Annie Elizabeth Teass...called Elizabeth...never married. She and her brother James inherited the farm from their parents, and lived together in their parents' farmhouse. Elizabeth worked as a telegraph operator during WWII. A large number of young men from Bedford had enlisted together and remained in the same unit throughout the war. This unit was in the first assault on Normandy on D-Day, and 17 were killed. Elizabeth began receiving the telegraphs that the men had been killed, and she reported that they just kept coming, one after the other. She knew them all, and it was a terrible loss for a small town. Bedford lost more men on D-Day than ant other city per capita in the U.S. During the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Elizabeth was interviewed by many newspapers and TV stations internationally to give her story of that day. It was a terrible day for the people of Bedford.
One funny story she told was that on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Connie Chung wanted her to come to town to be interviewed. She told the caller that she didn't have time and to "use the interview I gave Tom Brokaw ten years ago. Nothing's changed." She was not impressed by the media!
When James and Elizabeth were young, they rode wagons with their Mama through the country (the same roads we traveled on with them by car.) She said women in the country rarely saw anyone, so when they saw a wagon coming, they would come out to stop them to talk. the horses pulling their wagons were Dan and Dolly.
Some of the homes of Wells ancestors are still standing. Elizabeth referred to her grandparents as "Papa Lee" and "Mama Docia." Elizabeth had in her possession the genealogy work done by Lawrence Whitfield Wells Jr., who died by suicide. His wife was prepared to throw them away, but Elizabeth rescued them.
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Annie Elizabeth Teass, 89, of Bedford, went to be with her Lord; her father, Charley Teass; her mother, Nannie Mae Wells Teass; and her only brother, James Lee Teass on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital. She was born in Bedford on October 11, 1922, and lived in the home that her family purchased in 1924 and she remained there until her death. Elizabeth was the Western Union operator in Bedford, Va., on June 4, 1944, when she received the telegrams of the town's tragic loss of Bedford's Company A "The Bedford Boys" the horror of the tragedy was something she never forgot. Elizabeth was a member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church and the Bedford Elks Lodge. She worked for Peaks Motors and then retired as Head Teller with First and Merchants Bank. Elizabeth loved her home and her collectibles. Her dog was her loving companion along with her yellow cat. She was survived by many cousins and friends, especially Patsy Arrington, who had helped her for many years. The family would like to thank Campbell's Rest Home for their love and care in her last days. A Funeral Service will be held at noon on Friday, November 11, 2011, at Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel with the Rev. Steve Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Please consider memorials to Hickory Grove United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Betsy Hodges, 3812 Virginia Byway, Bedford, VA 24523, Bedford Humane Society, 829 Ole Turnpike Dr., Bedford, VA 24523, or the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523. Arrangements by Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut Street, Bedford, Va., 540-586-7360.
Published in Roanoke Times on November 10, 2011
One funny story she told was that on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Connie Chung wanted her to come to town to be interviewed. She told the caller that she didn't have time and to "use the interview I gave Tom Brokaw ten years ago. Nothing's changed." She was not impressed by the media!
When James and Elizabeth were young, they rode wagons with their Mama through the country (the same roads we traveled on with them by car.) She said women in the country rarely saw anyone, so when they saw a wagon coming, they would come out to stop them to talk. the horses pulling their wagons were Dan and Dolly.
Some of the homes of Wells ancestors are still standing. Elizabeth referred to her grandparents as "Papa Lee" and "Mama Docia." Elizabeth had in her possession the genealogy work done by Lawrence Whitfield Wells Jr., who died by suicide. His wife was prepared to throw them away, but Elizabeth rescued them.
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Annie Elizabeth Teass, 89, of Bedford, went to be with her Lord; her father, Charley Teass; her mother, Nannie Mae Wells Teass; and her only brother, James Lee Teass on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital. She was born in Bedford on October 11, 1922, and lived in the home that her family purchased in 1924 and she remained there until her death. Elizabeth was the Western Union operator in Bedford, Va., on June 4, 1944, when she received the telegrams of the town's tragic loss of Bedford's Company A "The Bedford Boys" the horror of the tragedy was something she never forgot. Elizabeth was a member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church and the Bedford Elks Lodge. She worked for Peaks Motors and then retired as Head Teller with First and Merchants Bank. Elizabeth loved her home and her collectibles. Her dog was her loving companion along with her yellow cat. She was survived by many cousins and friends, especially Patsy Arrington, who had helped her for many years. The family would like to thank Campbell's Rest Home for their love and care in her last days. A Funeral Service will be held at noon on Friday, November 11, 2011, at Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel with the Rev. Steve Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Please consider memorials to Hickory Grove United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Betsy Hodges, 3812 Virginia Byway, Bedford, VA 24523, Bedford Humane Society, 829 Ole Turnpike Dr., Bedford, VA 24523, or the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523. Arrangements by Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut Street, Bedford, Va., 540-586-7360.
