Ida Lee Bellamy

BIG STONE GAP, Va. — Ida Lee Bellamy, 96, “Mama Lee” as she was affectionately called, died on Thursday (May 5, 2011) at Heritage Hall Healthcare in Big Stone Gap, following a lengthy illness.

She was born in Carbon Hill, Alabama, on May 25, 1914. She lived most of her life in Roda, Virginia, and Big Stone Gap. She loved to cook and worked many years as a cook at Ray’s Café and the old Monte Vista Hotel. She owned and operated her own restaurant in Pennington Gap, Virginia, called “Bellamy’s Café” in the late 1960s. Ida confessed Christ at a young age and was a member of First Baptist Church in Big Stone Gap, which she attended regularly and often worked in the kitchen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Bellamy; her parents, Jim and Ida Bell Darkins Owens; a brother, Charlie Owens; and a sister, Laura Mae Owens.
She leaves to mourn a devoted god-daughter, Teresa L. Hollinger of Big Stone Gap, Va., a great-nephew, Tim Camp of Big Stone Gap and a host of friends.
Friends may call from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Holding Funeral Home (17 E. 3rd St., N.) in Big Stone Gap.
The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Sandra Jones, Elder Carolyn Smith, Apostle Yanthophalees Jackson and Rev. Mike Rafe officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oak View Cemetery in Big Stone Gap.
On-line condolences may be to www.holdingfuneralhome.com.
Holding Funeral Home is proud to serve the Bellamy family.