Shelia P. Morton

KINGSPORT — Sheila P. Morton, 55, of Kingsport, went home to be with her Lord on Friday (Oct. 8, 2010) at Indian Path Medical Center.

 

Shelia was born Aug. 23, 1955, in Washington, D.C., to the late Walter Clark and Priscilla Clark Hall. She was a native of Washington, D.C. Sheila was the mother of one child, and one grandson, whom she loved unconditionally. She was a loving mother, sister, and friend to all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Neil Morton Sr.; and a brother, Leroy Johnson.

Sheila is survived by one d a u g h t e r,

Jameca Wilson of Washington, D.C.; one grandson, Marc A. Beatty Jr.; a special friend and companion, Alan Lane; three sisters, Tryphena Whitfield, Leona Sanders and husband, Robert, Vanessa Powers and husband, Louis; three brothers, Andre Clark, Walter Clark and Orlando Clark; special friends, Harold J. Coleman Sr., James David Young Sr., and Linda Maxwell Wise.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Carter-Trent Funeral Home, 520 Watauga St., Kingsport, with the Rev. Dr. Anthony Daniels officiating.

Music will be provided by Trina Johnson serving as the soloist.

Repast will be held at the home of Linda Maxwell Wise, 908 Teasel Drive, Apt. #2, Kingsport, Tenn. 37660, immediately following the services.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is serving the Morton family.

Leonie Dor’Ann Williams

KINGSPORT — Leonie Dor’Ann Annette Williams, age one month and 3 days, went home to be with the Lord at Holston Valley Medical Center on Oct. 9, 2010.

She was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Leon Williams Sr.; maternal great-grandfather, Wyman Johnson; maternal great-grandmother, Annette Johnson.
She is survived by her mother, La-Toya Williams and father, Travis Hester; brother, Tyree Williams; grandmother, Suzette Beatty; aunt and uncle, Patrice Williams and Tyrone Rogers; aunt and uncle, Stephanie Mode and Stephen Williams and uncle Jeremy Williams; and a host of greataunts and uncles, and cousins.
Graveside services will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at East Lawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Charles Hawkins officiating. Family and friends are asked to gather at the graveside by 12:45 p.m.
Memorial services will follow at 3 p.m. at Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church with the Rev. Charles Hawkins officiating.
East Lawn Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Williams family.

Bertie Sue Ruffin

Bertie Sue Ruffin was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, the first child of Milton
C. Ruffin and Oakadel Leeper Ruffin both who preceded her in death. Bertie went
home to be with the Lord on October 6, 2010 in Christiana Hospital surrounded by
her daughters.

Bertie completed elementary and high school in Hawkins County, Tennessee and graduated as valedictorian from Swift High School. She was reading by age 4 and developed a love of books. After completing high school she moved to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she attended the Franklin Institute of Technology and became an X-Ray technologist for a number of years. Years later, Bertie attended University of Pennsylvania where she studied English Literature. Bertie was a Christian and attended church all her life. She was a member of First African Baptist Church for several years before joining Mount Hebron Baptist Church where she remained faithful until relocating to Delaware. She enjoyed hearing the choirs and reading the Bible.

Once Bertie moved to Delaware, she took pride in her volunteer work at the Middletown
Senior Center.

Bertie was affectionately known as “Bobbie” to her brothers, sisters and longtime
friends. She became involved in various social organizations in Philadelphia where
she met Patrick Mayazi. From this union were three children whom she took pride
in raising: Nema, Amina and Maisha.

Bertie was a devoted, loving mother, sister and friend. She enhanced the lives of her family in so many ways. She taught them laughter, perseverance and to recognize the important things in life. She always stressed the need for a good education and was always very involved in helping her children with homework and studying. Bertie enjoyed spending time with her family and sharing the family history. Bertie cared about her neighbors and would lend a hand to anyone in need.

Bertie loved classical music like Tchaikovsky and good soul music like the
Commodores, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Bertie was easy going, charismatic, fun
to be around and had a great sense of humor.

Bertie leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Nema Manuel(Brian) of Laurel
Maryland, Amina Mayazi-Saunders (Scott) of Middletown, Delaware, Maisha Mayazi
(Brian), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is survived by two sisters Barbra Ruffin
Boston of San Francisco, California, Constance Ruffin Darling of Denver, Colorado, two brothers, Milton Ronald Ruffin of Asheville, North Carolina and Roy Cassius Ruffin of Atlanta, Georgia, one sister-in-law Pamela Ruffin. She also leaves three very special grandchildren: Akili Gemina, Mekhi Giovanni, and Nia Simone. Also mourning her loss are two precious aunts: Luther Mae Bragg of West Hartford, Connecticut and Natalie Morris of White Pine, Tennessee, several cousins, Shelby, Mary Edith, Carolyn Sue of Hartford Connecticut, Dwayne, Sheila and Gayle of Tennessee. She also leaves to mourn special nephew Roy Ruffin, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends and a childhood friend, Jenni Belle Bristol of Kingsport, Tennessee and one special dog, Cinnamon whom she loved dearly.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. The service will take place at the Trinity AME Church located at 27 E. Lockwood Street in Middletown, DE 19709. The repast is at Amina's home located at 40 Watson Lane in Middletown, DE 19709.

Serving the Mayazi-Ruffin family is the Congo Funeral Home located at 201 N. Gray Avenue in Wilmington, DE 19805. The phone number is 302-652-8887.

A florist near Amina's home is Elana's Broad Street Florist and Gifts. The address is 500 N. Broad Street in Middletown, DE 19709 and the phone number is 302 285 0801.

Mr. Connie Swann Jr.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Mr. Connie Benjamin Harris Swann, 66, of Clarksville, Tenn., departed this life due to an automobile accident on Monday (Oct. 4, 2010) in Springfield, Tenn.

