Mr. Axley Audry “Pete” Stevens, age 80, of the Wysor Valley section of Honaker, Virginia, went to be with the Lord on Thursday (June 23, 2022). Born December 8, 1941 in Buchanan County, Virginia, he was a son of the late Rev. Isaac and Bertha Stevens. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a retired coal miner, having worked in the coal industry for thirty-eight years. During his career, he became certified in all underground mining positions and had no lost time accidents. He was a member of UMWA Locals 1426 & 2274 and had served for several years on the UMWA Committee. He had served for many years as a board member for New Garden Rescue Squad. A devoted Christian, he was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith and member of the Body of Christ. He attended many local churches and was passionate about reading and discussing the Bible. He enjoyed listening to country southern and bluegrass gospel music. For many decades, he enjoyed playing the guitar and committed to only playing gospel music. He loved all animals, trained horses, and raised many barnyard animals. Hunting mushrooms and ginseng were some of his favorite hobbies. He had a “green thumb” when it came to gardening vegetables and flowers, especially roses. Faith and family were everything to him and he often commented that he loved all of his children and grandchildren the same.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty-seven years, Janice Wilson Stevens, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rev. Homer and Blanche Wilson, three brothers, Earl Stevens, Luther Robert Stevens, and Estil Stevens, three sisters, Letha Marie Stevens, Jean Dotson, and Dimple Moore, and great-grandson, Shaun Lee Miller Wilson.
Survivors include three children, Denise Hubbard and husband, Gary, Loretta Miller Shortridge, and Nolan Stevens and wife, Jenna; grandchildren, Kristi Fields and husband, Casey, Ashley Cherith Gilbert and husband, Thomas, Kishia Wilson and husband, Chris, Kelsey Miller, Peyton Stevens, Savanna Stevens and fiancé, Layton Parrott, Eden Stevens, London Stevens, Anniston Stevens and Aspen Stevens; great-grandchildren, Malachi Gilbert, Jonah Gilbert, Rhythm Gilbert, Eleanor Fields, Thatcher Fields, Ayris Wilson and Hendrix Wilson; three brothers, E.C. Stevens and wife, Anna Ruth, Garnett Stevens and wife, Dorothy and Darrell Stevens and wife, Kay; three sisters, Betty Ball, Edith Johnson and husband James and Ann Johnson; his special canine companion, Bullet; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends and church family also survive.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. James Abrokwah and his nurse, Tammy, Dr. Paul Phillips, Dr. Norman Rexrode and the staff of Russell County Hospital and Lebanon Lifesaving Crew and nurses, Katie Miller and Lisa Sims.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 PM Friday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Randall Stevens and Pastor Joel Horn officiating. Interment will follow in the Frank Smith Cemetery on Big A Mountain.
Pallbearers will be Nolan Stevens, Peyton Stevens, Gary Hubbard, Casey Fields, Thomas Gilbert, Malachi Gilbert, Chris Wilson and Jeremiah Rose.
Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren and Henry Yates, Lloyd Wilson, Roby Lowe, Harold Harris, McKinley McGlothlin.
The family will receive friends after 6 PM Thursday at Honaker Funeral Home where an evening service will be conducted at 7 PM with Pastor Eugene Whited and Pastor Rodney Wolford officiating.