Obituaries

Apr 26, 2026

Franklin – Ryland Gillette Newsome, 93, passed away April 26, 2026 in East Pavilion.  Born on June 25, 1932, she was a daughter of the late Ryland W. Gillette and Lucy Saunders Gillette.  She was also predeceased by her husband, Roland McCoy Newsome, three sisters, Mary G. Whitley, Anne G. Cross, and Evelyne G. Vaughan, and a brother, Joseph...

Apr 26, 2026

Franklin - Shelby Jones Parker, 88, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026. Born on April 16, 1938, she was the daughter of the late John Henry Jones and Lalah Wheeler Jones. She was also predeceased by her husband, Edgar Franklin Parker, two brothers, Sam Henry Jones and Robert Louis Jones, and her grandson Sam Davis Bergsagel.

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Apr 24, 2026

Sedley- Jerry Donald Keech, 79, passed away Friday April 24, 2026 in his home surrounded by his family. Jerry was born in Franklin April 10, 1947 to the late Lester Earl Keech and Angelena Glover Keech. He was also predeceased by two brothers, Ronald Keech and David Keech. He was a 1965 graduate of Windsor High School and a...

Apr 24, 2026

Sedley – Anita Turner Felts, 75, passed away April 24, 2026 in her home.  Born in Franklin on November 27, 1950 and raised in Sedley, she was a daughter of the late Clarence Edward Turner and Celia Mae Turner.  She was also predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Julian Arthur "Jay" Felts, Jr., affectionately known as Gran Gran....

Apr 22, 2026

Suffolk – Margaret Austin Tyler, 93, passed away April 22, 2026 in her home with family by her side.  Born in Gates County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Oscar Lee Austin and Corrie Hollowell Austin.  She was also predeceased by her husband, Robert Lee Tyler and a grandson, Devin M. Collins.

Margaret was a...

Apr 19, 2026

Courtland – Shelby Blythe Coggsdale, 85, passed away peacefully April 19, 2026 surrounded by her loving family.  Born December 8, 1940, she was a daughter of the late William and Louvenia Byrd Blythe.  She was also predeceased by a son-in-law, Jackie Vick; a brother, Larry Blythe; and a grandson, Jason Vick.

Left to cherish her memory is...

Apr 18, 2026

Zuni – Cynthia Yvonne "Cindy" Askew, 67, passed away April 18, 2026 in her home.  Born and raised in Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late Wilbert Randolph Edwards and Loretta Wilson Edwards.  She was also predeceased by her husband, John Melvin Askew.

Cindy received an Associates Degree from Paul D. Camp Community College and worked...

Apr 18, 2026

Chesterfield – Matthew Everett Bradshaw, Sr., 85, passed away April 18, 2026 in his home.  Born and raised in Southampton County, he was a son of the late Robert Lee Bradshaw and Doris Joyner Bradshaw.  He was also predeceased by a son, Ricky Bradshaw; two sisters, Ruby Harris and Gladys Faison; and two brothers, Robert Edward Bradshaw and Emerson...

Apr 17, 2026

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

Belmont, NC — Dr. Andrew Peter Harakas, 69, returned to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 17, 2026. He completed his earthly journey with the same courage, faith, and steadfast hope in God that marked his...

Apr 17, 2026

Franklin – Edna Katherine "Kat" Dunlow, 96, went to her heavenly home peacefully April 17, 2026 at the Windsor Grove Health and Rehabilitation Center in Windsor, VA.  She was the daughter of the late Irvin and Pauline Baugham, and was the widow of Luther "Jeff" Dunlow.  She is survived by her son, JL Dunlow (Darlene) of Myrtle Beach, SC;...

Apr 17, 2026

Franklin – Janice A. Kreider, 85, passed away April 17, 2026 at The Village at Woods Edge.  Jan was born in Allentown, PA to the late George and Doris Neitz and lived in numerous places during her lifetime.  She moved from Rehoboth Beach, DE to The Village at Woods Edge in September 2023, where she made Franklin her final...

Apr 17, 2026

Courtland--Dorothy "Dot" Olivia Vick Bailey, 82, passed away April 17, 2026 in her home with family by her side.  Born in Franklin, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Raymond Vick Sr. and Nannie Mae Story Vick.  She was also predeceased by her husband Richard "Dickie" Thomas Bailey, son-in-law Michael Griffin, grandchildren Cody Bogdanowicz and Ashley McNair, and...

Apr 16, 2026

Capron – Michael Eugene "Mike" Grizzard, 63, passed away unexpectedly on April 16, 2026 in his home.  Born in Petersburg and raised on the family farm in Capron, he was a son of the late Eugene Mondell Grizzard and Patricia Worrell Grizzard.  He was also predeceased by a brother-in-law, Buddy Barber.

Mike was a 1981 graduate of...

Apr 14, 2026

Summerfield, Florida – Brenda Joyce Castle, 85, passed away April 14, 2026.  Born in Oakland, MD, she was a daughter of the late Prentice and Marvalyn Morris DeBerry.  She was also predeceased by her husband, Ray W. Castle.

Brenda was a retired Treasury Agent for the Bureau of Public Debt.

Left to cherish her memory...

Apr 11, 2026

Franklin – Sandra Louise Cartwright, 70, passed away April 11, 2026 in her home.  Born in Norfolk and brought up in Virginia Beach, she was the daughter of the late James Andrews Beasley and Gloria Hope Barbour Beasley.

Sandra was a US Navy Veteran and an airport supervisor.

Left to cherish her memory is a...

Apr 11, 2026

Zuni – John Melvin Askew, 70, passed away April 11, 2026 in Sentara Obici Hospital.  Born in Ahoskie, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Fred Melvin Askew and Margaret Hall Askew.  He was also predeceased by three brothers, Larry, Timmy, and Kenny Askew.

John was a Patient Technician for American Home Patient.

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Apr 9, 2026

Franklin – Stephen Bryant Spiers, 54, affectionately known as "Tiny" to many of his friends, passed away after a short yet brave fight with lung cancer, surrounded by the love and memories of those who knew him best.

Stephen was preceded in death by his father, Davis "Fern" Spiers, and his stepfather, Al Ferrell.

He...

Apr 6, 2026

Franklin – Betty Allen, 89, widow of George Presley Allen, passed away April 6, 2026 at the East Pavilion. Betty was a native of Emporia and a graduate of Greensville County High School. She was the only child of the late Charlie Winfield and Louise Jones Allen. She was a bookkeeper for George Allen Appliance and a longtime member...

Apr 4, 2026

Franklin – Roger Wilson Drake, Jr., 83, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Saturday, April 4. He was born in Franklin, VA on March 26, 1943. He was predeceased by his parents, Shirley Porter Drake and Roger Wilson Drake Sr. (Juanita), and a son, Roger Wilson Drake III.

Wilson graduated from Franklin High School...

Apr 3, 2026

Franklin – Robert Rawls Nance, Jr., 74, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2026 in Sentara Obici Hospital.  Born September 19, 1951 in Suffolk, he was the son of the late Robert Rawls "Bob" Nance, Sr. and Alma Williams Nance.  He was also predeceased by his wife, Brenda Jarratt Nance.

Rawls was a graduate of Forest Glen...