In the Circuit Court of Summers County, West Virginia
Tara Hughes,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No. CC-45-2025-P-2
Judge Amy L. Mann
Estate of Carolyn Spencer,
Defendant
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to obtain the Court’s Aid, Guidance, and Direction in regard to the proper distribution of the assets of the Estate of Carolyn Spencer, who died December 5, 2022, in Summers County, West Virginia, to the potential heirs at law of the real estate owned by Carolyn Spencer at her death.
In order to properly distribute the assets, the Administratrix of the Estate, Tara Hughes, seeks guidance and direction as to who shall receive the proceeds that passed to potential heirs of decedent Carolyn Spencer, who are all descendants of her grandparents. Decedents’ grandparents on her mother’s side were Ethel Byrd and Samuel Merriman. They had nine children who were: Maxine Emerson, Nannie Arelene Merriman, George Marshall Merriman, Curtis Darell Merriman, Samuel Merriman, William Merriman, Wilbert Merriman, Ethel Ross Roland, and Annie Lee Woods. Decedent’s grandparents on her father’s side were Albert and Abby Emerson. They had ten children who were: Dudley Emerson, Thomas Leonard Emerson, Carl Wayne Emerson, Charles Emerson, Kelly Emerson, Willard Emerson, Roy Emerson, Clifford Emerson, Eva Cook, and Ruth Miller. The potential heirs of Carolyn Spencer include those named individuals and any heirs who may take or claim through the named individuals.
It is understood that most of the potential heirs reside in the Martinsville-Collinsville-Axton-Ridgeway area of Virginia. It is also understood that there may be potential heirs who reside in the Eden, North Carolina area, Monroe, North Carolina area, and perhaps a few somewhere in Maryland. There may be unknown heirs whose names are not available to the Administratrix and whose whereabouts are unknown.
The above named children of Ethel Byrd and Samuel Merriman appear to all be deceased, leaving behind many known and unknown potential heirs. The known potential heirs include Brian Emerson, Michael L. Emerson, Ronnie Emerson, Eunice Roberts, Rebecca Ann Mabry, Thomas L. Emerson, William “Billy” Emerson, Marie Merriman Fisher, Adam Townsend, John Marshall Merriman, Amanda Merriman, Chasity Wilson, Donald Merriman, Jr., Joseph Steven “Joey” Merriman, Mike Merriman, James Wilbert Merriman, Richard Leon Merriman, Nannie Frances Roland, Doris Gauldin Hooker, William Harrison Roland, Joan Henderson, and Diane Beatty. The children of Albert and Abby Emerson, as stated above, may all be deceased, also leaving behind known and unknown heirs. The known heirs of the said children include: William “Billy” Emerson, Thomas Emerson, Sean C. Emerson, James “Jay” Leonard Emerson, Michael L. Emerson, Ronnie Emerson, Eunice Roberts, Rebecca Ann Mabry, Thomas L. Emerson, Beverly Emerson, Charlene Emerson Harris, Earl Emerson, Brenda Meeks, Carlene Lundy, Carol Wonder, Carl Wayne Emerson, Shirley Woolsey, Gregory Emerson, Charles Emerson, Kenny Emerson, Willard Emerson, Roy Emerson, Clifford Emerson, Albert Lee Emerson, Ralph Emerson, Ann Woods, Clifford Wayne Emerson, Eva Cook and Ruth Miller. Some of the named potential heirs are known to have also died leaving behind unknown heirs.
It is therefore, ORDERED, that
1. This Order of Publication be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in the Martinsville Bulletin (Martinsville, Virginia), and the Beckley Register-Herald (Beckley, West Virginia); and
2. Each of said Respondent-heirs must appear on or before 6/30/2025 and take any action deemed appropriate to protect whatever interest said Respondent/heir may posses in the estate; A hearing on this matter shall be held in the courtroom of Judge Amy Mann in in the Courthouse in Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia on 6/30/2025 at 2:00 p.m. at which time and place any potential heir may be present to protect their interests; and
3. Each of said Respondent-heirs shall use the following information to contact Petitioner Tara Hughes, Administratrix of the Estate of Carolyn Spencer, prior to 6/30/2025, at the office of her attorney, William H. Sanders, Ill, via US mail at 320 Courthouse Rd., Princeton, WV 24740, by telephone: 304-425-8125, and via email: [email protected].
4. A copy of this Order of Publication shall be posted at the courthouse in Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia, which shall include a complete copy of the Petition to Quiet Title filed by said Administratrix together with a list of known potential heirs; and
5. Petitioner or Petitioner’s counsel, shall mail a copy of this ORDER to the several Respondent-heirs for whom their name and address is known; and
6. A copy of the Petition with the full list of named potential Respondent-heirs shall be available in the office of the County Clerk of Summers County, West Virginia, to any prospective heir that may wish to review it.
ENTERED this the 16th day of May 2025.
/s/Amy Mann, Judge
AMY MANN, JUDGE
PREPARED BY:
/s/William H. Sanders, III
WILLIAM H. SANDERS, III, ESQ.
Counsel for Tara Hughes
320 Courthouse Road
Princeton, WV 24740
Telephone: (304) 425-8125
WV State Bar I.D. No. 3247
/s/ Amy L. Mann E-FILED | 5/16/2025 11:24 AM
Circuit Court Judge CC-45-2025-P-2
Ref. Code: 2505HV1TX Summers County Circuit Clerk
Stacy Ford