Last Will and Testament
James Richard Browning
Washington County, Virginia
24 July, 1970
Book 73, Page 257-258
I, James Richard Browning, of Route Number Three, Abingdon, Virginia, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills and codicils by me at any time heretofore made.
Item I. I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.
Item II, Should my wife, Mary Snodgrass Browning, survive me, then I give, devise and bequeath unto her all of my estate, both real, personal or mixed, and wherever situate, as her absolute property, to the express exclusion of all my children, whether now born or born hereafter.
Item III, Should my wife predecease me, then I give, devise and bequeath all of my estate, both real, personal and mixed, and whereever situate, as their absolute property, in equal parts, share and share alike, to my children and their descendants per stirpes. My children are: Orville Herman Browning, now serving in the U. S. Army; John Lynn Browning, Abingdon, Virginia: Renella Pearl Browning Wimmer, wife of James Wimmer, Route No. 2, Meadowview, Virginia; Halsey Stuart Browning, 1349 Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Samuel Noel Browning, Abingdon, Virginia; and Charles Preston Browning, Abingdon, Virginia.
Item IV, Should my wife survive me, I do appoint her as the Executrix of this my last will and testament. Should my said wife predecease me, then I nominate and appoint my son, the said Charles Preston Browning, Executor of this my last will and testament. in either case, I direct that no security be required of my said Executrix or Executor, as the case shall be.
Given under my hand and seal this 3rd day of April, 1954
Signed James Richard Browning
The above signature of the testator was made and the foregoing will was
acknowledged to be this last will and testament by the said testator, in the
presence of us, three competent witnesses, present at the same time; and we, the
said witnesses, do hereunto subscribe the said will on the date last above
written, in the presence of the said testator and of each other, at the request
of the said testator, who was then of sound mind and over the age of twenty-one
years.
Signed
William A. Atkins
Sam W. Campbell
John C. Summers
VIRGINIA:
In the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court of Washington County, the 24th day of July, 1970.
RE: PROBATE OF WILL OF JAMES RICHARD BROWNING, DECEASED
A writing dated April 3, 1954, purporting to be the last will and testament
of James Richard Browning, deceased, was this day presented in the Clerk's
Office aforesaid by Mary S. Browning, widow of said decedent, and offered for
probate.
It appearing that James Richard Browning was a resident of
Washington County, Virginia, and that he died on July 20, 1970. Thereupon, came
Same W. Campbell, one of the subscribing witnesses to said writing, who, after
being duly sworn, testified that the said writing was signed by the testator as
and for his last will and testament in his presence, and in the presence of
William A. Atkins and John C. Summers, the other subscribing witnesses thereto,
and stated that they signed their names thereto as attesting witnesses at the
request of the testator, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and
that he was of sound mind and capable of making a will. Thereupon said writing
is admitted to probate and orders to be recorded as and for the true last will
and testament of James Richard Browning, deceased.
Teste; C. H. Smith Clerk