1. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #78 035454; Ancestry.com Website.
Franklin Stephen Edwards; age 27; born 30 Aug 1950 in WV; this is his 1st marriage; 7th grade
education; living at General Delivery, Avondale, WV; son of Estel and Lois (Henniger) Edwards;
married on 19 Aug 1978 in Grundy, VA; Kathleen Bowles; maiden name Bolden; age 47; born 15
Feb 1931 in WV; widow; this is her 2nd marriage; first marriage ended 6 Aug 1977; 6th grade
education; living at Box 202, Iaeger, WV; daughter of Tom and Lydia (Steele) Bolden.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; taken 10 Apr 1930; Page 231A; Image 16 of
33; Family #127/128.
Listed as Maggie K. Bolden; age 1 mon; born in WV; in household of father, Thomas Bolden.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; E.D. 24-59; taken 20 Apr 1940; Page 1161B;
Household #195.
Listed as Cathline Bowlden; age 10; born in WV; 3rd grade education; attending school; lived in
same house on 1 Apr 1935; in household of mother, Lydia Steele Boden.
3. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Book #__ (1949); Page 119; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert Lee Bowles; age 21; born at English, WV; single; living at Iaeger, WV; married on 16 Mar
1949 at Iaeger, WV; Kathleen Bolden; age 21; born at Iaeger, WV; single; living at Iaeger, WV.
4. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #78 035454; Ancestry.com Website.
Franklin Stephen Edwards; age 27; born 30 Aug 1950 in WV; this is his 1st marriage; 7th grade
education; living at General Delivery, Avondale, WV; son of Estel and Lois (Henniger) Edwards;
married on 19 Aug 1978 in Grundy, VA; Kathleen Bowles; maiden name Bolden; age 47; born 15
Feb 1931 in WV; widow; this is her 2nd marriage; first marriage ended 6 Aug 1977; 6th grade
education; living at Box 202, Iaeger, WV; daughter of Tom and Lydia (Steele) Bolden.
5. Fanning Funeral Home; Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"Kathleen King, 89, of Iaeger, WV, passed away Monday, October 7, 2019 in Bluefield Regional Medical Center in Bluefield, WV."Kathleen was born February 15, 1930 in Iaeger, WV, a daughter of the late Thomas and Lydia Steel Bolden. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. Kathleen was of the Pentecostal faith and enjoyed sewing, gardening and canning.
"In addition to her parents Kathleen was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Lee Bowles Sr.; second husband, Earl King; one daughter, Patricia Jean Bowles; one great grandchild; and five sisters, Stella, Frances, Gracie and Virginia Bolden and Nellie Roberts.
"Survivors include one son, Robert Lee Bowels Jr. and wife Anna of Iaeger, WV; three daughters, Nancy DeMars of West Springfield, MA, Cleda Carter and Audrey Bowles both of Iaeger, WV; one grandson whom she raised, Raymond Viera and 11 additional grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren and 23 great-great grandchildren.
"Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 1 o’clock with Reverend Michael Brooks officiating at the Chapel of Fanning Funeral Home in Iaeger, WV. Burial will follow in the High Knob Cemetery on Coon Branch Mountain near Iaeger, WV. Kathleen’s grandsons will serve as her pallbearers.
"Friends may visit with the family at the Chapel of Fanning Funeral Home in Iaeger Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 12 noon until the time of services.
"Fanning Funeral Home in Iaeger, WV, is assisting the family...."
6. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Pattie Greene; 9 Oct 2019.
" Kathleen Bolden King
Birth 15 Feb 1930
Iaeger, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Death 7 Oct 2019 (aged 89)
Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
High Knob Cemetery
Iaeger, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 203697023"
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Beverly Aker; 7 Aug 2013.
" James Clarence Freeman
Birth 18 May 1906
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Death 2 Feb 1938 (aged 31)
Big Vein, Tazewell County, Virginia, USA (sic, Boissevein, Tazewell Co, VA)
Burial Harman Cemetery
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 115076567"Additional Information Posted:
"Son of Joseph Breckenridge and Barbara Jane Presley Freeman."Husband of Julia Graham Freeman"
2. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Beverly Aker; 18 Jun 2011.
