U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Margaret B. Blanchard
Margaret Boykin Blanchard, 91, of Suffolk, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004.
Born on April 24, 1912, in Suffolk, she was a daughter of the late George Washington and Dora Jones Boykin, widow of Leonard Blanchard, and mother of the late Sandra P. Julias.
Mrs. Blanchard was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, George M. and Barbara Pettyjohn of Dover, Del.; and Robert E. and Carol Pettyjohn of Williamsburg; grandchildren, Susan P. Gould, Michael C. Pettyjohn, Jean Smith, Michele P. Wheeler, Suzanne P. Gavin, Steven G. Julias, John G. Julias, 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Orian Rieley of Virginia Beach; and nieces, Dorothy Hines and Elinor Branch, both of Suffolk.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory by the Rev. Robert J. Parks, with burial in Cedar Hill cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA. 23434.
Audrey M. Askew
Audrey Mae Askew, 69, of 251-A Holladay St., Suffolk, died Thursday, April 8, 2004, in Nansemond Pointe REHAB Center.
A native of Nansemond County, she was the daughter of the late Isaac Gomer and Sadie Cotton-Riddick, and was the widow of George Linwood Askew.
She had retired from the Suffolk Public School System as a food server.
She was a member of Macedonia AME Church and was a former usher, youth usher leader, Progressive Club member, and was a member of the Lay Organization and Pastor's Aide.
She is survived by one daughter, Carolyn Askew-Copeland of Chesapeake; one son, Ronnie Linwood Askew (Karen) of Suffolk; one brother, Raymond Cotton (Patti) of Maryland; three sisters, Edith Williams, Margaret Riddick and Mary Virginia Britt (Charles) all of Suffolk; two grandchildren, Courtney Copeland of Chesapeake and Christopher Askew of Suffolk; many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Macedonia AME Church, 127 Pine St., by the Rev. Charles L. Harvin Sr. Interment will be in Holly Lawn cemetery.
Viewing will be held from noon-6 p.m. Sunday, April 11 at the funeral home and at other times the family will receive friends at 206 N. Broad St., and will gather at 10 a.m. Monday from this address for the procession to the church.
Professional service is entrusted to T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home.
Ursula B. Davis
Ursula Wanetah Benn Davis of Chesapeake, retired educator, departed this life June 2, 2004. She was the oldest daughter of the late Mack and Mamie Benn Sr. Born in Southampton County, she grew up in Suffolk.
She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church where she served as choir member, Sunday School teacher, and worked with the Episcopal Church Women.
She was a member of the Elizabeth River Chapter of Les Gemmes Inc.; National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc.; Delta Gamma Chapter; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Alpha Beta Chapter (inactive); Retired Teachers Association of Portsmouth.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Mildred Denby and Ruben H. Green of Memphis, Tenn.; two grandsons and their wives, Ruben H. and Jasmine Green of Powell, Ohio, and Howard D. and Pascal Green of Allen, Texas; one brother, Judge Herman T. Benn (Marian); two sisters, Dorothy B. Armistead (Leon) and Bernice B. Maloney, all of Suffolk; one stepson, the Rev. Reginald W. Davis of Christiansburg; two stepdaughters, Mildred Davis Gaines of Chesapeake, and Connie Davis Fountain of Portsmouth; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and numerous other relatives and friends.
The memorial service will be held at noon Tuesday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church by the Rev. Joseph N. Green, rector emeritus of Grace Episcopal Church, Norfolk.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and Les Gemmes Inc. will have a memorial service Monday evening in Crocker Funeral Home. The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. will have a memorial service Tuesday morning.
Joseph Ruffin
Mr. Joseph Ruffin, 80, of 36587 General Mahone Blvd, Ivor, died July 30 in Obici Hospital. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 1 pm in the New Branch Baptist Church, Ivor by Rev. Frank L. Aikens. Interment will be held in the Ruffin Family cemetery, Ivor. Crocker Funeral Home, Suffolk, is in charge of the arrangements.
Hubert Calvin Copeland
Hubert Calvin Copeland, 90, died Oct. 22, 2004.
Born Aug. 26, 1914, in Chowan County, N.C., he was the son of the late J. Jehu and Annie Blanchard Copeland and widower of Catherine Bunch Copeland. Mr. Copeland was a member of Western Branch Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.
