1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Davy; taken on 3 Apr 1030; Page 39A;
Family #65/73.
Listed as Wanless J. Goodson; age 10; born in WV; in household of mother, Annie M. Jarrett
Goodson.
2. Brooke Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1944); Page 577; WV Archives Web Site.
Wanless M. Goodson; age 23; born and living at Davy, WV; married on 5 May 1944 at Hollidays
Cove, WV; Margaret Rae Bedortha; age 22; born at Weirton, WV; lining at Hollidays Cove, WV.
3. 1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Davy; taken 11 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 32; Dwelling #243.
Listed as Wanless M. Goodson; age 29; born in WV; married; retail store clerk; head of household.
4. "The Register Herald"; Beckley, WV; Sunday, 13 Mar 2011; Newspaper Obit.
"Wanless M. Goodson, 90, of Goodsons’ Supermarkets in Welch and Oceana died on Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Doug and Lucy Bowers Hospice Center of Southern WV in Beckley. "Born on July 15, 1920, in Davy, WV, he was the son of the late James Wanless and Annie Mae Jarrett Goodson. "Wanless was raised in Davy during the Great Depression, and after graduating from Welch High School he went to Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. He met Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha of Weirton, WV, at Asbury, and after graduating they were married. At his death they had been married for 66 years. "He also attended Asbury Seminary intending to become a pastor, but World War II came along and he volunteered to be trained as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In early 1945 he flew a B-29 to the Pacific Theatre and flew 31 missions over Japan, some to drop bombs and others to drop supplies to POW camps when the war ended. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. "Wanless came home from the war in October 1945 and flew for American and Eastern Airlines before deciding to return to the family business in Davy. His grandfather James T. Goodson started a General Store in Davy in 1904, beginning what is now Goodsons’ Supermarkets. Wanless worked with his mother, his brother, Paul, and with other family members and led them to convert the general store to a more modern grocery store with aisles, shelves and shopping carts. He operated grocery stores in downtown Welch for many years, and later worked with his three sons to build the two supermarkets that serve Welch and Oceana today. "In Davy he also served as the Town Clerk, started the Davy Volunteer Fire Department, built the town water system, and built a TV cable system in time to watch President Dwight Eisenhower be inaugurated. The whole town gathered in the store to watch on a small Black and white TV on top of the produce case. "In Welch he was a former member of the Rotary Club, and former member and past vice president of the Board of Directors of the Welch Gas Co-operative. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Welch, where he was a devoted member of the Chancel Choir and served in many other capacities throughout the years. "He served on the Board of Directors of Richfood Inc., a grocery wholesaler in Richmond, VA. He devoted his life to his family, his church, his businesses and his community. "In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Paul and James Roy Goodson, MD; and one sister, Dorothy Beavers. "He is survived by his wife, Margaret Rae (Birdie) Bedortha Goodson of the home; three sons, Gerald L. Goodson and wife Ruth of Bluefield, WV, Jeffrey Goodson and wife Cheri of Bluefield, VA, and Donald Goodson and wife Debbie of Daniels, WV; 8 grandchildren, Jennifer Anna Goodson of New York City, NY, Heidi Christine Graham and husband Nicholas of Medina, OH, Scott Alan Goodson and wife Stephanie, David Wayne Goodson and Amy Dawn Goodson all of Indian Trail, NC; George Kevin Goodson and wife Nichole of Bluefield, VA, Janna Cheri Goodson-Scouras and husband Teddy of Barboursville, WV, and Todd Alan Goodson and wife Sara of Bluefield, VA; 6 great-grandchildren, Andrew and Parker Goodson of Indian Trail, Noah and Abigail Graham of Medina, OH, and Bailey and Palyn Goodson of Bluefield, VA. "Funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, March 15, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Welch, with the Revs. Amanda Reed and Ollie Parsons officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton, where military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW Post 1144 Iaeger and American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw..."
5. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "The Goodson Family"; Article; Page 152; submitted by Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV.
6. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wanless M. Goodson"; Article; Page 153; submitted by Mrs. Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
Margaret Rae "Birdie" Bedortha
1. Brooke Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1944); Page 577; WV Archives Web Site.
Wanless M. Goodson; age 23; born and living at Davy, WV; married on 5 May 1944 at Hollidays
Cove, WV; Margaret Rae Bedortha; age 22; born at Weirton, WV; lining at Hollidays Cove, WV.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wanless M. Goodson"; Article; Page 153; submitted by Mrs. Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
3. 1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Davy; taken 11 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 32; Dwelling #243.
Listed as Margaret Goodson; age 28; born in WV; married; in household of husband, Wanless M.
Goodson.
1. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Davy; taken on 2 Jan 1920; Page 230A;
Family #43/44.
Listed as Dorothy M. Goodson; age 9 mons; born in WV; in household of father, James W. Goodson.
2. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Davy; taken on 3 Apr 1030; Page 39A;
Family #65/73.
Listed as Dorothy M. Goodson; age 11; born in WV; in household of mother, Annie M. Jarrett
Goodson.
3. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "The Goodson Family"; Article; Page 152; submitted by Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wanless M. Goodson"; Article; Page 153; submitted by Mrs. Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
3. 1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Davy; taken 11 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 32; Dwelling #243.
Listed as Gerald L. Goodson; age 3; born in WV; in household of father Wanless M. Goodson.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wanless M. Goodson"; Article; Page 153; submitted by Mrs. Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Wanless M. Goodson"; Article; Page 153; submitted by Mrs. Margaret
Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
2. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
3. 1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Davy; taken 11 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 32; Dwelling #243.
Listed as Donald W. Goodson; born in Aug 1949 in WV; in household of father Wanless M. Goodson.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. "The Heritage of McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1999"; 1999; By Geneva Steel, Tom
Hatcher and Sandra Long; "Children of Wanless and Margaret Goodson"; Article; Page 153;
submitted by Margaret Goodson, 1481 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1916); Page 392; WV Archives Web Site.
Terry Gibson; age 22; born in Grayson Co, VA; single; carpenter; living at Maybeury, WV; son of Jim
and Jennie; married on 31 Aug 1916 at Maybeury, WV; Minnie Jones; age 21; born in Pulaski Co, VA;
age 21; daughter of Sarah and Joe.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1916); Page 392; WV Archives Web Site.
Terry Gibson; age 22; born in Grayson Co, VA; single; carpenter; living at Maybeury, WV; son of Jim
and Jennie; married on 31 Aug 1916 at Maybeury, WV; Minnie Jones; age 21; born in Pulaski Co, VA;
age 21; daughter of Sarah and Joe.
1. "The Register Herald"; Beckley, WV; Sunday, 13 Mar 2011; Newspaper Obit.
"Catherine Helen Riggs, 82, of Beckley passed away Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Bowers Hospice House. "Born on February 13, 1929, in Covel, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Terry and Minneola Gibson. "Catherine was preceded in death by sisters Louise Cook, Margaret Hughes, Macil Tankersley, and brother, Terry Gibson, Jr. "She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Jack; daughters Sharon McCrary and husband Charles of Charleston, South Carolina; Vickie Rizzi and husband, Nick; Beth Reed and husband Kim; and son Scott Riggs all of Beckley. Two granddaughters, Ashley Rizzi Mahaffey and husband, Allen, and Lauren Rizzi; and three grandsons, Hunter Reed, Airman 1st Class Casey Reed and Max Riggs; four sisters, Mildred Crutchfield, Phyllis Milam and husband Archie, Mary Thompson and Brenda Boyd; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Special thanks to a special friend, Theresa Hoover. "Catherine was a homemaker and dedicated mother and grandmother and a member of Maxwell Hill Baptist Church. "Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at the Maxwell Hill Baptist Church with Ken Killen officiating. "She will be laid to rest at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens...."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1929); Page 195; WV Archives Web Site.
Lemney Lester; age 20; born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; miner; living at Hensley, WV; son of Cleve
and Judea; married on 31 Dec 1929 at Davy, WV; Daisy England; age 16; born in McDowell Co, WV;
single; daughter of Wilson and Cretie.
2. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 184A; Image 19 of
22; Family #167/168.
Listed as Lema Lester; age 20; born in WV; married at 19; farmer; head of household.
