U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
GENE E. WORRELL
Gene Edward Worrell, 81, died October 24, 2011 at Clare Bridge in Virginia Beach. He was the son of the late Ethel and William Worrell. He was predeceased by his wife Page Joyner Worrell and three brothers Eldridge, Elvin, and Fred Worrell. Gene was a member of Woodland UMC, and was a founding board member of Citizens National Bank in Windsor.
He is survived by his daughter Susan O’Connell and husband Fred of Virginia Beach; and granddaughter Page O’Connell.
A graveside funeral service will be conducted Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 2 PM in Holly Lawn cemetery by the Rev Mike Harrington. The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 26, 2011 from 7 to 8:30 PM in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, Suffolk, VA.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Woodland United Methodist Church, 20051 Orbit Road, Windsor, VA 23487.
KATHERINE LANGDON
Katherine Langdon, 85, a resident of Consulate Health Care, passed away August 24, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 16, 1925 in Johnston County, North Carolina to the late Rufus and Ella Langdon. She retired from Co-Op at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and had worked part-time at Food Lion and Walmart.
She is survived by her loving children, son, Johnny Fitts and wife Dana, daughters, Teresa Hammond, Joan Maddrey and husband Kenny. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and eleven great-grand children and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter Dorothy Beasley.
Katherine was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She loved gardening, fishing, spending time with her grandchildren and her pets and eating at Chick-fil-a. Our mother was the "Best Mom Ever"!
A funeral service to celebrate her life will be at Calvary Baptist Church, 2117 London Blvd., Portsmouth, Monday, August 29, 2011 at 2:30 PM with burial at Olive Branch cemetery. The family will receive friends between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Katherine's memory to the Azheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011 or a local animal shelter.
A special thank you to LaTonya Jones for her loving care to our mother while at Consulate. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family.
MERLEN G. LASSITER
Merlen Gray Lassiter passed away August 17, 2011 at Sentara Obici Hospital. She was born in Newsoms, Virginia to the late Hugh and Betty Gray. She was predeceased by her late husband George S. Lassiter, Jr.; brother Earl, Vernard and Ralph Gray; sisters Jacquelyn Gray Clary and Joyce Gray Harrell.
She has left in her memory a wonderful daughter, Ruan G. Harbour and wonderful husband Jim of Ocean City, Maryland; brother Hugh A. Gray; sister Bettie G. Allen and many nieces and nephews.
Merlen was a member of Main Street UMC and United Methodist Women. Merlen was retired from the City of Suffolk Assessors Office.
A graveside service will be held at Beechwood cemetery, Boykins, Virginia by Rev. Myrtle F. Hatcher on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 11 AM. The family will receive friends Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, Suffolk, VA 23434. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 201 Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434.
JOHN THOMAS JUDKINS, JR.
John Thomas Judkins, Jr., 69, passed away Monday, May 23, 2011 surrounded by his family in Sentara Obici Hospital. He is the son of the late John T. and Mary Judkins, Sr. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his son, Peter Judkins.
Born in Petersburg, VA, he was a Mechanical Engineer with Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Suffolk Moose Lodge, and the Clubhouse Tailgate.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly Judkins; daughters, Melissa Dudney and husband, Kevin, of Spring Grove, VA, and Angela Barrios of Jessup, MD; sons, J. Thomas Judkins, III and wife, Rhonda, of Suffolk, Darrell Wesner and wife, Heather, of Greenleaf, WI, Timothy Judkins and wife, Elizabeth, of Annandale, VA, and Matthew Judkins and wife, Katie, of Portsmouth; sister, Mary Alma Savedge of Surry, VA; brother, Franck Judkins of Surry, VA; eleven grandchildren; four great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 11:00 am in St. Paul's Episcopal Church by The Very Rev. Dr. Keith Emerson. The family will receive friends in the church Thursday, May 26, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 213 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA, 23434, which will be used to support ministries meaningful to John. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
ANNIE BEADLES WILROY
Annie Beadles Wilroy, 89, died September 2, 2011 at Sentara Obici Hospital. She was the daughter to the late Carrie and Lee Carroll. She was predeceased by her husband’s Fletcher C. Beadles and L. H. Wilroy. She was an avid bridge player and she loved her church, home and family. She was a long time member of Main Street United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her son Fletcher Beadles and special friend Ophelia Crawford; sister Mary Walsh of Suffolk, VA; nephews David Walsh, Keith Walsh, Gary Walsh, and Bobby Carroll; and niece Fletcher Lee Carroll Conway.
