Anita Kaye Belcher

Anita Sylvester Belcher, 78, of Rock, West Virginia, passed away peacefully at her residence on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with all of her loved ones by her side. Anita was born in McComas, West Virginia, on June 22, 1948, to the late John and Jean Sylvester. She was a loving wife, partner, mother, mamaw, great-mamaw sister, aunt, and friend to so many people. Mom was such an incredible person, and she never met a stranger. She was the most loving, caring, and giving soul. If you had a need, Mommy was filling it. She loved fiercely, and we all knew it. She would move mountains to make sure we were safe, happy, and loved. Mommy loved her family and friends with all that she was. She loved having all of us together to eat, to travel, and to just be together. She was often the life of the party. Actually, scratch that. She was always the life of the party. If she wasn't singing and dancing, she was laughing, joking, and just wreaking havoc to make sure everybody had a good time and was taken care of. She would burst into song and dance at the most random times and say, "There's a song for everything." She was a mom to her nieces and nephews, especially Gannon, Wendy, Heather, and Krista and their children, and pretty much everyone that spent time with her. 

Mom was a cook for Mercer County Schools for 38 years. She also worked as a school secretary for a short time and as a clerk at Leggett. There was nothing she enjoyed more than spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, and friends. She was always the one working to keep us all together through good times and bad. We'll cherish the memories we made with her forever. Her legacy is a great one, and it continues to grow. Just imagine Christmas Eve at Mamaw's with 27 people under the tree. And we're still growing. 

In addition to her parents, John and Jean Sylvester, Anita was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Junior Belcher, her sisters Patty Isaac and Carol Hanson, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ernie and Kay Belcher, her brothers-in-law Danny Hanson and Glenn Ratliff, her grandparents Hilda and Oscar Hurst and Madelena and Annibale Silvestroni. and far too many other beloved family members. 

Mommy is survived by her dear companion of 15 years, James Uhl, and her son, Shane Belcher, and his wife, Donna, of Chesterfield, Virginia. She is also survived by her three loving daughters, Shellie Belcher Simpson and Charlie McKenzie, Stephanie and Wayne Bailey, and Sarah and Michael Call. Her loving grandchildren are Hunter and his fiancée, Ariel Ingraham, Haley and Cody Collins, Jada Belcher, Savanna and Hunter Jones, Ayden Bailey, Shelby and Brooklyn Call, and Connor McKenzie. Her most precious treasures were her great-grandbabies, Serenity Belcher, Colten Belcher, Liam Belcher, Maximus Ingraham, Cannon Collins, Aspyn Jones, and soon-to-arrive Shepherd Ingraham. Anita is also survived by her precious twin sister, Rita Ratliff, the other half of her soul, her brothers and their wives, Johnny and Ava Sylvester, Mitch and Peggy Sylvester, and Michael and Sabina Sylvester, her two sisters-in-law, Gerri Owens and Joyce Belcher, and a host of precious nieces and nephews. She loved all her girl time with her best friend, Vicky Sizemore. 

Friends and family may call at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 7 p.m. with Pastor Blake Bevins officiating, the burial will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Woodlawn Memorial Park at 11 a.m. We ask that you line up at Cravens-Shires at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service.