Rayburn Earl “Ray” Sawyers
1908 - 1999 (90 years)
Generation: 1
Generation: 3
Generation: 4
1. Rayburn Earl “Ray” Sawyers was born on 15 Nov 1908 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia (son of James Lewis Sawyers and Maude Lenora Samples); died on 15 May 1999; was buried in Greenbrier Burial Park, Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia. Notes:
HINTON - Rayburn Earl Sawyers, 91, of 502 Miller Ave., died Saturday, May 15, 1999, in a Nimitz care home following a long illness.
Born Nov. 16, 1907, in Smoot, he was the son of the late James L. and Maude Sawyers.
Mr. Sawyers was a graduate of Ronceverte High School and was retired from C&O Railroad as chief clerk to the superintendent in Hinton. He also was active in Elks Lodge 821, where he established the annual West Virginia State Elks Tournament in 1947 and directed the tournament for 24 years. He was also Elk of the Year in 1987-1988 and awarded an appreciation and long service to the Elks in promoting the Elks Tournament in 1966.
He was of the Methodist faith, a member of Hinton Masonic Lodge 62 AF & AM, a member of the Railroad Clerks Union, former president of the Toastmaster Club in Hinton and an avid golfer as long as his health permitted. Mr. Sawyers became active in politics and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1962 and to the state Senate in 1966.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Joe Sawyers.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Juanita Williams Sawyers; a brother, Burl Sawyers of Charleston; a nephew, Joe Sawyers of Charleston; three nieces, Judy Crouse and her husband, John, Myra Jarrett and her husband, Dink, and Becky Hodges and her husband, Russell, all of Charleston.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton, with the Rev. Patricia Weed officiating.
Entombment will follow in Greenbrier Burial Park Mausoleum.
Friends may call noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to Willow Wood Country Club and Hinton Elks Lodge 821.
Mark Woodrum, Tom Woodrum, Will Meador, Lin Goins, Hank Hanger, Howard Cody, Milton Foster and Harry Garrett will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton.
Publication: Register Herald
Beckley, WV
May 16, 1999
MARRIAGE RECORD:
Rayburn Earl Sawyers and Juanita Josephine Williams
1945 Raleigh County WV
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98043163/rayburn-earl-sawyersFamily/Spouse: Juanita Josephine Williams. Juanita was born on 24 Jun 1914 in Prince, Fayette County, West Virginia; died on 26 Nov 2000 in Beaver, Raleigh County, West Virginia; was buried in Greenbrier Burial Park, Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
2. James Lewis Sawyers was born on 16 May 1879 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died in 1960; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Notes:
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94879999/james-lewis-sawyersJames married Maude Lenora Samples on 22 Aug 1905 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Maude (daughter of Henry W. Samples and Sallie A. J. Hedges) was born on 12 Aug 1886 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 8 Jan 1942 in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
3. Maude Lenora Samples was born on 12 Aug 1886 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia (daughter of Henry W. Samples and Sallie A. J. Hedges); died on 8 Jan 1942 in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Notes:
Mrs. Maude Sawyers, 52, Is Found Dead.
Mrs. Maude Sawyers. 52, mother of Joe Sawyers, athletic coach at Sissonville high school, was found dead in bed Thursday night at her home at Pocatalico. Death was attributed to a heart attack.
Mrs. Sawyers was born at Clintonville, Aug. 12, 1889, the daughter 0f Henry and Sally Hodges Samples. She was a member of the Ron Ceverte chapter, OES, and the Beckley Methodist church. Services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Biss Chapel at Pocatalico with Rev. Mr. Brooks officiating.
Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery. The body will be removed at 5 p.m. today from the Noble Long Mortuary to the home.
Also surviving are her husband, James L. Sawyers: their two sons, Burl of Charleston and Ray of Hinton: five sisters, Mrs. A.C. Pierson of Malden, Wash., Mrs O.B. Smith, Mrs. Charles Samples and Mrs. Marcis Gailey, all of Aburn, Wash.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21469983/maude-l.-sawyersChildren:
- 1. Rayburn Earl “Ray” Sawyers was born on 15 Nov 1908 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 15 May 1999; was buried in Greenbrier Burial Park, Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia.
