Arland Lee Childress

Arland Lee Childress, age 87 of the Baptist Valley community of North Tazewell, Virginia, died Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at his home. He was born July 14, 1936, in Excelsior, West Virginia. He was the son of the late Lum Howard Childress and Nona Agnes (Elswick) Childress of Oakwood, Virginia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty-two years, Virginia Juanita Childress; three sons, Sammy Carroll Dye, Edward Howard Childress, and Larry Wayne Childress; one granddaughter, Kathy Dye Rose; one brother, Jack Childress, and three sisters, Carol Horn, Faye Childress, and Bernice Childress. Arland worked as a coal miner for most of his life. He started his career as a loader, where he hand-loaded coal into wagons pulled by mules and ponies for his father at Jewell Valley in his early teens. He completed a stint at Bishop from 1964 to 1975. He left Bishop to start his own company, known as CC&P Coal Company, which he operated from 1975 to 1985. After selling CC&P Coal Company, he worked for various other coal operations and finally retired in 2001 from Corbin Coal Company after completing fifty-three years in the coal mining industry. After leaving the coal industry and “retiring,” he worked as a contractor doing various civil/water projects for residents of Tazewell County. In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and many friends. He enjoyed watching multiple sports on TV, of which cheering Mark Martin in NASCAR was his favorite. In his early days, he enjoyed spending time at South Holston Lake fishing and pulling his boys around on skis. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Those left to cherish his memory include his two sons, David Garland Childress and wife, Amy and Michael Thomas Childress, all of Tazewell, Virginia; six granddaughters, Sandy Jackson, Daphne Childress, Sara Andrews (John), Mandy Gates (Matt), Kelly Waddle and Marlea Childress; one grandson, Luke Harland Childress; eleven great-grandchildren; four brothers, Ralph Childress (Joyce), Woodrow Childress, Roger Childress (Bonnie), and Cecil Childress; and two sisters, Betty Horn and Gladys McClanahan; and many other family members and friends also survive. Funeral services for Arland Lee Childress will be conducted at 1:00 PM Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Hurst - Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, Virginia, with Elder Farley Beavers officiating. A burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Virginia. Pallbearers will be Gary Horn, Jeff Childress, Randy Childress, Wayne Perkins, Anthony White, and Brad Childress. The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The United Mine Workers Chaplain Corps will conduct a Coal Miners Memorial Service prior to the service on Saturday. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Tazewell, VA, is serving the family of Mr. Childress, and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Arland Lee Childress

July 14, 1936 - October 31, 2023