Survivors include his daughters and their families, Walter and Carole C. Cosby of Roanoke, Richard and Sue C. Williams of Suffolk, Bobby and Sandra C. Simpson of Suffolk, Jeff and Patsy C. Robbins of Chesapeake; a son, Calvin H. Copeland of Suffolk; a sister, Catherine C. Hobbs of Norfolk; twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. at the graveside in Western Branch Baptist Church cemetery by the Rev. Dr. Ray Jones and the Rev. Peyton Royal. The family will receive mends in the church fellowship hall directly after the service and other times at 1886 King's Fork Road and 525 King's Fork Road. Memorial donations may be made to the Western Branch Baptist Church Family Life Center, 6952 Old Myrtle Road, Suffolk, Va., 23434. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
Barbara W. Birdsong
Barbara Wygal Birdsong, 70, died December 7, 2004, surrounded by her loving daughters.
A native of Roanoke, she was the daughter of the late Elsie Whitlock Wygal and Jackson E. Wygal. Mrs. Birdsong was a graduate of Mary Washington College. She was a member of Main Street Methodist Church where she served as an active member of the United Methodist Women.
Beloved by her students, Mrs. Birdsong taught kindergarten and was director of the day care of Main Street Methodist Church until her retirement. She was a member of the Westover Garden Club, the Suffolk Book Club, the Tuesday Afternoon Book Club, the Louise Obici Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and the Suffolk Social Club where she served three terms as president.
Survivors include her husband Hall Franklin Birdsong, Jr.; children, Sharyn Flintoff and husband Bob of Suffolk, Jennifer Fearing and husband Zene of Nags Head, N.C., Libby Bulkin and husband Ken of Apex, N.C., and Martha Trapani and husband Ed of Pittsburg, Pa.; and grandchildren Bobby, Kate, and Thomas Flintoff and Betsy, Aidan, and Jackson Bulkin.
A visitation will be held in her home on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Main Street United Methodist Church by the Reverend Bob Parks. A private entombment will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 202 N. Main Street, Suffolk, Va. 23434 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, Va. 22038-1131. R. W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jane Klein Stone
Jane Klein Stone, 76, died July 4, 2004.
Born November 2, 1927, in Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late Wallace Shelby and Marie Richards Klein and the widow of Arthur Edward Stone, Jr. Mrs. Stone was a devoted life long member of Suffolk Christian Church and former member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Constantia Chapter, and the Suffolk Literacy Council.
Survivors include her daughters, Judy S. Wyatt of Portsmouth, Donna S. McCoy of Suffolk; sister in law, Imogen M. Klein of Salem; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m. in Suffolk Christian Church by the Rev. Michael D. Halley with burial in Cedar Hill cemetery. The family will receive friends in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory Tuesday from 7 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Suffolk Christian Church, P. O. Box 1457, Suffolk, VA, 23439.
Lorraine Rose Coppola
Lorraine Rose Coppola, 86, died July 4, 2004.
Born June 21, 1918, in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Eleanor Lefferts and widow of Earnest J. Coppola. She was a member of St. Mary’s of the Presentation Catholic Church.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Earnest and Sarah Coppola of Forest, VA, Virginia and Anthony Pelfrey of Quinton, VA, Christine Dove and William Decoux of Portsmouth, VA, Stephen Coppola of Chattanooga, TN, Evelyn and Joseph Balok, James and Pamela Coppola, all of Suffolk, VA, John Coppola of New Smyrna Beach, Fl, Paul and Debbie Coppola of Suffolk, VA, Jeanette and Michael Collins, Anthony Coppola, all of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Mary Coppola and Teresa Howell, both of Portsmouth, VA; nineteen grandchildren and ten great grand children; brothers, William Lefferts of Cupertino, CA and Eugene Lefferts of Baltimore, MD.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s of the Presentation Catholic Church by Father Lou Ruoff with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory Wednesday from 7 to 8:00 p.m.
Annie Sue Smith
Annie Sue Smith, 99, passed away on July 4, 2004
Born October 15, 1904, in Gates County NC, she was the daughter of the late Munford and Virginia Howell and widow of Willie Melvin Smith Sr. She was a member of Bethlehem Christian Church.
