Settle, Cleveland Stanford
Cleveland Stanford Settle, 72, of Peterstown, West Virginia, took his final breath and headed home to meet his Lord and Savior with an abundance of love surrounding his earthly body. He was born on November 26,1952, in Bluefield, West Virginia, the youngest child of Everette Dayton Settle, a coal miner and a recipient of the Purple Heart, and Zelma Louise Bailey, a schoolteacher.
Cleve’s early years were spent growing up on a mountain overlooking the town of Bramwell, West Virginia, and he graduated from Bramwell High School in 1970. He attended West Virginia University before following in his father’s footsteps and working in Jenkinjones coal mine in McDowell County for twelve years. He then attended Bluefield State College, where he earned three business degrees. He went on to spend many years working in sales, which he loved, before transitioning to a position at the Celanese plant in Narrows, Virginia. He retired in 2022.
In 1993, Cleve married Dreama Lilly Brown. They had one son, Christian Chord, completing their large, blended family. More than anything Cleve loved spending time with Dreama, their children, and grandchildren. He loved the water and spent many summers at the family’s vacation home in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.
Cleve was a talented musician from a young age. From his teen years onward, he played in local southern rock and country bands. He along with his wife, Dreama, went on to form The Christian Chords gospel quartet in 1997 and recorded an album which contained several original songs written by the couple. Around this time, he also became an ordained Baptist minister. In recent years, Cleve could be found playing with the praise band at Peterstown Worship Center (formerly Peterstown United Methodist Church) alongside Dreama and other members of their musical family.
He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Dayton and Zelma Settle, his sister, Barbara Settle Hill, and an infant son, Jacob Samuel Settle. He was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Bob Lilly.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 31 years, Dreama Settle; his daughters, Dr. Kristin Bowman (Kevin) of Bluefield, WV, Rebecca Settle (Charles Haggard) of Huntington, WV, and Leslie Gillespie (Jim) of Bluefield, WV; his son, Christian Chord Settle (Megan) of Rock Hill, SC; two stepsons, Jeremy Brown (Tami) of Peterstown, and Brandon Brown (Shana) of Arlington, WA; four loving grandchildren, Spencer Gillespie, Harper Gillespie, Hadley Bowman, and Everette Settle; four step grandchildren, Alexandra Brown, Grace Brown, Carter Brown, and Emma Brown. He is also survived by one brother-in-law, Steve Hill of Elkview, WV, a sister-in-law, Linda Vernon of Salem, VA, and the best big brother in the world (Cleve’s exact words), Gareth Settle and sister-in-law, Theresa of Princeton, WV. Many wonderful nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins will also cherish their memories of him.
Services will be held at the Peterstown Worship Center (formerly the United Methodist Church) on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Public Viewing will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the funeral service following at approximately 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Matthew Sauvage and Rev. Dr. John Savage officiating. Pallbearers include Daniel Joseph Vernon, Wayne Irby, Jesse Spencer, Bob Carden, Robert Ludwig, and Chris Whitt.
Online guestbook can be signed or condolences may be sent to the family at www.broyles-shrewsbury.com. Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown, WV.
