Denis Frederic Deane, 76, an Educator, Counselor, Coach, Business Executive, Thespian, and Raconteur of Bedford, passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. He was born in Trenton, NJ on December 25, 1946 a son of the late Richard Frederic and Catherine Shea Deane. He is survived by his wife Ellen Simpson Deane of Bedford, VA; and brother and sister-in-law, Kevin and Elizabeth Deane of Roanoke, VA. He was a graduate of Roanoke Catholic High School, Belmont Abbey College, and the University of Virginia. Denis spent fifteen years as a teacher and principal for Bedford County Schools. He moved to the world of business as HR director at Piedmont Label (now Smyth Companies). From there he moved to the nonprofit world as the HR director at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg. At both Piedmont Label and Westminster Canterbury, he became a vice president. His two major passions were theatre and baseball. During his forty-five years as an active member of Little Town Players, he participated in one way or another in one hundred and forty shows; acting, directing, set designing and construction, designing and setting lights, etc. For many years, he was in charge of buildings and grounds and led many projects. He served on the board of directors several times. The theatre was his home away from home. Denis saw baseball games in ballparks in every city with a major league team. Denis may best be remembered for his story telling. Regardless of the subject, he had a tale to spin. He was an entertainer for all of his life. Somehow, we think he’s probably continuing to entertain others. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 22, 2023 at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church. Family will receive friends 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Thursday at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut Street, Bedford. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Danny Lee Overstreet, 67, of Bedford, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023. He was born in Bedford, VA on February 3, 1956 a son of the late Edward Burks Overstreet, Sr. and Edna Carter Welch. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Wild Overstreet; daughter, Christina Overstreet; nephew, Terry Overstreet; and sisters, Susie Overstreet and Loretta Overstreet. He retired from Cintas. Danny is survived by his daughters, Melissa Wiggins (Fernando), Danielle Overstreet (Ty), Jessika Overstreet (Von); son, Brian Nelson (Caren); brothers, Edward Overstreet, Jr., Wayne Overstreet (Kelly); sister, Pam Shepherd (Tim); aunts, Annie Orange, Arlene Hartberger; grandsons, Joshua Wiggins, Douglas Bryant; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to his hospice nurse, Donna Mitchell with Gentle Shepherd Hospice. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, with Rev. Earl Ragland officiating. Family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut St. Bedford. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Lois Marie McCormick Wilson, 76, of Rustburg, Virginia died Saturday, December 9, 2023 at her home. She was the wife of Roy Theodore Wilson Sr. for 63 years. Lois was born on January 21, 1947 in Rustburg, daughter of late Warren R. McCormick Sr and Mildred Hughes. She was a member of Bible Baptist Church, and she retired from Seckman Printing. She enjoyed going to Myrtle Beach and being by the pool with her kids and grandchildren. In addition of her husband , she is survived by son, Roy Theodore Wilson, Jr. and wife Christy of Rustburg; two daughters, Rhonda Duff and late husband Alfred T. Duff of Rustburg , Jennifer Torrents and husband Pete of Gladys; two sisters, Kathy Donald, Carolyn Franklin; two brothers, Warren Buster McCormick, Charlie Tanner; grandchildren, Selina Crank, Lawrence Crank III (Jenny ), Cher’e Lynn Franklin, Lewis Carroll Jr. ( Liz), Kandice Silby, Lily Carroll, Anna Torrents; great-grandchildren, Faith Crank, Dylan Crank, Ryan Crank, Liam Crank, Haley Franklin, Brandon Franklin, Josie Cyrus, Jeremiah Cyrus, Carter Beverly, Emberlynn Ferguson, Genesis Esteban, Hudson Carroll, and two great-great grandchildren, Onyx Graves and Ostin Graves. She was preceded in death by her father, Warren R McCormick Sr.; mother, Mildred Hughes McCormick; sisters, Molly Rankin , Joanne Rosser, and brother, Richard McCormick. And a special thanks to Mary Powell CNA with Centra Hospice , and her sister in law, Eleanor W. Sheriff who’s taken care of Lois the last four years. A memorial service will be held Living Water Baptist Church in Madison Heights, Virginia Saturday December 16, 2023 at 2pm. Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, is assisting the family.

