Obituaries

Aug 16, 2023

Windsor - Obituary for Cynthia and Wesley Garris

– Cynthia Keeter Garris, 82, passed away on August 16, 2023 and her husband of 63 years, Wesley Floyd Garris, 84, passed away less than a week earlier on August 10, 2023.   Born in Franklin, Cynthia was the daughter of the late Charles Oliver Keeter Sr. and...

Aug 15, 2023

Boykins – Timothy Wayne Baker, 64, passed away August 15, 2023, in Courtland Health and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

Born in Nash County, NC and raised in Hunterdale, he was a truck driver for Meherrin Chemical and spent 19 years with Atlantic Wood Industries.  He was a lifetime member of Shiloh Hunt Club and his...

Aug 12, 2023

Courtland – Wesley Grover Joyner, 71, passed away August 12, 2023 at his home with his family by his bedside. Wesley was born in Petersburg and reared in Capron. He was a 1972 graduate of Greensville County High School, a member of Courtland United Methodist Church and Indian Town Hunt Club.

Wesley had been a grounds supervisor...

Aug 12, 2023

Franklin - William Frank "Billy" Phillips danced his way through the Pearly Gates on August 12, 2023.

Billy was born on May 15, 1937 in LaFollette, TN.  He graduated from Boykins High School, served in the United States Marine Reserves, and taught various dance classes.  He most recently celebrated 60 years of teaching cotillion to seventh and...

Aug 10, 2023

Windsor - Obituary for Wesley and Cynthia Garris

– Wesley Floyd Garris, 84, passed away August 10, 2023, and his wife of 63 years, Cynthia Keeter Garris, 82, passed away less than a week later on August 16, 2023.  A lifelong resident of Windsor, Wesley was the son of the late Wilson Floyd Garris and...

Aug 9, 2023

Courtland – Alan Herbert Marcotte, 79, passed away August 9, 2023, with his family by his side.  Born in White Hall, NY, he was a son of the late John Herbert Marcotte and Hulita Hathaway Marcotte.  He was also predeceased by a brother, Larry Marcotte.

Alan was a retired Senior Chief with over 20 years of service...

Aug 9, 2023

Courtland – Nancy Bailey Turner, 75, passed away August 9, 2023, in Sentara Obici Hospital.  Born in Norfolk and raised in Franklin, she was the daughter of the late Forrest Watson and Ethel Hobbs Watson.  She was also predeceased by her first husband, Kenneth Bailey, and her brother, Arthur Thomas Hobbs.

Nancy was a 1966 graduate of...

Aug 3, 2023

Courtland – Betty Dickerson Edwards, 80, passed away August 3, 2023, in East Pavilion.  Born in Emporia and brought up in Southampton County, she was a daughter of the late Richard Moss Dickerson and Emily Thornton Dickerson.  She was also predeceased by two sisters, Linda D. Raiford and Jeannie D. Fuller.

Betty was a 1960 graduate of...

Aug 3, 2023

Franklin – Barbara Griffin Wade, 80, passed away unexpectedly August 3, 2023.   Born in Richmond and raised in Wakefield, she was a daughter of the late Hubert Jesse Griffin and Linda Holt Griffin.  She was also predeceased by her husband, Clifford Edward Wade; a sister, Jessie Griffin Turner; a brother, David Griffin; son-in-law, Thomas Neal Marks; and a special...

Aug 3, 2023

Boykins – Johnnie Franklin Bryant, Jr., 76, known to many as "Johnnie Boy", passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2023 in his home with his wife by his side.

Johnnie graduated from Southampton High School where he had been an avid athlete.  He was a dedicated employee at Hercules for 37 years.

He was predeceased by...

Aug 1, 2023

Sedley – Rhonda Sue Beale Copeland, 75, passed away August 1, 2023, in Southampton Memorial Hospital.  Born in Franklin and reared in Walters, she was a daughter of the late Fenton O. Beale and Esther Bradshaw Beale.

Rhonda was a 1966 graduate of Windsor High School and attended Southampton Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.  She was a...

Jul 31, 2023

Franklin – Doris Norfleet Bailey, 99, passed away July 31, 2023 in East Pavilion.  Born May 16, 1924 in Nansemond County, she was a daughter of the late Abram Edward Norfleet and Edla Archer Norfleet.  She was also predeceased by her husband, Elle Hugh Bailey; a sister, Marianna N. Whitley; and two brothers, Robert A. Norfleet and William F....

Jul 31, 2023

Franklin – Mills Robert "Bob" Edwards, 92, passed away July 31, 2023, at The Village at Woods Edge where he was loved and cared for the past seven years.  Born and raised in Franklin, he was a son of the late Clyde Tyler Edwards and Fannie Marks Edwards.  He was also predeceased by his wife, Lois Drewry Edwards; two...

Jul 31, 2023

Boykins – Sharon Theresa Hasty, 77, passed away July 31, 2023, in Sentara Obici Hospital.  Born in New Brunswick, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Gillings, Sr. and Rose Often Gillings.  She was also predeceased by a son, Theodore Tenzlinger, Sr. and a brother, Joseph Gillings, Jr.

Sharon was a retired nurse for Southampton...

Jul 28, 2023

Smithfield, VA – Harwood Francis "H.F. or Woody" Babb, Jr., 80, passed away on July 28, 2023, in Riverside Regional Medical Center. Born in Suffolk and raised in Courtland, he was the son of the late Harwood Francis Babb, Sr. and Frances Porter Babb. He was also predeceased by his brother, Jimmy Babb.

H. F./Woody graduated from...

Jul 25, 2023

Franklin – William Thomas "Bill" Royster, 85, passed away July 25, 2023 in Southside Regional Medical Center. Born in Henderson, NC, he was the son of the late William Bannister Royster and Beulah Jackson Royster.

Bill was a graduate of Henderson High School and a former operations manager for S. W. Rawls.  He retired from Abercrombie Oil...

Jul 24, 2023

Franklin – Marcia Askew Campbell, 65, passed away July 24, 2023 in her home. Born and raised in Franklin, she was the daughter of the late Harold Bythel Askew and Louise Caroon Askew.

Marcia was a 1976 graduate of Franklin High School and her family was her greatest joy.

Left to cherish her memory is...

Jul 22, 2023

Zuni – Douglas "Doug" Lee Gray, 63, AKA "Grayboy", passed away July 22, 2023 at his home. Doug was a native of Southampton County and was a son of the late Eppa James Gray, Sr. and Virginia Parker Gray. He was a 1978 graduate of Franklin High School and worked in the Maintenance Department at International Paper Company for...

Jul 22, 2023

Franklin – Mark Andrew Harrup, Sr., 70, passed away July 22, 2023, at his home. Mark was a native of Southampton County and was a son of the late Joseph Andrew and Cleo Boyette Harrup. He was also predeceased by his wife, Linda Drewry Harrup and a son, Mark Andrew "Andy" Harrup, Jr.

Mark was a graduate...

Jul 21, 2023

Norfolk – Patrick Andrew Rothrock, 82, passed away July 21, 2023.  He was a native of Raleigh, NC and was a son of the late Thomas Hardy Rothrock and Ella Ruth Williams Rothrock.  Pat had been a resident of Norfolk, VA for the last 58 years.

Pat attended Campbell University to study horticulture and proudly served his...