Pamely Kay Whitby, age 55, of Lawrenceville, VA passed away April 14, 2019. She is survived by her parents, Willie and Shirley Whitby; her children, Roger Gerome Craft, Jr., Robert Andy Craft and wife Crystal, and Jessica Lane Whitby; her grandchildren, Tyler Wayne Jones, Alexia Leann Craft, Andrew Scott Craft, Ryder Alexander Craft, Charles Walker Coxen, Hayley Hazel Craft and Mariah Rose Craft; her brother, Timothy Whitby; her sister, April Williams and husband Jimmy; her nephew, J.C. Williams; and special friend, Sharon Williams. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2019 at Williams Funeral Home, Lawrenceville. The family will receive friends after the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Department, 400 N. Main St., Lawrenceville, VA 23868; James Square Baptist Church, P.O. Box 643, Lawrenceville, VA 23868 or Gasburg Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 225, Gasburg, VA 23857.

Emily Bryant Peace, age 83 of Lawrenceville, VA passed through heaven’s gates on Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019. She is predeceased by her parents, James and Rosa Bryant; brothers, Curtis and Thomas Bryant; sister, Edith Bryant and her late husband Kenneth F. Peace. Emily was a talented floral designer, operating her own business for over 30 years. She was a devoted mother who instilled her hard work ethic and Christian values in her children. She created a loving home for her five children that was always filled with music and laughter. She is survived by her special friend of 22 years, Nick Yates of Gasburg, VA; her son Kenneth B. Peace (Gayle) of Midlothian, VA; her four daughters, Teresa Gendron (Dennis) of Smyrna, TN, Tracy Norris (Hersey) of Jarvisburg, NC, Angela Murphy (Tim) of Franklin, TN, Emily Harrison (Chip) of Glen Allen, VA; thirteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The family will receive friends and family at Williams Funeral Home in Lawrenceville on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 from 11:00 to 12:30 p.m. A graveside service will be conducted 3:00 p.m. at Mill Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery, 6329 Mill Swamp Road, Ivor, VA.

Ruby Lucy High, age 94, of Gasburg, VA passed away April 6, 2019. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Lawrence E. Lucy and Charlie Atkins High. She is survived by her two sons, Danny Lucy (Brenda Adcock) and Perry Lucy (Kim Lucy); her granddaughter, Danielle of TN; her great grandson, Reice of TN; her step children, Belinda Edwards, Pamela Clarke, David High, Vickie Oakley, Timothy High and Steve High; her brother, J. E. Lynch; her sister, Frances Cancel; and numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery, Lawrenceville, VA. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 at Oakwood Cemetery, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Hill Christian Church, P.O. Box 550 Gasburg, VA 23857. Williams Funeral Home, Lawrenceville will be handling the arrangements.

Della Elder Tucker, 88, of Rawlings, Va., departed this life on April 6, 2019. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, William Edmunds Tucker (Will). She is survived by a daughter Janet Scott Vincent (Lindsey); two sons, William E. Tucker, Jr. (Ute), Robert S. Tucker (Nancy); seven grandchildren, Claire Gilligan (Brian), Benjamin Vincent, Jason Vincent, Graham Tucker (Kelsey), Grace Tucker Bailey (Trent), Barrett Tucker (Vinny) and Emily Tucker; and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister Charlotte Miller (Wayne) and her lifelong friend Laura Coleman. Special thanks to David Heizer known as the third son and wife Sherri and to her devoted caregivers Alfreda Davis (Red) and Ann Winn. The family will receive friends and family at home in Rawlings from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Funeral Services will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday at Concord Presbyterian Church, 30 Harpers Bridge Rd., Rawlings, VA 23876, with interment in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Della’s name to Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, c/o William C. Tucker, Jr., 20806 Baskerville Mill Rd., McKenney, VA 23872. Williams Funeral Home in Lawrenceville is in charge of arrangements.

Phyllis Reid Blackwell, 89, of Richmond, VA, passed March 25, 2019, from this world to her eternal joy. She was born August 19, 1929, in Alberta, VA and was preceded in death by her beloved husband, J.D. Blackwell, her sister Virginia Mae Webster, of Manakin-Sabot, VA, and by her dear nephew, Jerry Blackwell. Phyllis is survived by her best friend and twin sister of 89 years, Frances Reid Blackwell of Roanoke Rapids, NC, and by her five children: Sharon Bradshaw, John (and Verla) Blackwell, Lynn (and Randy) Lordi, Ellen (and Bill) Hopkins, and Wirt Blackwell, along with eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, multiple nieces and nephews, and her dearly loved cat, Heidi. Upon graduating from Alberta High School, she and Fran boarded the train to Richmond, VA where they began modeling in the Miller and Rhodes Tea Room. Marriage followed and she and J.D. made their life of 49 years together in Dolphin, VA, where they raised their five children. Phyllis was deeply loved by all of her family and will be greatly missed. A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Crestview Memorial Park, La Crosse, VA. Williams Funeral Home, Lawrenceville will be handling the arrangements. In memory of Phyllis, Memorial donations may be made in honor of her great nephew, Luke Getchell, to: Connor's Heroes Foundation, PO Box 2536 Midlothian, VA 23113 or ASK Childhood Cancer 5211 West Broad Street, Suite 102, Richmond, VA 23230.

