“Well done my child. Welcome home." We are sure were
the words spoken to S.G. Bolt in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day,
November 27, 2025 as he entered heavens portals for his eternal rest after many
years of struggling with chronic health issues.
S. G. was born April 12, 1934 to parents Theodore L. and
Gracie Alderman Bolt from Willis, Virginia. He was the eldest of their five
children. S. G. did not have a name - initials only- resulting from his
grandmother completing his birth record incorrectly. Using only the initials of
his grandfathers, Saford and George. The birth certificate was returned as S.
initial only and G. initial only. He often laughed about having a short 6
letter name. His name may have been short, but he stood tall as a warrior for
the Lord. He became a Christian on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1962 while
attending Green Mountain Baptist Church. Not long after, he answered God's call
into the ministry, and he preached his first sermon on Sunday, September 15,
1963 and was ordained as a Baptist Minister on March 29, 1964. Two local
churches were searching for a pastor after the death of their pastor, Brother
Orin Starr, and S G accepted the invitation to pastor Mount Hebron Baptist
Church during the years of 1964 - 1968. He served the second church, Mira Fork
Baptist in Willis, Va. from 1963 until declining health forced him to retire in
2008. While serving as pastor he won many souls to Christ - not only at the
churches, but throughout numerous surrounding states during evangelistic revival
services. He was also able to spread the gospel through a Sunday morning radio
program called We'll Work 'Till Jesus Comes which broadcasted from WHHV radio
station in Hillsville. His ministry expanded into local jail services, hospital
visitations and he established a regular service for area nursing home
residents. Even during his illnesses, he continued to witness for Christ and
would tell everyone to "keep looking up-Jesus is coming."
During the course of his many years at Mira Fork, he led the church into
the expansion of its' ministry by establishing the Mira Fork Christian Academy
which operated under his guidance from September 5, 1978 until its' closing in
2003. Hundreds of children passed through its doors during those 25 years, and
48 students successfully graduated.
S. G. was a multi-talented/bi-vocational pastor and worked
for many different road construction companies as a supervisor and a talented
motor grader operator for over 50 years. He traveled to numerous areas in
southwest Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida with the family
moving from place to place as he worked on major highways and interstates.
After the children were school age, the family established a permanent home in
Willis Virginia. He continued to work away from home during the week while
Pauline cared for the family and farm. As a farmer he raised a multitude of
pigs and became an expert butcher at hog killing time each year. The family
hardly knew that Thanksgiving was for turkey and dressing as they were able to
feast on ham, gravy and biscuits at the end of a busy butchering day. As the
years passed, he also became an auctioneer and used his preaching voice to
shout going once, going twice, and sold! throughout Carroll, Floyd, Patrick,
and Montgomery counties.
S. G. is survived by his devoted, loving wife of 71 years,
Virginia Pauline Burnette Bolt, whom he married on June 12, 1954. Also
surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Joy and Tom Slusher of Hillsville,
son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Karen Bolt of Floyd, and son-in-law,
Richard Midkiff of Dugspur. As a grandfather, great grandfather and great great
grandfather, he is also survived by Kadesh and Johnathan Hubbard, Kesla, Leon,
and Dottie Rierson, Javen, Jemmasen, and Kash Hubbard, Cayman and Amanda Bolt,
Daniel Dalton, Jaicey Dalton, Elijah and Colton Dalton-Smith, Autumn Stanley,
Dakota Dalton and Raelynn Dalton, Harlie and Ryan Stanley, Keshia, Matt, Hix,
and James Stanley and Kimberly Midkiff and fiancé Myles Gelbach. Also surviving
are his special sisters and brother-in-law Virginia Sowder of Dugspur and
Brenda and Kenny Dalton of Willis, brother and sister-in-law Lloyd and Betty
Bolt of Laurel Fork, sister-in-law Elizabeth Burnette Ingersoll of Galax, and
brother-in-law Rudolph Burnette of Chesapeake. The family also recognizes
a special neighbor and friend, Arlis Branscome who never failed to lend a
helping hand to the family.
He is preceded in death by his daughters Regina Kay Bolt
Dalton and Janice Dawn Bolt Midkiff, three children known only to God, parents,
Theodore and Gracie Alderman Bolt, parents-in-law, Rufus and Daisy Gardner
Burnette. As well as his grandparents George and Mary Goad Bolt, and Saford and
Louisa Webb Alderman, sister Barbara Ann Collier and special nephew Kenny Joel
Dalton.
Per S. G.'s request, the funeral services will be conducted
by family members, Cayman Bolt and Tom Slusher, on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at
2:00 PM at Vaughan-Guynn McGrady Chapel. The family will receive friends on
Saturday, November 29, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady
Chapel. Burial will be in the Gardner Memorial Cemetery off Route 100 in
Hillsville.
In lieu of flowers as S. G. requested "only one red
rose will do" the family graciously requests that memorial contributions
be made to The Gideons International P O Box 614 Galax, Virginia 24333 or to
the National Multiple Sclerosis Society PO Box 91891 Washington, D.C.
20090-1891.
