U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Lucille Fitzgerald
JAVA - Lucille Fitzgerald, 62, 9421 Halifax Road, died Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, at her residence.
Born March 22, 1935, in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of Neil T. Robertson and Ella More Dodson Robertson.
She was married
to John Moses Fitzgerald, who predeceased her.
She was a homemaker and a member of Shockoe Baptist Church. She served as past president of the missionary society and secretary of the Outreach Club.
She was the last member of her immediate generation.
Survivors include seven daughters, Gloria "Gayle" Fitzgerald and Diane Fitzgerald, both of the residence, Josephine F. Miller and Evelyn R. Miller, both of Java, and Sandra F. Beck of Blairs, Tammy Fitzgerald of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Carolyn Fitzgerald of Riverdale, Md.; two sons, Jerome Fitzgerald of Blairs and Willie "Bug" Fitzgerald of Dry Fork; and six grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Thomas S. Robertson.
Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Thursday at Shockoe Baptist Church by the Rev. G.H. Pass and the Rev. Ralph Cypress. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park.
The family will receive friends 7-8 tonight at Miller Funeral Home in Gretna, and other times at the residence.
Russell Hill
ROLLA, Mo. - Russell Spotswood Hill, 76, died Saturday in Rolla, Mo., of complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Born March 25, 1921, in Danville, Va., he was the son of Nora Payne and William Ragland Hill.
In 1944, he was married
to Natalie Ann Sanford, the daughter of Paul and Natalie Sanford of Danville.
He lived his early life in Danville, where his mother was an English teacher at George Washington High School.
He attended VMI and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1944.
He served 27 years in the U.S. Navy and achieved the rank of captain. He worked for Hughes Aircraft in Woodland Hills, Calif., for more than 12 years before retiring.
Survivors include four daughters, Natalie Zung of Rolla, Elizabeth Boone of New Orleans, Catherine May of Manhatten Beach, Calif., and Patricia Banks of Parker, Colo.; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
The funeral and burial services will be conducted Thursday at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Encino, Calif.
George 'Buddy' Porter
George Ralph "Buddy" Porter, 71, 921 Paxton Ave., died Saturday, Nov. 8, 1997, at Piney Forest Health Care Center.
Born June 14, 1926, in Atlanta, he was a son of Calvin Porter Sr., and Ada Stroud Porter.
Survivors include a daughter, Pat General of New York; three sisters, Marion Davis and Deborah Gray, both of Danville, and Ann Massenberg of Detroit; and a brother, Calvin Porter Jr., of Danville.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m., Thursday at the chapel of Fisher & Watkins Funeral Home by the Rev. J.P. Griffith. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Thomas Henderson
Thomas Eugene Henderson, 65, 265 Fagan St., died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 1997, at his residence after 17 years of declining health.
Born Dec. 22, 1931, in Milton, N.C., he a son of Chesley Martin Henderson and Cora Lee Jones Henderson.
On Dec. 6, 1952, he was married
to Emma Ann Vaughan Henderson, who survives.
He was a member of Melville Avenue Baptist Church.
He lived his entire life in Danville.
He worked as a plumber for Malcolm Lewis Plumbing & Heating before going to work as a plumbing inspector for the city of Danville.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict.
In addition to his wife of the residence, survivors include a son, Michael Vaughan Henderson of Seabrook, Texas; a daughter and son-in-law, Ann Marie Wilkinson and David W. Wilkinson of Danville; two grandsons, Michael Vaughan Henderson II, U.S Navy, and Todd David Wilkinson of Danville; two granddaughters, Michele Elaine Henderson and Leigh-Anna Nicole Wilkinson, both of Danville; a sister, Arvis H. Carswell of Danville; and a brother, Marvin Henderson of Charlotte, N.C.
He was predeceased by a brother, Claude Lee Henderson, on Dec. 24, 1996.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Luke Methodist Church by the Rev. Ron Mateer and Mr. Roy Shelton. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park, where military honors will be performed by American Legion Post 325.
The family will receive friends 7:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel, and other times at the residence.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association of Virginia, 311 South Boulevard, P.O. Box 7065, Richmond, Virginia 23221.
Beverly Hodghead
KEELING - Beverly Eckles Hodghead, 84, 6788 Slatesville Road, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, 1997, at the home of his granddaughter, Debbie Rigney. He had been in declining health for a number of years.