A funeral service will be conducted Monday, September 5, 2011 at 11 AM in Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA by the Rev Myrtle F. Hatcher with burial in Cedar Hill cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, September 4, 2011 from 3 to 4 PM in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, Suffolk, VA.
The family would like to thank her long time care giver Mary White. They would also like to thank the staff and Doctors of Sentara Obici and Nansemond Point for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434.
ELSTON L. BROWN
Elston Lee Brown age 73 went to be with the Lord on September 3, 2011. He was the son of the late Charles W. and Irene Brown. Mr. Brown has served as a pastor at the Chesapeake Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Deep Creek for the last 16 years. He previously held positions with Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls and CBN in Virginia Beach.
His survivors include his wife, Bonnie S. Brown; daughter, Charmaine McKinney and husband, Nathan, of Caldwell ID; son, Allyn Brown and wife, Kristen, of Suffolk; four grandchildren, Wesley Brown, Ally Brown, Melody Brown, and Kaj McKinney; brother, Paul Brown and wife, Joan; and a sister Nancy Hall of Osage Iowa.
We will miss our selfless, steadfast, and faithful God loving cowboy.
The memorial service will be held Thursday September 8, 2011 at 7:00pm at The Church of the Messiah 816 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake, Virginia. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to the Chesapeake Vineyard Christian Fellowship mission’s fund, address PO. Box 15128 Chesapeake, VA 23328-5128.
R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
LYNORE DACOSTA WARD
Lynore daCosta Ward, 64, passed away peacefully April 22, 2011. Lyn was the wife of James Edwin "Ed" Ward. She was the daughter of the late Allan D. and Eleanore M. daCosta and was predeceased by her sister, Yvonne daCosta.
Born in New Jersey, she was a graduate of Mahwah High School, in NJ, the University of South Alabama, and Creighton University. She was a teacher at the Pruden Vo-Tech Center in Suffolk.
Besides her loving husband; Lyn is survived by her sister, Alana Wilson and husband Darold of Lake Oswego, OR; aunt, Gail "Sis" Morgan; nephew and his family, Christopher John Simons Jr. and wife, Kimberely, and their sons, Christopher John Simons, III, and Nicholas Francis Simons of Lake Oswego, OR.
A memorial service will be conducted Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 4:00 pm in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., by the Rev. Jud Ihlefield.
DAVID S. SHORT
David Steuart Short, 51, passed away April 19, 2011 in Suffolk.
Services will be private. R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
FRANCES DAUGHTREY
Frances Storey Howell Daughtrey, 89 went to be with her Lord April 6, 2011. She was born in Como, NC. She was the last surviving child of Jake and Fannie Howell. Her husband E. Hunter Daughtrey, sister Lucy Eure, brothers Jarvis, Cyrus, William, Robert and Granville Howell, and former daughter- in-law Mary Jo Daughtrey predeceased her.
Sons, Hunter and wife Janet Parsons of Durham, NC, Sid and wife Pat Grady Daughtrey of Suffolk, VA survive her. Grandma will be missed by grandchildren Heather and husband Ted Rabalais of Hillsborough, NC and Nathan Daughtrey of Greensboro, NC; great-grandchildren Jessica and Colby Rabalais and step-grandson John Douglas of Brooklyn, NY. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.
