Kenneth Eugene Southern of Beckley, WV passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, at his home from Alzheimer’s Disease. Kenneth lived on Sixth Street in Beckley for many years and was known as “Big Red” on the CB Radio. Kenneth served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked in the mines at Helen and Slab Fork, WV. In 1969, he became a Federal Mine Inspector for Mine Safety & Health Administration and in 1994 he retired from the government. Kenneth attended the Open Bible Baptist Church on Hedrick Street. He was baptized on April 30, 2006, at Sophia First Baptist Church.

Born on September 24, 1931, in Epperly, WV, he was the eldest of the three sons of the late Howard Washington Southern (1908-1986) and Lola Mae Simmons-Southern (Deceased) of Beckley. He was preceded in death by a brother, Darrell Alfred Southern (1933-1998); his maternal grandparents, Stephen Simmons (Deceased) and Laura Coe-Simmons (Deceased); and paternal grandparents, Will Southern (Deceased) and Bessie Lowe-Southern (Deceased); his father-in-law, Oscar Leonard Walker (1901-1965); mother-in-law, Effie Pennelton-Walker-Montgomery (Deceased); and brother-in-law, Harley "Elvin" Walker (1921–1955).

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary “Ann” Walker-Southern (1935-2020) whom he married on November 17, 1950 in Beckley, Raleigh County, WV (per WV Marriage License Register, Raleigh County, WV, 1950, Page 500, Application Date: November 13, 1950); his daughter, Debra "Debbie" Ann Southern-Saunders & husband, Ray “Freddie” Saunders of Crab Orchard; son, Steven "Steve" Kenneth Southern & wife Melissa Southern of Glen Daniel; grandchildren, Kirk Tilley of Glen Jean & partner Ocean-Heather Terrio, and her daughter, Muiryeal, Tara Saunders of St. Albans, Fred Saunders & wife Sheri Saunders of Sophia, Brian Southern, Michele Birchfield & husband Scott Birchfield, all of Glen Daniel; great-grandchildren, Andrea Tilley, Ashley Saunders, Jacob Saunders, Trevor Saunders, Logan Birchfield, and Jordan Birchfield; a brother, Norman Southern & wife Ferne Southern, of Summerfield, SC; sister-in-law, Barbara Southern of Scott Depot; sisters-in-law, Thelma "Wanda" Walker-Shrewsbury (1924–2017) of Daniels, Patsy Walker-Dillon (Deceased) of Mullens; brothers-in-law, Clay Leonard Walker (1926–2016) of Belpre, OH, Jim Walker & wife Connie Walker of Itmann; paternal aunts, Midge Southern-Smith of Beckley and Elsie Southern-Cook of Beaver; also many cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley, with Pastor Ken Pritt officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley.