Diane Lucas Crockett 74, of Moneta, passed away peacefully at Virginia Baptist Hospital on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Diane was born in Lynchburg, VA and spent many of her early years helping to care for her siblings. She graduated from E.C. Glass High School, class of ’68, and continued her education by attaining a bachelor’s degree at Lynchburg College. Eventually, she took a leap of faith and moved away to Virginia Beach where she met and married her husband of 38 years, Barry Crockett. Together, they had one daughter, Ally, who was the apple of her eye. They raised their daughter together for many years in the Tidewater area before moving to Bedford. Her sociability and kindheartedness led her on many paths focused primarily on helping others of all ages. Diane worked for several years as an adult probation and parole officer before finding her true passion for working with children. What started as a job at KinderCare, eventually led to her opening her own daycare, which she ran out of her home for many years. Later in life, she began a journey into social work where she advocated fiercely for many. Her heart for those who needed care and could not otherwise help themselves was matchless. She worked for Adult Protective Services in Bedford for a long time before transitioning into the Roanoke and Franklin County Public School systems, where she aided and worked with children daily. After retiring from the state of Virginia social system, she began to fully embrace her most treasured role of all as a “Mimi” to her two grandsons. She helped to raise and nurture them with their parents and was involved in almost every aspect of their lives. They were the absolute joy and fulfillment of her heart and life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Alice Lucas; brother, Jackie Lucas; and son-in-law, Michael Keeney. She is survived by her husband, Barry Crockett; daughter, Ally Gile (Taylor); her grandchildren, Silas & Sawyer Gile; brother, Alan Lucas (LaDonna); sister, Kathy Lucas; nephews, Trenten Fenster and Jason Lucas; and special friend, Linda Hall. Diane was an incredible and wonderful woman with unwavering faith in God. She devoted her life to caring for others and selflessly gave her time, strength and love. She lit up a room wherever she went and never once met a stranger. She will live on in the hearts and memories of the countless people she has touched. We will continue to hold on to the great hope that we will see her again one day when Christ returns. A visitation for friends and family will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, November 3, 2024, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3:00 p.m. at Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut St., Bedford, VA 24523. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.
Vie Thompson Edwards, 84, of Bedford and formerly of Lynchburg, passed away peacefully at home. By her side, was her husband of 69 years, Pastor Kennith R. Edwards, Sr. Born in Tuckerman, Ark. on Dec. 12, 1939, the daughter of the late Nobel and Hazel Bailey Thompson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters: Ruthie (Wesley) Lawrence and Cheryl (Brad) VanAtta, both of Bedford; son, Kennith (Donna) Edwards, Jr. of Lynchburg; five grandchildren, Shiloh (Meaghan) and Dakota Pellman, Ashley, Lindsey and Alex Edwards; and six great-grandchildren. Vie loved the Lord and was a member of Longwood Avenue Baptist Church and had retired from Walmart after 17 years. She enjoyed decorating her home for the holidays and was a wonderful pie maker and loved talking to people and making new friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 pm, Friday October 18, 2024 at Longwood Avenue Baptist Church by Pastor Ross Gilfillen. Visitation will be for 1 hour, prior to the service, at the church. Entombment will be at 11:00 am, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 in the lower mausoleum at Fort Hill Memorial Park. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.
Isaac Graham Cyrus, 23, of Bedford, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024. He was born in Lynchburg, VA on April 4, 2001 a son of Michael Everett Cyrus and Tammy Lynn Wooldridge (Glenn Fielder). He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Mary Cyrus; paternal grandfather, Rev. Edward Cyrus; and maternal grandfather, Homer Wooldridge; aunt, Patsy Cyrus Taylor; and uncles, Jimmy Cyrus and Richard Cyrus. Isaac was the life of the party. He was the satire, the joker and sarcasm. Isaac had a lot of hood in him to be a white boy but he was never ever too cool for anyone. He never made anyone feel out of place. He loved his parents, his aunts, and his whole family. His facial expressions were everything. He was good with the kids and polite to the adults. Isaac had good taste in football and it was the Dallas Cowboys. Isaac was smooth with the ladies and had a heart of gold and a genuine soul. He was a hard worker having worked at Runk & Pratt for 3 years before he started working at Flowers Bakery and also working at his dad’s company, Impact Home and Lawncare Maintenance; having worked with him for 11 years. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his Meemaw, Rushie Wooldridge; beloved aunts, Jane Francis (Gary), Teresa Burton (Roger), Barbara Cyrus, Amy Watson (Todd), Melinda Phillips (Frank), Michelle Tuck (Tracy), Brenda Fielder; uncles, Morris Cyrus (Jean), Everett Taylor; numerous other family, cousins, and friends. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at Bedford Christian Church with Rev. Ray Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 3:00 – 5:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., on Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, an Isaac Graham Cyrus foundation is being set up to help offset the cost for those children needing help in order to play sports. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540