Obia Lockhart

Obia Banner Lockhart, of the Big A Mountain community, Honaker, Va., passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025.

He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was the son of the late Henry and Pearl Breeding Lockhart of Davenport, Va., and was also preceded in death by his brothers, Earl, Virgle, Arnold, Harless, and C.O. and sisters, Eleanor Linville Rutherford, Thelma Blankenship, and Geneva Hess.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Fuller Lockhart; son, Harvey Henry Lockhart and wife Arlene of Gray, Tenn.; daughter, Lisa Lockhart of Honaker; granddaughter, Dr. Morgan Beth Lockhart of Charlottesville, Va.; step-grandchildren, Kacie Lettermen Manis of Greenville, Tenn. And Derick Letterman of Gray; step-great-grandchildren, Daxon Letterman, Justin Manis and Hudson Manis; special nieces and nephews, Audry and Donald Cross, Brian and Beverly Fuller, and Lillian Thomas.

He was of the Methodist faith and attended Bethany Baptist Church. He oversaw the Easter Sunrise Service that was conducted at the vocational school for many years.

A Council High School graduate, he attended Hiwassee College, UVA Wise and Virginia Tech. He worked in construction in the Northern DC area of Virginia before returning to live on Big A Mountain. He retired from the Russell County Vocational School where he founded the Building Trades Program in 1968 in Cleveland, Va.

The owner and operator of Lockhart Fuller Branch Farm, he was especially proud of his Simmental cattle. He served many years on the Russell County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He was elected to represent District 1 on the Virginia State Farm Bureau Board of Directors, serving Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell counties. His service in Farm Bureau created many lasting friendships over the state.

He was elected to represent Russell County on the Russell, Wise, Dickenson FSA Committee and he served on the Southern States Cooperative Leadership Program Committee. He, along with six other men constructed the first little league field in Honaker. He was a member of the Pruner Lodge and was a former keeper of the records for the Chase Publishing Company.

He showed and field trialed American Foxhounds all over the Southeastern United States. He also served as Bench Show Judge and Field Trial Judge, making lasting friendships with people everywhere.

He was a people person who will be missed by his family and friends, especially his farming friends: Joe Kendrick, Bryson Kendrick, RL Thompson and his buddies at the old Farmers Table in Honaker.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Sutherland, Danny B. Harris, Joe Kendrick, Bryson Kendrick, Larry lambert, Terry Arrington, Donnie Hughes, Foster Fuller, Brian Fuller, Larry Stinson, Claude Hart, Anthony Hart, Derick Letterman, RL Thompson, Richard Jackson, Johnny Clevenger, Allen Peters, David Fuller, Ronnie Fuller, Dennis Jones, Jameson Jones, Archie Atwell, Jim Blankenship, Stephen Lockhart, Greg Lockhart, members of the Russell County Farm Bureau, the men of Bethany Baptist Church, his fox hunting friends, and the students he taught at the Russell County Vocational School.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Ketron Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Lebanon, with Pastor Vonley Pruitt officiating.

The family will receive friends on Thursday at the mausoleum one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bethany Baptist Church, 7623 Finney Road, Honaker, Virginia 24260.

Share condolences with the family at www.owensfuneralservice.com.

Owens Funeral Service, 7 Tate Ave., Lebanon, Virginia 24266.