
Thomas Bernard Thorpe
was born December 18, 1970, to the late Chief Master
Sergeant Lewis Thomas Thorpe III and Catherine "Cathy" Nell
Thorpe in Fayetteville, North Carolina. On Friday,
April 21, 2023, his sweet spirit went to join the Savior in
that home not built by hands but whose maker and builder is
our God.
After graduating from Homer L. Ferguson High
School Class of 1988, he studied at Tidewater Community
College and Christopher Newport University, graduating with
a degree in I/O Psychology. Over the years, Thomas held
numerous jobs working at Christopher Newport University; Bus
Driver for Newport News Public Schools (NNPS);
Transportation Supervisor at Newport News Public Schools;
Smokehouse-Grills/Kitchen at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg;
and Assistant Director of Transportation at Hampton City
Schools. In 1991 Thomas became a member of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity.
On July 16, 2005, Thomas married his Best
Friend, Soul Mate, and Wife, Tanya Renee Thorpe.
Thomas was a Military brat and traveled the
USA and overseas with his parents. He loved to travel and
had a heart of Gold. He made time for everyone, and for
those who Thomas came across, he left an everlasting
footprint. Thomas has been a source of encouragement to all
whose lives he touched. Thomas will be greatly missed
because he was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather,
brother, nephew, uncle, brother-in-law, and most of all, a
great friend.
He leaves to cherish fond memories his loving
and devoted wife, Tanya Renee Thorpe; two daughters,
Courtney Thorpe and Chrystal Hamlett (Darryl); grandson,
Da’Shaun Hamlett; two granddaughters, Mi’Yannah "Bubbles"
Hamlett and Skyler Hamlett; brother, Shawn Nicholas Thorpe
(Gwendolyn Denise); two nieces, Shanise Victoria-Lynn Thorpe
and MyKhia Nicol Thorpe; sister, Brittney LaKeasha Thorpe;
nephew, Ayden Lewis Thorpe, all of Newport News, VA;
grandmother, Beatrice Green Thorpe of Butner, NC; four
aunts, Muriel "Luci" McGhee, Delores Chambers-Dupuy (James)
of Palm Coast, FL, Brenda Thorpe (Charles) and Beulah Thorpe
of Butner, NC; five uncles, Alvin Tommie McGhee (Catherine)
of Oxford, NC; Ernest Crowder of Laurel, MD; Donnie Thorpe,
Ronnie Thorpe, and Lee Thorpe of Butner, NC; and a host of
cousins and friends.
Services were held on Saturday, April 29,
2023 at 12:30 at Colossian Baptist Church.
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Mr. Ricky Blunt, Sr.,
66, of Courtland, Virginia,
transitioned peacefully on Wednesday ,
September 28, 2022. He was born in Franklin, Virginia, on
May 16, 1956, to the late Gurnie and Thelma Blunt. He
graduated from Virginia State University in 1979 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He
was initiated into the Alpha Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc. in the fall of 1976. He was a lifetime
member of First Baptist Church, Franklin, Virginia where he
served as the Chair of the Board of Deacons until his health
failed.
Ricky purchased Franklin Bus Service from his father and
became the owner in 1991. In 1996, he was recognized as the
Franklin-Southampton Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the
Year. Later in his career he served as the Transportation
Supervisor for Hampton Roads Transit in Norfolk,
Transportation Director for Franklin City Public Schools,
and retired as Transportation Director of Southampton County
Public Schools in 2019.
He held various leadership roles in the community. He was a
former member of the Franklin School Board and Franklin
Kiwanis Club. He was also a Franklin United Way Board
Member, Franklin-Southampton Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc. Charter Member, Franklin-Southampton
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors member; Member of the
Board of Directors of Franklin Salvation Army, Founding
Member of the Buffalo Riders Equestrian Club, and most
recently Founding Member of Citizens Create Change who Led
the Effort to Change the Name of Blackhead Signpost Road
(now Signpost Road) in Southampton County.
He lived his best life. He enjoyed spending time with his
family, especially his grandkids, on trail rides, jet
skiing, in his backyard pool, and his most recent endeavor,
a koi pond.
Ricky leaves to cherish his memories: his wife of 40 years,
Dorothy Key Blunt; children, Ricky Deon Blunt, Jr. (Megan)
of Henrico, Rickeita Blunt Jones (Chris) of Chesterfield;
brothers, Claude Knight (Theresa), Gurnie Blunt, Jr.
(Cynthia), Roger Knight (Phyllis), Larry Blunt (Mechelle),
Jerry Blunt; sisters, Nora Dove, Thea Annette Lettley
(Allen), Claudette Mason; grandchildren, Ricky Blunt, III,
Mason Deon Blunt, Christen Jones and Christopher Blunt Jones
(CJ); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and
friends.
A public viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 3:00
– 7:00 PM at Move of God Ministries, 221 South Main Street,
Franklin, Virginia, where reflections from family and
friends are welcomed from 5 to 6 p.m. The Kappa public
memorial ceremony honoring Ricky Blunt will be held from 6
to 7 p.m. The Celebration of Life will be held Friday,
October 7th at 2:00 p.m. at Apostolic Faith Church of God,
608 Oak Street, Franklin, Virginia with Dr. D.S. Riddick, II
will deliver the message of comfort; Overseer Ronnie Warren
is pastor.
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Fred
Stanley Valentine, 80, of Henrico, entered
eternal rest Sunday, June 12, 2022 at his
residence. He was born in Chase City,
Virginia on September 26, 1941 to the late
John and Mary Lena Valentine.
