Annabelle Lee (Cook) Knight

Annabelle Lee Cook Knight, 94, of Pineville, West Virginia departed this life on an early morning journey to her Heavenly home Monday, February 13, 2023, in her apartment at The Villages of Greystone in Beaver, West Virginia where she had lived since February 1, 2023, following a year-long battle with cancer.

Born July 21, 1928, to the late Franklin Pierce and Nita Maude Shannon Cook, she was the youngest and last survivor of her immediate family.  Her sisters were Mildred Pizzino and Audrey Morgan.  In addition to her siblings, she was preceded in death by brothers-in-law James Pizzino and Grady Morgan.  Annabelle was also preceded in death by her sisters- and brother’s-in-law Lillian Knight Smith-Cook and Claude S. Smith, Billie Knight Neal and Gene Neal, Jack Knight, Gertrude Knight Brock, Harry Hurley Knight, and Thelma Knight.  She is preceded in death by her father- and mother-in-law Harry L. and Mary Hurley Knight.

Annabelle and her family moved to Pineville in 1939 when she was 11 years old, and she lived the remainder of her life in this town that she dearly loved.  She married Robert Paul Knight in the Pineville Presbyterian Church on June 12, 1954, and they were blessed with 30 years together.  Robert and Annabelle had two children, twins, of which one, Alan Paul Knight, died at birth.  Annabelle’s only surviving child is Victoria “Vicki” Knight Clay, whom she loved unconditionally, and Victoria’s husband, who seemed more like a son, George Michael “Mike” Clay.  Vicki and Mike made their home with Annabelle up until February 1 when she became too weak to stay at home.  Annabelle was also partial to a neighbor’s child, Rachel Browning Cook, of whom she referred to as her Mawmaw Knight.

Annabelle is survived by special nieces, Gail Pizzino Wolfe of Roanoke, VA and Ann Smith of Charleston, WV, along with nieces and nephews Katie Neal Stump of Mullens, WV, Randi Neal Trumbauer of Ormond Beach, FL, and Gene Neal of FL.  She is preceded in death by nieces Patsy Shattuck, Saundra Carte, and nephews Michael Morgan, Swannie Smith, Bobby Smith, and Frankie Smith.  She is also survived by a host of great nieces, great nephews, and cousins of which Robert “Robbie” Paul Smith, Jimmy Wolfe, and Rossie Kate Wolfe kept in touch with her.  Her special friends that she talked with on a regular basis are Sue Cooper Shumate, Debbie Marsh and Camy Crouse.

She graduated from Pineville High School in 1946.  Upon graduation from high school, she began work in the office of Island Creek Coal Company’s Red Jacket coal mine.  She worked there for 10 years until which time she began her career in the Assessor’s Office of the Wyoming County Court House for the next 30 years.  At the time of her retirement from the Assessor’s Office, she held the title of chief office deputy.  She often referred to her time working in an office as some of her most enjoyable moments.

Since 1954, Annabelle was a member of the Pineville Presbyterian Church where she served in several capacities including elder and clerk of the session.  She was also a dedicated member of the Pineville Presbyterian Church Prayer Group.

Annabelle had many loves.  Most important to her were the love of her family, the love of her church, the love of God, the love of the work that she did at home, the love of the community in which she lived, the love of travel, and the love she felt in serving others.  She enjoyed her many vacations to North Myrtle Beach, Europe, Caribbean cruises, and bus tours within the United States all of which she made with her daughter, nieces, and friends.  She began each day in prayer reading her Bible and Daily Word devotionals.

The family would like to thank Annabelle’s primary care physician, Dr. Joanna Bailey, who went above and beyond for her.  Also, a special thanks to Hospice of Southern WV and all of the staff at The Villages of Greystone.

A celebration of Annabelle’s life will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 16, at the Pineville Presbyterian Church with Reverend Dr. Robert Lyons and Reverend Jerry Cook officiating.  Friends may call one hour before the service from 12 noon until 1:00 p.m. at the church.  Entombment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Faith #3 Mausoleum in Beckley, West Virginia.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pineville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 990, Pineville, WV   24874.

Evans-Calfee Funeral Home of Pineville is serving the Knight family.  Online condolences may be sent to https://www.evans-calfee.com/

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