Blanche Marie Hill Tabor:

KNOXVILLE, TN. - Blanche Marie Hill Tabor, resident of Bramwell for most of her life, died suddenly on June 5, 2004 in Knoxville where she has resided for the past 15 months.

Mrs. Tabor was born on Nov. 20, 1913, in Bramwell, the eldest daughter of Robert Wilson Hill and Beulah Belcher Hill. She was a graduate of Bramwell High School in 1932 where she had been a member of the girl's basketball team, amongst other activities. Following marriage to Marvin Alvin Tabor in 1932, she worked with him in his business, Tabor Coal and Hauling, as a bookkeeper and driver. From the late 1930's to the 1960's, she devoted her efforts to raising her three children, Jean Carol Tabor Sykes, Marvin Wilson Tabor and Marilyn Marie Tabor Parsons, then returned to the work force as a food preparation associate at the Bramwell Schools cafeteria. Mrs. Tabor became a member of the "Cradle Club" at the Elizabeth Bowen Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in December 1913, and was an active member of the Church her whole life. In the 1930's she participated in numerous Methodist Holston Conference young adult training and outreach activities as a teacher and participant. She sang in the church choir for over 70 years, was active in the United Methodist Women as Treasurer for numerous years, the Cora Johnson Circle, and many additional church activities. These included preparing food for the Bramwell Kiwanis Club for over 30 years, cooking and running an eatery at the Bramwell Street fair and other venues as fundraisers for the Church. She was named the State of West Virginia Hot Roll Queen in 1990. In 1969 she was made a lifetime member of the Bramwell Kiwanis Club in recognition for her many contributions to the organization. Also Mrs. Tabor was a member of the Bramwell Band Boosters Association for over 20 years where she was an active fundraiser. She served as an election poll clerk in Bramwell for many years and was honored by both Mercer County and the State of West Virginia in the late 1980's for her contributions.

Mrs. Tabor was preceded in death by her husband, MARVIN ALVIN TABOR in 1969. She is survived by her children, Marilyn Tabor Parsons and husband, Jack of Knoxville, TN, MARVIN WILSON TABOR ilson Tabor and wife, WenXuan of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jean Carol Tabor Sykes and husband, Gerald Sykes of Lincolnton, N.C.; and two sisters, Dorothy Hill Edmunds ( living in a nursing home in Texas died 5 Feb. 2005) of Huntington and Lois Hill Dudash of Orlando, Fla. She was proud grandmother of Jeanne Sykes Marsh of Marietta, Ga., Paul Wilson Sykes of Lincolnton, Heather Sykes Brannum of East Hampton, Mass., Samantha Tabor of Fairfield, Ohio, Shannon Tabor Cleghorn of Bright, Ind.; and step-granddaughter XiaoYun Shi of West Chester, Ohio. Also Mrs. Tabor leaves her great-grandchildren, Abbey Marsh, Cade Marsh, Emily Sykes, Tabor Sykes, Nicholas Tabor and Hope Cleghorn; and many special nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

(Article on Marie Hill Tabor from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph - 7 June 04 )

Dorothy Hill Edmunds:

BRAMWELL, WV - Dorothy Hill Edmunds, 88, of Bramwell, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 in Port Neches, Texas. Mrs. Edmunds was born on Nov. 10, 1916 in Bluefield, WV to the late Robert Wilson Hill and Beulah Belcher Hill. Mrs. Edmunds had been a resident of Bramwell for 80 years and was retired from the Pocahontas Bank as a teller.

She was a graduate of Bramwell High School and was a member of the Bramwell United Methodist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, F. French Edmunds and two sisters, Lillian Pierce and Marie Tabor. Survivors include: Son, Dr. Robert F. Edmunds of Huntington; daughter, Mrs. Susan Jeffery and husband Earl of Port Neches, Texas; sister, Lois Dudash of Orlando, FL.; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005 at the Bramwell United Methodist Church in Bramwell with the Rev. Rick Duncan officiating. Burial followed in Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield, VA. where Gerald Sykes, Wilson Tabor, Donald Pierce, Dr. William Pierce, Jack Parsons, William Smith III, Donnie Goins and Arthur Goins Jr. served as pallbearers.

Lillian Lorraine Hill Pierce:

Lillian Loraine Hill was born October 06, 1918 in Bramwell, WV, and died March 16, 2003 in Bramwell, WV. She was a daughter of Robert Wilson and Beulah Belcher Hill. She was a resident of Bramwell for most of her life and was a graduate of Bramwell High School in 1936 and from Bluefield Business College in 1938. She was employed by the Appalachian Power Company in Welch and following her marriage to Donald E. Pierce in 1939, she was the City and Court Recorder for the City of Welch. Following Donald's return from Army service in Europe after WWII, the couple moved to Bramwell to the home where she spent the rest of her life. She left the work force to raise her two sons, Donald E. Pierce, Jr. and William James Pierce, but returned to work in the early 1960's for Dr. Walter L. Pierce and Dr. P.P. Ferraraccio in Bluefield, Va. until her retirement in 1983.

She and Donald celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1989. Mrs. Pierce spent her whole life as an active member of the Elizabeth Bowen Jones Methodist Church. She sang in the church choir for over 50 years, served as President of the United Methodist Women, and served on the Church Board in a variety of capacities. She was honored in 2000 by the West Virginia Conference of United Methodist Women for her 50 years of outstanding service to the mission of the United Methodist Women. ‘Lil' Pierce was well-known locally for spearheading the Church Women's annual production of chocolate peanut butter Easter Eggs for the last 20 years.

She was also active in local political and civic life. Mrs. Pierce was elected and served as Bramwell Town Recorder during the 1960's. She served on the County Board of the American Red Cross, served as director of the Bramwell Millionaire 5-mile and Fall 5-K runs. She was also a county committeewoman for the Republican Party.

Mrs. Pierce was preceded in death by her husband in 1991. She is survived by two sons, Donald E. Pierce and wife, Barbara of Greenvile, S.C., and William James Pierce and wife, Marianne of Greenville; and three sisters, Marie Hill Tabor of Bramwell, Dorothy Hill Edmunds of Hunt

Lois Hill Dudash:

Lois Hill Dudash (Age 93) was born on October 24, 1922 in Bramwell, West Virginia and passed away on February 8, 2015 in St. Augustine, Florida.

Lois Hill Dudash was the fourth member of Hill sisters and resided in Orlando, Fla. Limited information on Lois is available at the present time. Lois and her husband, Steve Dudash moved to Orlando, FL in 1979.

Lois Hill Dudash's husband, Steve Dudash, 81, Evangeline Avenue, Orlando, died Sunday, March 25, 2001. Mr. Dudash was retired from Appalachian Power Co. Born in Jenkinjones, W.Va., he moved to Central Florida in 1979. He was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors: wife, Lois Hill Dudash; son, William M., Orlando; daughters, Jane S. Muskogee, Oklahoma, Ann Kessler, Chicago, Nancy Davis, Hastings; brother, Joseph, Dayton; sister, Helen Molnar, Alexandria, Va.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the Elizabeth Bowen Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in Bramwell with the Pastor Dick Duncan officiating. Burial followed in Emory & Henry College Cemetery in Emory, Va. Care-Hunter's Creek, Orlando.

Family links: Parents: Robert Wilson Hill (1893 - 1952) Beulah Belcher Hill (1891 - 1967) Spouse: Donald Edward Pierce (1915 - 1991) Siblings: Blanche Marie Hill Tabor (1913 - 2004)* Dorothy Hill Edmunds (1916 - 2005)* Lillian Lorraine Hill Pierce (1918 - 2003).