Hugh Wellman Jr., 81, of Kermit, formerly of Laurel Creek, departed this life on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at the Appalachian Regional Hospital following a lingering illness.

He was born Nov. 19, 1927, at Dingess, a son of the late Hugh Wellman and Della Fuller Wellman.

Hugh was the former Mingo County Clerk, a position he held for numerous years until his retirement in 1986. He also was a previous West Virginia State Inspector, a veteran of the United States Army having served in Japan and a member of the Kermit United Baptist Church. A graduate of Lenore High School, he attended Marshall University.

Hugh was a chairman of the Mingo County Democrat Party for eight years. He served as committeeman for the Harvey Kermit district for several years.

Hugh was named Honorarian Democrat of the Year in 2005.

Also preceding him in death was his brothers Ersel, Delza, and Alfred Wellman, sisters Ruth Evans and Helen Larkey, and his first wife Jimmie Roberts Wellman.

Survived by his wife: Anna Mae Sartin Wellman, a member of the town council and committeewoman for the Harvey/Kermit district; his children, B. Hugh and Carol Wellman of Atlanta, Ga, Vickie Wellman of Charleston; stepchildren, Rita and Stanley Gillman of Kermit, Joyce and Larry Perry of Petersburg, Ky., Bonnie and Milton Davis of Lovely, Ky., Cletus “Buddy” (Beverly) Sartin of Kermit; grandchildren, Steven and Ann Wellman of Richmond, Va., Todd and Megan Wellman of Barboursville, Bryon Wellman of Columbia, S.C., Katrina and Dwayne Brewer of Naugatuck, Bridgette Ann Parsley of Kermit, Brooke Sartin of Kermit, Rusty Sartin of Kermit, Kyle Gilman of Kermit; great grandchildren, Christian and Hunter Wellman of Richmond, Derrick and Alexis Wellman of Barboursville, Brady Brewer of Naugatuck; brothers, Bob and Mary Wellman and Gary Wellman of Dingess; sister, Lena Newsome of Columbus, Ohio; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. at the Kermit United Baptist Church with Terry Blankenship, Mose Brewer, and Jack Small officiating.

Visitation will be Saturday, Aug. 29, after 4 p.m. at Richmond Callahan Funeral Home, Warfield Chapel in Warfield, Ky.

The body will be moved to the church at noon Sunday until time of service. Burial will follow at the Wellman Cemetery at Dingess. Grandsons Steven, Todd, Bryon, Dwayne, Kyle, and Rusty will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers: Bob and Gary Wellman, Chuck Castle, and Wendall Meade.

Richmond Callahan Funeral Home of Inez is in charge of the arrangements.