James William Hale
May 29, 2026
James William “Scope” Hale, age 76, of Wytheville, VA passed away May 29, 2026 and was born July 29, 1949 in Wytheville. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth McMillian; brothers, Steve Hale, Fred McMillian and Robert Jeffery “Rocky” McMillian; a sister, Maggie McMillian.
Survivors include his children, Bianca Hale of Wytheville, Jennifer Taylor of Detroit MI, Latia Braxton...
Joshua Michael Whitaker
Sep 10, 2026
Joshua Whitaker, age 47, of Wytheville, VA passed away Thursday, September 10, 2026. He was born April 2, 1979 in Montgomery, Alabama.
Joshua loved to draw and fix things. He enjoyed fishing and was a big-time gamer.
Survivors include his mother, Rhonda Story Hall; his father, Michael Thomas Whitaker; his fiancée, Alison Tassler; a daughter, Ivy Whitaker; a son, Leland Whitaker; a...
Susan Collins Horton
Sep 5, 2026
Susan Lee Collins Horton, age 64, of Rural Retreat, VA passed away Saturday, September 5, 2026. She was born in Wythe County and was preceded in death by her mother, Sally Alley Collins.
Survivors include her father, Leon Collins; two daughters, Sierra Horton and Santanna Horton; a son, Ty Horton; two grandchildren, Kai Horton and Axel Edmonds; a brother, Danny Collins.
Funeral...
Robert Elwood Clark
Sep 3, 2026
Robert E. Clark (Buzzy) passed away September 3, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. Buzzy was preceded in death by his wife, Connie C. Clark, his sister, Jean and his brothers, Glenn, Donald, Bobby and Elmer and his bird “Molly”.
For his legacy, he leaves behind Amy (Joseph) Puckett, Deanna (Doug) Brandau, Robert (Cynthia) Clark Jr. and Mr. Magoo (Doodle). Also, his grandkids,...
Georganna Justine Davidson
Sep 1, 2026
Georganna Justine Davidson, age 74, of Crockett, Va., peacefully passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2026. She was born in Smyth County, Va., on March 25, 1952 to the late Walter Edward Creger Sr. and Mary Margaret Shrader Creger. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Walter Edward “Eddie” Creger Jr.
She was the kind of person who...
Everett Leon Ayers, Jr.
Aug 30, 2026
Everett Leon Ayers, Jr., affectionately known as Leon, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of memories, laughter, love and lessons that will remain with his family and friends forever.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Leon Ayers, Sr. and Shirley Porter Ayers.
He is survived by his loving wife...
Debbie Diane Umberger
Aug 29, 2026
Debbie Diane Brewster Umberger, age 67, of Wytheville, VA passed away Saturday, August 29, 2026. She was born January 19, 1959 in Wythe County, daughter of the late George Robert Brewster, Jr. and Bessie Kathelene “Dot” Cline Brewster. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Robert Eugene “Bobby” Brewster.
Debbie was a past employee of Alco Controls,...
Phillip Lee Byers
Aug 28, 2026
Phillip Lee Byers, age 80, of Rural Retreat, Virginia, passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026. He was born in Oakland, California, on December 6, 1945, to the late Orville Joseph Byers and Dessie Lee Richmond Byers. Phillip was preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife of 56 years, Nora Lee Williams Byers. He was a U.S....
Patsy Hagy Armstrong
Aug 27, 2026
Patsy Hagy Armstrong, 76, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026. Born on September 19, 1949, in Wythe County, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Wiley Ervin Hagy and Eva Virgie Johnson Hagy.
Loved by all who knew her, Patsy was celebrated for her radiant warmth, unforgettable bubbly personality, and a heart big enough to care for everyone around...
Danny Michael Cruff
Aug 24, 2026
Danny Michael Cruff, age 62, of Max Meadows, VA passed away Monday, August 24, 2026. He was born July 21, 1964 in Highpoint, NC and was preceded in death by his father, George Cruff and his maternal grandparents, George and Hazel Burnett York.
