Franklin – Merritt Lloyd Raiford, 94, husband of 58 years to the late Mary Vaughan Harris Raiford, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2022 in East Pavilion.   A native of Southampton County and the last remaining of 12 children, he was a son of the late Lloyd Monroe Raiford and Helen Joyner Raiford.  He was also predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Sylvie Berry Raiford.

Merritt was a graduate of Franklin High School and a received a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry and Wildlife Management from Virginia Tech where he was a walk on catcher for their baseball team, receiving a monogram from VA Tech in baseball.  He was also in the Corps of Cadets at VA Tech.  After graduation, he served in the US Air Force and was a 1 ^st Lieutenant assigned to the 637 A. C. & W. SQ at Othello, WA serving during the Korean War.  He retired from Royster Co. as a Chemical and Fertilizer Sales Supervisor for Eastern Virginia.

He loved young people and was President of the Franklin-Southampton Fast Pitch Church Softball league for over 20 years.  Merritt was a deacon, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and a trustee of Burdette Baptist Church for over 50 years.  He also served as Sunday School Superintendent for over 25 years.

Merritt was a member of Purdie Masonic Lodge #170 AF & AM in Windsor for 70 years and a 32 Degree Mason.  He was also a Shriner and a member of the Hokie Club where he was a former Treasurer.   He was a loyal Hokie and an avid hunter and fisherman.

Left to cherish his memory is a daughter, Lynn W. King (Delford) of Rawlings, VA; a son, Daniel M. Raiford of Burdette; five grandchildren, Chris King (Mitzi), Katy King Slagle (Jonathan), Kelly King Jones (Brandon), Jennifer Raiford Domer (Sean), and Jeffrey Raiford (Stephanie); eight great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

A Graveside Service with Military Honors and Masonic Rites will be held at 2PM Sunday, May 15, 2022 in Beechwood Cemetery with Pastor Joe Poe officiating.  There will be a reception following the service at Burdette Baptist Church.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8PM Saturday, May 14, 2022 in the funeral home and suggests that memorial donations be made to Burdette Baptist Church, c/o Vanessa Bailey, Indiantown Rd., Courtland, VA  23837.

The family would like to thank the staff and doctors at Southampton Memorial Hospital and East Pavilion for their wonderful care.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org