Alfred Harold Shelley
Alfred Harold Shelley, born February 9, 1939, in Williamsburg, Kentucky, peacefully passed away on February 25, 2024. Known by the heartwarming smile that seldom left his face,
Alfred spent his life committed to his family, work, and community.
A proud Kentuckian, he spent his career in the coal industry, working for Teco Coal Company and Calglo Coal Company. His dedication to his work was recognized by his peers and he retired with honors from Teco Coal Company. Alfred’s work ethic and kindness were, and will continue to be, an inspiration to all who knew him.
Alfred was the beloved father to four children, Ronnie Shelley (Lora) of Williamsburg, Jeanette Gallager (Jim) of Barbourville, Randy Shelley, and Leslie Shelley (Tommy Hensley) of Williamsburg. He was a cherished grandfather to Dennis Smith, Benita Smith, Rondal Shelley, Randal Shelley, Rachel Truett, and Cody Shelley. His love extended to his brother, Jennings Sammons, and several nieces, nephews, and countless other family and friends who will forever remember his gentle spirit.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Shelley and Maude Sammons, and his loving wife, Dorothy Shelley.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, February 28, at 11:00 am at Croley Funeral Home located at 103 South 2nd Street, Williamsburg, Kentucky with Rev. Lester Cox officiating.
The burial service will take place at 12:00 pm at the family cemetery, Shelley Family Cemetery, located at Gatliff Loop, Williamsburg, Kentucky.
We invite you to share your fondest memories of Alfred on his memorial page. You may also upload any photographs you may have to help celebrate Alfred’s life. His remarkable spirit and the memories he created will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Justin Miller
Justin Miller, age 33 of Williamsburg, KY, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2024 at the University of Tennessee Hospital.
He was born June 28, 1990 in Corbin, KY to Morris and Janet Ingram Miller.
He is survived by his wife, Courtney Davis Miller of Williamsburg, KY; four children, Katelyn Ramsey of Williamsburg, KY, Caydence Miller of Williamsburg, KY, Kyleigh Miller of Williamsburg, KY, and James Miller of Williamsburg, KY; his parents, Morris and Janet Ingram Miller; two brothers, James Miller (Amanda) of Williamsburg, KY, and Tyler Miller (Remi) of Williamsburg, KY; two nieces, Amari Miller, and Lacey Miller; four nephews, Elijah Miller, Silas Miller, Josiah Miller, and Samuel Miller; several friends, and family to mourn his passing.
Funeral service will be 1:00 PM Friday, March 1, at the Ellison Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Chuck Evans officiating.
Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery.
Visitation will be 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 29, at the funeral home
Pallbearers will be Derrick Brown, Estil Leach, Chase Perry, Patrick Robertson, Tyler Miller, and James Miller.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.ellisonfh.com.
Ellison Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Clyde Ray Yates
Clyde Ray Yates, 98, of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Baptist Health Corbin. Born May 27, 1925, in Woodbine, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Albert and Lola Yates.
He was a member of Bacon Creek Baptist Church.
A World War II United States Navy veteran, Clyde served aboard the USS Oakland and USS Little Rock. During his service, he earned the American Area Victory Medal WW2, Asiatic Pacific 4 Stars, and the Eur-Afr-Mid-East 6 Stars. He was a member of the American Legion Post 88 and the McKee Masonic Lodge #144.
Having a friendly, outgoing personality, Clyde always had an interesting story to tell. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping at Bee Rock, as well as watching UK Wildcat basketball.
In addition to his father and mother, Clyde was preceded in death by his wife, Abrilla “Billie” Yates; infant son, Michael Yates; daughter-in-law, Debra Yates; and siblings: infant sister, Irene, Leonard, Clarence, Dwight, Elizabeth, Mazie, Martha, and Opal.
He leaves behind his son, Dwayne Yates; four grandchildren: Amanda Yates, Joel “Joey” Yates, Jr., and wife Alicen, Michael Yates, and Austyn Yates; four great-grandchildren: Zakarie, Breaunna, Kayleb, and Emersyn Yates; special caregiver, Martha Bowman; and brother, Leroy “Dusty” Yates. He is also survived by other relatives and many friends.
His presence will be deeply missed by all who loved him.
Funeral service was Saturday, February 24, in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bennie Bush officiating.
A Masonic service was provided by the McKee Lodge #144.
Burial followed in Corinth Cemetery with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post 88 Honor Guard.
Hart Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Roger D. Garrett Sr.
Roger D. Garrett Sr., 80, of Williamsburg KY, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, in Winchester, KY.
He was born on September 26, 1944, in Muhlenberg, Kentucky.
He enjoyed spending time with his loved ones, and had a passion for fishing, and never met a stranger.
Sadly, Roger was predeceased by his wife, Mary Garrett; daughter, Donna Garrett; son, Richard Canady; and grandson, Brandon Garrett.