Born May 26, 1913, in Oakland, Calif., he was the son of Beverly Lacy Hodghead and Nell Mary Eckles Hodghead.
He was married
to the former Ellen Moss, who predeceased him.
Most of his life was spent in California having moved to Virginia three years ago.
He was a retired machinist and tool and die maker and a member of Machinist's Union for 57 years.
He was of the Episcopal faith.
During World War II and the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Naval Air.
Survivors include a son, David Hodghead of Hayfork, Calif.; two daughters, Dr. Carolyn Hodghead, D.C., of Blairs and Marynel Merris of Vallejo, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday at Deeper Life Fellowship by the Rev. Wayne Reece.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Swicegood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Wesley Massey
Wesley Daniel Massey, 39, 1034 Dibrell Alley, died early Wednesday morning, Nov. 12, 1997, at his residence after being disabled for seven years.
Born March 5, 1958, in Danville, he was a son of Rachel Owens Lester Massey and William Green Massey, who survives.
He had spent most of his life in Danville, where he was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his father of Danville, survivors include two sons, David Massey of the residence and Daniel Massey Jr. of Roanoke; two brothers, Ronnie Massey of Danville and Billy Joe Massey of Providence, N.C.; and a sister, Wanda Massey of Danville.
A graveside service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday in Highland Burial Park by the Rev. Jack Robertson.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Swicegood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph Ward
SUTHERLIN - Ralph Carlton Ward, 90, 1178 Elmwood Trail, died Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, at his residence.
Born Aug. 23, 1907, in Galax, he was a son of Elbert Frazier Ward and Josie Williams Ward.
He was married
to Bernice Cridlin Ward, who survives.
He was a resident of Sutherlin for 78 years and was a retired dairy farmer.
He was a member of Kerns Memorial United Methodist Church.
In addition to his wife of Sutherlin, survivors include a daughter, Ellen D. Heritage of Woodbridge; two sons, Elwood C. Ward of Sutherlin and Ralph C. Ward Jr. of Jacksonville, Ala.; two sisters, Wilma W. Stafford of Hilton Head, S.C., and Lorene W. Wade of Turbeville; a brother, Elbert F. Ward Jr. of Jackson, Miss.; and seven grandchildren.
Private funeral services were conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday at Kerns Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Howard Green and the Rev. Rebecca Yow. Burial was in the church cemetery in Sutherlin.
Townes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Willard Webb
SANDY LEVEL - Willard Thomas Webb, 76, 5980 Jasmine Road, died Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount.
Born Jan. 8, 1921, in Pittsylvania County, he was a son of William Mitchell Webb and Lelia Anderson Webb.
He was married
to Ruby King Webb, who predeceased him.
He was a retired farmer.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.
He was a member of Cherrystone Baptist Church, where he served on the board of deacons, trustee board, usher board and as a member of Missionary Circle No. 2.
Survivors include a son, Harry Webb of the residence; two brothers, Harvey Webb of Sandy Level and Vernon Webb of Pittsville; two sisters, Joanna King of Sandy Level and Luzenie Ridick of Washington, D.C.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two sons, Gary Webb and Wilmer Webb; a brother, Calvin Webb; and a sister, Blanche Starling.
Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday at Cherrystone Baptist Church by the Rev. Floyd Jones. Burial will be in the church cemetery, where military honors will be performed by VFW Post 4165 and DAV 46 of Altavista.
The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Friday at Miller Funeral Home, Gretna, and other times at the residence.
Ellis Barksdale
Graveside services for Ellis Lee Barksdale, 76, 1239 North Main St., will be conducted 2 p.m., today in Oak Hill cemetery by the Rev. Jasper Watkins Jr.
He died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1997, at his residence.
Born July 21, 1921, in Danville, he was a son of George Barksdale and Essie Holmes Barksdale.
He was married
to Mary Wade Barksdale, who predeceased him.
He was an employee with Southern Railway for many years, and he also served in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include five daughters, Kay Coles, Lillie Tate, Jeanette Cunningham and Tiffany D. Harrison, all of Danville, and Diane Scott of Charlotte, N.C.; two brothers, Curtis Barksdale of Danville and George Barksdale of Baltimore; a sister, Jessie Murrell of Philadelphia; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
Fisher & Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
