Erma Lane

Erma Lane – Gate City, VA
Matthew 25:21 “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Erma Virginia Depew Lane, 87, Gate City, VA passed away with her family by her side on Friday, February 6, 2015 after a brief battle with cancer.
Born in Greene County, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late John and Fannie Charlton Depew and grew up in the Fordtown community of Sullivan County.
She lived the rest of her life for 68 years in the Manville community of Scott County, Virginia, where she was a pillar of her community. She was an active member of the Manville Community Center. She was a life-long, faithful member of Alley’s Chapel United Methodist Church. There she served as Sunday School teacher, UMYF counselor, and in any way she was called upon to serve during her 65 years of membership. She also served beside her husband while he was Pastor of Midway Memorial United Methodist Church for 20 years.
She was a dedicated and beloved wife to her husband of 56 years, the late Rev. Claude Lane. She was a wonderful and loving Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister-In-Law, Aunt, and Cousin to all of her family, and a very special friend to so many people. Her joy in life was tending to the needs of others.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant brother, Roy, and Charlie Bradley Depew. Also preceding her in death were cherished in-laws, Amos and Pearl Bellamy Lane, Thelma Templeton, and Helen Calhoun; treasured aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, and friends and neighbors.
She is survived by her “precious” children: her son and wife, Dwight and Betty Lane, Gate City, VA; her daughters and husbands, Lynn and Walter Cassell, Weber City, VA, Pam and Rob Hager, Kingsport, TN; her “beautiful” granddaughters and their husbands: Jessica and Andy Barnett, Greeneville, TN, Meghan and Matt Grant, Lynchburg, VA, Robyn and Tyler Campbell, Greenville, SC and Mallory Lane, Wilmington, NC; her “very special” great-granddaughter, Kiley Nichole Grant, Lynchburg, VA.
Also surviving are her special brothers- and sisters-in-law: Rev. Paul and Christine Lane, Kingsport, TN, Rev. Daryl K. and Betty Williams, Sweetwater, TN, Phil and Shelby McConnell, Kingsport, TN, Calvin Calhoun, Gate City, VA, and Carl Templeton, Kingsport, TN. She is also survived by a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors.
The family will receive friends from 3:00-6:00 p.m., Sunday, February 8, 2015 at the Gate City Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, February 8, 2015 in the Gene Falin Memorial Chapel of the funeral home with the Rev. Bob Cloud officiating. Honorary ministers are her very dear brothers-in-law, the Rev. Paul Lane and the Rev. Daryl K. Williams. Special music will be provided by Ben and Sherry Christian and Lisa McConnell Edwards and Bob McConnell.
Gravesides services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 9, 2015 at the Pendleton Family Cemetery in the Manville community of Scott County. Nephews and great- nephews: Larry Calhoun, Roger Lane, Mitchell Williams, and Phil McConnell, Jr., Jamey Calhoun, Craig and Michael Lane, Jason Horne, Michael, Christopher, and Logan McMeans, Rusty and Tom Pendleton, John StMartin, Brian Williams, Brad and Ryan Davidson, Drew Grap, and Luke McConnell will serve as pallbearers. Her very dear friends at Alley’s Chapel and “Her Manville Boys” will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home by 9:45 to go in procession to the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, she requested that memorials be made to her church, Alley’s Chapel United Methodist Church, c/o Jessica Kaarlela, 6429 Manville Road, Gate City, VA 24251, and donations made for its upkeep to the Pendleton Family Cemetery, 1115 Sorrel Creek Lane, Gate City, VA 24251.
A special word of appreciation to the medical community who have cared for her over the years, Dr. Steve Adkins and Holston Medical Staff and Weber City Pharmacy, and in her most recent illness with cancer, Caris Heatlhcare. And in Erma’s own words: “I want to thank each and every one for their acts of kindnesses and for their prayers for me and my precious family during this difficult time”.
An online guest register is available for the Lane family at www.gatecityfuneals.com.
Gate City Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Erma Lane.