1. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #21387; Ancestry.com Web Site,
Sampy Blevins; age 18; born in Bartley, WV; single factory worker; living at English, WV; son of
Lawrence and Sidney (Hicks) Blevins; married on 5 Jul 1956 in Lebanon, VA; Betty Jean Rose; age
16; born in Bartley, WV; single; living in English, WV; daughter of Harless and Mary (Matney) Rose.
2. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #27429; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Sampy Blevins; age 22; born in Atwell, WV; divorced; one previous marriage; in National Guard;
living in Warriormine, WV; son of Lawrence and Sidney (Hicks) Blevins; married on 1 Sep 1960 in
Lebanon, VA; Charlotte Ann East; age 16; born and living in Warriormine, WV; single; daughter of
George and Dora (Adkins) East.
3. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #68 051570; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Sampy Blevins; age 30; born 19 Jan 1938 (sic, 1937) in VA (sic, WV); divorced; this is his 3rd
marriage; 8th grade education; living at Raven, Tazewell Co, VA; son of Lawrence and Clersey
(sic, Sidney) (Hicks) Blevins; married on 27 Dec 1968 in Lebanon, VA; Linda Jones; age 23; born
3 May 1945 in VA; single; this is her 1st marriage; 4 yrs HS education; living in Raven, Russell (sic,
Tazewell) Co, VA; daughter of Alex and Evelyn (Wimmer) Jones.
4. Henry Co, VA; Divorce Records #81-024285; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Linda Lou Jones; age 38; born 3 May 1943 in VA; this was her 1st marriage; 12th grade education;
living at Rt #1, Box 708, Bassett, VA; was granted a divorce on 6 Nov 1981; from Sampy Blevins; age
43; born 19 Jan1938 (sic, 1937) in WV; this was his 3rd marriage; none ended in death; two by
divorce or annulment; living at Rt #2, Box 445, Bassett, VA; grounds deseration; marriage occurred
28 (sic, 27) Dec 1968 in Russell Co, VA; seperated on 16 Mar 1980; one child under 18.
5. Henry Co, VA; Marriage License #82-060642; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Sampy Blevins; age 44; born 19 Jan 1937 in WV; divoced; this is his 3rd (sic, 4th) marriage; last
marriage ended 6 Nov 1981; 5th grade education; living at Rt #2, Box 445, Bassett, VA; son of
Lawrence Nathaniel and Sidney (Hicks) Blevins; married on 4 Dec 1982 in Bassett, VA; Julia Mae
Blankenship; maiden name, Deal (recoreded on my site as Deel); age 42; born 26 Apr 1940 in VA;
divorced; this is her 2nd marriage; 1st marriage ended 28 Nov 1966; 5th grade education; living at
Rt #2, Box 445A, Bassett, VA; daughter of Kiley Ervin and Dovie Lera (Martin) Deal.
6. Henry Co, VA; Divorce Records; #87-015557; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Julia Mae Deal; age 47; born 25 Apr 1940 in Patrick Co, VA; this was her 2nd marriage; none ended
by death; one by divorce or annulment; 5th grade education; living at Rt #2, Box 22, Bassett, VA; was
granted a divorce on 6 Aug 1987 from Sampy Blevins; age 50; born 19 Jan 1937; this was his 4th
marriage; none ended in death, three by divorce or annulment; 5th grade education; living at Rt #2,
Box 44, Bassett, VA; married occurred 4 Dec 1982; no children; grounds, one year seperation which
began in Aug 1984.
7. Henry Co, VA; Marriage License #89-010159; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Sampy Blevins; age 52; born 19 Jan 1937 in WV; divorced; this is his 3rd marriage; last marriage
ended 6 Aug 1987; 6th grade education; living at 108 Haileey St, Collinsville, Henry Co, VA; son of
Lawrence and Sidney (Hicks) Blevins; married on 22 Mar 1989 in Martinsville, VA; Marie Evelyn
Thompson, maiden name Fox; age 57; born 31 May 1931 in NC; widow; this is her 2nd marriage;
last marriage ended in 1977; 6th grade education; living at 111Branch Rd, Collinsville, VA; daughter
of Plaze and Hester (Little) Fox.
8. Henry Co, VA; Divorce Record #92-003492; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Marie Evelyn Fox; born 31 May 1931 in Hickory, NC; this was her 2nd marriage; 7th grade
education; living at 111 Branch Rd, Collinsville, VA; was granted a divorce on 12 Feb 1992; from
Sampy Blevins; born 19 Jan 1939 (sic, 1937) in McDowell Co, WV; this was his 5th marriage; 6th
grade education; living at Rt #6, c/o James Blevins, Bassett, VA; date of marriage 22 Mar 1989 in
Henry Co, VA; grounds 6 months seperation that began 30 Jun 1991; no children.
