Obituaries

Jun 17, 2021

Franklin – Martha Iris Bellido, 74, passed away June 17, 2021 in Southampton Memorial Hospital.   Born in Poncé, Puerto Rico on January 7, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Wenceslaus Bellido and Angelina Reyes.

Martha was a head bank teller at Citi Bank in Brooklyn Heights, NY and was a member of Rock Church in...

Jun 14, 2021

Edenton, NC – Gilbert Henley Story, 89, of Edenton, NC and formerly of Carrsville, VA, passed away peacefully June 14, 2021 surrounded by family at his beloved river home.  He was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia on June 2, 1932, the son of the late Richmond and Catherine Presson Story.

While attending the Apprentice School...

Jun 13, 2021

Franklin – John Francis Pittman, 58, passed away June 13, 2021 in his home.   Born in Franklin on July 16, 1962, he was a son the late William Thomas "Tommy" Pittman, Jr. and Frances Gillette Pittman.  John was also predeceased by a brother, Hugh G. Pittman.

John was a 1980 graduate of Southampton Academy and a graduate...

Jun 7, 2021

Branchville – Susan Scott Story, 62, widow of James Edward "Jimmy" Story, passed away June 7, 2021 in her home with family by her side.   She was a daughter of the late Donald John Scott and Opal Ramona Gray Goode.

Susan was a graduate of Ahoskie High School and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.  She...

Jun 5, 2021

Franklin - Jacqueline Edwards Bly, 85, went to be with her Heavenly Father on June 5, 2021. A lifelong resident of Southampton County, she was the daughter of the late Crawley Cecil and Athie Jones Edwards. She was married to the late Norris Roger Bly. Jackie graduated from Longwood College with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught pre-school...

Jun 2, 2021

Boykins – Richard Bland Gray, 69, passed away June 2, 2021 in his home with family by his side.  A native of Southampton County, he was a son of the late Ashby Bland and Lucille Ferguson Gray.  He is also predeceased by a brother, James Wilson "JW" Gray and a granddaughter, Abbigail Drake.

Richard was a 1969...

Jun 2, 2021

Franklin – Mary Adeline Elliott Ashenfelter, 82, widow of Samuel P. Ashenfelter, passed away June 2, 2021 in the East Pavilion.   Born in Baltimore, MD on January 16, 1939, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Mary H. Snoddy Ashenfelter.

Adeline was a graduate of Towson State College and attended Frostburg State College where...

May 29, 2021

Suffolk - After a courageous fight against cancer, Melissa "Lisa" Henry, 56, of Suffolk, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on May 29, 2021.

She was born to Grace Rodgester and the late William Rodgester, July 30, 1964, in Emporia, Virginia.  Lisa graduated from Sussex Central High School in 1982 and went on to have an array...

May 27, 2021

Suffolk – Thomas M. "Tom" Bishop, 95, widower of Janet Robertson Bishop, passed away May 27, 2021 in his home.  Tom was born December 21, 1925 in Daleville, VA and was a son of the late Olin Braxton and Eva Harris Bishop.  He was also predeceased by two sisters, four brothers, a son, Richard, and a granddaughter, Tracy.

May 22, 2021

Franklin – Chief Petty Officer Elben Thomas Myers (US Navy Ret.), 95, passed away May 22, 2021 in Southampton Memorial Hospital.  Tom was born September 6, 1925 in Lynchburg and was the oldest of five children of the late Bernard Alexander and Lillian Lee Myers.  He was also predeceased by his first wife, Myrtle I. Myers; two daughters, Robin...

May 22, 2021

Franklin – Bessie Bailey Johnson, 90, widow of James Clee "J.C." Johnson, Jr., passed away May, 22, 2021 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Johnson was a native of Handsom, Va, and was a daughter of the late Tilman Vann Bailey and Rosa Francis Bailey. She was also predeceased by three sisters and three brothers,  Alese B. Tucker, Vivian B....

May 21, 2021

Franklin –Patricia Edwards McGuire, 73, passed away May 21, 2021 in her home with her family by her side.  A native of Capron, she was a daughter of the late Emerson Rudolph Edwards and Lessie Tillery Edwards.  Patricia was also predeceased by a sister, Cilda Ann Edwards.

Patricia was a 1966 graduate of Southampton High School and...

May 20, 2021

Carrsville –Harold Ray Thomas, 78, passed away May 20, 2021 in his home with his wife by his side.  Born in Rose Hill and raised in Windsor, he was the son of the late George Curtis Thomas and Lila Wolfe Thomas.  Ray was also predeceased by a sister, Wilma Foster.

Ray was a 1960 graduate of Windsor...

May 18, 2021

Amherst - Maurice L. LaFuze, 53, of Amherst, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.  Morrie was born on June 23, 1967, in Waynesboro, Virginia.  He was the son of the late David and Lois LaFuze.

Morrie was a graduate of Virginia Tech and an engineer in the paper industry for over 30 years.  He was...

May 17, 2021

Courtland – Charles Ferguson Fuller, Sr., 80, passed away May 17, 2021 in his home with family by his side.  Born in Newsoms, he was a son of the late James Richardson Fuller and Louise Ferguson Fuller.  He was also predeceased by his first wife, Patricia Anne Fuller, and his son, Charles F. "Chucky" Fuller, Jr.

Charles...

May 17, 2021

Carrsville – Lloyd Allen "LA" Glover, Jr., 75, passed away May 17, 2021 in the East Pavilion.  Born in Franklin, he was the son of the late Lloyd Allen Glover, Sr. and Willie Mae Askew Glover.  LA was also predeceased by a sister, Dot Benton.

LA was a longtime Isle of Wight County farmer.

Left...

May 8, 2021

Ivor - Cheryl Boyce Burch, 50, passed away suddenly on May 8, 2021.

Born in Suffolk on June 8, 1970, she was a daughter of Thomas L. Boyce and the late Brenda C. Boyce.

Cheryl attended Forest Glen High school briefly then on to John F. Kennedy High School in Suffolk.  However, she joined her...

May 8, 2021

Franklin – Frederick Harold "Fred" Panton, 59, passed away May 8, 2021 at his home.  A native of Suffolk, he was predeceased by his father, James Frederick Panton.

Fred was a 1980 graduate of Suffolk High School and received an Associate's Degree from Shenandoah University.  He was a retired police officer for the City of Suffolk after...

May 8, 2021

Gates, NC – Carlos Alonzo "Butter" Blankenship, 80, passed away May 8, 2021 in Chesapeake Health and Rehabilitation Center.  A native of West Virginia, he was the son of the late Carlyle W. Blankenship and Margarette S. Blankenship and was also predeceased by his daughters, Lisa Kay Parker and Carla Marie Whaley.

Carl was a member of...

May 7, 2021

Courtland – Lois Yvonne Fuesser, 79, passed away May 7, 2021 in Chesapeake Regional Medical Center.  A native of Kansas, she was the daughter of the late Francis Mastin and Evelyn Burkhead King.  Lois was also predeceased by a daughter, Kimberly Luce.

She was a retired pharmacy office manager and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, crocheting, and being a...