evans Family Cemetery.

Nancy Madeline Mays Martin
Nancy Madeline Mays Martin, 77, of Lynchburg, died on May 30.
Born Nov. 9, 1930, in Amherst County, she was a daughter of the late James and Rosa Floyd Mays. She attended Gethsemane Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sons, Hester Dodd Martin and wife, Margie, of Rustburg, Robert Wayne Martin Sr. and wife, Carol, of Concord, Richard Riley Martin of Madison Heights and Roy Lee Martin of Lynchburg; her daughter, Nancy Martin-Lowe of Lynchburg; two sisters, Susie Gilbert and husband, Raymond, and Odell Martin, both of Lynchburg; eight grandchildren, Rachael Madeline Martin, Cecil Martin, Angela Martin, Keith Martin, Krystal Martin, Robert Martin Jr., a grandson, Michael Dodd Lowe, and a granddaughter, Heather Marie Martin, and other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was conducted on June 2 at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Interment took place in Amherst Cemetery.

Theodore Kermit Scott Jr.
Theodore Kermit Scott Jr., 71, of Monroe, died May 26. He was the husband of Aadron Scott for over 50 years.
He is survived by his son, David Scott, of Amherst, and his daughters, Aadron Rausch, of Lafayette, Ind., and Tracey Scott and husband, Ricardo, of Harvard, Ill. He is also survived by his sister, Martha Jean Aldridge, of Seattle, Wash.; and three grandchildren, Jeanine McGill, Danielle Scott and Michael Scott.
He was born Oct. 18, 1936, in Pontotoc, Miss., and grew up in Leland, Miss. He attended Millsaps College, studied on scholarship in Germany, and received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. He taught philosophy at Yale University and then at Purdue University for 36 years. In 1993 he earned his master’s degree in social work and started his second career as a counselor. Throughout his life, he and his wife served their community, serving as citizen advocates, founding the Welfare Rights Organization, and founding the Food Bank of Lafayette, Ind.
The family will receive friends at the home of Kermit’s son, David Scott.

Ernest Thomasson Smith
Ernest Thomasson Smith, 81, of Lynchburg, died May 26.
Born July 10, 1926, he was the son of the late Ernest Terrell Smith and Emma Gertrude Williams Smith.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy as a corps man from 1944 to 1946. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1949 to 1952. He also served with the Lynchburg Life Saving and First Aid Crew for a number of years.
On June 6, 1953, he and Naomi Vine Brooks were married in College Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. J.J. Bowman.
He was a member of College Hill Baptist Church, where he served on the Board of Deacons and was treasurer of the board. He was also treasurer of his Sunday school class, the Fellowship Bible Class. He had also served on the finance committee and the property committee at various times through the years.
He was proud of his profession, retiring from the Lynchburg Fire Department in 1981 as a Battalion Chief after an exemplary career spanning 32 years. He was a charter member of the original Local 1146 of the International Association of Fire Fighters and a proud Honorary Member of the Lynchburg Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1146. He was also a long-standing member of the Virginia State Fire Fighters Association and was a member of the Lynchburg Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Fire Fighters.
He was predeceased by his parents; one brother, Malvin Terrell Smith; and three sisters, Margurite Frances Smith, Dorothy May Smith Fitzgerald and Lois Gertrude Smith McFaden.
Surviving are his wife, Naomi; one son, Anthony Vern Smith and his wife, Sharon; one daughter, Angela Vine Smith Price; two grandsons, James Stephen Price Jr. and Eric Thomasson Price, and their father, James Stephen Price.
A celebration of his life was held on May 29 at College Hill Baptist Church. Interment was in Spring Hill Cemetery.