EMMA SUTHERLAND O’QUINN

Emma Sutherland O’Quinn, age 84, of Haysi, passed away on Monday, July 24, 2023, at Bristol Regional Medical Center, with her husband, daughter, and son in-law by her side. She fought hard for eight months with complications from a heart attack in late November 2022, but is now at rest in her heavenly home.

Emma was born on January 14, 1939, to the late Elder Gorman Sutherland and Estelle Tiller Sutherland Edwards in Dickenson County. After Emma graduated from Haysi High School in 1957, she went to Radford University’s Education program to become a teacher. Her teaching career spanned from Kindergarten at Russell Prater Elementary School, to eighth grade English at her alma mater, Haysi High School.

In addition to being a teacher, Emma had several additional roles in her community. She held the title of County Administrator for the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors and was Director of the Dickenson County Jobs Training Program. Informally, she provided endless support to Jim’s career and business ventures. She was a faithful member of Sandlick Primitive Baptist Church for over 60 years, providing food and supporting her brothers and sister in Christ.

On April 8, 1961, she married her best friend, Jimmy O’Quinn, and the two have been inseparable ever since. After the birth of her beloved daughter, Missy, they enjoyed a blessed life as a trio, traveling often around Virginia, Daytona Beach, and Pigeon Forge. Emma was blessed to receive a son in-law, Tim Steele and extend her family with two grandchildren, Hayley and Jared.  There was no prouder mother and grandmother than Emma.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Estelle; father, Gorman; sisters, Patsy Davis (Clayton) and Peggy Janson Craft; and brothers, James “Jim” (Susie) and Robert “Bob” (Betty); as well as several nephews, Keaton Sutherland, Bruce Sutherland, and Roger Davis, and great nephews, Jeremy Barna and Travis Davis.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughter, Missy Steele; son in-law, Tim Steele, and her grandchildren, Hayley and Jared Steele. Her spirit will continue to live on through them, her in-laws, her step siblings, her many nieces and nephews, Rebecca (Gary) Barna, Steve Davis, John Davis, Beth (“Big E”) Ellis, Martin (Patsy) Jansons, Lisa Jansons Gray, and their children and grandchildren, whom she cherished so much. She will be remembered fondly by a large community of friends, including those at Sandlick Primitive Baptist Church and the Haysi High School Class of 1957, who were loved like family by her.

Pallbearers will be Tim Steele, Jared Steele, Steve Davis, John Davis, Tim Sutherland and Eddie Steele.

Funeral services will be held at Sandlick Primitive Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 26. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., with service at 12 p.m. by Elders Jim Duty, Bill Campbell, and Billy Campbell. A graveside prayer by Barrett McGlothlin will follow at Forest Hill Memory Gardens in Abingdon. Online condolences may be sent to www.haysifuneral.com.

Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.