- Joseph Henry Sawyers was born on 30 Oct 1909 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 24 Sep 1989 in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia; was buried in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
- Burl Allan Sawyers was born on 29 Mar 1912 in Blue Sulphur, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 14 Aug 2002; was buried in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Generation: 3
6. Henry W. Samples was born on 21 Apr 1858 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia (son of William Moffett Samples and Drusilla Beard Wade); died on 14 Apr 1932 in Auburn, King County, Washington. Other Events:
- Census: 1880, Green Sulphur, Summers County, West Virginia
- Census: 1900, Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia
- Census: 1910, Teanaway, Kittitas County, Washington
Henry married Sallie A. J. Hedges on 13 Nov 1879 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Sallie (daughter of Jonathan Kiher Hedges and Margaret Jane McClung) was born on 4 Apr 1861 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 24 May 1901 in Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia; was buried in Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
7. Sallie A. J. Hedges was born on 4 Apr 1861 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia (daughter of Jonathan Kiher Hedges and Margaret Jane McClung); died on 24 May 1901 in Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia; was buried in Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia. Notes:
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81426291/sallie-a.-samplesNotes:
Married:
MHR gives marriage date as 13 Oct 1879Children:
- Mamie Noel Samples was born on 4 Sep 1880 in Summers County, West Virginia; died on 19 Aug 1964 in Ephrata, Grant County, Washington; was buried in Pine City Cemetery, Whitman County, Washington.
- Margaret Beard Samples was born on 20 Apr 1883 in Anderson, Preston County, West Virginia; died on 9 May 1944 in Seattle, King County, Washington; was buried in Washington Memorial Park, SeaTac, King County, Washington.
- 3. Maude Lenora Samples was born on 12 Aug 1886 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 8 Jan 1942 in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
- Lovena Mary Samples was born on 20 Dec 1888 in Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 5 Aug 1970 in Auburn, King County, Washington; was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Auburn, King County, Washington.
- Marvin Roy Samples was born on 20 Aug 1890 in West Virginia; died on 28 Dec 1910 in Rye, Kittitas County, Washington; was buried in Laurel Hill Memorial Park, Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington.
- Charles Roland Samples was born on 20 Oct 1894 in Huntington, West Virginia; died on 23 Mar 1961 in Renton, King County, Washington; was buried in Acacia Memorial Park, Lake Forest Park, King County, Washington.
Generation: 4
12. William Moffett Samples was born on 30 Oct 1818 in Clintonville, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 2 Aug 1874 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in unknown. Other Events:
- Census: 1850, Greenbrier County, Virginia
- Census: 1860, Greenbrier County, Virginia
- Census: 1870, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Notes:
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135726839/william-moffett-samplesWilliam married Drusilla Beard Wade. Drusilla was born on 23 Nov 1823 in Virginia; died on 3 Aug 1909; was buried in Fox Cemetery, Summers County, West Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
13. Drusilla Beard Wade was born on 23 Nov 1823 in Virginia; died on 3 Aug 1909; was buried in Fox Cemetery, Summers County, West Virginia. Other Events:
- Census: 1900, Green Sulphur, Summers County, West Virginia
Notes:
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94147396/drusilla-beard-samplesChildren:
- 6. Henry W. Samples was born on 21 Apr 1858 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 14 Apr 1932 in Auburn, King County, Washington.
14. 
Jonathan Kiher Hedges was born on 31 Jul 1819 in Fleming County, Kentucky (son of Levi Hedges and Rosannah Ribelin); died on 15 Nov 1912 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Andrew Chapel Cemetery, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Other Events:
- Occupation: minister and farmer
- Census: 1860, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
- Census: 1870, Clay Township, Braxton County, West Virginia
- Census: 1880, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
- Census: 1900, Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Notes:
Two Die, Aged 93 and 82.
Only Thirteen Hours Between Passing of Preacher and His Wife.
Cumberland Md., Nov. 24. – The Rev. Jonathan Kieher Hedges, 93 years old, and his wife, Margaret McClung Hedges, age 92, died within thirteen hours of each other at Smoot, W.Va., yesterday.
