Shelma Keen

Shelma married Cecil Richardson 24 Jun 1960, Russell Co. VA; divorced 12 Jul 1974, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Divorced:
Virginia Divorce Records, 1918-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Shelma Keene
Gender: Female
Race: White
Divorce Age: 33
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1941
Marriage Date: 24 Jun 1960
Divorce Date: 12 Jul 1974
Divorce Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Spouse: Cecil Richardson
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: White
Spouse Divorce Age: 41
Spouse Birth Date: 1933
Number of Children: 1
Wife sued for divorce, cause adultery

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Shelma Keene
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 22
Birth Date: abt 1938
Marriage Date: 24 Jun 1960
Marriage Place: Lebanon, Virginia
Registration Place: Russell, Virginia
Father: Albert T Keene
Mother: Artie A Abshire
Spouse: Cecil Richardson
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: White
Spouse Age: 25
Spouse Father: Claude S Richardson
Spouse Mother: Elsie M Webb

Albert married Artie Alifair ABSHER. Artie (daughter of Charles Allen ABSHER and Rena Belle (Rennie) CHAMBERS) was born 05 Sep 1919, Tazewell Co. VA; died 01 Feb 2003, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

CENSUS

1930 Census
Name: Artie Absher
Birth Year: abt 1919
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1930: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Absher 44
Rena Absher 37
Jim Absher 15
Rosa Absher 13
Artie Absher 11
Lloyd Wm Absher 6

OBITUARY

Mrs. Artie Alifair Absher Keen, age 83 of Tazewell, Virginia, died Saturday, February 1, 2003 at her home following a lengthy illness..

She was born in Tazewell County, Virginia and was a daughter of the late Charles and Rena Chambers Absher, both Tazewell County, Virginia natives.

She was a life long resident of the Tazewell County area and was a former bookkeeper for several independent coal operators and was among the first postmistresses to serve in Tazewell County, Virginia. She was a life long member of the Richlands Tabernacle and was a very loving friend to her family and community.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Albert T. Keen and three brothers, Dewey, Roy, and Lloyd Absher.

Survivors are:

Five Daughters:

Mrs. William (Pauline) Woodall of Tazewell, Virginia

Mrs. Cecil (Shelma) Richardson of Tazewell, Virginia

Mrs. Claudine Lockhart of Tazewell, Virginia

Mrs. Jack (Carolyn) Lewis of Lexington, Kentucky

Mrs. Jimmy (Beverly) Farmer of Rosedale, Virginia

Four Sisters:

Mrs. C. W. (Mattie) Stilwell of Steelesburg, Virginia

Mrs. Edward (Rosa) Messick of Pounding Mill, Virginia

Mrs. Joe (Nell) Buckles of Stafford, Virginia

Mrs. Bernard (Maxie) Williamson of Stafford, Virginia

1 Brother, Mr. James T. Absher of Raven, Virginia

Nine Grandchildren, Thirteen Great Grandchildren, and special caregivers, Doris Neal and Karen Tignor.

Funeral services for Mrs. Artie Alifair Absher Keen will be conducted Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Richlands Tabernacle in Richlands, Virginia with Rev. Phillip Horton, Rev. Ralph Horton, Rev. David Horton, and Rev. James Horton officiating. Entombment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Virginia. Pallbearers will be: Richie Richardson, Dale Woodall, James Lewis, Anthony Lockhart, Benjamin Lockhart, Jared Farmer, Joshua Dye, Jordan Robinett, Hunter Woodall, and Chase Richardson. Honorary pallbearers: Dr. Phillip Peterson and Dr. Steven Rinehart. Friends may call at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands after 6:00 p.m. Monday.

Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements.

Birth:
Virginia, Births, 1864-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Artie Alifair Absher
Birth Date: 5 Sep 1919
Birth Place: Tazewell Co. VA

Buried:
Grave location and obituary:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9694590&ref=acom

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Artie Alifair Keen
Death Date: 1 Feb 2003
Death Place: Tazewell Co. VA

Other Events:

• _UID: 9B5CC7CA2A494E8C96B0EB6B94BC4FD9E95F

Charles married Rena Belle (Rennie) CHAMBERS. Rena (daughter of Thomas Douglas (Red Tom) CHAMBERS and Edith OSBORN) was born 5 May 1893, Buchanan Co. VA; died 5 Jun 1965, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Absher Family Cemetery (Road Ridge), Raven, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 33CC0F1A452A477BBEC1CE3C48E923083ECB

