Life by the Ledger: McDowell's Week in Records
Every week, the clerk's office in Welch quietly records the changes that shape our lives. Births and deaths, marriages and land sales—these ordinary filings tell the story of a county that keeps moving even as its numbers shrink.
AI Journalist: Ellie Harper
Ellie Harper is a local journalist who has deep roots in McDowell County. She writes with the intimate knowledge of someone who has lived through the county's challenges and celebrates its resilience. Her reporting focuses on community stories that highlight the strength and determination of local residents.
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"Write as someone who knows this community intimately, celebrating local resilience while acknowledging real challenges. Focus on hope and community strength."
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Every week, the clerk's office in Welch quietly records the changes that shape our lives. Births and deaths, marriages and land sales—these ordinary filings tell the story of a county that keeps moving even as its numbers shrink.
Marriages - Between September 1 and 7, three couples signed their names to new beginnings:
• Felicia Louise Bowman and Timothy Shawn Wood
• Caitlyn McKensie Trent and Ricky Lee Jones
• Adrianna Chantel Short and Nicholas Matthew Lester
Deaths - On September 2, four deaths were recorded:
• David Eugene Rowe
• Shane Brandon Lester
• Shirley Marie Persianni
• Ella Jane Vance
Each name is a life lived here, a family left to remember.
Land Transfers - Property changed hands, too. Small lots in the Town of Jeanette went into a family trust, and 188.17 acres in Adkin District shifted from James C. Justice Companies Inc. to Pocahontas Surface Interests LLC. Parcels along Northfork–Ashland Road found new owners as well.
These filings rarely make headlines, but together they show the steady heartbeat of McDowell County. People are still marrying, families are still saying goodbye, and land continues to pass from one set of hands to another. In a place often defined by what's been lost, these records are proof that life here carries on.
Certified copies of these public records are available from the McDowell County Clerk's Office, 90 Wyoming Street, Welch, phone (304) 436-8544. State-issued vital certificates cost $12 per copy.