On January 28, 1985, the Henry County Board of Supervisors held a meeting to permit the erecting of a War Memorial at the Henry County Courthouse in honor of the veterans of the Martinsville-Henry County, VA area who had lost their lives in all the wars. The proposition was voted on and was met with a unanimous appeal to carry out.
The Martinsville & Henry County War Memorial Committee was tasked with the handling of the memorial, as in terms of the design for it and the raising of the funds. The committee consisted of the following:
Richard Lee Martin, Vice Chairman, Verification Committee
George Charlie Cox, Chairman, Verification Committee
Sammy Redd, Chairman, General Fund Raising Committee
Marie Peters Lackey, Chairman, Publicity Committee & Administration
James R. Barrow, Chairman, Monument Grounds & Site Committee
William Earl Smith, Chairman, General Public & Clubs Committee
Lois Carnell Steagall, Vice Chairman, Verification Committee
Charles Melvin White, Chairman, Program Committee
Erwin Katz, Vice Chairman, General Fund Raising Committee
Jeffery Blackman, Memorialist Designer
The Martinsville & Henry County War Memorial Committee submitted a proposal to Mount Airy Memorials Inc. to handle the creation of the memorial. The memorial was to be made out of Georgia Grey Granite that was statue grade with a Crystal White finish. On top, there would be an Eagle Memorial that was made out of Bronze, which would have a 28-inch wing spread and would be 27 ½ inches high. The total height would be 26 feet, 6 inches, and the total length would be 6 feet, with a weight of 34,750 pounds. The total contract price was a total of $49,729 (while including Virginia Sales and Use Tax exemption number). The total price included workman compensation, general liability and property damage insurance as well.
The memorial was dedicated to the courthouse on November 10, 1985, the day before Veteran’s Day, and on that very day, they had the unveiling of the memorial to the public in a ceremony that had a turnout of around 400 people. After the ceremony, people gathered around the memorial to try to find their relative’s name out of the approximately 400 names engraved on the memorial.
Listed below are all the names of the soldiers from Martinsville and Henry County who courageously participated in the wars and lost their lives as a result of fighting for their country:
Revolutionary War
Bolling, William
Jamerson, John
Boardman, Robert
Hewlett, Augustine
Christian, William
William, Letcher
Hewlett, William
Lyon, Jacob
Turner, Izrael
War of 1812
Taylor, Blagrove
Francis, William
Gravely, Frank
Shelton, James
Fifer, James
Taylor, James
Shelton, Nathan
Civil War 1861-1865
Soldiers Who Died While Prisoners Of War
Keaton, Madison
Waller, James C.
Baker, John L.
Doyle, J. N.
Craighead, Thomas J.
Eggleston, James L.
Koger, James M.
Fry, Allen H.
Harris, Elisha K.
Law, Nathaniel G.
King, James W.
McBride, Jesse
Carter, Peter K.
Seabury, William H.
Gilley, William
Bowles, Gibson R.
Smith, John Williams
Dillon, Joseph T.
Shelton, W. H.
Kendrick, W. P.
Matherly, George W.
Carter Edward C.
Philpott, John P.
Stulz, Lafayette A.
Harris, Henry W.
Davis, Samuel J.
Eggleston, Joseph I.
Booth, C.
Hollandsworth, Harrison
Jarrot, Peter T.
Cruise, Asa
Vipperman, N. T.
King, J. D.
Mitchell, Thomas S.
Anderson, Robert W. Jr.
Carter, John
Jones, David
Hatcher, Soloman C.
Pratt, Thomas J.
Wadall, A.
Shumate, Silas J.
Dillon, Thad C.
Gravely, Joseph P.
Eggleston, Ira Hardin
Wyatt, John W.
Martin, James M.
Bennett, James R.
Harris, Columbus
Stone, James R.
Dillon, Edward L.
King, George S.
Hill, John H.
Robertson, William
Craig, George W.
Agee, Charles L.
Peay, Samuel H.
Elkins, William
Wimbush, Peter
Soldiers Killed In Action
Hollandsworth, John T.
Craig, Greenville
Waller, Samuel G.
Lester, James Osbern
Martin, Oregen H.
Draper, WIlliam M.
Mason, John L.
Eggleston, George W.
Dobbyns, F. O.
King, Meridith
Matthews, R. T.
Hodnett, Phillip
Rogers, Hiram G.
Stephens, W. O.
Richardson, Jesse M.