9. U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Sampy Blevins
Gender: Male
Death Age: 74
Birth Date: 19 Jan 1937
Birth Place: Atwell West Virginia
Residence Place: Bassett
Death Date: 4 Sep 2011
Parents: Lawrence N. Blevins; Sidney Hicks Blevins
Child: Kenneth Blevins
Carolyn Pruitt
Jr. (Burb Sampy Blevins, Jr)
Siblings: James Blevins
Clarence Nelson
Geradine Blevins
Viola Kulchar
Blanche Day
10. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Sampy Blevins
Social Security Number: 232-56-9030
Birth Date: 19 Jan 1937
Issue Year: 1952
Issue State: North Carolina or West Virginia
Last Residence: 24055, Bassett, Henry, Virginia
Death Date: 4 Sep 2011"
11. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Timothy Warf; 3 Aug 2015.
" Sampy Blevins
Birth 19 Jan 1937
Death 4 Sep 2011 (aged 74)
Bassett, Henry County, Virginia, USA
Burial
County Line Church of God of Prophecy Cemetery
Sanville, Henry County, Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 150155331"
1. Henry Co, VA; Marriage License #89-010159; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Sampy Blevins; age 52; born 19 Jan 1937 in WV; divorced; this is his 3rd marriage; last marriage
ended 6 Aug 1987; 6th grade education; living at 108 Haileey St, Collinsville, Henry Co, VA; son of
Lawrence and Sidney (Hicks) Blevins; married on 22 Mar 1989 in Martinsville, VA; Marie Evelyn
Thompson, maiden name Fox; age 57; born 31 May 1931 in NC; widow; this is her 2nd marriage;
last marriage ended in 1977; 6th grade education; living at 111Branch Rd, Collinsville, VA; daughter
of Plaze and Hester (Little) Fox.
2. Henry Co, VA; Divorce Record #92-003492; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Marie Evelyn Fox; born 31 May 1931 in Hickory, NC; this was her 2nd marriage; 7th grade
education; living at 111 Branch Rd, Collinsville, VA; was granted a divorce on 12 Feb 1992; from
Sampy Blevins; born 19 Jan 1939 (sic, 1937) in McDowell Co, WV; this was his 5th marriage; 6th
grade education; living at Rt #6, c/o James Blevins, Bassett, VA; date of marriage 22 Mar 1989 in
Henry Co, VA; grounds 6 months seperation that began 30 Jun 1991; no children.
1. United States Public Records, 1970-2009; LDS Web Site.
Fred David Blevins; born 6 Jan 1945; living in Raeford, Hoke Co, NC.
1. United States Public Records, 1970-2009; LDS Web Site.
Agnes Katheyn (Walters) (Ptoe) Blevins; born 22 Sep 1946; living in Raeford, Hoke Co, NC.
1. 1910 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; taken on 26 Apr 1910; Page 85B;
Family #118/120.
Listed as Sampy Short; age 2; born in WV; in household of father, Presley T. Short.
2. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Dry Fork Road; taken on 14 Apr 1930; Page
258A; Family #297/301.
Listed as Sampy Short; age 22; born in WV; single; in household of father, Presley T. Short.
3. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947: Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Sampy Dennis Short
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 31
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 6 Nov 1908
Birth Place: Avondale, West Virginia, USA
Residence Place: Princeton, Mercer, West Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Princeton, Mercer, West Virginia, USA
Employer: U S Gov P O Dept
Weight: 140
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Gray
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 9
Next of Kin: Hazel Clay Short
Household Members:
Name Relationship
Sampy Dennis Short Self (Head)
Hazel Clay Short Wife"
4. "WV Deaths, 1853-1970"; LDS Web Site; Chesterfield?/McDowell? Co Records, Vol 13, Page 1956.
Sampy Dennis Short; age 48; born on 6 Nov 1908 at Avondale, WV; married postal clerk; living at
Avondale, WV; son of P.T. and Arminda (Christian) Short; died on 14 Nov 1956 in Richmond,
Cherterfield Co, VA; buried on 14 Nov 1956 (transcription error, same as death date); buried in
Memorial Cemetery, McDowell Co, WV (Is this Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell
Co, WV?)
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Dry Fork Road; taken on 14 Apr 1930; Page
258B; Family #310/315.
Listed as Anna Shumway; age 19; born in WV; single; in household of father, Elmer Shumway.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Debbie Shirley; 22 Feb 2018.
" Anna Shumway
Birth 1911
West Virginia, USA
Death unknown
Burial Cremated
Memorial ID 187530445"
1. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Debbie Shirley; 22 Feb 2018.
" Gerald Eugene Shumway
Birth 16 May 1929
McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Death 15 Jul 1929 (aged 1 month)
McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Atwell Cemetery
Raysal, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 18753048"
1.1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Garland; E.D. 24-60; taken on 12 Apr 1940;
Page 1195A; Image 27 of 132; Household #203.
