Helen Rebecca “Becky” Puckett Wooldrige, 63, of Bedford, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 10, 2020 with her children by her side. She was born in Bedford, VA on April 30, 1957, a daughter of Helen Wright Puckett of Bedford and the late Thomas William Puckett. In addition to her father she was preceded in death by a brother, Tommy Puckett; and grandson, Eric Underwood. Becky was a loving wife, mother, daughter, grandma, and friend. She loved decorating, crafts, cooking, and being with her family. She was a kitchen designer at Lowe’s. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband of 43 years, Lewis Edward Wooldrige; daughter, Jill Underwood and husband, Gary; son, Kevin Wooldrige and fiancée, Janice; grandchildren, Michael and Briggs Underwood; honorary grandchildren, Austin Kidd and Lucas East; and many aunts, uncles, friends and other family. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 14, 2020 at Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. David Walton and Rev. Jimmy Compton officiating. We will be practicing social distancing for the safety of everyone involved and facemasks are encouraged. Friends may come by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, 317 W. Main Street, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 to view Becky and sign the register. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to the building fund at Bedford Christian Church. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360. 

 

Carl Franklie “Buck” White, 68, of Forest, died Saturday, May 9, 2020. He was born in Abington, VA on March 11, 1952 a son of the late James Edward White and Ruby Hess White. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby “Sissy” Clark. Buck was a retired carpenter. He was a honeybee enthusiast and enjoyed working with his beehives. He is survived by his sons, Carl White, Jr. and wife, Christina, Mark White and wife, Melissa, Charlie White and wife, Deanna, Kevin White; brothers, Roy and wife, Sue, Ronald, and Donald White; sister, Peggy Wooldridge; special friend, Dianne Arthur; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Honeybee Conservancy/SEE, Attn: Finance team, 23532 Calabasas Road, Suite A, Calabasas, CA 91302 or the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

 

Sharon Rose Burks, 71, of Goode, VA, was united with her Savior Lord Jesus Christ peacefully on 05/08/2020 at Lynchburg Health and Rehab in Lynchburg VA. She was born to parents Ellen Rose and Lincoln Rose, on 06/13/48 in Marytown, West Virginia. She went to Mount View High School (West Virginia). She loved English, History, Science and Math. Sharon Burks loved babies, children and any type of animals with dogs and cats being her favorite. If all she had was $5, she would give it to you. She was a caring, loving mother who loved to see you and talk on the phone as much as you let her. Mom had a special place in her heart for Jesus, that’s all she would talk about. Sharon is survived by Melanie Dalton and husband, Tommy Dalton, Landon Burks and his wife, Ashley, Heather Bosworth and husband, Tony Bosworth, Tara Archer and husband, Eddie Archer; Cindy Phelps (daughter-in-law of the late Todd Phelps); Pat Jennings (Son-n- law of the late Michelle Jennings). Mom had nine siblings, Yvonne Cox, Jewell Shortridge (deceased), Gay Markus (deceased), Wanda McCoy (deceased), James W. Rose (deceased), Janice Smith, Carole Stitt, Roger Rose (deceased), and Sandra Franklin. Sharon Burks has a lot of special grandkids that she loved deeply, Josh Phelps, Alan Phelps, Jesse Jennings, Shyan Jennings, Marshall Bosworth, Miranda Bosworth, Benjamin Archer, Madison Archer, Joey Dalton, Mark Dalton; great-grandchildren, Trent Lee Sherlin, Levi Dalton, and Caitlin Anglin, Kleigh Bruce and Carter Dalton. She will be sadly missed by all who loved her beyond what you could imagine. She had a lot of nieces and nephews and cousins in the family as well that she loved. Her special friends, she never met a stranger. A Memorial service will be held in her honor at a location soon to be announced in June. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lynchburg Humane Society 1211 Old Graves Mill Road Lynchburg VA 24502. The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the staff that cared for Mom while she was at Lynchburg Health and Rehab. The family has entrusted Burch Messier Funeral Home, Bedford with the arrangements.

Janet Quarles Hall, 92, passed peacefully in her sleep the morning of May 7, 2020. She is reunited in heaven with her husband of 55 years, Carlton Earl Hall. Janet was born in Buchanan, VA December 2, 1927 a daughter of the late Harry Franklin Quarles and Hannah Vivian Quarles Hall. She was also preceded in death by son, Keith Hall; sister Elizabeth Q. Watson; brothers, Owen F. Quarles, Lewis E. Quarles, and Dr. Carey L. Quarles  She is survived by her son, Kevin Hall (Lynn), daughters, Kelly Harris (Jeff) , Rose Kerry Payne ; daughter-in-law, Teresa Hall; grandchildren, Megan Norris (Phillip), Christian and Hunter Hall,Ian and Brock Harris, Laura Cronan  (Zach), Savannah Sutton (Craig), Amanda, Leigh, and Lissie Vining; great grandchildren, Parker and Fisher Norris, Raelyn and Ryleigh Cronan , Sebastian Sutton; sister, Tresa F. Quarles; brothers, Robert Jabe Quarles, J. Carson Quarles (Norma); sister-in-law, Karla Quarles. In lieu of  flowers please make a donation to Son Life Broadcasting Network (https://www.sonlifetv.com/).  Mom spent many hours enjoying the worship and music of this ministry.  You can also choose to make a donation to Mission Fiesta (www.mfiesta.org) – get involved/how you can help). Mission Fiesta is a missions team Mom helped found and took many mission trips with to Guatemala.  Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