Frances was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Franklin, VA where she served as Pre-School Director and Sunday School Teacher. She was a member of Beaver Dam's Eager Beavers Senior Adults, Carrsville Homemakers, and Holland Women's Club and served as a Holland 4H Leader. She coordinated the Suffolk Salvation Army Doll and Stocking Program, praying for each doll and the recipient. She was an accomplished cook with an extensive cookbook collection and won numerous cooking contests. One winning recipe was published in Jean Anderson's The American Century Cookbook and Women's Day Magazine. Buckhorn Baptist Church and Como, NC held a special place in her heart.
The family extends special appreciation to the staff and friends of Hillcrest Retirement Center and Nansemond Pointe for their loving assistance in transitioning our parents. The funeral will be conducted Saturday, April 9th, at 2:00 p.m. at Beaver Dam Baptist Church, Dr. Richard Peerey and Rev Charles Anderson officiating. Burial at Beaver Dam cemetery will be private. The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beaver Dam Baptist Church 3593 Carrsville Hwy, Franklin, VA 23851 or Buckhorn Baptist Church P.O. Box 67, Como, NC 27818. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory Suffolk, VA is assisting the family.
MARY ROSE W. SPADY
Mary Rose West Spady, 81, passed away peacefully April 1, 2011 surrounded by her family in her home. She was the daughter of the late Joseph R. and Sally B. West. She was predeceased by her brother, Howard West. She was a loyal member of Order of the Moose for more then 50 years.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Earl T. Spady; daughters, Tammie Lewis of Inianapolis, IN, Earlene Helms and husband, Clayton, of Fayetteville, WV, Betty Anne McBee and husband, Jimmy, of New Tazewell, TN; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; her twin sister, Martha Rae Eure and husband, Kenny, of Jacksonville, FL; numerous nieces and nephews; and her sister-in-law, Betty Buchanan.
A graveside service will be conducted on Monday, April 4, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens by the Rev. Allen Lancaster. The family will receive friends in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St. Sunday, April 3, 2011 from 7 to 8:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016.
LARRY DEAN JOHNSON, SR.
Larry D. Johnson, Sr., 76, passed peacefully at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital surrounded by his family on March 25, 2011.
Survivors include his wife Joan C. Wilkins Johnson; his daughter Kimberly J. Mason and husband Barry of Suffolk, sons Larry Dean Johnson, Jr. of Suffolk and Thomas Wade Johnson, Sr., and wife Victoria of Holly Springs, NC. Grandchildren Bayard Mason, Anne Hayes Mason, Tommy Johnson and William Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was a member of Oxford United Methodist Church, Tom Smith Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans, Lumber Manufacturers Association and the Thursday Night Club. He was retired President of A. H. Johnson & Sons Lumber Company. He was a former member of the Suffolk Elks Lodge and Suffolk Moose Lodge.
A funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Oxford United Methodist Church, 601 West Washington Street, Suffolk, VA 23434 by Pastor Ken Hanson with burial at Chesapeake Memorial Gardens, 524 Cedar Lane, Chesapeake, VA 23322. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, Memorial Processing Center, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058. R. W. Baker & Company Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
ELEANOR S. BROOKS GREGORY
Eleanor Smith Brooks Gregory was born June 25, 1922 in Fireco, West Va. and moved to Suffolk in 1959 where she made her home. She was predeceased by her husbands; Robert M. Brooks, Sr., and Eugene Gregory and a son; Eric Paul Brooks.
Eleanor retired from Obici Hospital as a nursing aide in the delivery and nursery, and once again from the Main Street Methodist Church Day Care where she was a day care worker in the infant room. She was a member of the Main Street United Methodist Church and the McLemore Bible Class.
