A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home

05/03/2026

Grief doesn’t follow
anyone else’s timeline.

It doesn’t listen
to opinions,
expectations,
or comfort levels.

It stays—
in different ways,
in different intensities,
but it stays.

Because love doesn’t end.

So no,
this isn’t something
I “get over.”

It’s something
I learn to carry.

Quietly.
Daily.
For the rest of my life.

—Miss You Forever

05/02/2026

Grief… is hearing “they’re gone”. 🖤🥹

05/02/2026

I love these words by Donna Ashworth because they reframe loss as a continued connection and not something that disappears.

Gary Sturgis
Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF - 365 Days A Year’

05/02/2026

05/01/2026

CLYDE (“BUDDY”) PALMER CARROLL, 88, of Wytheville, VA, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2026 at Wythe County Community Hospital. He was born April 30, 1938 in Bluefield, WV, the son of the late Palmer & Alice Carroll.

“Buddy” was a member of the Rocky Gap Methodist Church. He never met a stranger.

He was a proud supporter of the Bland County students and athletes.

He graduated from Bluefield College, ETSU and earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee in Education. He was an English Major and taught school in Queens, NY.

He loved to feed the birds and squirrels.

Best known locally for his salesmanship, he was well known and well loved by many. He will be greatly missed.

“Buddy” was preceded in death by his parents, Palmer & Alice Marie Kidd Carroll, his sister, Pauline Gregory and a special cousin, Brandon Morris.

Left to cherish his memory are special cousins, Greg Kidd, Michael Kidd, Betty Lane, Leah Coburn Morris, Matthew Morris and Kelly & Corey Roberts; and special friends, John Johnson, Janet Weddle and Kevin Pauley; and several other special extended family members.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at Rocky Gap Methodist Church with Pastor Rodney Lawson officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 A.M until service time, 1:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Buddy’s honor to the Bland County High School, c/o Buddy Carroll Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O Box 9, Rocky Gap, VA 24366.

The Carroll family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.

04/27/2026

BRENDA SUE WHITE MATHENA, 71, of Dublin, VA, passed away Monday, April 27, 2026 at Radford Health & Rehab Center. She was born March 1, 1955 in Pearisburg, VA, the daughter of Hubert & Virgie White.

Brenda worked at Jefferson Mills for many years. She was a homebody and a caregiver and loved to read and cook. She loved the color purple and loved all flowers, especially irises and carnations.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert Wallace, Sr. & Virgie Gertrude Chewning White and her sister June Ann White.

Left to cherish her memory are her son & his fiancée, Matthew Mathena & Beverly Webb; her daughter, Susan Linkous; her grandchildren, Brent Draper, Daniel Price, Robert Mathena, Logan Kildow and Zakkary Kildow; her brother, Hubert White, Jr. and a sister, Arlene White.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 4, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with Pastor Joe Italiano officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 A.M. until service time, 1:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Brenda’s honor to the Radford Health & Rehab Center, 700 Randolph St., Radford, VA, 24141.

The Mathena family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.

04/27/2026

Grateful for the signs, broken all the same ❤️ take it if you need it

04/27/2026

Perfection
The only word I can think of to review the patchwork bear is perfection. I cried when I opened the box. My mom will stay alive with us through the bears forever. We will always miss her but the bears give us some peace. Thank you for all the love you put into your product. It was well worth it!

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
- Stephanie for https://thepatchworkbear.com

04/27/2026

DREAMA MCGINLEY WHITTAKER, 70, of Narrows, VA, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2026 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born July 24, 1955 in Bland, VA and grew up living in the Holly Brook Community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Michael & Forrest Ercell Ramsey McGinley, and her sister, Janet Allen McGinley.

Dreama liked to read and sew. She enjoyed yard sales and browsing through junk stores. She loved all 1970’s music and television.

She worked at a local library for many years.

Dreama is survived by her husband of 41 years, David Whittaker; her only child, her son & daughter-in-law, McGinley (“Mac”) & Kandace Whittaker, of Christiansburg, VA; and her brother, Clarence Michael McGinley, Jr., of Narrows, VA.

“Dee” is also survived by special cousins, Jolanda Hodge Cheeks and daughter, Iris, of Pearisburg, VA and her lifetime best friend, Nedra Holdren Thorn, of Narrows.

Graveside services will be held Friday, May 1, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at Shiloh Cemetery, Holly Brook, with Pastor Phil Vickers officiating.

The Whittaker family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.

04/25/2026

MARTHA JEAN LAMBERT, 82, of Bland, VA, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Wythe County Community Hospital. She was born December 14, 1943 in Bluefield, WV, the daughter of the late Hugh Taylor & Sadie Clara Whittaker Ashworth.

Jean was a member of Central Church. She loved her church family and had certain members she loved to pick on, especially Phillip Earls and Barry Havens.

She enjoyed live music and tried to attend the White Gate Jamboree and Central Pickers events when she could. She enjoyed her Senior Citizens group and enjoyed riding the bus to the Library for Bingo and to the grocery store. The bus drivers kept a close eye on her and were very special to her.

She loved to pick on Frankie Gray and he would make sure she could get to the cannery to can when she needed to.

She loved children and enjoyed keeping up with the children in her church and in the community.

In recent years, she was challenged by her loss of hearing and eyesight, but she was strongly independent and wanted to be in charge of her affairs. Being very mischievous and fun loving, she loved to be with people and pick with her friends. She was quite the social butterfly and enjoyed calling many people throughout the day on the telephone to keep up with what was going on in and around Bland.

Jean had a large support system of great friends and caregivers who loved her, and she will be greatly missed by those who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh Taylor & Sadie Whittaker Ashworth and her husband, Frazier Filmore Lambert.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved church family; her half-brother, Richard Burnette Whittaker; her special cousins, Alan & Mary Ashworth, Molly Thompson, Jean Harman and Dorothy & Wade Dickens; special friends, Ronnie & Jane Hall, Steve & Sandra Kelley and Rusty Bird and family; and numerous special friends and neighbors.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 12:00P.M. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with Pastor Alan Ashworth and Rev. Dr. Kevin Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in Temple Hill Cemetery.

There will be an hour of viewing prior to the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Jean’s honor to her beloved church, Central Church, c/o Kathryn Dunn, 299 E. Blue Grass Trail, Bland, VA 24315.

The Lambert family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.