Listed as Anna Atwell; age 1; born in WV; in household of father, James C. Atwell.
1.1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Bradshaw; taken 10 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 73; Dwelling #163.
Listed as James Christian; age 22; born in WV; married; truck driver for retail merchant; head of
household.
2. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #12635; Ancestry.com Website.
James Alexander Christian, Jr; age 45; born 12 Jun 1926 in WV; divorced; this is his 2nd marriage;
1 yr HS education; living at Box 185, Bradshaw, WV; son of James Alexander and Bertie (Simmons,
sic, Sims) Christian; married on 10 Jun 1972 in Buchanan Co, VA; Juanita Sparks; age 23; born 15
Jan 1949 in WV; single; this is her 1st marriage; 4 yrs HS education; living at Box 54, Jolo, WV;
daughter of William J. and Offie Mae (Pruitt) Sparks.
1.1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Bradshaw; taken 10 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 73; Dwelling #163.
Listed as Jean Christian; age 16; born in WV; married; in household of husband, James A. Christian.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; McDowell County Historical Society;
1995; "The Tom Balllos"; Article; Page 96; submitted by Jean Balllo, Box 415, Kimball, WV 24853.
2.1940 Cenus McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Kimball; E.D. 24-26; taken 9 Apr 1940; Page
532A; Image 15 of 62; Household #158.
Listed as Thomas Ballalo; age 50; born in Italy; married; 3rd grade education; has 1st immigration
parers; lived in same place on 1 Apr 1935; coal loader in coal mine; head of household.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; McDowell County Historical Society;
1995; "The Tom Balllos"; Article; Page 96; submitted by Jean Balllo, Box 415, Kimball, WV 24853.
2.1940 Cenus McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Kimball; E.D. 24-26; taken 9 Apr 1940; Page
532A; Image 15 of 62; Household #158.
Listed as Mary Ballalo; age 44; born in Italy; married; 3rd grade education; alien; lived in same place
on 1 Apr 1935; in household of husband, Thomas Battlo.
1.1940 Cenus McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Kimball; E.D. 24-26; taken 9 Apr 1940; Page
532A; Image 15 of 62; Household #158.
Listed as Frank Ballalo; age 22; born in WV; single; 4 yrs HS education; lived in same place on 1 Apr
1935; coal loader in coal mine; in household of father, Thomas Battlo.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; McDowell County Historical Society;
1995; "The Tom Balllos"; Article; Page 96; submitted by Jean Balllo, Box 415, Kimball, WV 24853.
1.1940 Cenus McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Kimball; E.D. 24-26; taken 9 Apr 1940; Page
532A; Image 15 of 62; Household #158.
Listed as Marion Ballalo; age 17; born in WV; single; 7th grade education; not attending school; lived
in same place on 1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Thomas Battlo.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; McDowell County Historical Society;
1995; "The Tom Balllos"; Article; Page 96; submitted by Jean Balllo, Box 415, Kimball, WV 24853.
1.1940 Cenus McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Kimball; E.D. 24-26; taken 9 Apr 1940; Page
532A; Image 15 of 62; Household #158.
Listed as Katherine Ballalo; age 15; born in WV; single; 1 yr HS education; attending school; lived in
same place on 1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Thomas Battlo.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; McDowell County Historical Society;
1995; "The Tom Balllos"; Article; Page 96; submitted by Jean Balllo, Box 415, Kimball, WV 24853.
1.1940 Cenus McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Kimball; E.D. 24-26; taken 9 Apr 1940; Page
532A; Image 15 of 62; Household #158.
Listed as Jeanne Ballalo; age 9 mons; born in WV; in household of father, Thomas Battlo.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1995"; McDowell County Historical Society;
1995; "The Tom Balllos"; Article; Page 96; submitted by Jean Balllo, Box 415, Kimball, WV 24853.
3. Fanning Funeral Home; Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"Jean Batttlo
"Emily Dickenson once wrote, “I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.” So was the philosophy of Jean Battlo. We now have lost one of West Virginia’s most prized authors. Teresa Jean Battlo of Kimball, WV passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at the age of 85. She was an avant-garde artist whose life touched our world with an abounding and endless love of God, family, peace, the arts, and life itself. Jean was a great author, an educator, a playwright, a cat lover, a fabulous gardener, a staunch Catholic, a sensitive soul, a voice of reason and encouragement, and also a lover of a good martini. Her sense of humor and her wit will truly be missed by family, friends, and her beloved West Virginians."Jean Battlo was a playwright and local historian who grew up in her beloved West Virginia. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Fortunato (Battaglia) Battlo and Concetta Maria Roschelli, immigrants from Calabria, Italy, and her siblings, Frank, Dominick, Angeline, Melly, Kat, Tony, and Mary. Jean is survived a plethora of nieces and nephews who live across the world which greatly displeased Jean. Her dream was a family compound where no one ever left her reach.
