Published: January 31, 2008 04:17 pm      

Friday, February 1, 2008

Deaths



• Allan Wayne Akers, 43, of 164 Shadow Wood Valley, Princeton, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 at his home. Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton was in charge of arrangements.

• Mary Louise Goings, 84, of Princeton, died Sunday morning, Jan. 27, 2008 at Princeton Community Hospital. Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton, was in charge of arrangements.

• Mildred Helen Hart, 82, of Rt. 2, Box 415 (Moore Hollow Road) in Princeton, died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 at Princeton Community Hospital. Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton was in charge of arrangements.

• Oliver Kirk, 77, of the Hinton Road, Athens (Speedway) died Monday afternoon, Jan. 28, 2008 at his residence. Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton, was in charge of arrangements.

• Gracie Mae Lusk, 94, of Matoaka, died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at the home of her daughter. Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton was in charge of arrangements.

• Donald J. “Mac” McPherson, 67, of the Beckley Road, Spanishburg, died early Sunday morning, Jan. 27, 2008 at Princeton Community Hospital. Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton, was in charge of arrangements.

• Harold D. “Toby” Meadows, 85, of Willowton, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 at Princeton Community Hospital. Fredeking Funeral Service in Oakvale was in charge of arrangements.

• Michael Edwin Pettrey, 34, of Princeton, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton, was in charge of arrangements.

• Florence “Dee” Beckner Reed, 44 of Princeton died Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 at the Princeton Community Hospital. Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton, was in charge of arrangements.



Obituary



HARRY BENJAMIN CHRISTIE

DURHAM, N.C. — Reverend Harry Benjamin Christie, 82, passed away Monday, January 21, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth S. Christie. Born in Radford, Virginia, he was the son of the late Harry and Kathleen Christie.

A naval veteran of WWII and Korea, Christie graduated from Roanoke College and was a leader in the establishment of Colonial Presbyterian in Roanoke, Virginia where he was later named Pastor Emeritus. Upon graduation from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, Reverend Christie began his ministry in Franklin County, Virginia in a three church field centered at the Piedmont Presbyterian Church in Callaway, Virginia. He served as pastor at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Zuni, Virginia where he helped to locate the Zuni Presbyterian Home, part of the Presbyterian Homes and Family Services system, and at the Floyd Presbyterian Church in Floyd, Virginia. He also served as moderator of Greenbrier Presbytery, Charleston, West Virginia and on the board of directors of the General Assembly Recreation Workshop of Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, North Carolina.

Reverend Christie served for 27 years as Pastor at the Princeton Presbyterian Church, Princeton, West Virginia where he was named Pastor Emeritus. In Princeton, he led a church building program and helped establish the Tender Mercies outreach ministries. Upon retirement he served several temporary pastorships in the Roanoke area, including Colonial Presbyterian, Green Ridge Presbyterian in Roanoke and Vilamont Presbyterian in Bedford County.

Reverend Christie was selected as National Pastor of the Year in 1992, the initial year of the award, by the Academy of Parish Clergy as based on excellence in Parish ministry. He served on the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Homes and Family Services. During his ministry he led Youth Mission trips to Mexico and Oklahoma and helped to coordinate various Presbyterian youth camp recreation programs at the Massanetta Conference Center in Harrisonburg.

Reverend Christie was a past president of the Princeton West Virginia Kiwanis Club and was active with the Princeton Chamber of Commerce and SCORE.

In addition to his wife Ruth, Reverend Christie is survived by his children Harry Christie and wife Vivian of Franklin, Virginia; Gary Frederick Christie and wife Frances of Lynchburg, Virginia; Joya Schmidt and husband Bill of Douglasville, Georgia and Dan Christie and wife Sarah Beth of Mebane, North Carolina. Reverend Christie was especially proud of his grandchildren, David Foley, Jr. of Maryland, Charles Foley of South Carolina, Jonathan Foley of South Carolina, Daniel Christie of Kansas; Ericka Christie of North Carolina and Catherine Martinette of Virginia and great grandchildren Seth , Steven and Brittany.

A memorial service was held at the Colonial Presbyterian Church, 3550 Poplar Dr. Roanoke, Virginia, on January 26, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. An additional memorial service was held at the Princeton Presbyterian Church in Princeton, West Virginia on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 5 p.m. with Dr. Ed Pettus officiating.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Tender Mercies Ministries, P.O. Box 669, Princeton, West Virginia 24740.

Information submitted by Seaver Funeral Home of Princeton.

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