FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Area birder dies in truck crash

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Charles Davis Kennedy, 53, a popular area birder, naturalist, conservationist 
and tourism promoter from Saltville, VA was among one of two men who died late 
Saturday night (11/18) at Paris, TX, apparently of injuries suffered in a 
head-on collision involving two pickup trucks on a city street which is US 271.

Authorities received a 911 call at 11:26 p.m.  The collision caused US 271 to 
be shut down for about three hours late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

The other fatality was Randy Lee Huddleston, 35, of Deport, TX.  The men were 
pronounced dead at the scene by a Justice of the Peace.

Kennedy and his wife Alona established a bed-and-breakfast on top of Clinch 
Mountain within a mile of the Hayter's Knob fire tower and led many nature 
hikes.  He lived just up the ridge from fellow birder Jack Kestner who was a 
famed local newspaper columnist and nature writer who passed away recently.

The Kennedy's bed and breakfast is knowns at the Raven Ridge Campground.

Kennedy was a protector of the wilderness status of the mountain.  He worked 
tirelessly to protect and promote a part of the Clinch Mountain range, atop 
Brumley mountain, which is an ancient formation known by the local people as 
"The Great Channels of Virginia". Commonly referred to as a "giant maze of 
sandstone", the channels are intertwining walkways between mostly rectangular 
boulders of sandstone with upright walls up to 40ft. high. This most unusual 
formation of Clinch Sandstone is at an altitude of 4200ft., covers several 
acres and has been described by many geologists as the most important geologic 
formation in Southwest Virginia. The channels have been purchased by The Nature 
Conservancy and efforts are underway to establish the formation as a state park 
or state natural area.

Many birders have spent the evening at Tanager House,  Whippoorwill Lodge, and 
birding from the spacious deck.  Their seven campsites are located in groves of 
mountain laurel, rhododendron, and flame azaleas.  Raven Ridge is located on 
the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Kennedy frequently organized events and participated in Earth Day activites of 
the region.  He was a key leader in the birding festival events held the past 
couple of years at Saltville, Va in cooperation with the Virginia State Parks.  
Several Bristol Bird Club field trip leaders such as Dave Worley, Larry 
McDaniel and Wallace Coffey have been involved in field trips during these 
events at Saltville and as part of the Virginia Highlands Festival.

A memorial service was scheduled at 2 p.m. today at the chapel of Starrett-Rose 
Funeral Home in Paris, TX with the Rev. Dan Gordon officiating. The family will 
greet friends following the service. An additional memorial service will be 
held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at the Sinking Springs Presbyterian 
Church in Abingdon, VA when his cremated remains will be scattered throughout 
the mountains he loved.

Charles was born July 19, 1953, in Decatur, Ala., the son of Frank U. Kennedy 
and Mary Jane Guthrie Kennedy. He attended Paris, Texas, schools and graduated 
as a gemologist from Paris Junior College. He and his wife Alona owned and 
operated Raven Ridge in the Appalachian Mountains. Charles designed and created 
jewelry and works of art in his spare time.

Charles is survived by his wife, Alona Elcamel Kennedy, whom he married on May 
30, 2001; his daughter, Honey Kennedy and husband Karl Sall of Fort Worth; his 
sister, Melissa Jumper of Paris; aunt, Peggy Guthrie of Paris; two cousins, Pam 
Pruett of Paris and Sandi Parton of Dallas; a nephew, Ronnie Jumper, his wife 
Sharmin and son Ryan of Allen; nephews, Tiger and Shawn Blevins of Bon Aire, 
Ga.; niece, Tammy Faux of Warner Robbins, Georgia; his first and continuing 
mother-in-law, Jackie Alsobrook of Paris; sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Alsobrook of 
Paris; the mother of his daughter, Susan Kennedy of Germany; his mother-in-law, 
Meguela Elcamel, her family and the entire village of Esperanza, Philippines; 
as well as a host of friends.

In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be made to aid in the research of 
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Disease to the Pulmonary Hypertension 
Association, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.  Condolences 
may be left for the family online at www.starrettrose.com.

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN