Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Elder James E. Denson, 89, died Wednesday, October 21, 2015.

Born July 11, 1926 in Red Star, WV, he was the son of the late Willie O. and Esther Mae Hockett Denson.

He professed faith in Christ in 1940, was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church of Hilltop. James graduated Dubois High School in 1945 and attended West Virginia State College. He married Fannie T. Fitzgerald on July 27, 1954. Elder Denson retired from Alcoa in 1969 and worked Rochester Germicide Co. as a supervisor of the service department. He then joined the New Sardis Primitive Baptist; was ordained as a deacon in 1961, called into the ministry in 1965 and attended The American Theological Seminary Extension Unit where he graduated in 1977. In 1975, he returned to West Virginia and was called to pastor The New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Beckley, and served there till he was called to Chestnut Ridge Primitive Baptist Church in North Carolina. After 17 years of pastoring, he retired and returned to West Virginia, where he married Dorothy White.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Fannie; brother, Charley K. Denson; sister, Dollar Denson Thompson; and step- daughter, Teresa Staunton.

Left to cherish precious memories are his wife, Dorothy Denson, step children, Freddie Neal, Clyde Neal, and Joe Webb; two nephews, Roland and Howard Denson; niece, Linda Canada; adopted sons, Billy Roberts, Richard Anderson, Dennis France, and Ricky Mitchell; stepson-in-law, Martin Staunton; cousins, Robert Vest, and Vickie; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 1:00pm, Saturday, October 31, 2015 at Outreach for Christ Christian Center, 416 G. Street, Beckley, with Elder Jeffrey Gravely and Rev. Thomas Steelman officiating. Entombment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Condolences may be emailed to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley, WV.