Mr. Swann was a graduate of Swift Memorial High School, Rogersville.
Mr. Swann was a decorated soldier in the U.S. Army. He was awarded among other medals the Purple Heart and Silver Star for Valor in Battle while serving in Vi e t n a m .
Preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Alfreda Swann; father, Mr. Ben H. Swann, Sr. and mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Lucille Looney Swann.
Survived by his two sons, Mr. Lonnie Looney, South Carolina and Mr. Benjamin Bellamy, Elizabethton; one daughter, Mrs. Rhonda Looney Brown Rogersville; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Mr. Carl E. Swann, Kingsport and Mr. Vernon L. Swann, Corinth, Tex.; three sisters, Mrs. Willie Mae (William) Hickman, Kingsport, Mrs. Barbara H. Greene, Church Hill and Ms. Marva A. Swann, Nashville, Tenn.; best cousin, Mrs. Margaret Johnson and devoted friend, Pam (Miss Bones) Swaggerty and Mr. Darnell Holmes; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. till the hour of service on Sunday at Carter-Trent Funeral Home. Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel.
The interment will be conducted at the V.A. National Cemetery, Mt. Home on Monday at 9 a.m. The cortege will depart at 8 a.m. from Mr. Carl’s Place of business on Lincoln Street.
Mr. Swann and family are in the care of R.A. Clark Funeral Service, Inc. 423-245-4971. www.raclarkfuneralservice.com.

Mr. George C. Smith

KINGSPORT — Mr. George C. Smith, 67, 734 Myrtle St., departed this life on Monday (Sept. 13, 2010) at the Wexford House.
Funeral services for Mr. Smith will take place in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday (Sept. 25, 2010) at Pernel Jones & Sons Funeral Home, 7120 Cedar Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 216-431-9205.
Mr. Smith and family are in the care of R.A. Clark Funeral Service, Inc. 423-245-4971. www.raclarkfuneralservice.com & Pernel Jones & Sons Funeral Home Cleveland, Ohio.

Illinoise Mitchell

BIG STONE GAP, Va. — Illinoise Tucker Mitchell, 99, entered into Heavenly rest on Tuesday (Aug. 24, 2010) at her residence.
She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. She lived most of her life in this area.

Illinoise was retired from The Bread and Chicken House formerly located in Big Stone Gap. She was one of the original founders of the business and served as a master baker and pastry decorator until her retirement.
Other endeavors she undertook during her life were serving on The Lonesome Pine Hospital Board of Directors for 20 years, a past Director of the Big Stone Gap Aware Program, an Inspector at Trigiani Garment Factory, cafeteria manager at the former Bland High School, housekeeper of Allandale Mansion, past Worthy Matron of Harold Chapter 180 Order of the Eastern Star.
She was very active in United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, she taught Sunday school for 30 years, she was a certified lay leader for the Methodist church. She graduated from Morristown College and attended high school at Bethune-Cookman School for young women in North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. S.L. and Elizabeth Hall Tucker; sister, Bertha Long; her husband, the Rev. Albert S. Mitchell; her nephews, J.B. Long, J.C. Long; and niece, Billie Jean Grier.
She is survived by her daughter, Alberta E. Mitchell of Big Stone Gap; her grandson, Kevin Mitchell of Kingsport; three greatgrandchildren, Aaron Davidson, Amber Aliff and Sarah Aliff of Kingsport and five great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors are nieces, Valeria Long, Lanham, Md., Ruth Hardin, Knoxville, Vivian Varner and husband, Lee, of Knoxville, Tenn., Darlene Curry, Waldorf, Md., Sheila Purnell and husband, John of Cincinnati, Ohio, Patricia Dulaney of Knoxville, Tenn.; nephews, Tim Long of Knoxville Tenn., Butch Long and wife, Carol, Quentin Long, Joseph Long Jr. and Virgil Long, all of Knoxville, Tenn. As well as a host of greatnieces and nephews; and special friend and road partner, Peggy Lane.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church, East First and Wyandotte, Big Stone Gap.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Graveside services will follow in the Oak View Cemetery, Big Stone Gap. Pallbearers will be family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made to the MEOC Fuel Fund or the Nutrition Fund, P.O. Box 888, Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219.
Online condolences maybe sent at gilliamfuneralhome.com.
Gilliam Funeral Home, Big Stone Gap, is serving the Mitchell family.

Jessie M. Logan Gamble

KINGSPORT — Jessie M. Logan Gamble, 80, of Kingsport, departed this life peacefully at her residence on Friday (Aug. 20, 2010).


Ms. Gamble was of the Baptist faith. She was a graduate of Douglass High School. She continued her education at Swift Memorial Junior College where she received her degree. Jessie retired from the Kingsport Press.
Ms. Gamble was preceded in death by her parents, Avery and Zinnia Moore Logan; an infant son, Peter; and her sister, Mary Frances Logan.
Surviving is her daughter, Kay Gamble of the home; two sons, Mark Gamble and Tyler Logan, both of Kingsport; three grandchildren, Brandon Gamble, Jamar Hardy and Brandi Gamble; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Ford of Johnson City; two brothers, Herman Logan and Avery Logan, Jr., both of Kingsport; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to her friend, Kay Hall.
The family will receive friends in the J. Wayne Hamilton Memorial Chapel of Oak Hill Funeral Home on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m.
Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Matthew Thomas officiating.
Graveside services will follow in the Garden of Christus in Oak Hill Memorial Park. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers The staff of Oak Hill Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremations is honored to serve the family of Jessie M. Logan Gamble. An online guest registry may be signed at http://www.oakhillmemorialpark.com.