The Shadow
Those who say that you can’t go home again will find no support from Victor Conner for that statement. He and his family are feeling the warmth and caring for which this community is known as he faces the biggest challenge of his not-so-simple life.
Victor is the youngest of four children who grew up in the Valley Ridge section of Alleghany County.
The children were all gifted musicians and at the urging of their father, Marvin Conner they formed a bluegrass band in the mid 1970s. The older children Vance, Marva and Lisa were in high school but Victor was four years old when he began to play the banjo, performing with The Conner Family Band by the time he was eight.
Since it humble beginnings here in the Alleghany Highlands, the band’s success over the years has taken them as far as Warsaw, Poland, and across the United States. Their mother, Ina, still resides locally so the band has made many return visits. Their last performance here was as the headliners of the Callaghan Bluegrass Festival in 2009.
Today Victor is the owner and funeral director at Conner Bowman Funeral Home in Boones Mill, where he lives with his wife, Tillie, and daughter, Emilee. He is a two-time cancer survivor who is currently suffering from heart failure caused by damage from the chemotherapy used to save his life.
Conner has spent the last several months in hospitals in Franklin County and at the University of Virginia where doctors have placed him on standby for a heart transplant.
Many friends have stepped forward to help the family with mounting medical bills including Victor Cucci. Tuesday was “Victor Conner Day” at Cucci’s Pizzeria with a portion of each sale donated to a fund called “Praying and Playing for Victor Conner.” Old friends flocked to the restaurant to offer their support.
This Saturday a concert will be held at Alleghany High School where local musicians and dancers will do their part to help the cause. Doors open at 5 p.m., and music begins at 6 p.m. with donations being accepted as admission. Bands slated to play are Southern Rail Express, Divided Highway and the Conner Family Band. The Kountry Kickers will provide lively dance to the event also. Concessions will sell food and a 50/50 raffle is planned.
“We know the community will come out Saturday night to support Victor and his family,” said Willie Smith of Southern Rail Express. “He and The Conner Family Band are highly respected and well loved among their fellow musicians and all of us are proud to lend a hand in making it a great show for our friends.”
The concert will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and the public is encouraged to attend. Anyone interested in following this story future can do so by “liking” the Facebook page “Praying and Playing for Victor.”
