Mr. Roy James Sullivan, age 66, of the Sullivan Branch section of Bee, Virginia, passed away Sunday (September 25, 2016) peacefully at his home following a brief illness. Born November 1, 1949 in Bee, Virginia, he was a son of the late Christopher and Ailcie Lambert Sullivan. A lifelong resident of the area, he had formerly been employed as a coal miner and truck driver. He attended St. Paul Free Will Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by seven sisters, Mae Lovett, Bessie Lester, Beulah Farmer, Maudie Gay Barton, Laura Breeding, Lucille Lester, and Evonne Stacy, one brother, Rev. Arthur Lee Sullivan, and two half-sisters, Martha Lambert and Rausie O’Quinn.
Survivors include his loving wife, companion, and best friend for sixteen years, Joyce Keen Sullivan of the home; three daughters, Kimberly Higgins of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Janet Bennett of North Tazewell, Virginia, and Darla Noland of Cleveland, Tennessee; two step-daughters, Courtney Deskins of Honaker and Lisa Crandall of North Carolina; two step-sons, Dean Deskins of Bristol, Tennessee and Michael Thompson of Big A Mountain; three sisters, Irene Harris of Belfast, Arlene Fletcher of Honaker, and Delphia Wilson of Bee; one brother, Rev. Donald Sullivan of Bee; two special sisters-in-law, Hazel Presley and Phyllis Sheets; three grandchildren,six step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews also survive.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Walter Arnold and the staff of Helping Hands Hospice.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Wednesday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, Virginia with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson and Rev. Franklin D. Ball officiating. Interment will follow in the Frank Smith Cemetery on Big A Mountain, Virginia.
Pallbearers will be James Ball, Kenneth Lambert, Lester Tiller, Gary Slemp, Billy Sullivan, Chris Sullivan, and Doug Trent.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gerald Fletcher, Paul Harris, Ted O’Quinn, Clell Farmer, Ron Blankenship and Pastor Junior Rainwater of St. Paul Freewill Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Roy Sullivan Memorial Fund, c/o Honaker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1620, Honaker, Virginia 24260.
The family will receive friends at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6:00 PM Tuesday, where an evening service will be conducted at 7:00 PM with Rev. David Hall officiating.
Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net.