3. 1940 Census. McDowell, WV; Browns Creek District; Capels; E.D. 24-35; taken on 3 May 1940;
Page 715A; Image 52 of 57; Household #400.
Listed as Lemmie Lester; age 32; born in WV; married; 3rd grade education; lived in McDowell Co,
WV on 1 Apr 1935; motorman in coal mine; head of household.
4. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #'70 002162; WV Archives Web Site via LDS Web Site.
Lemmie Lester; age 59; born 25 May 1910 in WV; married; husband of Lavu Cameron Lester; miner;
SS#232-18-7583; living at Baileysville, WV; son of Cleve and Judy (England) Lester; died 3 Feb
1970; D.O.A. Doctors Memorial Hospital, Welch, WV; from acute coronary occlusion due to diabetes
mellitus; buried 5 Feb 1970 in Roberts Cemetery, Pad Fork, WV;
5. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Patty Greene; 2 Dec 2015.
" Lemmie Lester
Birth 25 May 1910
Wyoming County, West Virginia, USA
Death 3 Feb 1970 (aged 59)
Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Burial Lige Roberts Cemetery in Pads Fork
Iaeger, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA (sic, Steeles, Wyoming Co, WV)
Memorial ID 155599610"Additional Information Posted:
"Son of Cleveland Lester (1887-1949) & Judy England-Lester (1894-1961)."Brother of May Lester-England (1912-1962), Paris Lester (1916-1948), Lottie Lester (1917-1982), David H. Lester (1922-1983), Douglas Omar Lester (1924-1980), Ada Forest Lester-Richmond (1925-1989), Frank Lester (B. 1928), & Sadie Hilda Lester-Jones (1929-2009).
"Married to Daisy Lee England-Lester (1914-1949) on December 31, 1929 in Davy, McDowell County, WV (per WV Marriage License Register, McDowell County, WV, 1929, Page195, Application Date: December 29, 1929).
"Father of Jessie Lester (Deceased), Beulah Lester (Deceased), Athlene Lester (Deceased), Wilson Cleveland "Jack" Lester (1933-2015), Shirley Fay Lester-Lester (1936-Deceased), Patsy Lester-Walker, Linda Lester-Workman, Andrew Lester and Douglas Lester.
"Also married to Lavy Safronia Cameron-Lester-Davis.
"Father of Seth Andrew "Drew" Lester (1961-2016)"
1. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District, Twin Branch; taken on 19 Jan 1920;
Page 259A; Family #599.
Listed as Daisy England; age 6; born in WV; in household of father, Wilson England.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1929); Page 195; WV Archives Web Site.
Lemmey Lester; age 20; born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; miner; living at Hensley, WV; son of Cleve
and Judea; married on 31 Dec 1929 at Davy, WV; Daisy England; age 16; born in McDowell Co, WV;
single; daughter of Wilson and Cretie.
3. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 184A; Image 19 of
22; Family #167/168.
Listed as Daisy Lester; age 15; born in WV; married at 14; in household of husband, Lemmie Lester.
4. 1940 Census. McDowell, WV; Browns Creek District; Capels; E.D. 24-35; taken on 3 May 1940;
Page 715A; Image 52 of 57; Household #400.
Listed as Daisy Lester; age 25; born in WV; married; 4th grade education; lived in McDowell Co,
WV on 1 Apr 1935; in household of husband, Lemmie Lester.
5. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #11890; WV Archives Web Site.
Mrs. Lemmy Lester, Daisy Lee Lester written in; age 34 yrs, 8 mons, 1 day; born 7 Dec 1914 at
Marytown, WV; living at Big Sandy, WV; married; housewife; daughter of Wilson and Creedie England;
died 8 Aug 1949 in Grace Hospital, Welch, WV; from chronic glomerulo heptitis; buried 11 Aug 1949 in
Lige Roberts Cemetery.
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Lqqkn4Family; 9 Jul 2021.
" Jesse Troy Lester
Birth 31 Dec 1930
Wyoming County, West Virginia, USA
Death 25 Oct 1931 (aged 9 months)
Wyoming County, West Virginia, USA
Burial Lige Roberts Cemetery in Pads Fork
Iaeger, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA (sic, Steeles, Wyoming Co, WV)
Memorial ID 22931663"