" Albert Titus Freeman
Birth 14 Feb 1911
Death 14 Feb 1932 (aged 21)
Burial
Albert Freeman Burial
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 71570899"Additional Information Posted:
"WELCH---ALBERT FREEMAN SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS INFLICTED BY KIN"BROTHER FACES MURDER CHARGE
"Death Of South Fork Young Man Occurs In Hospital At Welch;
Received Fatal Shots Wednesday------------------------------------------
"Albert Titus Freeman, of South Fork, died Sunday afternoon, February 14, 1932, in a Welch hospital of bullet wounds inflicted last Wednesday by his brother, Clarence."The young man's wounds were of such character that physicians held but little hope for his recovery from the time he was admitted to the hospital.
"A charge of murder has been placed against Clarence Freeman, who is being held in the county jail. He was arrested Friday afternoon.
"According to Clarence, he and Albert got into an argument and when the latter attempted to cut him with a knife he shot. He said that he tried to avoid the shooting but his brother followed him out of the house into the yard where the shooting occurred.
"According to officers, Clarence is not making his first trip to the jail. He has been arrested on previous occasions and it is said that he has been mixed in several shootings scrapes.
"Both men were said to have been drinking when the shooting occurred.
"Born February 14, 1911 at South Fork, Dearing, W.V.,the young man is survived by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Freeman, who resides in Ohio, two sisters, Mrs. Willard Murphy, of McComas and Mrs. Garland Aker, of Sprinton and four brothers, Clarence of South Fork; Hobert and Clyde, who live with their parents in Ohio and Joe Jr. of Jenkinjones.
"Funeral services will be held this afternoon at the home of Ernest Freeman, a cousin of the deceased, at South Fork.
"The Rev. Will Rose will have charge of the services.
"Burial will follow at the cemetery near South Fork."
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by beverly Aker; 10 Oct 2012.
" Julia Gray Graham Freeman Greer
Birth 22 May 1907
Death 13 Aug 1996 (aged 89)
Burial
Shady Grove Cemetery
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 98643353"Additional Information Posted;
"JENKINJONES, W.V.—Julia Gray Graham Freeman Greer, 89, of Box 146, Jenkinjones, died on Tuesday, August 13, 1996 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center in Bluefield.
Born on May 22, 1907, in Skygusty, W.V., she was a daughter of the late Aaron and Mary Elizabeth Shrader Graham."She had been a resident of Jenkinjones for 10 years and was a homemaker. She was of the Holiness faith.
"She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Clarence Freeman and her second husband, Ardell Greer, Sr.; three daughters, Pearl Marcus, Diane Sharrone and Faye Greer; one son, Danny Greer; three sisters, (twin sister), Edna Freeman, and Virginia Holland and Rosie Harman; four brothers, Judge, Albert, Harry, and Dewey Graham.
"Survivors: two daughters, Verna Hall of Jenkinjones with whom she made her home, and Connie Long of Trinity, N.C.; two sons, Arthur Greer and Roy Greer, both of Anawalt; three sisters, Sally Belle Harman of Tannersville, Va., Bobby Watts of Dallas, Tx. and Ruby Casey of Bluewell; 18 grandchildren and 30 great-great grandchildren.
"Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, August 16, 1996 at 1 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ in Skygusty with the Rev. Mildred Lambert, pastor of the Church of Jesus Christ officiating.
"Burial will follow in the Shady Grove (Harman) Cemetery in Skygusty.
"Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m.
"Pallbearers will be family and friends.
"Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell is in charge of arrangements.
"Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1969); Page 299; WV Archives Website.
Reginald Lee Hairston; age 21; born 21 Dec 1947 in Powhatan, WV; single Negro; living at Box 26,
Powhatan, WV; son of John E. and Elaine (Rucker, deceased) Hariston; married on 15 Feb 1969 in
Powhatan, WV; Barbara Ann Harris; age 20; born 20 Jan 1949 in Powhatan, WV; single; Negro; living
at Box 95, Powhatan, WV; daughter of Earnest and Vonnie (Edwards) Harris.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1969); Page 299; WV Archives Website.
Reginald Lee Hairston; age 21; born 21 Dec 1947 in Powhatan, WV; single Negro; living at Box 26,
Powhatan, WV; son of John E. and Elaine (Rucker, deceased) Hariston; married on 15 Feb 1969 in
Powhatan, WV; Barbara Ann Harris; age 20; born 20 Jan 1949 in Powhatan, WV; single; Negro; living
at Box 95, Powhatan, WV; daughter of Earnest and Vonnie (Edwards) Harris.
1. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Phyllis Jean Presley [Phyllis Jean Cox] [Phyllis Bortz]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 17 Nov 1935
Birth Place: Pageton McDo, West Virginia [Skygusty Mcd??, West Virginia]
Death Date: 24 Sep 2005
Father:
Claude E Presley
Mother:
Ruby B Harman
SSN: 232567841
Notes: Dec 1952: Name listed as PHYLLIS JEAN PRESLEY;
Jul 1962: Name listed as PHYLLIS JEAN COX;
22 May 2003: Name listed as PHYLLIS JEAN BORTZ;
01 Oct 2005: Name listed as PHYLLIS J BORTZ"
2. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Beverly Aker; 14 Oct 2012.
" Phyllis Jean Presley Cox
Birth 18 Nov 1935
Death 24 Sep 2005 (aged 69)
Burial
Shady Grove Cemetery
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 98878275 "Additional Information Posted;
"Married Ardie Gene Cox on July 16, 1954 by Minister Burton Harman."
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Beverly Aker; 16 Oct 2012.
" Kimmie M. Cox Stepp
Birth 7 Mar 1971
Death 9 Apr 2001 (aged 30)
Burial
Shady Grove Cemetery
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 99014706"Additional Information Posted:
"SKYGUSTY – John David Stepp, 27, and his wife, Kimmie Maxine Cox Stepp, 30, of Skygusty, were found dead at their home late Monday night, April 9, 2001.KIMMIE MAXINE COX STEPP
SKYGUSTY – Kimmie Maxine Cox Stepp, 30, was born March 7, 1971 in Welch, the daughter of Phyllis Presley Cox and the late Ardie Cox.
She was a lifelong resident of McDowell County and a graduate of Mount View High School. She was employed at Saunders Staffing Service at Bluefield.
In addition to her father, she was preceded by her paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.
Additional survivors include her daughter, Courtney Page Stepp; four brothers, her twin, Timmy Cox of Westland, Mi., Ardie Cox, Jr., Donald Cox and Rodney Cox all of Skygusty; a sister, Lorrie Bevins of Skygusty; and her parternal grandmother, Velma Cox of Princeton.
Joint funeral services will be conducted at noon Friday at the home of her mother, Phyllis Presley Cox at Skygusty with the Rev. Joe Hubbard and Jim Mullins officiating.
Burial will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery, Skygusty.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the Phyllis Cox residence.
Fanning Funeral Home of Welch is in charge of arrangements.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on Thursday, April 12, 2001.Execution Style
2 SHOT IN SKYGUSTY
By Charles Owens of the Daily Telegraph Staff
SKYGUSTY – The investigation into the double homicide of a McDowell County couple continued Tuesday.
John D. Stepp, 27, and his wife Kimmie M. Stepp, 30, were shot to death inside their mobile hom at about 10:30 p.m. Monday in the small community of Skygusty, said state police spokesman Michael Corsaro.
Their 6-year old daughter was in the mobile home at the time of the slayings, but was not harmed. Neighbors who heard the shots called 911.
"Both were single gun shots to the head," said Trooper G.D. Williams of the West Virginia State Police Welch Detachment. "Both were dead at the scene. The bodies have been sent to the medical examiner's office in Charleston. At this point, I can't say a lot. We are just into the preliminary part of the investigation"
The girl was not injured during the incident, and apparently fled to a neighbor's house.
"She's OK,." Corsaro said. "We are talking to her."
William said authorities don't know if more than one person was involved in the slayings. The suspect or suspects apparently parked a truck a short distance from the mobile home prior to the shootings and apparently fled in the vehicle. The mobile home is located right off Route161.
The slayings shocked neighbors in the sleepy community which is located midway between Pageton and Anawalt.
"This is a quiet and almost a retirement community." Said Leonard Hagerman, a neighbor who lives a short distance from the crime scene. "Most of the people here are retired. I'm torn all to pieces. You never expected anything like that to happen. What gets me about the whole thing as it seems like it was execution style."
Hagerman said he just saw John Stepp driving up the road the day before.
"We couldn't believe it," said another neighbor. "You wouldn't think that something like that would happen down here. Everyone knows everybody. They seemed to be really good people. John put the roof on our house. He was a carpenter."
No arrests were reported as of late Tuesday.