Houston, George S.
Israel, James
Prunty, Robert C.
Harris, Tyler
Cobb, James H.
Wells, Daniel L.
Kinney, W. H.
DeShazo, George R.
Patirck, John
Hairston, John A.
Walker, G. W.
Joyce, William A.
Burch, James
Davis, Robert T.
Land, Edward F.
Eggleston, Henry H.
Watkins, Horsley
Price, G. H.
Cundiff, A.
West, Thomas L.
Minter, James E.
Johnson, James M.
Richardson, Joseph H.
Price, Thomas Allen
Bennett, C. H.
Jones, J. P.
Watkins, Winston
Pedigo, Elisha F.
Koger, James
Cox, Charles
Gunnell, James
Martin, WIlliam Allen
Clark, Willis
Lemoner, G. P.
Wingfield, Christopher
Trent, William W.
Jenkins, John J.
Coleman, James
Koger, Edward
McHone, M.
Prillaman, Christopher
Hollandsworth, Fountain
Turner, Josiah
Byrd, Lewis Marshall
Wilmouth, Pleasant
Mason, James Murray
King, Lewis Graves
Armstrong, James
Harger, John T.
Taylor, Hill Mullins
White, J. O.
Conner, Daniel
Edwards, King L.
Pannill, Willie
Stulz, Charles W.
Hutchinson, J. L.
Crews, Henry
Barrow, Robert P.
Watkins, John W.
King, Benjamin S.
Byer, Lzarus
Gilbert, L. D.
Tuggle, T. A.
Philpott, Nathaniel C.
Koger, Lee
Dillion, H. H.
Hereford, Hardin H.
Wells, William F.
Matthews, Caleb H.
Kinney, N. J.
Huden, J. L.
Spencer, H.
Reay, Joseph O.
Taylor, George W.
World War I
Killed In Action 1917-1918
Cole, William S.
Ashworth, George L.
Frith, Jesse T.
King, Heiner
Pannill, George E.
Pannill, J. E. B. Stuart
Thomas, James
Eanes, Raleigh H.
Moran, Thomas D.
Jefferson, John D.
Holland, Lloyd
Stultz, Fred
Wells, Claude S.
Manna, George
Woodall, Goerge
Stone, Benjamin L.
Bryant, Charlie
Dillard, Homer
Hensley, William B.
Mitchell, Roy T.
Turner, James Muscoe
Donovant, Eugene
Walton, William T.
Calloway, Homer
Rogers, Robert J.
World War II
Joyce, James T.
Creasy, Walker
Herrington, Alton P.
Ray, James H.
Lester, H.C. Claybrook Jr.
Scott, Lassie T.
Mundo, James M.
Hancock, James E.
Hodges, Ardie H.
Ford, Dillard M.
Cannoy, George B.
Dawson, Howard E.
Law, Johnnie E.
Mitchell, Lloyd M.
Saville, Harry L. Jr.
Washburn, Noel P.
Williamson, Robert B.
Minter, M. Kennon
Jones, Clyde S.
Aaron, R. Stanley
Ausburne, Robert L.
Hodges, John M.
Shelton, Raymond E.
Newman, Dudley
Turner, Junior M.
Wingate, Albert D.
Spencer, Isiah J.
Osborne, WIlliam H.
Martin, Otho A.
Neal, John B.
Harris, Drewry C.
Hampton, James R.
Adams, Joseph P. Jr.
Ramsey, Jesse T
Stowe, Harry L.
Lyon, W. Duke
Robertson, Bernard L.
Lakey, Leonard M.
Hawkins, Jesse D.
Jarrett, C. Edgar
Young, Paul A.
Settles, Durwood C.
Hopkins, Roy D.
Ford, Thomas M. Jr.
Brown, Harvey S.
Hutchens, Carl H.
Nelson, Robert L.
Weakley, Douglas T.
Zandiotis, Milton T.
Prillaman, Taylor K.
Kerley, Fenia P.
Eggleston, Clay D.
Barrow, Kyle W.
Allen, Leonard Z.
Johnson, Herman M.
Sheppard, Alfred A.
Wilson, Roger M.
Trent, Gordon L. Jr.
Mitchell, Ernest E.
Herndon, Willis E.
Dalton, James C.
Collins, Thomas J.
Ingram, Buron W.
McGhee, Roy E.
Watson, Eswin M.
Thornton, Ivor D.
Mills, Theodore H.
