Murder victim laid to rest in Wyoming County - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Francis Elaine Birchfield received what her friends called "the perfect way of going out."

A horse drawn carriage carried her body from her home church to the cemetery where she was laid to rest. Her daughter headed the procession on top of Birchfields life-long horse, Magic. Roberts called the procession her "final, beautiful ride."

"The horse is 29 years old and she's known him since he was a young horse. I think it's an appropriate tribute to her lifetime love of animals. Having the horse in the procession is a great tribute to that dedication and hard work and love that she had for the very unique animals," said close friend Chuck Roberts.

He shared with 59 News how much of a kind lady she will be remembered as.

"I have known her since literally we were children. Her father and my father were close friends, years ago, and I've known that lady all my life, and lived within 12 miles of her all my life, and I have honestly never heard anyone say a bad word about her. And that's quite a tribute to someone's life," Roberts said.

He said one of her favorite pastimes was teaching her children and grandchildren how to ride, with her favorite horse, Magic.

"She adored spending time with her grandchildren, teaching them how to ride, as a matter of fact, she rode her children on that horse right there and he's 29 years old. She loved her children and family. She was a fine lady."

The suspected killer John Douglas New's first court appearance is this Friday.

Friends and family members of Francis Elaine Birchfield gathered on Sunday, Feb. 17 to lay her to rest.  A funeral service was held at the Brenton Church of God at 11 a.m. and she was laid to rest at Shannon Cemetery.

Birchfield was killed in her home on Tuesday, Feb. 12.  The man who allegedly killed her, John Douglas New, was picked up hours later in Mingo County.  A tip to the police helped locate New.

You can read Birchfield's obituary below or on the Stafford Funeral Home web site

Francis Elaine Birchfield, 60, of Shannon Mill Creek, WV, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday February 12, 2013 in at her home. She was born May 24, 1952 in Pineville, WV a daughter of the late Walter Delphas and Lida Katherine Blankenship Birchfield. Francis was a very strong and beautiful lady who could do most anything. She attended the Brenton Church of God. She loved her grandchildren, her horses, and everyone of the children that rode her bus.  Elaine enjoyed the outdoors and loved to do oil paintings. She was a Wyoming County Board of Education school bus driver for 5 years.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother Walter Stephen Birchfield. Those left to cherish her memory include two daughters Cherie Denise (Scott) Hayes of Fairmont and Amanda Kathryn Cochran of Shannon Mill Creek; a son Michael John (Melissa) Cochran of Fanrock; her fiancé Donald Trump of Elliston, VA; a brother Freddie Birchfield of Low Gap, NC; six grandchildren Brandon Cochran, Justin Cochran, Britney Cochran, Sydney Cochran, Dylan Morgan and Abigail Morgan; and a host of other loving family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday February 17, 2013 at the Brenton Church of God, Brenton, WV with Pastor Lee Fischer officiating. She will be laid to rest in Shannon Cemetery, Baileysville, WV. Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday February 16, 2013 at the church. E-mail letters of sympathy may be sent at www.staffordfamilyfuneralhome.com.

The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.