He leaves behind his loving children, daughter, Robin Richardson and husband Richard Richardson; daughter, Tabatha Turner and husband Daniel Turner; son, Roger Garrett and wife Celeste Garrett; daughter, Hope Westerhof and husband Craig Westerhof; daughter, Penny Rodenburg and husband Byron Rodenburg; and daughter, Elizabeth Garrett; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and by a host of family and friends.
The family will have a Celebration of Life for Roger D. Garrett on Saturday, March 2, from 12 – 4 P.M. at the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 103 Savoy-Clear Creek Rd. in Williamsburg, KY.
Free online resource, CredibleMind, offers many tools to aid in mental health care
It’s OK to not be OK.
Have you ever watched a co-worker or a child going through something, and you are just stumped about how to help them? Have you ever felt like your balance between working-to-live and living-to-work was off kilter? You are not alone. We know that mental health and well-being impacts our physical and spiritual well-being.
When Whitley County Health Department completed their 2023 Community Health Assessment, we found that mental health is a top priority for our community. Nearly 20 percent of Whitley County adults report having poor mental health in the last year.
While mental health is clearly a community need, it is not always easy to figure out how to address it. In Whitley County, there are more than a thousand people for every mental health provider. The farther south in the county, the fewer providers. That means 28% of our residents have little or no access to mental health care when they need it.
While there are no simple solutions, starting Oct. 2023, your health department put in place a resource to help people access help and information. We worked with local and national partners to introduce a new website from CredibleMind – whitley.crediblemind.com.
CredibleMind is a free online service that contains information about all kinds of mental health topics reviewed by mental health experts. You can look up subjects like sleep, anxiety, ADHD, aging, or parenting any time you want because it is free and always there. Because different people like to get information in different ways, each topic offers videos, podcasts, apps, articles, books and so on. You can see ratings that show what other users and the experts like.
Let’s say you are not sure what to look for. Is it job stress or burnout? Is caring for others taking a toll on you? There are quick assessments you can take that will help clarify answers to questions like that. They give you information about what areas to be concerned about and what resources might help. There is even a crisis page if you need urgent help.
All your information is confidential. The site will invite you to join for free by email, but you never have to.
Joining lets you see your own information and get an email newsletter about wellness topics. We never get your information. We get information about the number of people who visit the site and what topics people visit the most. This helps us and our partners know up-to-date information about what people are concerned about. That allows us to focus our other efforts in the right places.
You have choices. There is more than one way to work on your well-being. Our hope is with this easy-to-use website, fewer people end up in crisis and those that do can find help more easily.
You can take charge of your mental health and wellness. You can learn new skills. You can understand your strengths and challenges better. No matter what you are going through, you can find science-backed help when you need it at whitley.crediblemind.com.
Local educator honored with SESC Excellence in Education Award
Southeast/South-Central Educational Cooperative (SESC) is proud to announce Mrs. Maggie Mahan, an 8th-grade mathematics teacher leader at Corbin Middle School of Corbin Independent Schools, as the recipient of this month’s Excellence in Education award.
Corbin Middle School 8th grade math teacher Maggie Mahan receives the Southeast/South Central Educational Cooperative’s (SESC) monthly Excellence in Education award. (Pictured left to right: SESC Vice Chairperson Mrs. Carrie Ballinger, Corbin Middle Principal Christi Lefevers, award winning teacher Mrs. Maggie Mahan, and SESC Executive Director Mrs. Kay Dixon.)
Mahan is being recognized for her unwavering dedication to fostering excellence in her teaching practice, her commitment to the holistic growth of her students, and her invaluable role as an instructional coach to new educators.
Mahan epitomizes the spirit of excellence and dedication that characterizes outstanding educators. With a passion for both her subject matter and her students’ well-being, Mahan goes above and beyond to ensure that every student in her classroom not only learns math but also feels valued and supported on their journey.
One of Mahan’s most exceptional qualities is her ability to connect with her students on a personal level. She understands that each student comes to her classroom with unique strengths, challenges, and backgrounds.
With empathy and compassion, Mahan tailors her teaching approach to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
“Maggie Mahan is a shining star in the field of education,” said Ashley Judd, Director of Communications and Public Relations at Southeast/ South-Central Educational Cooperative, who had the opportunity to visit Mahan’s class.
“Her classroom environment speaks for itself. Within moments of entering, I took note of the calm and welcoming atmosphere.”
In addition to her exemplary work as a classroom teacher, Mahan also serves as an instructional coach, providing guidance and support to new teachers as they navigate the challenges and joys of the profession.
Her willingness to share her expertise and experience with others is a testament to her commitment to the future of public education.
Mahan was formally recognized at the SESC February board meeting, in front of superintendents and educational partners from across the region.
The Excellence in Education Award celebrates pubic education and educators, like Mahan, who embody the highest standards of professionalism, innovation, and compassion in their work.
