Faye Hylton Abernathy

Faye Hylton Abernathy, age 92, departed this life surrounded by her loving family at Oakmont at Gordon Park in Bristol, Virginia on January 6, 2023.  Born in Russell County on August 28, 1930, she was the seventh of sixteen children born to Patton Cleveland Hylton and Laura Elizabeth Jewell Hylton. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers William Mack, Roby Alden, John Patton, Frazier Blane, Albert Chester and Harold Lloyd Hylton, sisters Pauline Harrop, Juanita Marie Hylton, Janie Kathryn Sisk and Lucy Lynn Farmer, and granddaughter Mary-Kathryn Abernathy. 

She is survived by brothers Charles Wesley, Larry Rondeau and James Ferdinand Hylton, sisters Peggy Louise Dixon and Cleo Evelyn Moreland, daughters Cynthia Sisk Hagy (Jerry) and Deborah Sisk Frantzich (Gordon), stepdaughters Catherine Abernathy (Randall Grumpelt) and Elizabeth Abernathy Vogler (Joe), stepsons Andrew Abernathy (Penelope) and David Abernathy (Michelle), grandchildren, Leslie Hagy DeBusk (Craig), Rene' Hagy Matusevich (Dean) and children Jocelyn, Daniel and Katelyn, Neil Farmer (Mariah) and children Matthew and Luke, Laura Frantzich Patton (Craig), Lydia Frantzich  Amrhein (Edwin) and children Adah and Isilee, Caitlin Frantzich and children Alexis and Evelyn, Robyn Kane and children Taylor, George and David, Philip Cooper, Elizabeth (Steve) Bielicki and children Grace and Lauren, Alice (Vela Phelan) Vogler, and Anna (Paul) Littman and children Leah and Abe.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Faye’s greatest passion was being a follower of and witness for Christ.  She was an avid gardener who loved preserving and sharing what she grew.  She loved working with children.  She was a substitute teacher, children’s Sunday School teacher, founder of the 4-H clubs in Page and Oakwood, Virginia, Girl Scout leader and volunteer at the Tuma Tuma School for the Deaf Children in Kenya, East Africa.

Faye worked for several years for the Southwest Virginia Extension Service associated with Virginia Tech where she provided nutritional and financial education to low-income families.

The family of Faye wish to extend heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff of Oakmont at Gordon Park, Amedisys Home Health and Elite Hospice for the quality and loving care they provided for her.

The family will receive friends from 1 PM until 2 PM Saturday, January 14th at Farris Funeral Service Chapel in Abingdon, Virginia where a memorial service will be conducted at 2 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Faye’s memory to one of the following charities:

Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, PO Box 372, Bristol, TN 37621.

The family of Faye Hylton Abernathy is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, Main Street location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 276-623-2700.