Perry Chester Dobbins

Perry Chester Dobbins, 78 of Blacksburg, passed away on January 27, 2026.

He is survived by his wife, Vera Weddle Dobbins; brother, Walter Dobbins; and a special great-niece, Amber May.

There will be no services held.

Archie Winfield Cox

Archie Winfield Cox, 91 of Willis and a resident of Skyline Nursing & Rehab, transitioned to his heavenly home on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Cicero & Gay Cox; and his siblings, Hazel, Brady, Grady, Elba, Shelba, Josephine, Ovada, Izola, and Elwood.

He is survived by his sister, Julia Montgomery; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2026 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dewayne Troutt officiating. A private interment will be held in the Ambrose Cox Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

We are deeply grateful to all of the staff at Skyline Nursing Home for Archie’s super care and support.

Edith Virginia Light

Edith Virginia Light, 91 of Indian Valley, passed on Thursday, January 22, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall Rifton Light; and son, Clyde Morris Light. 

She is survived by her sons, Ronnie Light, Carl Light; daughters, Donna Eicher, Becky Ollis; daughter-in-law, Theda Light; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Kenneth Poston officiating. Interment will follow in the Piedmont Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

 

Ruth Marie Surbaugh

Ruth Marie Surbaugh, 90 of Copper Hill, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lovell Surbaugh; granddaughter, Amanda Simpkins; sisters, Alice Burdette, and Annie Tippenhaunr. 

She is survived by her sons, Robert Stephen Surbaugh (June), David Scott Surbaugh (DuAnn); daughter, Kimberly Ann Simpkins; grandchildren, Roby Simpkins (Amber), Katherine Surbaugh, Sara Pauly (Shane), Sean Surbaugh (Annie), Jessica Surbaugh, Elyse Surbaugh; and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026 in the Restvale Cemetery with Pastor Roy Turpin and Pastor Stan Hawkins officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Ruth to Good Samaritan Hospice, Attn: Development, 4751 Cove Road NW, Roanoke, VA 24017.

Frank "Sonny" Ward Sweeney, Sr.

Frank “Sonny” Ward Sweeney Sr., 94 of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026. Sonny was born on July 16, 1931, in Rising Sun, Maryland, the son of the late Eva Peters Sweeney and Claude Swanson Sweeney.

Sonny entered the United States Army in 1952, serving during the Korean War transporting ammunition and as a driver for NATO diplomats during the Korean Armistice Agreement. His love for automobiles was a lifelong passion that continued well into his 80s. He owned a car sales business and worked with several dealerships throughout the Roanoke Valley and the New River Valley. Sonny never met a stranger, he was known by all for his infectious smile and carefree spirit.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Frank Ward Sweeney Jr.; grandson, Corey Scott Sweeney; and sisters, Madeline Sweeney Shortt and Christine Moore.

Left to cherish his memory are his granddaughter, Ashley S. Carr (Geremy) of Floyd, Virginia; grandson, Lee M. Sweeney of Roanoke, Virginia; daughter-in-law, Donna L. Sweeney of Floyd, Virginia; great-grandchildren, Jaden, Cameron, and Mason; and brother, Claude Elwood Sweeney of Roanoke, Virginia. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Roy Turpin officiating. Interment will follow in the Jacksonville Cemetery with Military Rites by the Army National Guard. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. 

Phyllis Smith Hollandsworth

 

Phyllis Smith Hollandsworth, age 85 passed away in Virginia Beach, VA on January 15, 2026 with her daughter by her side.  Phyllis was born April 23, 1940 in Willis, Virginia. 

She married Harold Hollandsworth of Indian Valley, VA in 1957. After graduating from Willis High School she traveled with Harold during his service in the United State Navy. She and Harold settled back into Christiansburg VA, where they built their home and lived for over 50 years. 

Phyllis worked as an administrative assistant at Homer Cox Ford and at the Montgomery County Clerks office where she retired. Phyllis loved God and read her bible daily. She was known for her magnanimous heart.

She is predeceased by her loving husband of 66 years, Harold Hollandsworth; parents, Alseberry and Clessie Huff Smith; and sister-in-law, Sue Charlton Smith. 

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Tommy Smith; grandchildren, Annabelle and Tom Smith, IV; brother, Michael Smith; nephew and wife, Brian and Kayla Smith. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Lowell Hopkins and Elder Carlton Brown officiating. Interment will follow in the Captain George Quesenberry Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Phyllis to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Hilda Burnette Underwood

Hilda Burnette Underwood, 80 of Willis, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. She is preceded in death by her parents, Orby “Red” & Effie Burnette; brother, Wayland Burnette (Kitty); sisters, Louise Wimmer (Colonel Bill), Kathleen Ashby, Geraldine Williams, and Learline Hall (Elvin); and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Underwood and Nelva Underwood.

Hilda loved the Lord and attended church faithfully through the years. In the last years, she attended Slate Mountain Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Noel Underwood; son, Duane Underwood; daughter, Angela Akers (Kenny); grandchildren, Chase Underwood, Blake Underwood, Sydney Walters (Parker),  Landen Dulaney, and Marshall Dulaney; brother-in-law, Riley Williams; sister-in-law, Reva Shough; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Slate Mountain Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jeff Dalton officiating. Interment will follow in Slate Mountain Cemetery. The family will receive friends from Noon until 2 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice or consider helping a family in need.

