1. Petition for Naturalization; #2025: Circuit Court, Welch, McDowell Co, WV; LDS Web Site.
Francesca Cecca; age 67; born 15 Oct 1885 in Ischia diCastro, Rome, Italy; living at 493 Virginia
Ave, Welch, WV; housewife; dark complexion; brown eyes; brown hair; 5' tall; 145 lbs; married on
12 Jun 1936 at Welch, WV; Clorindo Cecca; born 22 Jul 1892 in Peruga, Italy; entered USA at New York,
New York 24 Jun 1913 aboard the ship, Caserta, under the name of Francesca Federici; naturalized
12 Apr 1926 at Detroit, MI; certificate 2341831; 4 children; Domenick Caporossi; born 25 May 1908 at
Ischia diCastro, Italy; living in Welch, WV; James Caporossi; born 7 Mar 1913 at Ischia diCastro, Italy;
living in Baltimore, MD; Ernest Caporossi; born 20 Aug 1915 at Berwind, WV; living in Welch, WV; and
Fred Caporossi; born 22 Aug 1917 at Newhall, WV; living in Welch, WV.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1934); Page 376; WV Archives Web Site.
James F. Caporossi; age 22; born in Italy; single; mechanic; living at Welch, WV; son of Silvo and
Frances; married on 7 Sep 1934 at Wilcoe, WV; Sue Bilbie; age 21; born in Cabell Co, WV; single;
living at Welch, WV; daughter of ______ and Miranda.
1. E-mail Message, 8 Apr 2003 from Sandy DeAngelis, dsandy1d@aol.com.
Her grandmother, Marinda Lusk, daughter of Boyd Lusk; born on 18 Sep 1888 at Baileysville,
WV; married Richard J. Bilbie; lived in Davy, WV; four children: Clarence Herbert, Cleo, Susie Mae, and
Mildred Annabell Bilbie.
Susie Mae Bilbie; born on 11 Jan 1917; died in 1994.
2. 1920 Census, Brown's Creek District, #58, taken on 6 Jan 1920, Page 236B, Family #184.
Listed as Susie M. Bilbie, age 3, born in WV, in household of father, Richard J. Bilbie.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1934); Page 376; WV Archives Web Site.
James F. Caporossi; age 22; born in Italy; single; mechanic; living at Welch, WV; son of Silvo and
Frances; married on 7 Sep 1934 at Wilcoe, WV; Sue Bilbie; age 21; born in Cabell Co, WV; single;
living at Welch, WV; daughter of ______ and Miranda.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #17630; WV Archives Web Site.
Barbara Ellen Caporossi; age 6 mons, 1 day; born 28 Jun 1939 at Welch, WV; daughter of Jim
and Sue (Bilbie) Caporossi; died 29 Dec 1939 at Excelsior, WV; from influenza; broncho pneumonia;
no burial information; informant, Jim Caporossi, Excelsior.
1. US Public Records Index, Vol 1; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Brian Stewart Chaffins; born on 29 Apr 1958; PO Box 183, Iaeger, WV 24844.
2. US Public Records Index, Vol 2; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Brian S. Chaffins; living at Calrton Hts, Iaeger, WV 24844.
3. Social Security Death Index; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Brian S. Chaffins; born on 29 Apr 1958; died on 6 Dec 2000; SS # 233-98-1409; card issued in WV
in 1973.
4. McDowell Co, WV Web Site; Cemeteries; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, WV.
Brian Chaffins; born on 29 Apr 1958; died on 6 Dec 2000; "Grandson of J.W. "Mack" Chaffin; buried
here.
5. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
Modfreak; 31 Oct 2007; headstone photo added by B. Walls.
Brian Stewart Chaffins; born 29 Apr 1958; died 6 Dec 2000; buried here; headstone photo shown;
MAMA'S BABY, ALWAYS LOVED, MISSED BY WIFE RITA AND YOUR BOY bRANDON".
1. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Doyle Riffe Cemetery, Beartown, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by Patty
Greene: 14 Nov 2014; maintained by Modfreak.
Brandon Scott Church; born 23 Mar 1993 in Welch, WV; died 19 Oct 2014 at Iaeger, WV; buried here;
personal photo shown; obit listed.
"Brandon Scott Church, 21, of Iaeger, WV tragically passed away on Sunday October 19, 2014. He was born on March 23,1993 in Welch, WV, a son of Rita Mullins-Church-Chaffins of Iaeger, WV, formerly of Wilmore, WV.Brandon was a 2012 graduate of River View High School, where he not only played football but was excelled at the sport. In 2010 he received from Bluefield Daily Telegraph in partnership with the Pocahontas Coal Association the esteemed award, player of the week. As a River View Raider, Brandon was proud to be a member of two consecutive back to back state play-off teams. He was an employee of Matney's Excavating. Brandon valued spending time with family and friends. He undeniably treasured each and every precious moment that he spent with his beloved daughter, which he called daddy's little princess. He valued get-togethers with family and friends; especially time spent hunting with his uncles and memories created with his mother.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Billy Joe Mullins (1934-2011); stepfather Brian Chaffins (1958-2000); step grandmother Vivian Irene Cassady-Chaffins (1928-2001); aunt Shirley A. Mullins (1966-1989); two uncles Clyde "Tiny" Mullins (1959-2002) and Clinton Mullins (1964-2014).
