Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Rev Avaurn S. Staples, 89, of Beckley, WV died Wednesday December 4, 2019. Born November 19, 1930 in Arlington, WV (McDowell County) to the late John Lee and Bertha Davis Stewart, she was the oldest of ten children.

She graduated as an honor student from Byrd Prillerman High School.

She was the mother of three children; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Rev. Staples was an Ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She has pastored churches in Logan, Bluefield, Madison, Beckley and Raleigh, WV. She pastored Faith Chapel AME Church in Raleigh for 47 years.

She was past President of the Wildwood Resident Association, founder of the Noon Day Prayer Service, Assistant to the Monday night Bible Study and the Thursday night Prayer Service. She was past Secretary of the NAACP in Beckley, WV.

She was a seamstress and loved to make her own clothes and do alterations.

Rev. Staples loved Praising God and giving Him Glory! Her greatest aim in life was to show men, women, boys and girls the way of Salvation and to please the Lord.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Tuesday December 10, 2019 at St. Matthew AME Church 103 Mills Ave. Beckley with Rev. Debra Smoot officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.