 

William Edward “Bill” Witt, 78, of Rustburg, died Thursday, May 7, 2020. He was born in Lynchburg, VA on May 19, 1941 a son of the late Edward Allen Witt and Temperance Trevey Witt. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Susan Carter Witt; and two grandchildren, Travis Steele and Aaron Steele. He retired from Randolph Macon as the kitchen manager. Bill is survived by three step-sons, Lawrence Burley and wife, Suzanne, Tim Burley and wife, Marlana, Chris Burley and wife, Jackie; sister, Rosa Witt Williamson and husband Leroy; niece, Robyn Witt; nephew, David Witt; grandchildren, L.B. Burley, Lucas Burley, Tyler Burley, Logan Burley, Chase Burley and Amanda Steele. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

 

Patricia A. Witt of Bedford, Virginia, went to meet our heavenly father on Monday, May 4, 2020.  She was born in Thaxton, Virginia on May 1, 1945 and was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Ersel Elkins.  She was proceeded in death by her husband, Richard Earl Witt, whom she loved dearly.  She is survived by her son, Richard Dale Witt and wife Stacie, of Evington; and her daughter, Rhonda Akers and husband Mark, of Lynch Station.  She was blessed with six grandchildren, whom where the lights of her life, Nicholas Akers and wife Kylie, Sydney King, Christopher Akers, Carrie Akers, Matthew Witt and Adam Witt; and one great grandchild, Alexander Leal. There will be no public services held.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a memorial donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105. Arrangements are being handled by Burch-Messier Funeral Home in Bedford, Virginia, 540-586-7360.

 

Earlene Robertson, 87, of Lynchburg, died Sunday, May 3, 2020. She was born in Buckingham, VA on July 28, 1932, a daughter of the late Walker Samuel Robertson and Julia Dolan Robertson. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her twin sister, who passed away just three weeks ago, Jearlene Robertson; and two brothers, Maurice L. Robertson and William S. Robertson. She was a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church and retired from Haller Clock Company. Those left to cherish her memory are her sister, Ann R. Witt and husband, Vince of Forest; and many nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at Virginia Memorial Park with Rev. Ricky Ewing officiating. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

 

Harry Fuqua Nance, age 79, went to be with Jesus on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at his home surrounded by family. Harry was born February 11, 1941 on his mother’s birthday to the late Homer Fuqua Nance and Dovie Gibbs Nance.  He grew up in the Bunker Hill community on their family farm raising tobacco and cattle with his siblings Shirley Candler, Mary Ellen Spradlin, Edith Elliott, and Kenneth Nance (Faye). Harry graduated from Moneta High School in 1959 where he played on the school’s volleyball team before entering the workforce at Bunker Hill Store and Rubatex, where he was a nightshift foreman. Harry married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jean “Dottie” Myers, and leaves her to cherish his memory and their 58 years of marriage along with their four children, Jeannette Baylor, Cindy Epperly (Eddie), Chris Nance, and Julie Bays (Clyde). Harry’s greatest joy included his grandchildren, Waring Baylor, Landon Bays, Brennon Bays (Sydney), Karenna Bays, Libby Nance, and their “adopted” grandson, Derek Kirschner. He left them much wisdom that they’ll carry throughout their lives and pass along to their children and grandchildren. Mt. Olivet Southern Baptist Church was Harry’s lifelong church home and a place he helped build both physically and spiritually.  He loved to sing in the choir with his beautiful baritone voice. He and Dottie sang many duets together in church and at funerals throughout the county. He served as deacon, Sunday School teacher, and in most every other capacity there. His love for family and friends and spending time with them led him to plan annual reunions and church events. He organized homecoming Sundays, Christmas caroling throughout the Bunker Hill community, Bath County cabin gatherings, and was known as the reunion planner for both sides of his family. He enjoyed having everyone together and looked forward to every event. Springlake Livestock Market was where he could be found every Saturday talking with his farmer friends and gleaning market information to share with his family. Mondays found him at the Moneta Senior Citizen Center playing Rook and winning most games. He was also a master checker player and won most every game he played with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed his breakfast crew at Hardee’s, the lunch crew at Body Camp Store, and the Wednesday night “Choir Practice” gatherings with his neighbors. Harry is now gathering with those who have gone to Heaven ahead of him and he anxiously awaits those who will join him forever praising his Heavenly Father. He is in the heavenly choir singing “The King is Coming,” the song he is most noted for singing solo at church on many occasions. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Olivet Southern Baptist Church Audiovisual Department at 2933 Mt Olivet Rd, Bedford VA 24523 or The National D-Day Memorial at 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford VA 24523. Please place “In Memory of Harry Nance” in the memo area if you choose to give a contribution in his memory. Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, (540-586-7360) is handling arrangements.