Courtland – Robert Hudson "Bob" Raiford, Jr., 93, passed away November 21, 2014 at his daughter's home in Courtland. He was a native of Burdette, Southampton County, the son of the late Robert Hudson and Lizzie Bradshaw Raiford. Bob was predeceased by his wife of sixty years, Rose King Raiford, who passed away on January 12, 2007 and two sisters, Lora Raiford Horne and Eunice Raiford Parker.

He was a former longtime resident of Holland, VA, and a member of Holland Baptist Church, where he was a former Deacon. Bob was a US Merchant Marine Veteran having served aboard oceangoing merchant ships in service to the United States during WWII and, was honorably discharged from the United States Coast Guard, March 4, 1946. He was retired from Union Camp Corporation after 38 years of service and was a member of Franklin Masonic Lodge #151 AF and AM. Bob was a forty plus year member of A.A. and helped start two programs, one at Southampton Memorial Hospital and one in Holland,VA (Father Bob). He was a former board member for New Outlook in Franklin.

Left to cherish his memory are his three daughters, Patricia Raiford Hundley and her husband, Rusty of Suffolk, Kaye Raiford Drake and her husband, Timmy of Courtland and Kathy Raiford Franklin and her husband Shawn of Courtland, one sister, Evelyn Raiford Britt Tarkington of Windsor, NC; and six grandchildren, Adrienne Hundley Hoffman (Tom),Matthew Hundley (Cynthia), Susan Hundley(Anson), Haley Drake, Hudson Gavin (Ashley) and Barbara Gavin, and three great grandchildren, Noah and Clara Hoffman, and Holton Gavin.

A funeral will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin with the Rev. Darwin Edwards and Chaplain Delorestne Ward officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Southampton Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Monday, November 24, 2014 from 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home and suggest memorials be made to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA), P.O. Box 105, Glenolden, PA 19036 or Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4200 Innslake Drive, Suite 301, Glen Allen, VA 23060.

The family would like to thank Billie Jo Boyles-Maples, for her love and care, and to Care Advantage and all of their employees for their complete care. A very special heartfelt thanks to Judy Matthews Hachey (his beloved fourth adopted daughter) for her steadfast love, loyalty and devotion, and John P. Harrison for his brotherly devotion.
www.wrightfuneralhome.org