LaVene Short Painter, age 87, of Alberta, VA passed away March 23, 2019. She is preceded in death by her husband, Maynard Ernest Painter and her grandson, Justin Painter. She is survived by her children, Dale Painter (Denise), Nancy Reynolds (Glen) and Deborah Moore (Ervin, Jr.); her grandchildren, Dawn Jones (Coby), Faith Ash (Rel), Holly Painter, Lindsey Thompson (William), Brandi Kiser (Bryant), Ward Bruce, Stacey Reynolds and Jason Moore (Lauren); thirteen great grandchildren; and her brother, Maddux Short (Ailease). A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel Church Cemetery, Alberta, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 310 Pinehurst Place, Alberta, VA 23821.

Janet Turner Lofland, age 88, of Lawrenceville, VA passed away March 12, 2019. She was the daughter of the late DeWitt and Lula Whitby. She is preceded in death by her husbands, J. T. Turner and Howard Lee Lofland. She is survived by her children, Leigh Cancro and husband Tim, Gail Byrd and husband Carlton and John Turner and wife Juanita; her grandchildren, Daniel Cancro, Patricia Dinise, Stephanie Cancro, Caige Turner, Alex Byrd, Jaydon Turner, Abby Byrd and Riley-Grace Turner; five great grandchildren; three sisters, Marjorie Whitby, Helen Clary and Mary Lee Killebrew; and her brother, Spurgeon Whitby. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Hill Christian Church, Gasburg with interment in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home, Lawrenceville. Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Hill Christian Church P.O. Box 550, Gasburg, VA 23857 or a charity of your choice.

Lee Richard Cook entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he left us January 29, 2019 in Richmond, VA. He was born August 5, 1947 to Shirley and Irene (Ward) Cook of Searsport, Maine. He is survived by his wife, Alicia D. Cook of VA; his service dog “Buddy”; his sons, Gary Cook of Belfast, Maine, Troy Cook of Florida and Eros and Lee Cook, Jr. of NH; his daughters, Heaven Cook and Cindy McMahon both of Maine and Anna Cook of VA; two step children, Alison and Phillip Linne of VA; sixteen grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; his siblings, Ruth (Frank) Spacco from MA, Ronald (Barbara) Cook of Searsport, Maine and Brenda Williams of NM; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother (2017). Lee left Maine in the 60’s when he was drafted into the Army which he served two years, came out and was in active reserves until he joined the United States Navy. He retired from the Navy in 1995 as Chief. During his time in the Navy he was a recruiter out of Bangor, Maine. When he retired he opened his own business, Cook’s Sewing Machine Sales and Services in Virginia. He built a new sewing machine called “The Carpet Wizard” in 2009. It was a walking foot carpet binding machine. Along with running his business, the Navy was still in his life. He went on ships and repaired their sewing machines. He went into complete retirement in 2010 after fifteen years in business. He was a member of the M/C (Vietnam Vets Biker’s Club) out of North Caroling and CMA (Christian Motorcycle Assoc.) out of Virginia. He will be greatly missed by his best friends of 30 plus years, Larry and Ruth Ann Dunn of VA and Paul O’Brien of Virginia. Want to say thank you to all that took care of Lee at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia and to everyone who was sending prayers and support to his family during this time. A memorial service will be conducted 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Rd., Suffolk, Virginia 23434.

God revealed to Franklin Short “Egg” Riegel on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. that he was ready for “his trip” to heaven. He completed the trip the same day at 7:25 p.m., at his home with his wife by his side. “Egg”, born March 19, 1926, was the son of the late Earl Daniel and Ida Short Riegel. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Burnell “Bun” Riegel, Kathleen Grizzard, Christine Wilson and Jane Smith. “Egg” was a Navy Veteran of WWII, a retired rural mail carrier, a lifetime member of the local VWF and a lifetime member of Edgerton United Methodist Church. “Egg” is survived by his wife, Jane Thomas Riegel; daughter, Mary Caldwell of Freeman; and his great grandson that he raised as his son, Christopher Lucy of the home. “Egg” also is survived by his stepchildren and their spouses, Cheri (Dennis), Conway (David), Malcolm (Melissa), Becky, Chris, Glenn (Andrea), and a special son Ben (Carol). He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, beloved nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, and his side-kick and companion “Lucye”. Memorial services with military honors will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Edgerton United Methodist Church. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials contributions may be made to Edgerton United Methodist Church c/o Steve Browder, 366 Belfield Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868. “Egg” is best known for his caring gentle soul, compassion and generosity, his love for the Lord, and his wife “Sugar” and family. He will be greatly missed.

Virgil Jarman Phillips, age 80, of Brunswick County, VA passed away March 2, 2019. He is the son of the late Virgil and Harriet Phillips. He is survived by his sister, Peggy Byers and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at a later date.