Fredia Arvis Shumate

Fredia Arvis Shumate, age 84, of Bramwell, WV, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Westwood Nursing Home in Bluefield, VA, where she had lived the last two months. Born on September 9, 1927 and was a daughter of the late Charles Henry and Cora Ethel Jones Thompson. She was a member of the Intercontinental Church of God. She and her husband moved to Chicago, IL in 1957 and lived there a number of years before moving back to Bluefield. Fredia has been a resident of Bramwell since 1985. In 1995, she ran for Bramwell Town council and won a seat. She was a licensed social worker and worked for the Mercer County Commission on Aging for 16 years, having an office in the senior center at the WV Manor and was coordinator of the center. When she was laid off after 16 years of service and her office closed, she continued to help many seniors. She spent most of her retired life taking them to doctor appointments, grocery store or whatever their need was. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband in 1971, Woodrow Shumate; a sister, Sarah Mildred Swaggerty and husband, Guy; a brother, Charles Phillip Thompson and wife Gwen; Survivors include: Sister: Connie Bailey and husband Ernest of Princeton, WV Special niece: Beth Eden Special caregiver: Rebecca Conklin Special friends: Ann Foust, Gail Hutchins, Cheryl Mays Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 2:00 PM at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with Rev. Gary Conklin officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell where Michael Eden, Charles Matthew Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Frank Niece, Ernest Bailey and jerry Shinault, Jr. will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call on Sunday from 1:00-2:00 at the funeral home. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell is serving the family.