Dr. Henry Fletcher

Rev. Dr. Henry C. Fletcher passed away Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012.  He was preceded in death by his parents, W. Bradley Fletcher and Elizabeth “Bessie” Jones Fletcher; former wife, Barbara Ann Bass Fletcher; brothers, Earl, Bill, and Stan Fletcher; and three infant brothers.  He was a minister and pastor of the Baptist faith for more than 50 years leading countless souls to Christ. He attended and graduated from Ironton public schools, Tri-State Bible College, and Bethany Theological Seminary where he obtained his doctorate of ministry degree.  He also attended Ohio University and Marshall University.

He was a professional boxer nicknamed “Hank” in the featherweight class and well known throughout the Tri-State in the 1940-50s. He was not only a regional boxing champion, but also a champion in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.  He was a member of the Ringside Brothers Boxing Club in Huntington, W.Va.  After boxing, he joined the United States Air Force and then was called into the ministry pastoring several churches in the region.  He served as moderator of the Providence Regular Missionary Baptist Association for 11 years.

Dr. Fletcher was an active participant in the early years of the Community Action Organization and an ardent campaigner for the Civil Rights Movement.

He is survived by two brothers, Joe Louis (Betty) Fletcher, Sr., of Ironton, and Charles Robert (Vivian) Fletcher of Dayton; four children, April Majors of South Point, Melony (Ronald) Howard of Bradenton, Fla., Brian (Tami) Fletcher of South Point and Valerie (Danny) Johnson of South Point; special grandson, Ryan Henry “Hank” Fletcher; eight other grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

While gone to his heavenly home, he will surely be missed here on this earth.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Ironton with Rev. Damion Snead officiating.  Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery.  Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Tracy Brammer – Monroe Funeral Home.

Condolences may be made online to the family by visiting www.tracybrammerfh.com.

 

Mary Filkins

Mary J. Filkins of Ironton, 61, died on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 at the Hospice of Huntington. She was born Feb. 5, 1952, to the late Clayton and Garnet Robinson Hay. She was retired cook from Ingram Barge Company. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene Hay and Jake Hay. She is survived by one daughter, Garnet D.D. (Keith) Prichard of Ironton; three brothers Rick (Rebekah) Hay of South Shore, Ky., Charles D. (Vickie) Hay of Ironton and Buck (Janie) Carver of Circleville; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Graveside service will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Centenary Community Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m.

 

Daniel Gorman

Daniel C. Gorman, 88, of Franklin Furnace, died on Sunday Oct. 28, 2012, at Jo-Lin Health Center. Arrangements are pending at O’Keefe-Baker funeral Home.

 

Edna Harvey

Edna Harvey, 92, of Ironton, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at her home. Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.

 

Emma McComas

Emma Mae Willis McComas, 84, of South Point, died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, at her home. She was the wife of James A. McComas, who survives. Arrangements are pending at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point.

 

Betty Gillispie

Betty Gillispie, 83, of Proctorville, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at Hospice House of Huntington. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.

 

Silas Jones

Silas Easton Jones, infant son of Derek and Michelle Jones of Proctorville, died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.

 

Carolyn Ferguson

Carolyn Ferguson of Proctorville, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.

 

Howard Layne

Howard Franklin “Gid” Layne, 86, of Ironton, formerly of Kitts Hill, passed away Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at a local health care facility. The Pedro native was born Sept. 27, 1926, a son of the late William S. and Minnie Reaper Layne. He is survived by his wife Rita Gay Kelley Layne of Ironton whom he married Nov. 30, 1956. Gid was a 1945 graduate of Pedro High School and was a WWII U.S. Army veteran. He worked 14 years for Alpha Portland Cement Solvey and retired in 1989 as an electrician for the C & O Railroad car shops in Huntington, W.Va. He was a longtime member of Woodland Chapel Church and Freedom Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Pearl Layne and Hazel Bailey and four brothers, Millard, Ray, Earl and Homer Layne. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Andrew Howard Layne of Ironton; his grandson, Cory Andrew Layne of Ironton; and a brother, Bill Layne of Ironton. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home with Brother Dave Schug officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday from noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. Donations in Gid’s honor may be made to Community Hospice, 1535 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101. To offer condolences to the family please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net .