In addition to his mother those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, a brother, grandmother of Garland; step grandfather Clyde Chaffins, uncles, and aunts. Brandon also leaves a host of maternal cousins that loved him and will never forget the memories they shared with him. We would also like to make special mention of the mother of his daughter.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday November 16, 2014 at the Garland Church of the Living God, Garland, WV, with Bro. Butch White and Bro. Elzie Blankenship officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Doyle Riffe Cemetery, Beartown, WV.
TWO MEN CHARGED IN McDOWELL COUNTY SLAYINGS
By Charles Owen CNHI News Service
Posted October 21, 2014
WELCH — A magistrate found probable cause Tuesday in the case of two McDowell County men charged in connection with the Oct. 19 slayings of two people whose bodies were found burned inside of a vehicle.
Donald Bailey, age unavailable, of Crumpler, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, third-degree arson, conspiracy, assault during the commission of a felony and felon in possession of a firearm. Troy Justice, 23, of Panther, is charged with two counts of accessory to murder, third-degree arson, conspiracy and assault during the commission of a felony. Both men are charged in connection with the slayings of Brandon Church, 21 of Iaeger, and Clinton Mullins, 46, of Iaeger. Both Bailey and Justice were arraigned on the charges Tuesday before Magistrate Richard Vandyke, according to McDowell County Prosecuting Attorney Ed Kornish.— Charles Owens is a reporter for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph..."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1955); Page 251; WV Archives Web Site.
Billy Joe Mullins; age 21; born and living at Iaeger, WV; single; married on 20 Dec 1955 at War, WV;
Vonnie Roberts; age 17; born and living at Iaeger, WV; single; with consent of Willie and Okie Roberts,
parents of Vonnie Roberts.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Doyle Riffe Cemetery, Beartown, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by Mary Frye
Stevens; 20 Jul 2012.
Billy Joe Mullins; born 25 Jan 1934; died 19 Jun 2011; buried here; personal and grave marker from Stafford
Funeral Home photos shown; obit given.
"Billy Joe Mullins, 77, of Garland, WV was called home by the Lord on Sunday June 19, 2011 after an
extended illness. He was born January 25, 1934, a son of the late Bob Mullins of Panther, WV and Pearl
Steele Mullins Justice of Roderfield, WV. Billy worked as a coalminer and was a member of the Church of
Zion in Ikes Fork, WV. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Also preceding him in death
was a daughter Shirley Mullins; a son Tiny Mullins; a granddaughter Amanda Tiny Mullins and three sisters
Gladys Goins, Daisy Belcher and Marie "Reenie" Burks. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife
Vonnie Roberts Mullins and daughter Courtney Mullins of the home; five sons Thurman Mullins of Sandy
Huff, WV, Leonard Mullins and wife Brenda of Hensley, WV, Clinton Mullins and companion Delena
Steele of Garland, WV, Chris Mullins and wife Angie of Iaeger, WV and Charles Mullins and wife Sabrina
of Iaeger, WV; three daughters Gracie Kennedy and husband Mike of Iaeger, WV, Drema Delong and
husband Keith of Milebranch, WV and Rita Chaffins of Wilmore, WV; a sister Norma Seabolt of Kentucky;
a special aunt Alice Osborne of Iaeger, WV and granddaughter Jessica Mullins of North Carolina who he
helped raise and who assisted in his care during his illness; several half brothers and sisters; numerous
other grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of other loving family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday June 23, 2011 at the Christ Cathdral Church in Iaeger,
WV with the Rev. Elzie Blankenship and Rev. Butch White officiating. He will be laid to rest in Doyle Riffe
Cemetery in Beartown, WV...."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1955); Page 251; WV Archives Web Site.
Billy Joe Mullins; age 21; born and living at Iaeger, WV; single; married on 20 Dec 1955 at War, WV;
Vonnie Roberts; age 17; born and living at Iaeger, WV; single; with consent of Willie and Okie Roberts,
parents of Vonnie Roberts.
2. Stafford Funeral Home; Lynco, WV; Posted Obit.
"Vonnie Roberts Mullins, 79, of Garland, WV passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at her home, following a
long illness."Born February 14, 1938 in Panther the daughter of the late Bill and Okie Blankenship Roberts.