The Rev. Mr. Hedges, a native of Kentucky, first joined the Kentucky conference and later the West Virginia conference, this being in the early days of Methodism. His circuit at time included several counties and some years his salary did not amount to over $60.
One son and three daughters survive.
The Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia. Monday, 25 November 1912, page 3.
The news of Rev. Jonathan Hedges and his wife Margaret McClung Hedges was covered in multiple newspapers across the nation, including Washington, DC, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii; and undoubtedly many more. Along the way the story was sensationalized to report that Margaret died within ten minutes of hearing of her husband’s death. One version in The Sun of New York went so far as to report “His wife, age 92, ill by his side, said when she heard he was dead, “Well, I’ll go too.” She died within ten minutes.”
In any case, the fact that Rev. Jonathan Hedges was a well-known circuit preacher in West Virginia and the story of the aged husband and wife dying within a few hours of each other made for a touching human interest story.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106740811/jonathon-k-hedgesJonathan married Margaret Jane McClung on 29 Dec 1853 in Greenbrier County, [West] Virginia. Margaret was born on 28 May 1832 in Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 16 Nov 1912 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Andrew Chapel Cemetery, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
15. 
Margaret Jane McClung was born on 28 May 1832 in Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 16 Nov 1912 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Andrew Chapel Cemetery, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Notes:
Two Die, Aged 93 and 82.
Only Thirteen Hours Between Passing of Preacher and His Wife.
Cumberland Md., Nov. 24. – The Rev. Jonathan Kieher Hedges, 93 years old, and his wife, Margaret McClung Hedges, age 92, died within thirteen hours of each other at Smoot, W.Va., yesterday.
The Rev. Mr. Hedges, a native of Kentucky, first joined the Kentucky conference and later the West Virginia conference, this being in the early days of Methodism. His circuit at time included several counties and some years his salary did not amount to over $60.
One son and three daughters survive.
The Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia. Monday, 25 November 1912, page 3.
The news of Rev. Jonathan Hedges and his wife Margaret McClung Hedges was covered in multiple newspapers across the nation, including Washington, DC, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii; and undoubtedly many more. Along the way the story was sensationalized to report that Margaret died within ten minutes of hearing of her husband’s death. One version in The Sun of New York went so far as to report “His wife, age 92, ill by his side, said when she heard he was dead, “Well, I’ll go too.” She died within ten minutes.”
In any case, the fact that Rev. Jonathan Hedges was a well-known circuit preacher in West Virginia and the story of the aged husband and wife dying within a few hours of each other made for a touching human interest story.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106909079/margaret-j-hedgesChildren:
- James William Hedges was born on 26 Sep 1855 in Greenbrier County, [West] Virginia; died on 7 Dec 1940 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Rupert, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
- Joseph Brilhart Hedges was born on 19 Oct 1857 in Trout, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 23 Nov 1932 in Ronceverte, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Andrew Chapel Cemetery, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
- 7. Sallie A. J. Hedges was born on 4 Apr 1861 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia; died on 24 May 1901 in Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia; was buried in Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia.
- Martha Rosannah E. Hedges was born on 18 Mar 1864 in Monroe County, [West] Virginia; died on 26 Aug 1936 in Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Andrew Chapel Cemetery, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
- Mary Margaret Hedges was born on 3 Aug 1866 in Clay Township, Braxton County, West Virginia; died on 15 Oct 1950 in Summersville, Nicholas County, West Virginia; was buried in Walker Memorial Cemetery and Gardens, Summersville, Nicholas County, West Virginia.
- Lovinia Alice Hedges was born on 14 Mar 1870 in Braxton County, West Virginia; died on 6 Dec 1910 in Hominy Falls, Nicholas County, West Virginia; was buried in At the End of the Trail Cemetery, Clintonville, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
- Juliana Lee Hedges was born on 9 Aug 1875 in Braxton County, West Virginia; died on 16 Oct 1963 in Summersville, Nicholas County, West Virginia; was buried in At the End of the Trail Cemetery, Clintonville, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.