She is survived by two sons; Grover E. Brooks (wife-Betty) of Edenton N.C, Robert M. Brooks, Jr. (wife-Jeanne) of Suffolk, daughter-in-law Annette Brooks, two sisters; Patty G. Kent of Charleston, WV, and Marlene Perdue of Mason OH, 6 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren, and many stray pets that she so fondly adopted and cared for.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday April 16, 2011 at 11:00 am in Main Street United Methodist Church by Rev. Robert J. Parks, Jr. The family will receive friends following the service in the social hall. R. W. Baker & Co Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, Suffolk is serving the family.
In lieu of flowers the family request is for memorial donations be offered to Main Street United Methodist Church B & I Fund, 202 N. Main Street, Suffolk, Va. 23434.
JOHN F. DARDEN, SR.
John F. Darden, Sr., 82, a native of Portsmouth, passed away March 17, 2011 in him home.
He was a navy veteran of the Korean Conflict, retired NNSY supervisor and a member of the Church of God.
He is survived by his wife, Dora; children, Paul, Erik, Vicki, Susan, John Jr., Terri, Cathy, and Debra; 11 grandchildren; three great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted March 20, 2011 at 6:00 pm in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, Suffolk, VA, 23434 by the Rev. Jack Sawyer and the Rev. Raleigh Johnson. In lieu of flowers, memorials donations may be made to the Salvation Army, Suffolk Location, P.O. Box 1000, Suffolk, VA, 23439. Heartfelt thanks to the Heartland Hospice Nurses.
SPARKS B. HOLLAND
Sparks Brewer Holland, 92, died April 28, 2011. She was the widow of R. Wilkerson Holland, with whom she spent 68 wonderful years. She is predeceased by her son, Robert.
She was a teacher, a minister, a wife, and a mother to five children and numerous other children claimed her. Sparks touched a lot of lives and was loved by many.
Survivors include her children Kathryn Holland, Debi Lee, Margaret Guinn, David Holland and wife, Kelly; her adopted daughters, Pat Stanley and Mary William Baines; seven grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.
A graveside memorial service will be conducted Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Holland cemetery. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holland Mission Church, 221 Dutch Road, Suffolk, VA, 23437.
WILLIAM JAMES SPAIN, JR.
In February 1927 William James Spain, Jr. (affectionately known to his many friends as "Jimmy") was delivered into this life "out the backdoor" of his parents' humble but loving home adjacent to the railroad tracks that his father maintained for the Southern Railroad. He came of age in the tiny whistlestop hamlet of Drewryville, VA. Jimmy was the sixth child born to his parents with four more siblings to be added to the family in subsequent years. From humble beginnings he distinguished himself as an industrious "young man on the go". He worked the broom, counter, and cash register in local stores beginning at age 7, and he excelled in his studies at Drewryville School. After graduating at the top of his class (of 12) he enlisted in the US Navy toward the end of WW II and served as tail gunner in a PB-4Y2 in San Diego and in the Norfolk Shore Patrol, "...breakin' 'em down on East Main Street". Following his honorable discharge from the Navy he attended the University of Virginia on the GI Bill, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce in 1950. It was at the University where he mastered the new scientific accounting and business management skills that would serve him so well throughout his professional career. He was unfailingly grateful for and appreciative of his education and has always been a strong proponent of education as a means of personal and community betterment. Jimmy married
his wife, Marionette, in the Spring of 1949, and they lived in Charlottesville until he completed his schooling. With a pretty young wife, a baby (Hugh) on the way, and a high-powered diploma in his hip pocket, Jimmy returned briefly to Drewryville working in a cotton gin and farm supply company before landing a promising accounting job in the thriving town of Franklin, VA. This led up to taking an even more promising accounting job at the Pretlow Peanut Company in May 1952 where he worked some time before transferring to a position at the Birdsong Peanut Company in Suffolk. Thus began a remarkable 57-year affair with a family and company that he truly loved. At Birdsong Jimmy soon became protege of then company president, the formidable Mr. Harvard Birdsong, who admired his optimistic outlook (tagging him "Sunny Jim") coupled