Published in Roanoke Times on November 10, 2011
Annie Elizabeth Teass...called Elizabeth...never married. She and her brother James inherited the farm from their parents, and lived together in their parents' farmhouse. Elizabeth worked as a telegraph operator during WWII. A large number of young men from Bedford had enlisted together and remained in the same unit throughout the war. This unit was in the first assault on Normandy on D-Day, and 17 were killed. Elizabeth began receiving the telegraphs that the men had been killed, and she reported that they just kept coming, one after the other. She knew them all, and it was a terrible loss for a small town. Bedford lost more men on D-Day than ant other city per capita in the U.S. During the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Elizabeth was interviewed by many newspapers and TV stations internationally to give her story of that day. It was a terrible day for the people of Bedford.
One funny story she told was that on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Connie Chung wanted her to come to town to be interviewed. She told the caller that she didn't have time and to "use the interview I gave Tom Brokaw ten years ago. Nothing's changed." She was not impressed by the media!
When James and Elizabeth were young, they rode wagons with their Mama through the country (the same roads we traveled on with them by car.) She said women in the country rarely saw anyone, so when they saw a wagon coming, they would come out to stop them to talk. the horses pulling their wagons were Dan and Dolly.
Some of the homes of Wells ancestors are still standing. Elizabeth referred to her grandparents as "Papa Lee" and "Mama Docia." Elizabeth had in her possession the genealogy work done by Lawrence Whitfield Wells Jr., who died by suicide. His wife was prepared to throw them away, but Elizabeth rescued them.
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Annie Elizabeth Teass, 89, of Bedford, went to be with her Lord; her father, Charley Teass; her mother, Nannie Mae Wells Teass; and her only brother, James Lee Teass on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital. She was born in Bedford on October 11, 1922, and lived in the home that her family purchased in 1924 and she remained there until her death. Elizabeth was the Western Union operator in Bedford, Va., on June 4, 1944, when she received the telegrams of the town's tragic loss of Bedford's Company A "The Bedford Boys" the horror of the tragedy was something she never forgot. Elizabeth was a member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church and the Bedford Elks Lodge. She worked for Peaks Motors and then retired as Head Teller with First and Merchants Bank. Elizabeth loved her home and her collectibles. Her dog was her loving companion along with her yellow cat. She was survived by many cousins and friends, especially Patsy Arrington, who had helped her for many years. The family would like to thank Campbell's Rest Home for their love and care in her last days. A Funeral Service will be held at noon on Friday, November 11, 2011, at Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel with the Rev. Steve Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Please consider memorials to Hickory Grove United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Betsy Hodges, 3812 Virginia Byway, Bedford, VA 24523, Bedford Humane Society, 829 Ole Turnpike Dr., Bedford, VA 24523, or the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523. Arrangements by Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut Street, Bedford, Va., 540-586-7360.
Published in Roanoke Times on November 10, 2011
One funny story she told was that on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Connie Chung wanted her to come to town to be interviewed. She told the caller that she didn't have time and to "use the interview I gave Tom Brokaw ten years ago. Nothing's changed." She was not impressed by the media!
When James and Elizabeth were young, they rode wagons with their Mama through the country (the same roads we traveled on with them by car.) She said women in the country rarely saw anyone, so when they saw a wagon coming, they would come out to stop them to talk. the horses pulling their wagons were Dan and Dolly.
Some of the homes of Wells ancestors are still standing. Elizabeth referred to her grandparents as "Papa Lee" and "Mama Docia." Elizabeth had in her possession the genealogy work done by Lawrence Whitfield Wells Jr., who died by suicide. His wife was prepared to throw them away, but Elizabeth rescued them.
---------------------------------------------------
Annie Elizabeth Teass, 89, of Bedford, went to be with her Lord; her father, Charley Teass; her mother, Nannie Mae Wells Teass; and her only brother, James Lee Teass on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital. She was born in Bedford on October 11, 1922, and lived in the home that her family purchased in 1924 and she remained there until her death. Elizabeth was the Western Union operator in Bedford, Va., on June 4, 1944, when she received the telegrams of the town's tragic loss of Bedford's Company A "The Bedford Boys" the horror of the tragedy was something she never forgot. Elizabeth was a member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church and the Bedford Elks Lodge. She worked for Peaks Motors and then retired as Head Teller with First and Merchants Bank. Elizabeth loved her home and her collectibles. Her dog was her loving companion along with her yellow cat. She was survived by many cousins and friends, especially Patsy Arrington, who had helped her for many years. The family would like to thank Campbell's Rest Home for their love and care in her last days. A Funeral Service will be held at noon on Friday, November 11, 2011, at Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel with the Rev. Steve Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Please consider memorials to Hickory Grove United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Betsy Hodges, 3812 Virginia Byway, Bedford, VA 24523, Bedford Humane Society, 829 Ole Turnpike Dr., Bedford, VA 24523, or the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523. Arrangements by Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 Walnut Street, Bedford, Va., 540-586-7360.
Published in Roanoke Times on November 10, 2011
