Obituaries

Janet LaRue Brant Claytor, 81, formerly of Covington, died, Friday November 6, 2020 in the Woodlands Health and Rehab Center. Mrs. Claytor was born August 1, 1939 in Ronceverte, WV a daughter of the late Joseph L. Brant and Beulah Persinger Brant Anderson. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Robert "Bob" L. Claytor in 2002, two brothers and sisters in law; William "Bill" Brant and Frieda and Bud Brant and Charlotte, two sisters; Louise Brant and Ruth A. Bannister and husband Duke. Janet was a retired manager of the Clearview Town Homes as well as a member of Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and the Loyal Order of the Women of the Moose. Surviving are a daughter Pam Myers and husband Steve; a son Donald Buckland and wife Mary all of Covington, a granddaughter Candice Custis and husband Stewart of Richmond, two grandsons Michael Myers and wife Beth o...

Billy Grey Depriest, Sr., 65, of 341 Grande St., died Monday, November 2, 2020, at his residence. Mr. Depriest was born January 31, 1955, in Alleghany County a son of the late Ira T. Sr. and Pauline Rogers Depriest. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Ira Depriest Jr. Billy was an independent logger and a member of the Church of God of Prophecy. In his spare time, he loved to go coon and deer hunting as well as loved horses, the Dallas Cowboys, watching wrestling, and playing cards. He was a family man loved his grandkids and spending time with them at holidays. Surviving are his Wife of 46 years, Stella Wright Depriest, three daughters, Amy Collins, Tracy Richardson and husband Shawn all of Covington, and Rachel Depriest and Randy Pritt of Hot Springs, three sons Billy Depriest Jr., Bert Depriest and wife Kala, and Sammy Wright all of Covington, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren, six sisters, two brothers, two step brothers, a step mother Alice...

Billy Grey Depriest, Sr., 65, of 341 Grande St., died Monday, November 2, 2020, at his residence. Mr. Depriest was born January 31, 1955, in Alleghany County a son of the late Ira T. Sr. and Pauline Rogers Depriest. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Ira Depriest Jr. Billy was an independent logger and a member of the Church of God of Prophecy. In his spare time, he loved to go coon and deer hunting as well as loved horses, the Dallas Cowboys, watching wrestling, and playing cards. He was a family man loved his grandkids and spending time with them at holidays. Surviving are his Wife of 46 years, Stella Wright Depriest, three daughters, Amy Collins, Tracy Richardson and husband Shawn all of Covington, and Rachel Depriest and Randy Pritt of Hot Springs, three sons Billy Depriest Jr., Bert Depriest and wife Kala, and Sammy Wright all of Covington, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren, six sisters, two brothers, two step brothers, a step mother...

Virgie McDaniel Martin, 86, formerly of Covington, died, Sunday November 1, 2020 at the Alleghany Health and Rehab in Clifton Forge. Mrs. Martin was born December 31, 1933 in Alleghany County a daughter of the late Edgar and Nannie Lou Howard McDaniel. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a daughter Shirley Harris, a son Bill Bob Martin, a grandson Michael Harris, five sisters, and one brother. Surviving are a daughter Paula G. Brady, a son Randy Martin, a sister Pearl Wright all of Covington 15 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, special friends Lonnie Rider, Max Humphreys, Shirley Lamb, Jeff Lamb, and Melinda Hammer all of Covington. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. A private service will be held at a later date and the family will receive friends at other times at 204 N. McDonald Ave. Covington. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home....

Julian Ray Shaffier, 85, of Warm Springs died Sunday, November 1, 2020, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, WV. Mr. Shaffier was born September 9, 1935, in Bath County a son of the late James Oscar Shaffier and Lucy Margaret Hise Shaffier. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters. He was the retired Service Manager of the Covington Ford dealership and a member of Life Line Ministries Church. He was a member the Senior Golf Group at Cliffview Golf Course and loved to watch football. Surviving are his Wife of 67 years, Peggy Shaffier, of Warm Springs; his Son, Carl Eddie Shaffier and his Wife, Linda, of Warm Springs; two granddaughters, Marsha Perdue and her husband, Bart, of Warm Springs and Laura Shaffier of Louisa County; six great grandchildren, Brayden Gillespie of Clifton Forge, Sydney Jessee and her husband, Christian, of Covington, Faith May, Hope May, Owen Perdue and Cade Perdue, all of Warm Springs; four great great grandchildren, ...

Deanna Cherie Smith "Dee Dee" Simpson, 37, of 2810 Rich Patch Road died Sunday, November 1, 2020. Dee Dee was born March 2, 1983, in Alleghany County a Daughter of Judd and Carmen Stull Smith. Surviving in addition to her parents are her Daughter, Kaylyn "Belle" Simpson, and Belle's father, Nathaniel Simpson; her Sister, Judetta Marie Smith; her Brother, Linwood Lee "Woody" Smith; her paternal Grandparents, Carrol Lee and Doris Smith; her maternal grandparents, Sonny and Charlotte Stull; seven aunts and uncles, Robin Vokus, Jeff Smith, Linda Boggs, Ivan and Tammy Stull, Myron and Windy Stull, Meade and Beth Stull and George Stull; special nieces and nephews Sydney, Gracie, Riley and Sawyer and a number of great uncles and great aunts. The family extends thanks to her special hospice nurse, Autumn Anderson, and the Cancer Richmond team. She was a member of Rich Patch Union Church and was a former employee in the office of Tri County Furniture store in Covington. The funeral service wil...