 

David Ray Harman

 

David Ray Harman, 87, of Willis, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026. He was born in Willis on June 6, 1938. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Nancy Harman; and sister, Joanne Harman Brusati.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jean Penley Harman; his three daughters & sons-in-law, Ellen Harman Mukai, Sharon Harman Whalen (Michael), and Laura Harman Le Roy (Tyson); and his seven grandchildren, Thomas Mukai, Justin Whalen (Regan), Katie Whalen, Matthew Whalen, Jack Le Roy, Jabe Le Roy, and Luke Le Roy, all of whom he loved dearly.

David was a graduate of Willis High School’s Class of 1956. He attended Virginia Tech and graduated in 1960 with a B.S. in Agriculture. He served two years as an administrative officer and instructor in the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee. He devoted his professional life to public education and took his first teaching job at Rocky Gap High School as an Agriculture teacher and varsity boys’ basketball coach. It was there that he first met Jean. After two years, he moved home to Willis and taught Agriculture and became assistant principal at Floyd County High School. He spent the remainder of his career at the Floyd County Public Schools central office as Director of Instruction.

A standout Willis High School basketball player, he continued his love for the game through coaching Floyd Recreation & AAU girls’ basketball for many years. While his teams had many wins, he got more gratification from seeing individuals improve. David loved auto racing and spent many weekends competing on dirt and asphalt tracks across Virginia and North Carolina. As he grew older and began to take a slower pace of life, he found joy in bringing antique cars to cruise-ins where he could admire the vehicles and share stories with people who gathered.

David was a man of deep Christian faith and attended St. Mark Lutheran Church for over 60 years. As  a leader in the church, he taught Sunday School classes, served as church council president, and occasionally led services and delivered sermons. His life reflected his commitment to grace, service, and love of neighbor.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Wanda Childs officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839 or at https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation

Susan Wimmer Smith

 

Susan Wimmer “MawMaw” Smith, 76 of Roanoke, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Salome & Duey Williams; parents, “Dink” & Freeda Wimmer; brother, Ashley (Anita) Wimmer; brother-in-law, Lynn Mills; great-granddaughter, Ashleigh Cuffle; and special person, Gary Landry. 

In Susan’s own words, she had a great marriage that gave her two beautiful sons and made her MawMaw Susan to five exceptional grandkids and later a great-grandmother. She valued their trips together and had a full and wonderful life.

She is survived by, Steve Smith; sons & daughters-in-law, Chad & Kathy Smith and Jason & Lisa Smith; grandchildren, Kendra McAlexander (Josh), Tiffany Smith (Elijah), Brooke Cuffle (Kenneth), Jack Smith (Taylor), and Blake Smith (Spencer); great-grandchildren, Bentley, Brenton, and Haisleigh McAlexander; brother, Ronald Wimmer (Kathy); and sisters, Annette Mills, Connie See (Steve), Michele Wimmer (Betsy), and Charlotte Austin (James).

"We love you, mom" - Chad and Jason

A Celebration of Life will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 at the Copper Hill Church of the Brethren.  The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. prior to the service.

Margaret Harman Hubbard

Margaret Harman Hubbard, 84, of Floyd passed away peacefully in her home on December 31, 2025, after battling dementia. She was born in the Harman family home in Floyd on September 5, 1941, and was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Dallas L. Hubbard, Sr.; parents, Jacob and Clara Harman; sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Bill Fralin; brother, Joe Harman; grandson, Enoch Hubbard; brother-in-law Jack Hylton; and nephews Scott and Lyndon Hylton. 

She is survived by her sons, Dallas "Leon" Hubbard, Jr. (Annette) and Terry Harman Hubbard (Mariellen); and her grandchildren, Jamie, Kyle, Caleb, Bethany, Ryan, and Quinn Hubbard all of whom she loved dearly. She is also survived by a much-loved cousin, Linda Deviney (Jerry); cousins, Gene Weddle, Dave Weddle, and Lester Weddle; sisters-in-law, Darlene Hylton and Gayle Harman; and a number of beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Family was of great importance, and she found joy in hosting large family Easter and Christmas gatherings. 

Of equal importance was her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. She was a longtime member of Topeco Church of the Brethren having joined at age 9. Her family donated the land for, and helped construct, the current Topeco church building. She was actively involved in the leadership of the church serving as a Deaconess and long-time church Treasurer, directing youth plays and activities, and singing in the choir for as long as she was able. 

She was a proud graduate of Willis High School's Class of 1960, and attended Radford College, then a division of Virginia Tech, where she attained a B.A. in Education. She began her career as a teacher, first in North Carolina and then Virginia, before staying home to raise her two boys. She continued to emphasize the importance of public education serving as a substitute teacher and eventually being elected to the Floyd County School Board in 1989, where she served as a member for 25+ years before retiring. 

She was heavily involved in the Floyd County Woman's Club, and took particular pride in the marketing and growth of their annual Arts and Crafts Festival. She also had a keen eye for decorating and detail and served as a wedding director for several family members and friends. She was a longtime fan and supporter of both Floyd County and Virginia Tech athletics, attending basketball and football games into her 80s. She loved gardening and canning vegetables, and was known for keeping an immaculate yard. 

Funeral services will be held at Noon on Monday, January 5, 2026 at Topeco Church of the Brethren with Rev. Mike Varner officiating. Interment will follow in Topeco Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until Noon prior to the service at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Topeco Church of the Brethren, Camp Bethel (Fincastle, VA), the Floyd County Woman's Club, or the Sandra Smith Scholarship Fund. 

The family would like to thank all the caregivers who helped out over the past several years, with a special thanks to Gentiva Hospice and to Lois Hubbard and Nanette West, who went above and beyond with their care and support.