Obituaries

Jan 8, 2018

Franklin – Ellen Francis Gyoker, 76, passed away January 8, 2018 in her home. Ellen was a daughter of the late Joseph J. and Helen Story Francis and was also predeceased by a son Brent F. Gyoker, a sister Mary E. Dunlow and a brother Joe B. Francis.

Ellen was a graduate of Newsoms High School and...

Jan 8, 2018

Como, NC – David Earl Hedgepeth, 44, passed away January 8, 2018 in his home. David was born in Franklin.

He is survived by one daughter Whitney Lynn Miller (James), his father Hurley G. Hedgepeth, two grandchildren, Aubree Miller and Landon Miller, two brothers, Bill Hedgepeth and Phillip Hedgepeth.

David was predeceased by his mother...

Jan 7, 2018

Courtland – Julia Stephenson Gray, 77, passed away January 7, 2018 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born in Southampton County, she was the daughter of the late Herbert Odell and Frances Grubbs Joyner and was predeceased by her first husband, Samuel Wayne Stephenson, Sr.

Julia was a graduate of Southampton High School and the Pan American Business...

Jan 6, 2018

Newsoms- Robert Franklin "Bobby" Steele, Jr., 61, a beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away surrounded by his family at home on January 6, 2018. Bobby was born in Charleston, West Virginia, a son of the late Robert Franklin Steele, Sr. and Delores Faye Deel Steele. He was a retired Iron Worker with Surry Nuclear Power Plant. Bobby was...

Jan 6, 2018

Albert "Al" Howard Johnson, Jr., age 75, passed away on January 6, 2018, in his home surrounded by loved ones and caregivers. Al was a member of Franklin Baptist Church and a graduate of Windsor High School, Windsor, VA. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Al is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda Daughtrey Johnson;...

Jan 5, 2018

Franklin - Frances Schneider Marks, 93, died peacefully as she slept on January 5, 2018, in Asa's Neighborhood at The Village at Woods Edge. She was born November 2, 1924 in Boykins, VA, the only child of John S. "Skeeter" Schneider, Jr. and Bertie Allie Drewry Schneider.

She attended public schools in Boykins and Mary Washington College....

Jan 4, 2018

Boykins - Frances Eleanor Premaza Edwards of Boykins, 66, passed away suddenly on January 4, 2018. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Premaza and Miriam Premaza, and was also predeceased by a sister, Joyce Premaza.

Fran was a 1969 graduate of Southampton High School and following her graduation from James Madison University, she returned to...

Jan 3, 2018

Franklin – Irma Bryant Howard, 88, widow of Roy Howard died January 3, 2018 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Howard was a native of Nansemond County and was a daughter of the late John L. and Katherine Coggsdale Bryant. She was also predeceased by four sisters, Evelyn B. Howard, Gladys B. Whalin, Janie B. Griffin and Jackie B. McGhee....

Jan 1, 2018

Jane Taylor Stephenson, widow of J. C. Stephenson, Jr., died peacefully at her home in Boykins, VA, January 1, 2018. Born June 3, 1922, Mrs. Stephenson was the second child and only daughter of J. G. Taylor of Lenoir County, NC and his wife, Ruth Martin Sloop Taylor of Cabarrus County, NC. Her two brothers, J. G. Taylor, Jr....

Dec 31, 2017

Windsor – John Wallace Moore, Jr., 81, passed away in Franklin, Virginia on December 31, 2017. Affectionately known by family and friends as "Johnny", he spent his growing up years in the South Quay area of Suffolk. During his childhood years he attended South Quay Baptist Church where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and followed in believer's...

Dec 27, 2017

Boykins – Marie Jarratt Carter, 87, passed away December 27, 2017. Mrs. Carter was a native of Drewryville, a former resident of Richmond and a resident of Boykins for the last twelve years. She was the daughter of the late Waverly Leonard Jarratt and Virgie Harris Jarratt and was also predeceased by her husband William "Bill" Wood Carter.

Dec 22, 2017

Franklin – Nancy Saunders Hall, 73, passed away December 22, 2017 in her home surrounded by her family. Nancy was a native of Southampton County and was a daughter of the late William Allen Saunders and Otelia Gay Saunders. She was also predeceased by a son Andrew Dean Harrell, a grandson Andrew Dean Harrell, Jr., four sisters, Mary Munford,...

Dec 20, 2017

Franklin – Withie Bristow Billups, 82, widow of Thornton Lee Billups, passed away December 20, 2017 in the East Pavilion. Mrs. Billups, a native of Southampton County, was a daughter of the late Willie and Grace Barrett Bristow and was predeceased by two brothers, Donald and Emerson Bristow.

She was a member of Black Creek Baptist Church....

Dec 19, 2017

Franklin - Emily Channell Garrett Lippe, 74, late wife of Sander Melvyn Lippe of Franklin, VA passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk, VA.

Emily was born in Montgomery, Alabama on November 1, 1943 to the late John William Garrett, Jr. and Emily Whitley Channell Garrett previously of Carrollton, VA. She was...

Dec 18, 2017

Franklin – John Everette Whitley, 70, passed away December 18, 2017. He was born in Hampton and was a longtime resident of Franklin. Mr. Whitley was the son of the late Boyce Everette Whitley and Sally Ann Crockett Whitley.

Mr. Whitley was a US Navy Veteran and was retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

...

Dec 18, 2017

Beverly Hope Williams Guiles of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina passed away on December 18, 2017. Born in Petersburg, Virginia on February 8, 1964, and reared in Courtland, Virginia, she is the daughter of Zeannette Roberts Williams and the late Gene Wesley Williams. She is survived in death by her husband of 14 years Michael V. Guiles; her sister Courtney...

Dec 16, 2017

COMO, N.C. – Sarah Elizabeth Morris Worrell, 82, went to be with the Lord, on Wednesday, December 16, 2017, following a stroke on November 3. She was born April 11, 1935, on her family farm in the Rocky Hock community of Chowan County, to the late Robert Payne Morris and Eva Josephine Byrum Morris. She was a graduate of...

Dec 15, 2017

Boykins - Helen Grace Hoggard Barnes, who recently celebrated her 100 th birthday with a host of friends and family members, died on Friday, December 15 th . She was born on November 12, 1917, in Bertie County, NC, a daughter of Lula Frances Cannady and Joseph Duncan Hoggard. After graduating from Powellsville High School, Grace attended Norfolk College...

Dec 12, 2017

Franklin - Lena Rose Blankenship peacefully slipped into the arms of her precious Lord and Savior on December 12, 2017. Lena Rose was a loving and devoted wife to her late husband "Billy" for 61 wonderful years, and it was rare to ever see one without the other.

Lena was predeceased by her parents, Presley Lee Cobb...

Dec 10, 2017

Boykins – Forrest Willard Lee, 67, passed away December 10, 2017 at his home. Forrest was a native of Southampton County, VA and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Left to cherish his memory is his mother Ethel Hand Lee of Courtland, two sisters, Cynthia Lee of Wilmington, NC and Penny Lee of Courtland,...