Our Staff
Meet Our Caring Staff
Our staff members are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.
After graduating from the Cincinnati School of Embalming, Jim worked in McDowell County for 5 years before purchasing Cravens Funeral Home. Now, the Shires family dedicate themselves to providing dedicated service to our community. Jim is a member of the Bailey Masonic Lodge #137, a Shriner with the Beni-Kendem Shrine Patrol in Charleston. They have been longtime residnents of Bluewell and have 2 daughters, Lisa Lineberry and Lori Combs. Jim also enjoys his 4 grandchildren, Allison, Billy, Logan, and Brody.
In Memory of Margaret Shires
12/07/1938 - 04/13/2024
Michael has been with Cravens-Shires since 1989. He started working part-time while attending Bluefield High School. While at Bluefield College, he realized that he wanted to pursue a career in mortuary science. After serving his apprenticeship under Jim Shires, he graduated with a bachelor of mortuary science degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1996. Michael received his professional certification as a certified funeral service practitioner in 2009 and is a lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He and his wife Melissa, both lifelong residents of Bluewell, have two children; Andrew and Mikayla, and three dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and drone photography. He and his family are members of Highlands Fellowship Bluefield.
Philip Fritz has been a part of the staff since 1991. He resides in Bluefield, Virginia with his wife Margaret. He has 2 children, Benji and Becky, and 5 grandchildren, Caleb, Justin, Briar, Hannah, and Bella. He was a graduate of Graham High School in 1975 and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1979. He enjoys scuba diving, fishing, and hunting in his off time. He attends Johnston Chapel Baptist Church in Princeton.
Jimmie R. Davis, 82, Camilla Drive (Bluewell), passed away on Friday, September 8, 2017, at Mercer Nursing and Rehab.
Born on October 8, 1934, in Leckie, he was the son of the late Joseph G. and Ruth (Davis) Davis. He had been a resident of Bluewell for over 50 years and was a member of the Bluewell United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of the US Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 9 Bluefield, WV. He was a retired chief chemist for US Steel in Gary. After his retirement, he was a dedicated funeral assistant for Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell and was most recognized as their hearse driver. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Beni-Kedem Shrine in Charleston, the Bluefield Chapter and Commandery, and the Bluefield Shrine Patrol. He was also a former member of the Bluewell Volunteer Fire Department.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Hall Davis; and his brothers, James B. and Mitchell Davis.
Survivors include:
Daughter: Pam Rash and husband John of Bluefield
Granddaughter whom he was very proud of: Emily Nester Jenks and husband Bobby of Cross Lanes, WV
Great-grandchildren: Meredith and David Jenks
Son-in-law: Doug Nester of Bluewell
Funeral services were conducted on Sunday, September 10, 2017, at 2:00 PM at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell with Rev. D. Homer Stewart officiating. Military Honors were performed by the VFW Post 9696 Bluefield, VA, and the American Legion Post 14 Pocahontas, VA. Entombment followed at the Woodlawn Memorial Park Waterfall Mausoleum in Bluewell.
Shelva Jean Kelley, 81 of Bluefield (Bluewell), West Virginia passed away on Friday, October 18, 2019, at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia.
Shelva was born on April 09, 1938, in Mercer County, West Virginia to the late Frank and Mamie Hicks Stevens. Shelva was a lifelong resident of Bluewell, West Virginia, and was a member of Brushfork Baptist Church and attended East End Baptist Church. Shelva was devoted to her church and church family who she loved dearly. For thirty years, Shelva was a faithful hostess for Cravens-Shires Funeral Home and was a special devoted friend of the Shires family. Shelva was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Shelva was always one to light up a room with her constant smile and laughter.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Garnet Stevens and two sisters Helen Neal and Janice Burress.
Shelva is survived by her three sons, Paul Kelley of Bluefield, West Virginia, Kevin Kelley and wife Suzanne of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Darren Kelley and companion Misty of Bluefield, West Virginia. One Daughter, Terri L. Herndon, and husband Kenny of Bluefield, West Virginia. She is also survived by nine grandchildren Anthony Kelley (Erin), Klint Kelley (Tiffany), Kristin Perkins (Brandon), Kayla-Beth Kelley (Ethan), Leslie Kelley (D.J.), Vicky Herndon (Aaron), Timmy Herndon (Claudia), Zachary Herndon (Meghan) and Haley Herndon; three great-grandchildren and special friends Billy Lineberry, Polly Blevins, Shirley Dyson, Earnestine Landreth and David and Margaret Kirby. In Memory of