For more information about the Excellence in Education Award and SESC’s commitment to supporting public education and educators throughout the region, please contact ashley.judd@sesccoop.org.
Dan Turner among the local musicians bringing their talents to the stage of The Train Station
Sometimes things just fit together perfectly. Such is the case for local musician Dan Turner and The Train Station (formerly Felts Music Place), a live music venue located off of Fifth Street Road in Corbin. (more…)
Fine Arts Association of SEKY presenting Louisville Orchestra live at Corbin Arena
It’s not every day that a Grammy award winner plays in Corbin, but that will be the case next Tuesday, Feb. 27, when the Louisville Orchestra brings its In Harmony Tour to the Arena for a special free event. (more…)
New WHS baseball head coach talks hopes for the future
Recently, Williamsburg Independent Schools announced the hiring of their newest varsity baseball head coach, Brennan Patrick. (more…)
Ruby Gayle (Hamblin) Huddleston
Ruby Gayle (Hamblin) Huddleston, age 79, of Eagan, Tennessee, was united with her Lord and Savior, and loved ones, on Monday evening, February 19, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her family.
She was born on August 3, 1944, to the late Ben Hamblin and Dorothy (Hackler) Hamblin in the Hamblintown Community of Claiborne County, TN.
Her paternal grandparents were the late Matt Hamblin and Myrtle (Carroll) Hamblin. Her maternal grandparents were the late Charles Hackler and Tressie (Neely) Hackler.
She was a graduate of Pruden High School – Class of 1962, and Toledo Night School.
Gayle and her husband, Charles, married young and subsequently moved to Toledo, Ohio. She found employment at Toledo Jeep where she became known as “Ma Huddleston.” Later, she had a ceramics shop where she taught the art of designing and firing ceramics. She and her husband also bought, renovated, and sold several houses throughout their time in the Toledo area.
Gayle retired from Jeep in 2008, after 32 years of faithful service. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband decided to return home to the Clairfield area. They settled in Eagan where Gayle quickly became reacquainted with the families and community where she was born and raised.
Gayle was quick and ready to be of service to her family, neighbors, fellow church members, and the community in general.
She was President of the Clearfork Community Institute, and served on the Board of Directors of the Clearfork Volunteer Fire Department and Clearfork Utilities. She was founder and organizer of the Clairfield Christmas Parade.
In addition to all of the time that she devoted to each of these worthy causes, Gayle was a faithful, long-time member of Clairfield Missionary Baptist Church. She also loved visiting many other churches in the area any time she had an opportunity.
Gayle was a devoted, helpful, and beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, neighbor, and friend. She will be sadly missed.
In addition to her parents and grandparents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Charles Huddleston; daughter, Gwen (Huddleston) Whitaker; brothers, Benny Matt Hamblin, Bobby Charles Hamblin, Gerald Hackler, and Clarence “Bud” Hackler; uncles, Vann Hackler and Charles Hackler; three aunts, Martha (Hamblin) Blakely, Reese (Hackler) King, and Charlotte (Hackler) Sowder; three brothers-in-law, Lamar Steele, Wayne Garland, and Glenn Huddleston; and two nephews, Benny Craig Hamblin and Randy Hamblin.
She is survived by four children, Christopher Huddleston, and wife, Denise, of Toledo, Ohio, Tina Allen, of La Follette, TN; Charles “Chuck” Huddleston, of Eagan, TN, and Jason Huddleston, of Columbus, OH; 12 grandchildren, Christopher Huddleston, Jr., Christin O’Brien, Aaron Huddleston, Sarah Watkins, Rebecca Whitaker, Mitchum Whitaker, Dorothy Whitaker, Cody Allen, Brittany Allen, Stephanie Elston, Joshua Huddleston, and Jeremy Huddleston, and many great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by two brothers, Vann Ed (Hector) Hamblin, and wife, Sylvia, of the Hamblintown community, and Larry Hamblin, of Ida, Michigan; three sisters, Barbara (Hamblin) Sturgell, of Deale, Maryland, Kaye (Hamblin) Steele, of Indianhead, MD, and Jean (Hamblin) Garland, of Swanton, OH; special life-long friends, Ruby Cobb, Margaret Gulley, and Denzel Taylor, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends, neighbors and other relatives to mourn her passing.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, February 23, beginning at 12:00 noon at the Clairfield Missionary Baptist Church.
The funeral will immediately follow on Friday afternoon, February 23, at 3:00 p.m. at the Clairfield Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Chuck Broyles and Rev. Keith Bays officiating.
Special music will be provided by Bro. Larry Davis, Rev. Eddie Johnson, Bro. Adam Gulley, and the Clairfield Baptist Church Choir.
Graveside service and interment will follow in the Hamblin Cemetery.
Cox & Son Funeral home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.