Stephen M. Crist

Stephen Mark Crist, 54, of Rural Retreat died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at his home. Funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 24, at 11 a.m. at Freedom Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atkins with Pastor Mike Sage officiating. Interment will be in Resurrection Gardens. He was born in Charleston, W.Va. He was preceded in death by his father, Daman McGraw; Leonard and Jewel Pence, who were like parents to him; two brothers, Joe Pence and Larry Pence; and his grandmother, Grace Garnett Crist. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Survivors include his wife, Della Crist; a son, Stephen Lloyd Crist of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Carl Parks of the home; mother, Donna Walton of Marion; a grandson, Jacob Mark Parks; a brother, David Pence of West Virginia; five sisters and brothers-in-law, Wanda and Roger Vanhoy of Rural Retreat, Sheila and Jimmy Lamie of Atkins, Laurie and Jimmy Render of South Carolina, Lloyd and Kaatri Anderson of Abingdon, Danny and Vickie Anderson of Tazewell; very special friend, Nathan Quillen; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to Freedom Tabernacle Baptist Church Building Fund, 442 Freedom Tabernacle Lane, Atkins, VA 24311. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. Bradley's Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of the arrangements.