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Ceremony honors life of music legend Ralph Stanley
Ceremony honors life of music legend Ralph Stanley
Posted: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 10:06 am
By DAVID MCGEE Bristol Herald Courier
McClure, Va. -- Ralph Stanley would have been proud.
For the thousands of miles Stanley spent traveling the world to entertain fans of traditional roots music, he always returned home to the hills of Dickenson County. On Tuesday, hundreds of fans turned out as Stanley made his final journey across the Hills of Home Bluegrass Park -- the grounds where he and his family annually served their unique brand of music -- to his final resting place.
Stanley, the Grammy Award-winning roots music pioneer, died June 23 at the age of 89 after a long battle with skin cancer.
Friends, neighbors and music fans jammed into the pavilion while hundreds more spilled out both sides or stood along the fences at the rustic home of Stanley’s long-running festival. They applauded as artists like Larry Sparks, Judy and Dan Marshall took “The Old Home Place Stage” to sing timeless Stanley Brothers classics and welcomed others, including Ricky Skaggs and Jim Lauderdale, who stood beside Stanley’s flag-draped casket and spoke eloquently of his impact.
All – young and old, famous or common – made the pilgrimage up Ralph Stanley Highway to Carter Stanley Highway to Smith Ridge to celebrate, remember and honor their friend, mentor and hero.
Posted: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 10:06 am
By DAVID MCGEE Bristol Herald Courier
McClure, Va. -- Ralph Stanley would have been proud.
For the thousands of miles Stanley spent traveling the world to entertain fans of traditional roots music, he always returned home to the hills of Dickenson County. On Tuesday, hundreds of fans turned out as Stanley made his final journey across the Hills of Home Bluegrass Park -- the grounds where he and his family annually served their unique brand of music -- to his final resting place.
Stanley, the Grammy Award-winning roots music pioneer, died June 23 at the age of 89 after a long battle with skin cancer.
Friends, neighbors and music fans jammed into the pavilion while hundreds more spilled out both sides or stood along the fences at the rustic home of Stanley’s long-running festival. They applauded as artists like Larry Sparks, Judy and Dan Marshall took “The Old Home Place Stage” to sing timeless Stanley Brothers classics and welcomed others, including Ricky Skaggs and Jim Lauderdale, who stood beside Stanley’s flag-draped casket and spoke eloquently of his impact.
All – young and old, famous or common – made the pilgrimage up Ralph Stanley Highway to Carter Stanley Highway to Smith Ridge to celebrate, remember and honor their friend, mentor and hero.
Stanley, Dr. Ralph Edmond
posted 4 days ago June 26th, 2016
Stanley, Dr. Ralph Edmond
Dr. Ralph Edmond Stanley, age 89, passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016, at his residence. He was a lifelong resident of Dickenson County and was of the Primitive Baptist Faith. He was a 1945 graduate of Ervinton High School and a World War II Veteran of the United States Army. Dr. Stanley was a member of the Clintwood Masonic Lodge #66 and a member of the Kazim Shrine in Roanoke, Virginia . He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Lucy Jane Stanley; four brothers, Carter Stanley, Morgan Stanley, Lansing Stanley, and Doc Stanley; four sisters, Ruby Rakes Eubank, Buford Tate, Georgia Armes, and Hattie Stanley; several nieces and nephews, and many loyal Clinch Mountain Boys. Survivors include his wife, Jimmi Stanley; two daughters, Lisa Joy Stanley Marshall and her husband, Bryan, and Tonya Carletta Stanley Armes and husband, Jason; one son, Ralph Edmond Stanley II and wife, Kristi; one brother, Freddie Stanley and wife, Joan of Abingdon, Virginia; seven grandchildren, Amber Dawn Stanley, Nathan Edmond Stanley, Evan Matthew Stout, Alexis Faith Marshall, Ashley Hope Marshall, Taylor Brooke Stanley, and Ralph Edmond Stanley III; and one great granddaughter, Makenzie Paige Stanley. The family will receive friends 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at the Hills of Home Park, Smith Ridge Section, McClure, Virginia, with a Masonic Service to begin at 6 p.m. Funeral services will follow with Frank Newsome and Eva Murphy officiating. VFW Post 8979 will conduct a VFW graveside service with entombment to follow. Pallbearers will be Nathan Stanley, Bryan Marshall, Walter Carlton, Evan Stout, Jason Armes, Ralph Stanley II, and Ralph Stanley III. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Jim Lauderdale, Dewey Brown, Ralph Murphy, Bobby Hammons, and any Clinch Mountain Boy present. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriner's Childrens' Hospital or St. Judes. Mullins Funeral Home and Staff are serving the Stanley Family. Online condolences may be made at www.mullinsfuneralhome3@verizon.net
posted 4 days ago June 26th, 2016
Stanley, Dr. Ralph Edmond
Dr. Ralph Edmond Stanley, age 89, passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016, at his residence. He was a lifelong resident of Dickenson County and was of the Primitive Baptist Faith. He was a 1945 graduate of Ervinton High School and a World War II Veteran of the United States Army. Dr. Stanley was a member of the Clintwood Masonic Lodge #66 and a member of the Kazim Shrine in Roanoke, Virginia . He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Lucy Jane Stanley; four brothers, Carter Stanley, Morgan Stanley, Lansing Stanley, and Doc Stanley; four sisters, Ruby Rakes Eubank, Buford Tate, Georgia Armes, and Hattie Stanley; several nieces and nephews, and many loyal Clinch Mountain Boys. Survivors include his wife, Jimmi Stanley; two daughters, Lisa Joy Stanley Marshall and her husband, Bryan, and Tonya Carletta Stanley Armes and husband, Jason; one son, Ralph Edmond Stanley II and wife, Kristi; one brother, Freddie Stanley and wife, Joan of Abingdon, Virginia; seven grandchildren, Amber Dawn Stanley, Nathan Edmond Stanley, Evan Matthew Stout, Alexis Faith Marshall, Ashley Hope Marshall, Taylor Brooke Stanley, and Ralph Edmond Stanley III; and one great granddaughter, Makenzie Paige Stanley. The family will receive friends 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at the Hills of Home Park, Smith Ridge Section, McClure, Virginia, with a Masonic Service to begin at 6 p.m. Funeral services will follow with Frank Newsome and Eva Murphy officiating. VFW Post 8979 will conduct a VFW graveside service with entombment to follow. Pallbearers will be Nathan Stanley, Bryan Marshall, Walter Carlton, Evan Stout, Jason Armes, Ralph Stanley II, and Ralph Stanley III. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Jim Lauderdale, Dewey Brown, Ralph Murphy, Bobby Hammons, and any Clinch Mountain Boy present. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriner's Childrens' Hospital or St. Judes. Mullins Funeral Home and Staff are serving the Stanley Family. Online condolences may be made at www.mullinsfuneralhome3@verizon.net