John Wiley "Pete" Sheffey

John Wiley "Pete" Sheffey, age 80, of Abingdon, Va., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at Johnston Memorial Hospital.  He retired from the Martha Washington Inn as a Bell Captain after 53 years where he was widely known for telling ghost stories.  He was once featured on the Travel Channel giving an interview about The Martha and was quoted in several magazines and books as an area historian. He also worked at Sears and Roebuck for nine years.  Pete was a member of Charles Wesley United Methodist Church where he was involved in the Men's Club and Choir. He enjoyed watching wrestling, cooking, cutting grass, and gardening. He loved talking to people and touched the lives of the thousands of people he met. Pete was a loving and caring father, even to the many people he trained.  He loved and cherished his wife and loved and adored his children. Now he is in heaven, rejoicing with the Lord, his wife, and the many family members who have passed before him. Pete's grandfather, Wiley Henry, raised him as if he were his own son. His grandfather instilled in him a love and passion for telling ghost stories and teaching history through storytelling.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 42 years, Jeanie Reed Sheffey; parents, John Marion Sheffey and Alice Christina Henry Sheffey; and sister, Jane Hataway and husband, Claude.   

Pete is survived by his son, Anthony Dwayne Frazier; three daughters:  Dorothy Denise Frazier-Morales; special son-in-law, Isaias Sanchez Morales; Dorothea Denice Frazier; and Rachel Christina Sheffey, of the home; mother-in-law, Nancy Reed; brother-in-law, Oscar Reed, III and wife, Reginia; special cousins, Floyd and Jeanette Clark, Izetta Robinson, Alice and Patricia McKesson, Carolyn and Larry Sampson, Jack Clark, Charlene Stigger, Jewel Stigger, Tiffany Goolsby, and Lewis Gillenwater; two grandchildren, Isaias Frazier Morales and Asia Frazier; great granddaughter, Peyton White; sister-in-law, Adell Spears; niece, Nicole Johnson; two nephews, Claude Hataway, Jr. and wife, Michelle, and Charles Hataway and wife, Robin; two great nephews, Isaiah Spears and Christopher Spears; and several additional nieces, nephews, and cousins.   

A homegoing ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. in the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Hwy., Abingdon, Va., with Elder Billy Fullen and Rev. Doug Fairbanks officiating.  Interment will follow in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Shelby Dixon, Anthony Dwayne Frazier, Dorothea Denice Frazier, Isaias Frazier Morales, Tiffany Goolsby, Claude Hataway, Jr., Isaias Sanchez Morales, and Christopher Spears will serve as pallbearers. Lewis Gillenwater and Rickie Nalls will serve as honorary pallbearers.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Sunday prior to the service at the Forest Hills Chapel. In observance of Covid-19 regulations, face masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.   

The family would like to express their appreciation to Connie Daggs, Jewel Stigger, Gabrielle Gonzalez, Dr. Ernest Henry, Elder Billy Fullen, Sister Betty Cook, Ginger Hutton, and Rickie Nalls; as well as, the Washington County Lifesaving Crew, Abingdon Ambulance Service, Thompson Transport Service, the staff of Johnston Memorial Hospital, the University of Tennessee Transplant Team, Amedisys Home Health, and Ballad Hospice.     

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 7413 Six Forks Rd., #255, Raleigh, N.C. 27615.