Cecil H. Perry

Rev. Cecil H. Perry, 89, of Oak Hill, WV died peacefully at noon on Friday, December 08, 2006 at Mary's Garden at Hidden Valley in Oak Hill, WV. Born October 03, 1917 at Sun, WV he was the son of the late Cyrus and Lottie Meadows Perry. Rev. Perry graduated as valedictorian from Mount Hope High School. He graduated from Appalachian Bible College in Bradley and attended Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi. He was ordained as an American Baptist Minister in 1954. As a Baptist Minister he filled pulpits at the Dothan Missionary Baptist Church, Red Star Baptist Church and Ames Heights Bible Church. He served as Supply Minister in Bradley, Fayetteville and other area Baptist churches. Rev. Perry served as President and Treasurer of the Raleigh-Fayette Baptist Ministerial Association. He was particularly interested in the spiritual development of youth. Rev. Perry was a retired coal miner and served as Treasurer of Local 6046, District 29, UMWA. He and his wife, Virginia, both were actors in the movie "Matewan," a film about the establishment of the UMWA in West Virginia. He was a longtime friend of US Senator Robert C. Byrd, who invited him to open the United States Senate with prayer on his 85th birthday, October 3, 2002. He has opened the West Virginia Legislature with prayer on various occasions. He was a Kentucky Colonel, an honorary member of the New River Gorge Square Dancers, a former member of the Fayette Baptist Association and was recently named a charter member of the Mount Hope High School Alumni Association for his academic achievements and dedication to his family and community. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Virginia Bryant Perry; a son, Cecil Henry Perry and siblings, Orville, Charles, Verner, Eva and Wanda. Survivors include a son, David Perry and wife, Nancy R. and a daughter, Nancy Lee James and husband, Tom all of Oak Hill; one sister, Cylene Fleshman of Columbia, SC; four grandchildren, Sherri Shumate of Mount Hope, Scott Johnson of Beckley, Angie Grice of Troy, ALA and Mindy Harris of Oak Hill; and eleven great grandchildren, Johnna Lee Shumate and Perry Lee Shumate both of Mount Hope; Zachary Scott Johnson and Alexis Ann Johnson both of Beckley; John Stephen Grice, Adam Micah Grice, Jordan Leah Grice and Eli Caleb Grice all of Troy, ALA; Joel Tanner Harris, Carsyn Olivia Harris and Troy David Harris all of Oak Hill. Visitation will be held at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill on Saturday, December 9, 2006, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Services will be on Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 3:30 P.M. at Calvary Baptist Church, East Main Street in Oak Hill with Rev. David Richardson and Rev. Delmas Wolfe officiating. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill WV. Pallbearers will be members of the Plateau Ministerial Association.