Raiford, Jr. Walter H.

Ivor VA

Walter H. "Junior" Raiford, JR, 66, of Ivor died Oct. 25, 2006 at his home. Born on April 17, 1940 in Southampton County, he was the son of the late Walter H. Raiford, SR and Kathleen Bradshaw Raiford.

Junior retired in 2002 after 20 years of service as an E. P. tender in the power plant at International Paper in Franklin. He was also a banker, mail carrier and a farmer. He was a life-long member and former elder at Corinth Friends Meeting, Ivor. He was also a former member of the Ivor Ruritan Club. He loved trains, his dog Murphy (who died in August) and was devoted to his family. During the past months of illness, Junior was especially comforted and cheered by his brand new grandson Joshua, age 7 months. Joshua's birth blessed and brightened Junior's last days.

Junior is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda Dickerson Raiford; a daughter, Christy Raiford Wilson and her husband Don of Ivor,; three grandchildren, Christopher Michael Wilson, Dylan Robert Wilson and Joshua Raiford Wilson; two sisters, Barbara Raiford Brown and her husband James of Manteo NC and Audrey Raiford Hancock of Sedley; sisters-in-laws Betty D. Edwards and her husband Lynn of Courtland, Peggy E. Bass and her husband Charlie of Courtland and Jeannie D. Fuller and her husband Jimmy of Boykins; two aunts, Lorraine R. Sheffield of Waverly and Mae R. Brown of Greensboro NC; an uncle, John C. Raiford of Nags Head NC; and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service will be held in Riverside Cemetery, Courtland on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 11:00 AM by Jeff Crim. The family will receive friends at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield on Thursday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made to Corinth Friends Meeting, C/O June Carol Hammond, 12494 Corinth Road, Ivor VA 23866 or Ivor VA or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 North Halsted Street, Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60622. Condolences for the family may be posted at our web site at www.jtmorriss.com.