Deanna Cherie Smith "Dee Dee" Simpson, 37, of 2810 Rich Patch Road died Sunday, November 1, 2020. Dee Dee was born March 2, 1983, in Alleghany County a Daughter of Judd and Carmen Stull Smith. Surviving in addition to her parents are her Daughter, Kaylyn "Belle" Simpson, and Belle's father, Nathaniel Simpson; her Sister, Judetta Marie Smith; her Brother, Linwood Lee "Woody" Smith; her paternal Grandparents, Carrol Lee and Doris Smith; her maternal grandparents, Sonny and Charlotte Stull; seven aunts and uncles, Robin Vokus, Jeff Smith, Linda Boggs, Ivan and Tammy Stull, Myron and Windy Stull, Meade and Beth Stull and George Stull; special nieces and nephews Sydney, Gracie, Riley and Sawyer and a number of great uncles and great aunts. The family extends thanks to her special hospice nurse, Autumn Anderson, and the Cancer Richmond team. She was a member of Rich Patch Union Church and was a former employee in the office of Tri County Furniture store in Covington. The funeral ser...

Sandy West Taylor, 61, of 6011 Bens Run Rd., died, Saturday October 31, 2020 at her residence. Mrs. Taylor was born April 30, 1959 in Alleghany County, the daughter of the late Harold E. and Juanita Dawson West. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by three uncles. Sandy was a clerk at the King Cutt Tobacco store as well as worked at the Sunoco in Covington. She loved to spend time with her family. Surviving are her husband Edward Taylor, a daughter Kayla Taylor and Chris Tucker, a granddaughter Ember Tucker all of Covington, and cousins. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. A private service will be held at a later date. The family suggests memorial donations in Mrs. Taylor's name to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home....

Kathleen Jerman Walker, 71, of 1507 N. Alleghany Avenue died Saturday, October 31, 2020, surrounded by her family at Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville. Mrs. Walker was born August 16, 1949, in Fairfax a daughter of Edith Toombs Pettitt of Covington and the late Calvin Jerman. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her Husband, Ronald G. Walker in 2015 and by a brother, Paul Jerman. She had retired from the Treasurer's Office of the City of Covington. She attended First Christian Church where she was very active. Surviving in addition to her Mother, are her Son, Jeffrey Holmes, of Fairfax; her grandson, Angelo Holmes, of Fairfax; a friend Leon Smith Jr.; four Sisters, Clara Copland Hanna and her husband, Joe, Karen Williams, and Beverly Baker and her husband, Richard, all of Covington, and Sharon Broughman and her husband, Carrol, of Clifton Forge; three brothers, J.C. Jerman and his wife, Jeannie, of Covington, Bobby Jerman and his wife, Norma, and Billy Jerman a...

Eunice Johnson Craft, 101, formerly of Augusta Street in Covington and Scott Hill Retirement Home in Clifton Forge went to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 29, 2020. Eunice was a patient at the Brian Center Rehabilitation Center in Low Moor when she went to her eternal home. Eunice was born in Charlottesville, Virginia on March 1, 1919 and was the daughter of the late Thomas Riley and Grace Taylor Johnson and also the late stepmother Rena Lambert Johnson. On September 11, 1948 Eunice married Harry Coolidge Craft They enjoyed 58 years together in marriage before Harry preceded her in death on April 21, 2006. She was a member of Calvary Christian Church in Covington. There she worked with the youth group, taught Sunday school, taught Bible School, cooked for Homecoming dinners and was locally somewhat famous for her Angel Rolls. She loved and was devoted and faithful to her church family. Over the years she served as a caregiver for other members of her ...

Cecil Raymond Taylor, 94, of Covington, died, Tuesday October 27, 2020 at the Alleghany Health and Rehab in Clifton Forge. Mr. Taylor was born August 22, 1926 in Glen Wilton a son of the late George Sr. and Gertrude Bryant Taylor. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter Dreama Taylor, one sister and two brothers. Cecil went into the Navy at the age of 17 and served on the USS Wisconsin during World War II. He worked as a mechanic at Hercules for many years and as a game warden for Alleghany County. Cecil was a member of Mallow Presbyterian Church as well as the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an avid outdoorsman and was a fan of the Covington Cougar Sports. Surviving are two daughters; Debra Taylor and Todd Fry of Covington and Jackie Pinkney and William Jordan of Waldorf, MD; a Son, James Robinson Jr. and his wife, Tammy, of Cumming, GA; ten grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. In keeping with ...

Sandra Bess Allard, 65, of 2800 School House Rd, died, Saturday October 24, 2020 in Lewis- Gale Montgomery Hospital, Blacksburg Va. Mrs. Allard was born September 29, 1955 in Covington, she was the daughter of late Floyd C. and Mavis May Bess. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Jerry Allard, uncle Roscoe Bess and her dog Max Sandra worked until 2009 as a bookkeeper for a lawyer's offices. She loved playing bingo, reading, and watching the Houston Astros. Surviving are a son Travis Allard of Columbus, OH, close friends Jim and Sue Porterfield of Covington, Mike and Darlene Daughtery of Sweet Springs, WV, Grover and Carol Persinger of Manvel, TX, and a number of other close friends. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. Arrangements are being handle by Arritt Funeral Home....