She attended the Church of Zion in Ikes Fork. Vonnie enjoyed gardening, cooking for people and attending
church."In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband Billy Mullins; two sons Clyde
(Tiny) Mullins and Clinton Mullins; a daughter Shirley Mullins; a granddaughter Amanda Tiny Mullins; a
grandson Brandon Church; a great grandson Brayden Mullins; and six sister Edith Vanover, Loretta
Christian, Cleo Steele, Hazel Matney, Jeraldine "Jo" Steele and Daisy Riffe."Survivors include four sonsThurman (Lisa) Mullins of Iaeger, Leonard (Brenda) Mullins of Hensley, Chris (Angie) Mullins of Pantherand Charles (Sabrina) Mullins of Iaeger; four daughters Gracie (Mike) Kennedy of Iaeger, Drema "Crickett" (Keith) DeLong of Avondale, Rita Chaffins of Ieager, and her "Baby" Courtney Mullins of the home;
daughter-in-law Delena Mullins of Garland; 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; two sisters Barbara
Pennington and Betty Jean Jude; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special person she came to love as
her own, Gabby Blevins; and a host of other loving family and friends.:Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Christ Cathedral, Iaeger, WV with Rev. Danny Bowles, Pastor ElzieBlankenship and Rev. Butch White officiating. She will be laid to rest in Doyle Riffe Cemetery, Bear Town, WV..."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #71 018454; WV Archives Web Site via LDS Web Site.
Eugene Chafin; age 36; born 9 Mar 1935 in KY; married; husband of Fay Elizabeth White; welder;
SS# 235-52-0922 living at 160 Woodland Ave, Aurora, Kane Co, IL; son of Wallace and Grace
(Lovins) Chafin; died 5 Dec 1971 at Caretta, WV; from shock, hemorrhage, bullet wound of neck;
self inflected; buried 8 Dec 1971 in Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, WV.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
B. Walls; 14 Aug 2014.
Eugene Chafin; born 9 Mar 1935; died 5 Dec 1971; buried here; grave marker photo shown; "ALWAYS
IN OUR HEARTS".
1. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #'57 001852; WV Archives Web Site via LDS Web Site.
Wallace Jenning Chafin, Jr; age 29; born 1 Feb 1928 at Grey Eagle, WV; married; miner; served
in WW II; living at Bishop,Tazewell Co, VA; son of Wallace Jenning and Grace (Lovins) Chafin; died
4 Feb 1957 at Bishop, McDowell Co, WV (Bishop is in Tazewell Co, VA); from burns suffered in mine
explosion; buried 7 Feb 1957 in Roderfield, WV; informant, Lori White Chafin.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
Ruth; 19 Aug 2013; grave marker photo added by B. Walls.
Wallace Jenning Chafin, Jr; born 1 Feb 1926; died 4 Feb 1957; buried here; grave marker photo shown;
"US NAVY WORLD WAR II".
"Wallace Chafin, Jr. was killed in a gas explosion in Bishop Mine on February 4, 1957.“BISHOP, Va., Feb. 4 – (AP) – Thirty-seven miners perished today in a rumbling gas explosion deep in the giant Bishop coal mine that burrows under the mountains of the Virginia-West Virginia line. It was the nation’s worst mine disaster since 119 died in a blast at West Frankfort, Ill., Dec. 21, 1951. There was no immediate official word on what touched off the blast that sent acrid, dust-laden fumes whistling through the mine 337-feet below the surface. A fire-boss had reported the area free of hazard prior to the time the midnight shift went to work. Time of the explosion was set at 1:55 a.m.”(Excerpt from Charleston Gazette, February 5, 1957)
FATALITY LIST
Bishop, VA/WV
February 4, 1957, about 1:55 am
Pocahontas Fuel Company, Mine #34
Left entry of the Pine Ridge Main HeadingRalph Altizer
Harvey Bailey
Walter Carter
Wallace Chafin
Kern Coleman
Frank Collins
Stacy Couch
Lowell Crockett
Kenneth Dillon
Robert Dudley
Paul Farrington
Sam Garsant
Clarence Gravely
Kelly Hicks
Dallas Johnson
Gordon Keene
Jack Kern
Rovie Levito
Clarence McGraw
Sylvie Myers
Earl Nunley
Raymond Owensby
James Parnell
Blaine Rowe
Manuel Sancion
Fred Sefabaugh
Edward Shell
Luther Short
Jesse Ray Smith, Jr.
James Thompson
Jesse Vance
Joseph Varge
Hansel Viers
Edward Watkins.."
1. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Parkhill Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee Co, GA; submitted by J.G. Ivey;
23 Jun 2009.
Lora Mae "Jo" White Summers; born 29 Jun 1930 in Johnson City, Washington Co, TN; died 24 Apr 2007
in Columbus, Muscogee Co, GA; buried here; grave marker photo shown.
"Lora "Jo" Mae Summers, 76, died Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at her residence.
Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2007 at Parkhill Cemetery with the Rev. David Lix officiating. Visitation will be held after the funeral services at the cemetery, according to McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus.
"Mrs. Summers was born June 28, 1930 in Johnson City, TN., daughter of the late Dolly Brewer White and Carl F. White. She was a homemaker and a Baptist by faith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Summers; a sister, Norma Chaffin and brothers, Walter White and Fred Runyon.
"She is survived by daughters, Margaret Kaprelian, Hurst, TX., Lorraine Singletary, Columbus; sons, Glenn Chafin, Columbus and David Chafin, Pine Mountain, GA.; a sister, Faye Scarbrough, Columbus; brothers, James White, Columbus and Carl H. White, Phenix City; fourteen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren..."