Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Barnett Funeral Home Records, Mss. Collection 2001.4, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ruth Ann Chitwood in 2001 as part of the W. R. Chitwood Collection.

Scope and Content

The Barnett Funeral Home Records consist of one volume of photocopies and computer typescript abstracts of death certificates file by funeral home staff in Wytheville, Virginia from 1950 to 1957. The photocopies of death certificates (originals are housed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Richmond) usually provide researchers with the name of the deceased, place of death, date of death, time of death, age of deceased, sex, marital status, and race. Other information may include name of father and mother, cause of death, occupation, birthplace, spouse, cemetery, date of burial, and location of cemetery.

John M. Johnson researched and transcribed death certificates for many people listed in these records. These transcripts usually provide the name of deceased, age, place of birth, date of death, place of death, occupation, name of father and mother, cause of death, certifying physician, military service, spouse, place of burial, date of burial, and name of person providing information.

Of special interest amongst these records are victims of polio who died during the 1950 Wythe County epidemic. These victims include Guy Raymond Lephew, Randolph E. Lephew, Juanita Ann Turpin, and Bernard Bevil Waller Jr.

The records are arranged alphabetically by name of deceased; an alphabetical index provides page numbers.