Survivors include his mother, Rita York Stanley of the home; his aunt, Lola Mitchell; his good friend, Beth...
Lillie Mae Jones Weiss
Aug 23, 2026
Lillie Mae Jones Weiss passed on to her heavenly home on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
She was born on May 19, 1938 to Charlie and Mary Armbrister Jones. She lived in Pulaski most of her life with her beloved husband, Jay who preceded her in death. Lillie was a hard worker and an especially kind hearted lady. She always had a...
Margie Darlene Sheppard
Aug 20, 2026
Margie Darlene Maynard Sheppard, age 57, of Valdez, NC passed away Thursday, August 20, 2026. She was born September 8, 1968 in Alexandria, VA and was preceded in death by her father, William Maynard.
Survivors include her son, James Sheppard and wife Crystal of Lenoir, NC; her mother, Patsy Taylor Maynard of Valdez, NC; three sisters, Drema Thompson and Randy of...
Josephine Ann Sawyers
Aug 20, 2026
Josephine Ann “JoAnn” Sawyers, 86, of Wytheville, VA died Thursday, August 20th, 2026 at Hillsville Health and Rehab Center. She was the daughter of the late Estel and Agnes Umberger, and was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church. She was employed for many years by Food Lion in Wytheville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy L....
Jerry Lane Buck
Aug 19, 2026
Jerry Lane Buck, age 78, of Rural Retreat, Va the Groseclose Community passed away at home on Wednesday August 19, 2026. He was born in Smyth Co., Va., on February 15, 1948, the son of the late Fred Vance Buck and Ollie Golden Widner Buck. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Larry Buck and Eugene “Gene”...
Richard Wayne Armstrong
Aug 19, 2026
Richard Wayne Armstrong, age 73, of Rural Retreat, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Born in Atkins, Virginia, on April 8, 1953, he was the son of the late Rufus Armstrong and Wilma Call Armstrong. One of ten children, Wayne was a devoted father, grandfather, brother, and friend.
Wayne was a faithful, longtime member of Rural Retreat Baptist...
Anna Laura Caviness
Aug 17, 2026
Anna Laura Spencer Caviness, 95, went to be with the Lord Monday, August 17, 2026. She was born September 5, 1930 in Max Meadows, VA, a daughter of the late William Alexander Spencer, Sr. and Mary Catherine Arnold Spencer.
Anna was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church. She had a passion for reading and working jigsaw puzzles.
In addition to her parents,...
Claude Allen Edwards
Aug 17, 2026
Claude Allen Edwards, age 87, of Dublin, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 17, 2026. Born in Haysi, Virginia, on January 11, 1939, he was the son of the late Jonah Edwards and Virgie Owens Edwards. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene Arnold and Leaman Edwards, and his sister, Flora Edwards.
A...
Carolyn Marshall Cox
Aug 14, 2026
Carolyn Marshall Cox, was taken to heaven on Friday, August 14, 2026. She was a loving, caring, stubborn person who took care of others all of her life. She took care of herself in Tenn for 45 years. Working at the VA hospital before coming back to Rural Retreat to take care of her mother.
Carolyn was preceded in death by...
Fred Lee Odum Jr.
Aug 14, 2026
Fred L. Odum, Jr., 78, of Austinville, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on August 14, 2026.
Fred was born in Welch, West Virginia, to Fred L. Odum, Sr. and Molly Elizabeth (Woody) Odum and grew up in Bartley, West Virginia. He graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia, with the Class of 1965, a group he cherished...
Pamela Joyce Phillippi
Aug 11, 2026
Pamela Joyce Phillippi, age 53, of Rural Retreat, Va, left this world on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Born on November 24, 1972, in Marion, Va to the late Kenneth Craver and Helen Anderson Craver, Pamela was a beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.
Pamela's artistic spirit shone through her love for drawing and painting. Her greatest joy came from the...