Survivors include her two sons W. Melvin Smith Jr. and wife Leola, and Earl Smith and wife Glenda; two granddaughters Arlene Smith and Lisa Tarkington and husband Steve; two great granddaughters Tori and Ginger Tarkington, all of Suffolk; and one great niece Judy Blankenship.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 AM Tuesday in the R. W. Baker& Co. Funreal Home and Crematory by the Rev. Johnathan Palmer. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 PM Monday. In lieu of flowers memorials donation may be made to the Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1515, Suffolk VA, 23439.
Richard Rodney “Rick” Tighe
Richard Rodney “Rick” Tighe quietly passed away on June 30, 2004, at his much loved home in Eclipse, after a short, valiant battle with cancer.
A native of Newport News, VA, raised in Powhatan, VA and a resident of Eclipse for many years, he was proceeded in death by his father, Otis C. Bailey of Eclipse, mother Margeret I. Fairless of Newport News and his forever “girlfriend” Biscuit.
A loving husband, father and friend, he is survived by his wife, Holly Burch-Tighe of Eclipse; daughter and son-in-law, Sylvia and Tory Batten of California; son, Adam Tighe of Rushmere; step-daughters, Ashley and Lindsay Molnar of Suffolk; cherished grandchildren, Tristan, Sheyenne and Cherokee Batten of California; his dad, Jim Tighe; brothers, Steven and John Tighe; sister and brother-in-law, Nina and John White, all of Powhatan, VA; uncle and aunt, David and Minta Bailey of Deltaville. He leaves to miss him terribly his “pack”, Basil, Blue, Heidi and Eclipse.
A graveside service will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. on July 2 at Mt. Zion cemetery at Eclipse. Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel is serving the family.
Georgia Ann Culpepper Saunders
Georgia Ann Culpepper Saunders, 79, of Chuckatuck, died September 17, 2004.
A native of Suffolk, VA, she was the wife of Turpin Algernon (Al) Saunders, Jr., and they were honored as the First Citizens of Suffolk in 1996. Mrs. Saunders graduated from Chuckatuck High School, 1942, attended Madison College and completed the Obici School of Nursing LPN program in 1973. She was a member of Oakland Christian Church and its Johnson-Newman Sunday School Class. She also belonged to the Village Garden Club, Junto Women’s Club and Book Club. Over the years she had volunteered for the Red Cross, the Chuckatuck Library, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J. Frank and Bessie M. Culpepper; brother, J. Frank Culpepper, Jr. and sister, Jean C. Holland.
Survivors include her children, Mary Elizabeth Williams and husband Jesse Williams, Ann Marks Saunders, Paul Saunders and wife Pam Saunders, Douglas Saunders, all of Suffolk, Kathy Jo Whitten and husband Fred Whitten of Richmond; grandchildren, Jesse A. and Georgiana Brooke Williams, James Saunders, Geoff, Katie and Jay Whitten; sister, Elizabeth C. Holland of Midlothian, VA; brother, Sullie Culpepper of Salisbury, MD.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, at 3:00 p.m. in Oakland Christian Church by the Rev. Mark Burns with burial in Newman Memorial cemetery. The family will receive friends at her home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Oakland Christian Church, P. O. Box 2008, Suffolk, VA, 23432 or to the Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department, P. O. Box 2164, Suffolk, VA, 23432. R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family.
Jerry Pierce Powell
Jerry Pierce Powell, 59, died October 4, 2004 in Obici Hospital.
Born October 10, 1944, in Suffolk, she is the daughter of Mary Eley Pierce and the late Gibson J. Pierce. Mrs. Powell was the medical Staff Director at Obici Hospital for 30 years. She was a member of the Suffolk Christian Church, Past President of the American Cancer Society, Suffolk Unit, and an Athena Award winner in 2002. The “Jerry Powell Walking Trail”, a memorial walk was named for Jerry at Obici Hospital, and Providence United Methodist Church donated a bench to Red Bird Mission in Kentucky in Jerry’s name.
Survivors include her mother, Mary E. Pierce of Suffolk; husband, Bennie F. Powell Jr., of Suffolk; son, Brian David Powell and wife Kelly of Suffolk; sisters, Janet P. Eure, and Bobbie P. Piland and husband Frank all of Suffolk; brother R. Percy Pierce and wife Josephine of Suffolk; granddaughter Meghan Powell; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 11 am at Suffolk Christian Church by the Rev. Michael D. Halley and Rev. Robert Vaughan Jr. with burial at Bethlehem Christian Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory Thursday from 7 to 9 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 604 Constance Woods Drive, Suffolk, VA, 23434.
