Obituary of Virginia Lee Stephens Palmer

Services for Virginia Lee Stephens Palmer, 91, Overton, will be at 3:00 pm, Friday, October 7, in the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Buddy Duggins officiating. Private burial will be in Matinburg Cemetery in Brumley. Mrs. Palmer passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at Overton Health Care Center. She was born September 2, 1925 at home in Pine Mills in Wood County to the late Jewel L. and Gladys Guthrie Stephens. She moved to the Winnsboro and Gilmer area and graduated Winnsboro High School in 1942. She married Wayne Palmer July 14, 1945 in Dallas and has lived in Overton since 1962. She managed K-Wolens for 25 years and retired in 1985. She was a Charter Member of Calvary Baptist Church and served as bookkeeper and treasurer. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward McDonald, who was killed at a young age in WWII and received a Purple Heart. She was also preceded by a second husband, Wayne Palmer, a brother, Billy Stephens, a sister, Violet Attaway, a daughter, Paula Cooksey, two brothers-in-law, Charles McRae and Obie Slaughter. Survivors include daughters, Lee Ann Palmer, Overton, and Penny Johnson, Longview; son, Charles Wayne Palmer, Overton; grandchildren, Shawn Bates and wife Andrea, Liberty City, Shea Bates and fiance, Larry Buentello ,San Antonio, Joshua Johnson and wife Angie, South Carolina, Charles Allison, Pell City, Alabama and Samantha Palmer, New London; great grandchildren, Caleb, Caitlin, Austin, Jordan, Landry and Luke; sisters, Glen Slaughter, Scroggins, and Dionne McRae, Yantis; brother, J. L. Stephens of Alba; sister-in-law Octavia Stephens, Arlington; brother-in- law, Dudley Attaway, Longview; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Paul Attaway, Dale Slaughter, David Stephens, Rowdy Stephens, Dana Stephens, Brent Stephens, and Charles McRae. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Miller and Steve Sosebee. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm, Friday, October 5, prior to the service.