Hedgecock, James R.
Kearfott, Benjamin R.
Durham, Robert A.
Gunter, Harry C.
Ferguson, James S.
Mabe, Guy D.
Nunn, Melvin E.
Sink, William I.
Weddle, Wilmar T.
Ramsey, Robert P.
Mitchell, Howard S.
Koger, Dudley
Anglin, Lyburn H.
Atkins, Carlies R.
Bradley, Thomas L.
Cardwell, Terry L.
Bryant, Roy C.
Mariels, William G.
Hurd, Raymond V.
Whitlow, Belvie G.
Rea, William S.
Morrison, Carl K.
Stewart, Henry
Harris, Milton E.
Compton, Ryland D.
Arnn, Bernard J.
Frith, Jack B.
Hurt, Billy J.
Lovell, James S.
Minter, William W.
Mills, Joseph P.
Neff, Evelyn K.
Scott, James R.
Whitener, Myron E. Jr.
Stone, Robert C.
Prillaman, Clarence E.
Palmer, Richard M.
Stanley, Henry M.
Martin, L. Wayne
Lawrence, Harrison J.
Harris, Willie G.
Ashley, Arthur L.
Clark, Arthur L.
Hairston, Daniel W.
Flippin, James C.
Davis, James F.
Evans, Ezra W.
Hill, Darrell C.
Whitlow, McGinnis
Taylor, James L.
Preston, James H.
Ramsey, Joseph M.
Lankford, John H.
Hite, John E.
Edwards, Thomas J.
Atkins, Ulysses G.
Akridge, Utah
Bwn, Jack A.
Barbour, Robert L.
Brown, William O.
Ford, Lee A.
Bryant, Camden R.
Gilbert, Irvin C.
Hurd, James R.
Hubbard, Cecil F.
McDaniel, Hartwell L.
Moser, Cabell O.
Wagoner, James W.
Rea, E. Bernard
Screen, Robert L.
Mitchell, James T. Jr.
Menfree, Clinton K.
James, Walter M.
Hall, Roy W.
Cobler, John H.
Bever, George H. Jr.
Haley, T. Lee
Carter, William H.
Burge, William B. Jr.
Hodnett, William P. Jr.
Scales, Harden M.
Hoover, Eugene C.
WIllis, Marvin C.
Whitlow, Darrington E.
Spencer, Peter A.
Roach, Jay R.
Martin, Rush S. Jr.
Martin, Lawrence
Lester, Raymond E.
Hall, Leonard E.
Clark, Robert L.
Booker, Jesse W. III
Correll, James W. Jr.
Law, Samuel H.
Hopkins, Ernest W.
Martin, Marvin H.
Shough, Claude A.
Robertson, Frank
Mitchell, Stephen L. Jr.
Wirtz, Benjamin H.
Smith, William R.
Minter, Stafford E.
Palmer, William R.
Martin, Shuble W.
Plyborn, Benjamin M.
Taylor, Sam Frank
Korean Conflict
Hundley, Coleman C.
Cooper, Leroy
Oakes, Aubrey N.
McMillian, Raymon
Gauldin, Curtis C.
Still, Edgar H.
Sinclair, Clifford L.
Grigsby, Wiley J.
Edwards, Charles P.
Franklin, James L.
Royal, Leff V.
Schoofield, Saint E.
Osborne, John H.
Koger, Bernard R.
Lawless, Leon B.
Craig, Harry Edward
Massie, Elmore
Hubbard, Murry A.
Vietnam Conflict
Bullington, Frederick C.
Hairston, Johnny M.
Alley, Lonnie D.
Whitehead, Morris A.
Ramsey, Calvin W.
Martin, Alphonso S.
Holland, Robert S.
Easley, Samuel H. II.
Wilson, David W.
Martin, L. Dwight
Hatcher, Larry D.
Brooks, Lonnie A.
Sowder, Bernard A.
Jefferson, Louis A.
Lampkin, Lewis Dean
Walker, Clovis B.
Stone, Gordon E.
Dillard, Jerry A.
Bowles, Frank J.
Lovell, Lewis R.
Souther, James A.
Witcher, Samuel E.
Martin, Harry P.
Manns, Charles E.
Foley, Douglas L.
Seay, Toney Elwood
Iraqi Freedom
Brown, Demarkus D.
Jenkins, Rush M.
Bowling, Johnathan W.
Afghanistan
Hatfield, Jerome D.