"Jean was adamant about looking a person in the eyes, introducing herself, and conversing cordially, often on a level few could emulate. “That is just how you treat people,” she would say. Every soul had purpose in her eyes.
"Jean’s intellect was beyond reproach. A true lover of learning, Jean graduated from Welch High School. She earned a B.A. and an M.A. at Marshall University. There she studied history, drama, literature, philosophy, and of course education. This was all good, but not enough for this consummate learner. She spent summers studying at William and Mary honing her knowledge of the humanities.
"Jean began her teaching career in McDowell County where she taught at Iaeger High School and Mount View High School. Being awarded the McDowell Teacher of the Year title was impressive, but Jean’s love was her students, not the accolades she accumulated. Jean’s most treasured classes were drama and the humanities. She related to students on their level and gave them her undivided attention. The community came to know Jean’s reach through the plays her students performed. Her community reach went far beyond the classroom.
"Friends and family encouraged Jean to write for a local theatre group. Thus, her play A Highly Successful West Virginia Business was born. Centered on the loss of jobs in the coal industry, a family takes up a mortuary business to make ends meet. The play had the audience in stitches. With nearly a dozen plays under her belt, Jean was often contacted by theatre groups who wanted to perform the plays. Her play, #8, was selected as a finalist by Camel-Sea in 1990, and was optioned by Off-Broadway Stage Arts in New York City. The play centered around a Jewish family living just before the Holocaust. It was a finalist in the Eugene O’Neill National Playwright’s Competition. She wrote plays about Pearl S. Buck and Lizzie Borden.
"Her most well-known work is Terror on the Tug, a play centered around the Sid Hatfield murders and performed at the Globe Theater in Keystone. The theatre was built just for Jean as a place to bring live dramas to her beloved county. It was a replica of Shakespear’s Globe Theater in London. Often performances were in McDowell County, others across the state and country, and one was even performed in Germany.
"In later years, Jean Battlo, with great support from Senators Keith Wagner and John P. Fanning, found funding to build the McArts Ampitheater. Jean frequently sought funding for her goals with the West Virginia Division of Arts, Culture, and History. She was just this year awarded a grant to continue her work with McArts. McArts was founded in 1980 by Jean Battlo, Irene Ernest, Moe Seay, and Lisa Colombo. McArts is one of Jean’s proudest accomplishments which, to this day, brings the arts to McDowell County. McArts was formed as a non profit organization to bring the arts to McDowell County and to nurture local artists and performers. Her mission was to rid our world of the hillbilly stereotype and teach others that her county, her home, her state, was rich in history and culture with deep roots held in the hearts of its people. Jean also co-founded Coal Camp Creations. The business, located in the building her father built, made coal figurines from McDowell County coal that were sold at Tamarac and local artisan events.
"Jean Battlo was instrumental in directing the $1.5 million restoration project in Kimball of the Houston Coal Company Store, perhaps the best preserved of more than 100 company stores that once operated in the coal camps of McDowell County during the first half of the 20th century.
"Jean’s talent was not just as a playwright. She wrote poetry, short stories, historical fiction, and is most well known for her book, Pictorial History of McDowell County. Her work is published by McClain Printing Company of Parsons, West Virginia.
"Numerous accolades were bestowed on Jean Battlo. She was a Writer-in-Residence with the Beckley-based Theater West Virginia, Italian Woman of the Year and Business Woman of the Year for West Virginia. To Jean’s delight, she even served as the Grand Groundhog Watcher at the Groundhog Day Breakfast at Concord University just to name a few. Jean was interviewed on-camera for the 2016 documentary The Mine Wars seen on PBS and was often called for interviews entailing local history. On the History Channel, Jean was interviewed for “Hillbilly: The Real Story.” This was a documentary narrated by Billy Ray Cyrus.
"Jean Battlo was not a person that one article can describe. Her creativity, passions, and love of God, life, and family were endless. She touched many lives through her teaching, writing, and community service. Her mark is made. Her legacy is sealed. Her journey on earth is done. She now lives with the loved ones she has longingly mourned, and watches over the loving family that was her earthly treasure. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “We are ever dying to one world and being born into another.
"The family will receive friends from 10:30 to 1PM at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Powhatan, WV. A mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 PM with Very Rev. Sebastian E. Devasya, V.E. officiating. Burial will follow directly after mass at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Nephews will serve as pall bearers. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean Battlo’s memory can be made to Sacred Heart Church, 35508 Coal Heritage Road, Northfork, WV 24868 or the Sacred Heart Food Pantry at the same address. Memorial donations can also be sent to the McDowell Commission on Aging, 725 Stewart St., Welch, WV 24801."