Obituaries

Virginia Crawford Halsey, 86, of Covington, Virginia transitioned to eternal rest on Friday, January 14, at Lewis-Gale Alleghany following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her soulmate, the late George W. Halsey, Sr., and their son William M. Halsey. She leaves behind three sons and their families, Reverend David Halsey, Sr., wife Billie Jo, and son David Halsey, Jr. Larry Halsey and children, Natalia Kirk, Lawrence Halsey and Michaela Halsey. George W. Halsey, Jr., wife Clarice, and stepsons Michael Allen, Jr., and Martrell Allen. Two daughters and their families, Denise H. Young, Ph.D. and Billy Young and children Adrienne Young and India Young and great-granddaughter Autumn Marie Young. Nicole Halsey-Fenderson and Robert Fenderson and their children Jayden Fenderson, Braylen Fenderson and stepdaughter Alyka Fenderson. Due to heightened COVID concerns, funeral services will be conducted for immediate family only. A Private service will be held on Thursday. The funeral a...

James Henry Durham, 81, of Union Hall, died, Thursday January 13, 2022, at Runk & Pratt assisted living in Forest. Mr. Durham was born June 19, 1940, in Campbell County, a son of the late Joseph Hermit Durham Sr. and Alice Mae Tucker Durham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother John Roscoe Durham, and a son in law Maurice Harris. He started working at a young age delivering newspapers. In his teen years he worked doing many different jobs from working in a grocery store and at a local gas station. He eventually met our mom and they married on September 20, 1959. In 1965 they made the move to Manassas Virgina and he worked for Scope Corporation working long hours learning the trade of machinist. In 1970 him and his brother established their own company Precision Engineering and Manufacturing company. They started out in a little weight house in the front of Sam's Junk yard in Gainesville, Virginia. He eventually built a larger space there and really gre...

Debra Lee Smith Peterson 71, of 227 E. Marshall St died Thursday January 13, 2022, in Lewis - Gale Alleghany Regional Hospital Low Moor. She was born December 1, 1950, in Alleghany Co. she was the daughter of the late Arden Smith and Sylva Jean Wilcher Smith, other than her parents she was preceded in death by her brother Larry Smith Debra was a retired LPN for over thirty years. Surviving are her two sons Robert Peterson and his wife Ashley of Salem, Christopher Peterson of Covington, four grandchildren Willow Peterson, Khalil Gray, Gabriel Willard, and Shaylee Willard.one brother John Condo of Staunton, also surviving niece and nephew. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated/ A service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handle by Arritt Funeral Home....

Earl Wayne Whitmer, 88, of Covington, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at Lewis Gale-Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor. Mr. Whitmer was born on February 24, 1933, in Covington, a son of the late Linwood E. Whitmer and Ruby Rae Whitmer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Karren Slayton Whitmer in 2018, and a sister, Pat Matheny. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was employed at General Electric for 32.5 years. Surviving are his children; Robbie and Jeff Horn, Gary Whitmer, Jackie and Jeff Baker, and Robert Alan Whitmer, all of Covington; grandchildren, Jennifer and Matt Lodge of Covington, Jason and Kelly Persinger of Roanoke, Neil Horn, Jessy and Brad Hise, both of Covington, and Meagan Whitmer of Roanoke, Jeri Hinebaugh and husband Dwayne; great-grandchildren, Heidi, Maddie, Aiden, Doc, Mila, Kellan, Gemma, Layla, Trevor, and Kember; one brother, Larry Allen and Pat Whitmer of Covington; and several nieces and nephews. The...

Joshua Matthew Schnell, 31, of Covington, died, Monday January 10, 2022. Mr. Schnell was born October 4, 1990, in Findlay, OH a son of Thomas Schnell and Rita Zimmer Reynolds. He was a food lion associate and loved to kayak, hike, play disc golf, ad enjoyed spending time with his dogs. In keeping with his wishes his body has been cremated. Surviving in addition to his father and mother are his stepfather John Reynolds of Hot Springs; two daughters Callie Schnell of Hot Springs and Avery Schnell of Covington; his fianc Ashley Wright of Covington; his maternal grandparents Eva Zimmer Shipley and husband Mike Toledo, OH; his paternal grandparents Donald and Jane Schnell of Indianapolis, IN; two brothers Johnny Schnell of Toledo, OH and Jesse Brown of Napoleon, OH; a half-sister Megan Schnell of Washington D.C.; and a number of aunts and uncles. A private service will be held at a later date. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home....

Jean Elizabeth Wright Taylor of Covington, passed away Monday January 10, 2022 in the Lewis-Gale Alleghany Regional Hospital , was the third of seven children born to late Eugene & Emma Wright on February 15, 1948, in Bath County, Virginia. She was educated at Union Hurst & Jeter Watson School in Covington, VA. After graduation she moved to Mount Vernon, New York where she continued her education in nursing. A tragedy happened and she left NY. She moved to Washington, DC where she met the love of her life, Nathaniel "Pete" Taylor. They joined Master's Childs Church of Deliverance and were married by Bishop Melvin Robinson on May 23, 1981 until the Lord led them to Kelsey Temple Church of God in Christ where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, a Missionary Evangelist and an Altar Worker extraordinaire! She often said, "No one was too dirty or too low for God!" Evangelist Taylor loved God, loved her family and "dem boys," the Dallas Cowboys! She had a special bond with the young peop...

Carole Jean Persinger Campbell,79, of Covington went to meet her Lord and Savior on Monday, January 10, 2022, at Augusta Health in Fishersville, following a long battle with cancer. She was born on August 1, 1942, in Covington, the daughter of the late James Roscoe and Lois Cale Persinger. Carole gained the most joy in life from her family as well as her love of God and her church. She played piano for Moss Run Baptist for many years. Throughout her prolong illness her faith as well as encouragement of family and friends were a constant support to her. Surviving are her husband, constant companion and best friend of 53 years Garland Edward Campbell of Covington, a son Garland Adam Campbell, MD and his wife Angela Best-Campbell of Waynesboro, VA. A celebration of Carole's life will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday January 13, 2022, at Moss Run Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank Sizemore officiating, assisted by the Rev. Lynn Wright. The interment will be made in Fletcher Chapel Cemetery. Th...

Donald Martin Doak, 54, of Shenandoah, died, Saturday January 8, 2022, at his residence. He was born January 27, 1967, in Baltimore MD, he was the son of the late Ernest and Dorothy Conroy Doak. Donald loved being around his family and racing. He is survived by a son Caleb Doak of FL and special friend Linda Raffo of Shenandoah. In keeping with his wishes his body has been cremated. A service will be held at a later. Arrangements are being handled Arritt Funeral Home....

Rena Oliver Claytor, 73, formally of Fredericksburg and Covington native died at the Woodlands Health and Rehab Center on Friday, January 7, 2022. Mrs. Claytor was born June 16, 1948, in Covington a daughter of the late Sidney E. and Virginia Lambert Oliver. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Claytor, in 2018, and a sister-in-law Linda Oliver, Brother-in-law Steve Hoke Surviving are her daughter Rana Claytor Buchanan and husband Dean; a grandson Justis Beverly all of Fredericksburg; three brothers, Tom Oliver of Clifton Forge, James Oliver and wife Diane of TN; and Roger Oliver and wife Dixie of Covington; two sisters-in-law Barbara Trail and husband Henry of Roanoke and Kristie Claytor of Troutville; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was a member of Calvary Christian Church. A funeral service will be held on Friday January 14, 2022, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Warren officiating. The family will ...

Theda Sylvia Childs Bess, 94, of 211 E. Gray St., died, Wednesday January 5, 2022, at her residence. Mrs. Bess was born December 22, 1927, in Alleghany Co. a daughter of the late Harrison McKinley and Arena Myrtle Tingler Childs. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband in 2006 Ernest Roscoe Bess; and a sister Celia Maude Childs Ginn. She was a graduate of Covington High School and worked as a secretary for the FBI in Washington for a time. She retired in 1992 as a secretary for the Westvaco and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved to square and line dance as well as loved animals and served diligently in her callings to the church. She was very willing to help those who were less fortunate. Surviving are her special close friends James Arritt and wife Jeanie; longtime caretakers Brenda Bogar and Twila Boyd. A funeral service will be held on Saturday January 8, 2022, at 3:00 PM in Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the ...

Michael Lee Winnings, 61, of 2032 S. Lee St., died, Tuesday January 4, 2022, at his residence. He was born on April 19, 1960, in Greenbrier Co. WV. a son of the late Harold M. Winnings. Sr. and Leona Gray Ross. Michael served in the United States Navy for eleven years, and he worked for Little Debbie Cake Co., also a former employee of Walmart. Surviving are his wife Donna Jeter Winnings of Covington, a son Tony Jeter of Covington, a daughter Michelle Epps of Roanoke, 4 grandchildren Isaiah Epps, Tamaria Epps, Saniaya Epps all of Roanoke and Corey Jeter of Covington, three bothers Larry Winnings of Newport News, Harold Winnings and Terry Winnings all Charleston, WV. one sister Brenda Barnes of Wilmington, NC. And number of nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. A memorial service will be held Saturday January 8, 2022, 12:00 PM in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Stephanie Clark officiating. Arrangements are being handle by Arritt Funeral Ho...

Peggy Wolfe Blankenship, 78, of Covington, Virginia died Sunday January 2, 2021, at Raleigh Court Health & Rehabilitation Center in Roanoke, Virginia. She was born February 1, 1943, in Alleghany County to Walter E. and Mildred Rose Wolfe. She was preceded in death by her parents as well as her husband Gerald E. "Jerry" Blankenship who died in 2017. Peggy had worked at Walmart as a greeter, and she loved going to the Covington Lumberjacks baseball games. Surviving are her brother Ryland E. Wolfe and his wife Marylen of Clifton Forge, nephew Billy Warnock and his wife Mimi of Boones Mill, along with great-nephews. The funeral service will be held 1:00 PM Friday, January 7, 2022, in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Gilliland officiating. The interment will follow in the Johnson Creek ARP Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. Arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home. Service Friday, January 7, 2022 12:33 AM Arritt...