Kevin John Long, 72, of Red House, Virginia, was born in New York City on February 25, 1951.  He passed away on December 4, 2023, surrounded by his family, after a short and courageous battle with cancer.  Kevin is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; his four children, Zack (Beth), Lexy (Nate), Kristin (Rory), and Sean (Sarah); six grandchildren: Annabel Long; Katherine, Isaac, and Gabriel George; Theo and Gilbert Francisco; and many friends and extended family.  He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Regina Long, and two siblings who died in infancy.  Kevin and Kathy met in the theater department of Kean College, New Jersey, in 1970.  They were married on October 22, 1972 and moved to Virginia in 1984.  At the time of his death, Kevin was an entrepreneur with several rental properties but he had a varied professional life.  He was a real estate agent, a sales agent, a sales manager, and owned several small businesses, including a plant and floral shop, where he gave lessons in floral design, with Kathy in their 20s and 30s.  In his 50s, he set his mind to learning the ins and outs of construction.  Kevin could run electrical, install HVAC units and plumbing, lay a variety of flooring and tile, build decks, and completely remodel the inside of a home.  One of Kevin’s remarkable traits was if he took an interest in something, he could learn to do it.  When he and Kathy lived in New Jersey, he taught himself to sail by reading a book and would take his fledgling family out on their small sailboat, aptly named “Little Zack.” As a young man, Kevin was quite the athlete; he could swim, box, wrestle, ice skate, and ski.  But he also had a sensitive side: Kevin loved musicals, reading, and watching movies.  He was a skilled artist with both pencil and paint.  He enjoyed calligraphy and doodling.  Kevin was an outdoorsman and loved nature as evidenced by the abundance of plants and flowers surrounding the family home; he took it as a fun challenge to name and identify plants when out for a walk and was a bonsai enthusiast.  He was a lively cook and enjoyed surprising Kathy with a new recipe he had created.  He was fond of horses and owned and trained many throughout his life.  Kevin loved Christmas–the decorations, the food, the music, and giving gifts.  He could tell a good joke, the cornier, the better.  He had a big smile and an even bigger laugh.  Kevin lived his life with passion and zest–he did everything with purpose, including the forceful opening and closing of doors and cabinets.  Above all, Kevin valued and took pride in his family.  When asked how he stayed married for 51 years, he would explain that he and Kathy had just the right amount of love and stubbornness.  He was proud that all four of his children completed college and found wonderful partners.  His grandchildren brought him joy and made him laugh.  He had a quiet faith that he lived out by trying to help others.  His favorite verse was Isaiah 40:31 and it brought him comfort in his final months: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” He requested a small, private, family gathering to celebrate his life.  He will be remembered for his intensity, his good humor, his outlandish aphorisms and turns of phrases, his grit, and the fact that he never lived a day with the thought, “I can’t.”  We love you, Kevin/Dad/Pappy.   Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.

Lloyd Thomas (Tom) Bloyd (age 98) was born on September 10, 1925 In Hoopeston, Illinois and died December 2, 2023 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the son of William Thomas Bloyd and Daisy Bee Judd Bloyd. He is survived by 2 daughters, Donna Bloyd Tuley (Don) of Pontiac, Illinois, and Ellen Bloyd Beach Richardson of Hillsville, Virginia, 5 grandchildren: Amy Beach Crisp (Jerry) of Lynchburg, VA, Hillary Beach Culler (Jeff) of Hillsville, VA, Benjamin Thomas Beach (Megan) of Lynchburg, VA, Michael Ray Tuley (Kristin) of Pontiac, IL and Joshua Thomas Tuley of Pontiac, IL; 7 great grandchildren: Bayley Elizabeth Crisp Lindevaldson (Joshua), Taylor William Crisp, Isabella Lowe Crisp, Samantha Dawn Beach, Chloe Lynn Beach, and Sadie Grace Beach, all of Lynchburg, VA, Camden James Tuley of Pontiac, IL, sister-in-law Tammy Walker Bloyd of Omaha, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 67 years, Grace Marie Pyle Bloyd, 4 brothers: Troy (Vera), Glenn (Margaret), Lars, David (Tammy), 2 sisters: Erminee Bloyd Boughton (Stanley) and Inez Bloyd Ferrell (Dale), a niece, Linda Kay Bloyd, one great grandson, Dane Michael Tuley, and a great nephew, Eric Steven Lewis. Tom attended schools in Hoopeston, Illinois and graduated from John Greer High School in 1943. He proudly served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II in the South Pacific as a turret gunner on B24 aircraft. He held several jobs before beginning a career with the Spurgeon Mercantile Company stores. He was a store manager in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota before being promoted and returning to Illinois to work as a buyer in their Chicago office. He retired after 40 years with the company. Tom was active in several churches throughout his life, often serving as Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder, and trustee. He was a popular greeter for 33 years at Blue Ridge Community Church in New London, Virgina, where he and Grace were members.  He hand wrote birthday cards and sent them to members of BRCC, often sending 450 cards every month. He continued to mentor younger Christians, sharing his godly wisdom and humor. A special thanks to his Friday morning breakfast group, who loved and served him so well. He and Grace loved to entertain, and their home was a refuge and haven for many. He enjoyed time in his workshop, producing beautiful furniture, memo boxes, book boxes and other useful and special items. He also enjoyed golfing, hiking, reading, going to yard sales, and especially, camping with Grace in a series of trailers named the Tag-a-Long. A Celebration of life will be held at Blue Ridge Community Church (2361 New London Road, Forest, VA 24551) on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Burch-Messier Funeral Home in Bedford, VA is serving the family.

Vickie Perdue Uzelac, 63, of Blue Ridge, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023. She was born in Christiansburg, VA on April 11, 1960 a daughter of the late Robert Oscar Perdue and Retha James Perdue. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Mirko Uzelac; brother-in-law, Pete Uzelac and Pam Brown; sister-in-law, Dana Dooley and husband Patrick; numerous nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; cousins; and close family and friends. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). A visitation will be held 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut St., Bedford. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.