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Irena Chambers
Age: 7
Birth Date: May 1893
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Thomas D Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Eady Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Rena Absher
Age in 1910: 19
Birth Year: abt 1891
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Charles H Absher
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles H Absher 25
Rena Absher 19
Dewey Absher 4

1920 Census
Name: Rena Abshire
Age: 26
Birth Year: abt 1894
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Charley Abshire
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Charley Abshire 35
Rena Abshire 26
Dewey Abshire 14
Roy Abshire 9 years 7 months
Mattie Abshire 7 years 7 months
James T Abshire 5 years 11 months
Rosa E Abshire 2 years 9 months
Ardie A Abshire 3 months

1930 Census
Name: Rena Absher
Birth Year: abt 1893
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1930: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 16
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Absher 44
Rena Absher 37
Jim Absher 15
Rosa Absher 13
Artie Absher 11
Lloyd Wm Absher 6

Birth:
Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Rena Bell Absher
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 5 May 1893
Birth Place: Shortt Gap B, Virginia
Father Name: Thomas Chambers
Mother Name: Edith Osborne
Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Notes: Sep 1963: Name listed as RENA BELL ABSHER

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=36135378

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Rena Belle Absher
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 72
Birth Date: 5 May 1893
Death Date: 5 Jun 1965
Death Place: Richlands, Tazewell, Virginia
Registration Date: 15 Jun 1965
Father: Tom Chambers
Mother: Edith Osborne
Spouse: Charlie Absher

Other Events:

• _UID: FE44085490FA44E09BCF7BB890F0AE52694F

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Census
Name: Thomas D Elswick
Age in 1870: 14
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Name Age
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buanavesta Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

Note: He and his brother, Elbert Wade, are using his stepfather's last name, but Thomas and Elbert Wade return to their mother's maiden name for the rest of their lives.

1880 Census
Name: Thomas Chambers
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sallie Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chambers 23
Sallie Chambers 27
Alafim Chambers 5 [Alafair]
Thomas C. Chambers 1

1900 Census
Name: Thomas D Chambers
Age: 47
Birth Date: Feb 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Thomas W Chambers
Age in 1910: 54
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas W Chambers 54
Eady Chambers 44
Grace Chambers 17

1920 Census
Name: T D Chambers
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
House Number: Farm
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Farm Labor
Industry: Home Farm
Employment Field: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

1930 Census
Name: Thomas D Chamber [Chambers]
Birth Year: abt 1856
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Father-In-Law (Father)
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 20
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Nathan W Wade 52
Mallie E Wade 45
Carl Wade 18
Vennie Wade 12
Gladis Wade 7
Rufus Wade 4 years 10 months
Clarie Orsborn 19
Thomas D Chambers 74

PARENTS

Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family. John McClintock, Jr. told me what the family stories were, but there was no confirmation until Thomas D. Chamber's death certificate.

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737998&ref=acom

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia

Name: Thomas Douglas Chambers
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 75 years 2 months and 16 days
Birth Date: 2 Feb 1876 [Note: It looks like the registrar wrote in his birth year as 1876, when in should be 1856 according to his age]
Death Date: 19 Apr 1931
Death Place: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 20 Apr 1931
Father: Gillespie Thomas [Thomas Gillespie]
Mother: Emmyline Chambers
Certificate Number: 1931009027
Informant: N. W. Wade, his son-in-law.
[Note: Thomas was living with Mollie and Nathan in the 1930 census]

Thomas married Edith OSBORN. Edith was born 10 May 1865, Buchanan Co. VA; died 10 Mar 1928, Buchanan Co. VA; was buried , Chambers Cemetery, Shortt Gap, Buchanan Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: B838C896412F4D798960C7B880C3A38F61F2

Notes:

Her father Chapp Osborne was a guard at the Raven Red Ash Coal Comp and in 1920 he was appointed a Tazewell Co deputy. He was killed in a gun battle near Richlands on 22 March 1927. It is said that he shot 15 men, eight of whom died.

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Eady Chambers
Age: 56
Birth Date: May 1864
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Thomas D Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother: number of living children: 7
Mother: How many children: 7
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1920 Census
Name: Eady Chambers
Age: 54
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: T D Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737612

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912=2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Eady Chambers
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 62
Birth Date: 10 May 1865
Birth Place: Buchanan Co. VA
Death Date: 10 Mar 1928
Death Place: Buchanan, Virginia
Registration Date: 26 May 1928
Father: William Osbon
Mother: Mary Keen
Spouse: T D Chambers