Obituaries
Cecil Edward Hatfield
January 29, 1937 - November 16, 2020
Interment:
Mt. View Memory Gardens - Maher, WV
Cecil Edward Hatfield, 83 of Williamson, WV passed away on Nov. 16, 2020 at Pikeville Medical Center. Born January 29, 1937, to A.E. and Bethel Varney Hatfield, Cecil attended Williamson area schools graduating from Williamson High in 1954. He graduated with a B.A. in Education from Berea College in 1959 and received his M.A. in Education from Morehead State University in 1962. He was the recipient of an NDEA Fellowship at the University of Maryland to study the effectiveness of Junior High Geography for students. He did advanced graduate studies with Marshall University.
Cecil married his High School sweetheart Gail Rose Perkins and settled in Williamson to raise his family and teach in the local schools. Cecil put his education to good use, first teaching at Williamson Junior High and High schools; then becoming assistant principal at the High school and later becoming the first principal of the First Williamson Junior High School. Cecil was next tasked with being the Director of the Mingo County Vocational School when it became a separate school. While there, he initiated the LPN program, one of which he was very proud.
Cecil was proud of his association with WHS athletics, having served as assistant coach for the football and basketball teams and head coach of the Baseball team. He still talked about his Baseball team winning the WV State championship in 1964. Baseball was a lifelong passion. He liked nothing better than to hop on a train and go to Cincinnati to see the Cincinnati Reds play. He worked tirelessly with WHS Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize the WHS Athletes who excelled, as the Hall of fame Memorial Room at the Williamson Fieldhouse shows.
Following his retirement from the Mingo County School system, Cecil, who did not like retirement, became Director of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce. While at the Chamber, Cecil was instrumental in bringing attention to Mingo County as a Tourist destination. He, along with his daughter, Sonya Hatfield Hall who envisioned it, was instrumental in developing the Hatfield-McCoy Marathon, one of the most successful Tourism ventures in the state. Cecil was knowledgeable about his Hatfield heritage and was always willing to share it with visitors to the Chamber, people on the street, and those staying at the Tug Valley Inn, or taking bus tours of the area. Cecil and Gail loved to travel and took many people with them on bus trips to visit attractions such as Amish country, New York, Gatlinburg, and many other interesting places.
Cecil was active in the Moose Lodge and in the BPOE Lodge having served as Exalted Ruler the West Virginia Elks organization. Through these organizations, he sponsored baseball teams for many young men of the Tug Valley area and assisted students with college scholarships
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Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 52 years, Gail Rose Perkins Hatfield, his daughter Sonya Hatfield Hall and his grandson Benjamin Heath Wagner. Surviving are his daughters, Marsha (Marty) Wagner of Phelps, KY and Cecilia Lynn Barker of Williamson, grandchildren Craig Paxton Wagner of Pikeville, KY and Kelsey Marie Baker of Williamson, son-in-law Rusty Hall of Belfry, KY. He is also survived by siblings, Linda (Doyle) Van Meter of Williamson, A.E. (Michelle) Hatfield of Keystone Heights, Fla., Victoria Rowe of Williamson, David (Kay) Hatfield of Columbia, SC and several nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Cecil.
Due to Covid-19 Pandemic, private services will be conducted at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home on Thursday with burial at the Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher. The family has respectfully requested no flowers; however, if anyone wishes they may make a Memorial gift to the First Baptist Church of Williamson at Fifth Avenue and Harvey Street or to the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame at 1726 West Fifth Avenue, Williamson.
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