with a sound business sense. Another son (Billy) was added to the family just after the move to Suffolk, and Jimmy burnished his reputation as a friendly, fair-dealing, and enterprising young executive. He quickly rose through the officer ranks at Birdsong to eventually become President and Chairman of the Board, positions he enjoyed for over 25 years. During this period he proudly announced to friends that he was president of a railroad, the 26-mile Texas Central - quite an accomplishment for a man whose father worked maintaining a section of railroad track. Jimmy presided over numerous trials, tribulations, and challenges to his company while leading an expansion of Birdsong Corporation into national and international markets. During this period of remarkable productivity and growth, a third son (Shea) was added to the family. Jimmy was a tireless promoter of peanuts and peanut products and was instrumental in leading one of the first trade missions to Asia that included a visit to the then-closed society of China. Concurrent to his busy career at Birdsong, Jimmy held leadership positions in many local community organizations including the Suffolk Jaycees, Lion's Club, United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, Morgan Memorial Library, the Suffolk Elks Lodge, Oxford United Methodist Church, the Suffolk Community Tennis Program, and the Suffolk Racquet Club. He performed many duties for his church, Oxford United Methodist, where he taught Sunday school, led the youth program, and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
He also greatly enjoyed hosting young adults from the nearby Zuni Presbyterian Training Center in his home following Sunday church services. At the national level he helped found the National Peanut Council and the Peanut Administrative Committee to assure quality and safety of peanut products. He presided over the Virginia Peanut Shellers Association for several terms. During recent years he has been especially enthusiastic in serving as a founding director and an active volunteer for the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. He received numerous accolades over the years including being named Suffolk's First Citizen in 1987, being named to the National Peanut Council's Hall of Fame in 1996, and being awarded the Pioneer of the Year Award in 2007 by the National Peanut Buying Point Association. He was an avid tennis player and loyal fan of The University of Virginia and its athletic programs. Jimmy attended every ACC Basketball Tournament since the late 1950's and was very much looking forward to cheering on his beloved Cavaliers later this week. In the words of one of his favorite old Dixieland jazz band tunes, "Oh, didn't the Good Brother ramble?"
Perhaps the single descriptor that best summarizes Jimmy's life is generosity. He was remarkably generous on numerous levels with his time, attention, thoughts, good fortune, and love.
Jimmy is survived by and will be very fondly remembered by a large family and many, many friends. His surviving original family members include 2 sisters, Margaret Covington of Drewryville and Jean Jones of Chesapeake and his brothers, Charles Spain and wife, Ruth of San Antonio, TX and Tilman Spain of Isle of Wight County. He is also survived by his immediate family; wife, Marionette Whitehead Spain, sons Edward Huland Spain and wife Sharon, William James Spain, III, and Shea Meredith Spain and wife Wendy. His grandchildren are Tammy Aiko Spain of Oldsmar, FL, James Huland Ichiro Spain, Nicholas Blythe Spain, Meredith Hunter Spain, and William James Spain. His great granddaughter is Aidalis Aiko Santana of Oldsmar, FL.
A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 11 AM in Oxford United Methodist Church, 601 W. Washington Street, Suffolk VA 23434, by the Rev. Dr. Woodie Rea with burial in Cedar Hill cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, March 11, 2011 from 6 to 8 PM in the R.W. Baker & Co Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington Street, Suffolk VA 23434.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the many doctors, nurses, and support staff of Lakeview Medical Center and Sentara Obici Hospital as well as the fine ladies of Home Instead for their loving professional care in making his passing as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Per a specific request made by Jimmy in his last days, we ask that, in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be made to the Lake Prince Woods Benevolence Fund 100 Anna Goode Way, Suffolk, VA 23434 or to the Suffolk Center for Cultural Art's Education Fund, 110 West Finney Ave, Suffolk, VA 23434.