Shirley Zeigler Wallace
Shirley Zeigler Wallace, 84, died January 2, 2005.
Born May 15, 1920, in Rocky Mount, VA, she was the daughter of the late Beverly Brad and Mildred Cooney Zeigler, widow of Douglas Dee Wallace, Sr. and mother of the late Douglas Dee Wallace, Jr., and Barbara Wallace Shelton.
Mrs. Wallace was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church and for thirty-five years served in the Suffolk City School system as a teacher and guidance counselor.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Kay Wallace Best and G. Lewis Best, Jr., of Richmond; sister, E. J. Grimes of Frederick, MD; brother, Richard Zeigler of Belpre, OH; grandchildren, George Lewis Best, III, Anne Best Barker, Douglas Dee Wallace, III, Charles Christopher Shelton, Mathew Palmer Wallace, Clifton Shawn Shelton; four great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Sandra Nunn Wallace of South Boston; son-in-law, Clyde C. Shelton of Virginian Beach.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m. in Cedar Hill cemetery by the Rev. Robert J. Parks, Jr. The family will receive friends in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA, 23434, or to the Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 1515, Suffolk, VA, 23439.
Goldie Byrum Turner
Goldie Byrum Turner, 93, died September 17, 2004, at Obici Hospital.
Born May 16, 1911, in Cisco, NC, she was the daughter of the late John Richard and Abbie Twine Byrum and widow of George Fenton Turner and mother of the late George F. Turner, Jr. Mrs. Turner was a member of First Baptist Church, the Women’s Missionary Union and the Kathi Thomas Circle.
Survivors include her daughter, and son-in-law, Patricia Turner and James H. Deaton; brother, Lloyd S. Byrum, of Chesapeake; grandchildren, Alicia Beth Turner, S. Mark Turner, Deborah Turner Condry, James H. Deaton, Jr.; six great grandchildren; devoted daughter-in-law, Alice S. Turner of Chattanooga, TN.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church by the Rev. Micah Voight and the Rev. Charles W. Thompson with burial in Holly Lawn cemetery. The family will receive friends in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory Sunday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Mary Helen Macklin Rawls Small
Mary Helen Macklin Rawls Small, 79, died on January 3, 2005, at Lake Prince Woods in Suffolk. Born February 7, 1925 in Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late Harold H. and Helen Birdsong Macklin, and was also predeceased by her first husband, J. Lewis Rawls Jr. She was a 1942 graduate of Suffolk High School and a 1946 graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Mrs. Small had worked as a teacher and was a member of Suffolk Christian Church for more than 50 years.
Mary Helen was an active member and leader of a number of organizations, including the Westover Garden Club and the Suffolk Literary Club. Her passion was golf. She was taught by her father as a child and she and her late sister, Martha M. Smith, played competitively all during their adult years. She was a member of a number of golf organizations, including the Suffolk Golf Association, Tidewater Golf Association and the U.S. Senior Women's Golf Association. In 1965 she was a runner-up in the Virginia Women's Amateur Golf Tournament in Hot Springs, Virginia.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Wilfred T. Small; three children, J. Lewis Rawls III, Rebecca Rawls Habel and Frank M. Rawls; and seven grandsons, James M. Habel IV, Tucker R. Habel, Matthew C. Rawls, J. Lewis Rawls IV, J. Stephen Rawls, Joseph G. Rawls and Michael A. Rawls. Mary Helen's family expresses their deep appreciation to all of her caregivers, both private and the Lake Prince staff, and with deepest appreciation to her very special caregiver, Gisele Bradshaw.
A funeral service will be conducted Friday, January 7, 2005 at 11 a.m. at Suffolk Christian Church with a reception following in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be private. The family will receive visitors at the R.W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 6, 2005. Memorial donations may be made to Suffolk Christian Church Memorial Fund at P.O.Box 1457, Suffolk, Virginia 23439; Randolph-Macon Women's College at 2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, Virginia 24503-1526; or Southeastern Virginia Chapter Alzheimer's Association, 20 Interstate Corporate Center, Suite 233, Norfolk, Virginia 23502.