"At this point, I don't want to say anything to jeopardize our investigation," Williams said. "We are following up on all of our leads. We don't know how many people may have been involved at this time."
Williams said authorities have no suspects and no motive for the slayings.
The officers spent most of the day Tuesday talking to neighbors and studying the crime scene. Williams said authorities spent the entire night and morning in the community.
"We are running on about an hour's sleep," he said. "We are still interviewing several people and following up on leads."
Corsaro said neighbors heard the gunshots, and immediately called 911. The officers responded immediately but the couple was dead when the officers entered the structure.
"When the troopers responded to the Stepp residence they located two victims," Carsaro said. "Both of the victims were deceased."
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, April 11, 2001."
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Roger Norton; 21 Mar 2016.
" Don Lee Cox
Birth 1904
Floyd County, Virginia, USA
Death 12 Aug 1988 (aged 83–84)
Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Woodlawn Memorial Park
Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 159859458"Additional Information Posted:
"Son of Braxton and Violet Cox"
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by In Remembrance; 22 May 2019.
" Velma America Phillips Cox
Birth 6 Mar 1908
Indian Valley, Floyd County, Virginia, USA
Death 12 Jul 2005 (aged 97)
Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Woodlawn Memorial Park
Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 199363898 "Additional Information Posted:
"Daughter of Henry and Millie Jane Phillips Phillips"Preceded in death by her husband Donald Lee Cox, and son Ardie Gene Cox, Sr.
"Burial here based on obituary
Bluefield Daily Telegraph,
Bluefield, West Virginia
Thu, Jul 14, 2005 – Page 6"
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Beverly Aker; 13 Oct 2012.
" Claude E. Presley Sr.
Birth 1 Jan 1910
Death 20 Jun 1991 (aged 81)
Burial
Shady Grove Cemetery
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 98815998"Additional Information Posted:
"SKYGUSTY—Claude E. Presley, Sr., 81, of Skygusty, was dead on arrival Thursday, June 20, 1991 at the Welch hospital.
Born at Skygusty, he was the son of the late James and Dolly Gillespie Presley.
He had been a lifelong resident of Skygusty , was a retired miner and a member of the UMWA.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruby B. Harman Presley, two brothers and one sister.
Survivors: wife, Betty Freeman Garay Presley; daughters, Phyllis Cox of Skygusty, and Florence Bivens of Columbus, Oh.; son, Claude Presley, Jr. of Orlando, Fl.; stepson, John Garay, Jr. of Skygusty; sister, Oma Weaver of Anawalt; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three step grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Southern Baptist Church at Blackwolf with the Rev. Cleatus Goad and the Rev. Carl Lambert officiating and burial at the Shady Grove Cemetery at Skygusty.
Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the home of his daughter, Phyllis Cox at Skygusty and at the church one hour prior to the services.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph."
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Beverly Aker; 13 Oct 2012.
" Ruby B. Harman Presley
Birth 13 Oct 1916
Death 23 Aug 1973 (aged 56)
Burial
Shady Grove Cemetery
Skygusty, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 98815846"Additional Information Posted:
"Ruby B. Harman Presley, 57, of Skygusty died Thursday, August 23, 1973 in a Welch hospital following a long illness.
She was born in Pocahontas, Va., the daughter of the last Charles Flavious and Fannie Florence Davidson Harman.
She was a member of the Skygusty Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Claude Presley, Sr. of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Ardie (Phyllis) Cox of Skygusty, and Mrs. Donald (Florence)Bivens of Columbus, Oh.; one son, Tech. Sgt. Claude Presley, Jr., of McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Fl.; three brothers, John Robert Harman of Deltona, Fl., Calvin C. Harman of Rock Falls, IL., Jim C. Harman of Columbus, Oh.; four sisters, Mrs. Velvet Harman of Skygusty, Mrs. Carrie Miller of Prattsville, Al., Mrs. Beulah Gilley of Elkhart, In., Mrs. Betty Barbour of Yorba-Linda, Ca.; and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at noon Monday at the Skygusty Church of Christ with Rev David Pryor and Rev. F.D. (Mickey) Sexton officiating.
Burial will follow at the Shady Grove Cemetery in Skygusty.
The body will be removed from Fanning Funeral Home in Welch to the home of Mrs. Phyllis Cox in Skygusty at 4:30 p.m. where friends may call.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph."