Obituaries

John B. Burch III

John B. Burch III “JB/Big Daddy,” 51, of the 200 Block of W. 35th St., Norfolk, Va. passed away March 22, 2009 at his residence. He was born Feb. 18, 1958 in New York City, N.Y. John was employed with the City of Norfolk as a traffic maintenance tech and with Chugauh Support Services as a floor care tech. He was a member of New Second Buffalo Baptist Church, Nathalie, Va. and currently fellowshipped with Gethsemane Community Fellowship, Norfolk.
He is survived by one daughter, Crystal Danielle Burch; two sons, Shavar Damon Burch and Sharif Dante Burch; his mother, Ethel Burch; his father, John B. Burch Jr.; one sister, Rushell M. Gumbs; one brother, Marvin Burch; one grandchild, Ryan J.R. Knights; and a host of other relatives and friends. A funeral was held at 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Metropolitan Funeral Service, 7246 Granby St. Rev. Kirk Houston will officiate. A homegoing was held Saturday at New Second Buffalo Baptist Church, 6075 Stage Coach Rd. Nathalie, Va. Interment followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be offered at www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com
Roy Preston Fallen

Roy Preston Fallen, 73, of Great Oak Road, Nathalie, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2009, at Halifax Regional Hospital. Mr. Fallen was born in Halifax County, May 7, 1935, son of the late Herman Shelby Fallen and Alma Francisco Fallen.
He was of the Pentecostal faith, a member of Winchester Moose Lodge and a retired construction worker. He is survived by one son, David Fallen and wife Cindy of Nathalie; one son-in-law, Jerry Saunders of South Boston; five grandchildren, Bridgett Fallen of Halifax, Ben Fallen of Knoxville, Tn., Jon Fallen of Nathalie, Zachery Saunders of Danville, Reba Saunders of South Boston; one sister, Joan Jones of Crystal Hill and a close friend, Margaret Fears of Nathalie. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Toni Fallen Saunders.
A graveside service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2009, at Clover Bottom Baptist Church Cemetery by the Rev. Lee Roy Davis.
The family will receive friends at the residence of his son, David Fallen, 6017 Bull Creek Road, Nathalie, and at the residence of his sister, Joan Jones, 1039 Old School Lane, Crystal Hill. Memorials may be made to the Triangle Volunteer Fire Department. Henderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Brookneal, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. David Lee Pruitt

Mr. David Lee Pruitt, 68, of 3096 Virgilina Road, Virgilina, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 27, 2009.
David was born in Caswell County, N.C. on February 26, 1941, the son of the late Thomas Lester Pruitt Sr. and Sarah Jones Pruitt.
He was a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army and a retired employee of ABB of South Boston. He was a member of Revelation Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Linwood M. Pruitt; grandson, Bobby Lee Pruitt; and brothers, Thomas L. Pruitt, Jr. and Ray Pruitt. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Jordan Pruitt of the home; sons, David R. Pruitt of Anchorage Ak., Lee G. Pruitt and wife, Kristy of Scottsburg, and Russell J. Pruitt and wife, Cheryl of Madison, N.C.; brother, Paul Pruitt of Apex, N.C.; sisters, Katherine P. Elliott of Virgilina, and Lillie Mae P. Montague and husband, Johnnie of Roxboro; grandchildren, Stephanie Pruitt, Kyle Pruitt, Joshua Howerton, Kirstyn Pruitt, Lance Pruitt, Wesley Pruitt and Ashley Pruitt.
Funeral services will be conducted at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, at Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle by Russell Pruitt. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle Church and other times at the home. Online condolences may be sent to www.walkersfuneralservice.com Arrangements by Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill, 120 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516
Mr. Walter Beverley Yeaman

Mr. Walter Beverley Yeaman of 707 Magnolia Drive, South Boston, died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at his home.
He was born June 29, 1916 in Halifax County and was 92-years-old.
He was the son of the late John Robert Yeaman and Alice Blankenship Yeaman and was married to the late Ellen Ray Greenwood Yeaman.
He was a member of Second Baptist Church where he served as a former deacon and Sunday school teacher and was a WWII U. S. Army Air Corp. veteran.
Survivors include one daughter, Ellen Yeaman Cook of York, England; one son, Robert P. Yeaman of Danville; one sister, Rebecca Y. Duke of Fairfax; two grandsons, Andreas Cook of York, England, and Vincent Cook and wife Supansa of York, England; special friends Jake Greenwood of Halifax and Jim and Carolyn Chandler of South Boston. uneral services for Walter Beverley Yeaman will be held Monday, March 30, 2009, at 3 p.m. at Second Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Linderman and the Rev. Jim Smith conducting the service. Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at his home, 707 Magnolia Drive, South Boston. For memorials, please consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va. 24592. Online condolences may be made to www.powellfunerals.com. Arrangements are by Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Mr. Willie Carrington Neal

Mr. Willie Carrington Neal of 3243 Clover Road, Clover, died Sunday, March 29, 2009, at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 86.
He was born on July 7, 1922 in Clover, a son of the late Tom Steven Neal and the late Blanch Throckmorton Neal, and he was married to Marion “Tootsie” Neal. He was a member of Clover Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for 53 years and was Sunday school superintendent.
He was a self-employed farmer and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army. In addition to his wife of the home, Mr. Neal is survived by one son, Bill Neal of Goochland; one daughter, Anne Neal of Baltimore; two granddaughters, Emily Neal and Caroline Yates; two sisters, Betty Sue Neal of Lawrenceville, Elsie Griles of Clover; one brother, Jack Neal of South Boston; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Neal was preceded in death by three brothers, Walker Neal, Bradley Neal, Carl Brent Neal; and by one sister, Ruth Morgan.
Funeral services for Mr. Neal will be held Tuesday, March 31, at 1 p.m. at Clover Baptist Church with the Rev. Lloyd Moore and the Rev. Bill Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in Clover Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Monday at Clover Baptist Church and other times at his home.
Anyone wishing to give memorials, please consider Clover Baptist Church, Clover Volunteer Fire Department, or Clover Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com.
Mrs. Gurdine Wilkins Burleson

Mrs. Gurdine Wilkins Burleson of 805 Saxon Boulevard, Deltona, Fl., died Thursday, March 26, 2009, at the age of 73.
She was born in Halifax County on January 22, 1936, a daughter of the late Grover Cleveland Wilkins and the late Nannie Lou Wilkins and was married to the late Herman Lee Burleson.
Mrs. Burleson was of the Baptist faith and was a loving mom and homemaker. She was retired after working for 25 years in the restaurant business at the NC Diner in Roxboro and Swanee Restaurant in South Boston.
She also managed the Randolph Motor Inn for 25 years and was recognized for her years of service there. Mrs. Burleson is survived by two daughters, Debbie B. Watson of Roxboro, Wanda B. Colf of Deltona; two sons, Steve A. Burleson of Black Mountain, N.C., Danny Burleson of Roxboro; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later by Brooks Funeral Home.
The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 9 East Church Avenue, Roanoke, Va. 24011.