J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes

Jennings, Vernon A.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Waverly, Virginia

VERNON ASHBY “SONNY” JENNINGS, 76, passed away Sunday, February 4, 2007 at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, VA. Born in Waverly he was a son of the late Vernon Franklin Jennings and Olive West Jennings. Sonny graduated from Waverly High School in 1949 and served his country in the U. S. Air Force as a Radio Operator in the South Pacific and during the Korean Conflict; was a lifelong member of and Sunday school teacher at Waverly Baptist Church and taught Sunday school at New Lebanon Christian Church in Elberon for a number of years; was a former Fire Chief with the Dendron Volunteer Fire Department; was a member of Blackwater Sportsman’s Club; was a member of Waverly Ruritan Club; and had worked for the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation, Waverly Residency Shop, from 1957 until he retired as Shop Foreman in 1990. Sonny was predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Ruby Price Jennings.

He is survived by a sister, Gwendolyn J. Cox and husband Brownley, of Waverly; two brothers, Lewis F. Jennings and wife, Janet, of Portsmouth, and J. Talbot Jennings of Hampton; very special friend and companion, Tommie Bailey; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Purviance Chapel of J. T. Morriss and Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Wakefield, with the Rev. Keith Whitfield officiating. Interment will follow in the Price Family Cemetery, Elberon, Virginia. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Waverly Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 583, Waverly, VA 23890, or, Waverly Baptist Church, P.O. Box 576, Waverly, VA 23890.
Purviance Chapel, J. T. Morriss and Son Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Wakefield, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be posted on our website at www.jtmorriss.com.

Uncle Sonny,
I am so sad that you have passed. I remember you so well. You always had a big boat and took us out on joyous times. I wished I could have been there for you. You were such a good brother to my father, Lewis. Daddy loved you beyond belief. I know you are where you need to be now and that is the only thing that makes me happy about your passing. I know you are watching over us all now. Love, your neice, Angela

Posted by: angela jennings at February 11, 2007 12:13 PM

To the family and friends of Sonny Jennings
I recently retired from VDOT AS THE Training Manager. Sonny and I taught Defensive Driving classes together for many years. He even came back and taught classes after his retirement because he loved to do it. Sonny had the knowledge and experience to make these classes a real learning opportunity for our employees. He was a good friend and I will miss him greatly. I would be with you at the services , however, I have been assigned to Grand Jury Duty in Norfolk for the rest of this week. May the Lord be with in this time of need.

Posted by: Steve Parris at February 6, 2007 12:51 PM