At an early age, Fred joined Concord
Baptist Church where he maintained his
membership. He attended Mt. Olive Baptist in
Glen Allen. Fred received his early
education in the Mecklenburg County schools
and graduated from West End High School in
1960. Later, he furthered his education,
receiving a B.S. degree from Knoxville
College and a M.S. degree from Virginia
Commonwealth University. Fred started his
career in education. He was a teacher, coach
and administrator in Pittsylvania County
Public Schools, Chatham, VA.
He was a coach, teacher and administrator
at King William County Public Schools in
King William, Virginia. He worked as an
Assistant Supervisor at the Virginia
Department of Education, Pupil
Transportation Service and as Director of
Transportation for Hanover County Public
Schools in Ashland until his retirement in
2002.
Fred wore many hats. After retirement,
Fred served as a Consultant of
Transportation for the State of Virginia. He
served as President of VAPT. He was a
dedicated member of the West End High School
Alumni Association, having served as the
President of the WEHS National Alumni
Association and most recently as President
of the Richmond Chapter and Advisor of the
National Association.
Fred loved people and it was easy for
people to love and admire him. No one was a
stranger to Fred. He opened his heart to
everyone he met. He loved watching sports
particularly, football and basketball. Left
to cherish his memory are his devoted wife
of 55 years, Carolyn B. Valentine' devoted
son, Fred Sterling Valentine; loving
grandson, Fred Sterling Valentine, Jr.;
devoted sister, Johnsie V. Davis (John);
brother, Robert Valentine; a host of
nephews, nieces, cousins, two devoted,
Ernest Timberlake (Ann) and Earl Timberlake;
a daughter-in-love, Vicky Battle and her
children, Nakyah Battle and Syniah Battle
and numerous friends.
Fred will truly be missed.
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Valerie
Hicks Seaborne
On Thursday, October 8, 2020, Heaven lit up with a mighty
presence, as the Angels all looked down. That day, the Lord
was placing the jewels into Valerie’s crown. He held up her
golden crown, and she said “yes” to His gentle voice.
Known by most as “Toe” was born December 13, 1964 to the
late Matthew Hicks and Lillian “Anne” Hicks Miller. She was
preceded in death by a sister.
As a Christian, Valerie was a dedicated soldier in God’s
Army. She was baptized at Poplar Mount Baptist Church in
September 1972 where she served faithfully until she became
too ill to fulfill her responsibilities. In her early years,
she served on the Junior Usher Board and was a dedicated
Sunday School member. As her love for Sunday School grew,
she went on to become a Sunday School teacher for the
toddler class. She also served as the Finance Clerk, Praise
Dance Advisor, and Youth Advisor. Additionally, she was a
member of the Kitchen and Finance committees. Valerie was
very instrumental in the planning of many of the activities
enjoyed by the youth of the church to include the annual
Easter egg hunt, back to school rally, vacation bible
school, and Fall Festival.
Valerie graduated from Greensville County High School in
1984. She continued her education at John Tyler Community
College, Chesterfield, Virginia and received an Associate’s
Degree in Early Childhood Development in December 2002,
after which she matriculated at Saint Paul’s College,
Lawrenceville, Virginia, and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in
Business Administration and Management. Valerie worked for
the Greenville County Public School system in several
capacities for many years before and during the pursuit of
her college degrees, including her most known role as School
Bus Operator. After completing this chapter in her
educational accomplishments, she accepted a position as a
Family Services Specialist with The Improvement Association
in July 2004 and was eventually promoted to Area
Coordinator. In 2011, she returned to the Greensville County
Public School System to serve as the Transportation
Director, until God proclaimed “well done, thy good and
faithful servant”.
As a lover of family and the community, Valerie was actively
involved in the community, on her job, in her church, and in
her family. In her early years, she followed the legacy of
her mother and became a member of the award-winning Ante
Jets women’s softball team and continued her love for the
sport through high school into her adult years as a
powerhouse for the Emporia-Greensville Recreation
Association women’s team. Valerie enjoyed feeding people’s
soul through her food while catering alongside her sister
and several cousins at many family and community events. She
possessed a high level of organizational skills that led her
to the forefront of activities throughout Greensville County
including serving on the Board of Directors for The
Improvement Association since April 2013 and The Improvement
Association Head Start Policy Council since 2016. As a
former member of Pride of Emporia Chapter #137 O.E.S. P.H.A.
of VA, she served on the Recreation and Hospitality
committees. She strongly believed in the family unit and she
spent hundreds of hours facilitating many Miles Family
Reunions as well as Hicks Family Reunions.
Left to cherish her memories and legacy are her loving and
devoted children: Shavon Moore (Terry) of Richmond,
Virginia, and Terrance Price of the home; three
granddaughters: Tajah Moore of Union City, Georgia, and
Madyx and Mayson Cook of Chesterfield, Virginia; one sister:
Shirley Mangrum (Andrew) of Emporia, Virginia; one brother:
Baron Daniels of Emporia, Virginia; one nephew: Craig
Mangrum of Emporia, Virginia; three nieces: Cortney Thompson
(Kyle) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and De’Ja and Destiny
Mangrum of Norfolk, Virginia; bonus dad: Freeman Miller of
Emporia, Virginia; one great aunt: Viola Roberts of Queens,
New York; five aunts: Idelia Carpenter, Virginia Harrision,
Wilma Thomas, Mary W. Hicks all of Emporia, Virginia and
Priscilla Hicks of Richmond, Virginia; two uncles: James
Miles of Emporia, Virginia and William Hicks of Richmond,
Virginia; six bonus siblings; her forever mother-in-love:
Anna Seaborne of Emporia, Virginia; Godson: Ronnie “Donovan”
Franklin of Emporia, Virginia; honorary daughter: Sierra
Carr of Emporia, Virginia; honorary grandchildren: Seleya
and Laron Carr of Emporia, Virginia; special “niece”: Akeria
Benton of Emporia, Virginia and a host of cousins, extended
family, and coworkers.
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