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Virginia Sheriffs' Institute
Supporting Virginia’s Sheriffs & Deputies

Shawnell “Shawn” Hess CEDAR BLUFF, Va. Deputy Shawnell “Shawn” Hess, age 35, formerly of Swords Creek, Va., passed away Friday, July 23, 2010, from injuries sustained in an accident while in the line of duty. Born Feb. 6, 1975, in Pikeville, Ky., he was a son of Queenie James Hess and the late H.L. Hess. He was a Tazewell County sheriff’s deputy, having been employed at the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. He was also a twin engine commercial pilot and private pilot instructor at Tazewell County Airport and owned and operated Hess Aviation. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Rufus and Myrtie James; maternal uncle, Plennie James; paternal grandparents, Harvey and Ellie Hess; paternal uncles and aunts, Gene Hess and Danny Hess, Ollie Ward, Dorothy Dye, Eula Richardson and Beulah Richardson. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his fianc‚e, Tanya Lester of Cedar Bluff; maternal aunts and uncles, Lucy Combs of Letcher County, Ky., Lola Hess, Viola Williams, Howard James and Arvil James, all of Pikeville; paternal aunts and uncles, Harold Hess of Swords Creek, Ruby Hess of Croton, Ohio, Della Hess and Dave Hess, both of Ashley, Ohio, and Freda Hess and Raymond Hess, both of Mansfield, Ohio, Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Tazewell County Airport in Claypool Hill, Va., with evangelist Bob Smith officiating. The casket will be transported to the gravesite at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill by North Carolina Highway Patrol’s four horse caisson. Graveside honors will be conducted by Virginia State Police Honor Guard. Interment will follow. Tazewell County sheriff’s deputies will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Monday. Online condolences may be sent to www.honakerfuneralhome.net