Naida Honaker

     Naida Meadows Honaker, resident of Bluewell, WV, died February 19, 2025 at 96 years of age. She Born July 25, 1928, to Lillie Mae Hill and George Edward Meadows, Naida is survived by a son: Terry, of Wytheville, Virginia; a daughter: Lori Beth (Todd) Satterfield, of Greenville, South Carolina; four grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Greene “Bob” Honaker, her parents, four sisters, two brothers, and a son, Randy.

     Naida grew up in Princeton, WV, but her adventurous spirit lead her to Washington, DC after graduating from Princeton High School. While there, she worked as a secretary for the United States Navy where she performed various secretarial services some of which included assisting in tracking down soldiers who had gone AWOL. She later returned to West Virginia, where she attended beauty school and began her career as a hairdresser at Alma‘s Beauty Shop in Princeton, West Virginia. 

     She and Robert began their 71 year long marriage in 1951 shortly before he was deployed to Germany with the United States Army. Upon his return to the states, at the end of his duty, the couple, along with their growing family, resided in Cincinnati, Ohio and Clearwater, Florida. Eventually they decided to settle permanently in Bluewell, West Virginia where she opened Naida’s Beauty Shop. She was an active member of the National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association, and spent more than 50 years in her salon, along with numerous operators who worked for and beside her, making women of their community look and feel beautiful. 

    She poured her heart into her community by serving on nearly every committee at Bluewell UMC. Her favorite activities there revolved around apple butter making, singing in the choir, and hospitality. She satisfied her adventurous spirit during her child-rearing years by hosting several foreign exchange students. One exchange student, Hilde Stalesen from Norway, became a second daughter to her. 

     Naida never met a stranger, and as she continued her adventures in her later years, she became close friends with people of different walks of life. While on a trip to Pennsylvania, she and Robert befriended an Amish Family, the Kings. The two families spent a great deal of time together over the years, visiting each other at their homes and sharing their diverse cultures. 

     She enjoyed traveling and visited many US states and foreign countries with great curiosity- making detailed diary entries along the way. Her most memorable trip was in her 70s when she and Robert travelled to Mississippi to help with rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. A true nurturer who never let anyone leave her home without being “properly” fed, of course, her job was managing the kitchen and making sure everyone in the hurricane ravaged area was well provided for - workers and residents alike.

    Though Naida loved adventure, the most important job to her was working tirelessly as a mother and homemaker who was rarely seen at rest. She finally rests peacefully in the arms of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, for eternity.

 Funeral services will be held at Bluewell United Methodist Church 228 Warden Avenue, Bluefield, WV 24701. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM with a funeral at 2:00PM. Reverend Steve Rector and  Reverend Sheri Kernik will officiate. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Mausoleum in Bluewell.

 Memorial contributions may be made to Bluewell United Methodist Church.