Person Page - 6719

     Robert Henry "Bobby" Ferguson Jr. Robert Henry "Bobby" Ferguson, Jr., born May 28, 1940 in Lynchburg, VA to the late Robert Henry Ferguson, Sr. and the late Bernice DeBoe Ferguson, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2012 at Lynchburg General Hospital. Bobby was preceded in death by his brother, Sammy. As a boy, Bobby delivered papers for the Danville Register and Bee, delivered milk for Bennett Farm Dairy and groceries for Amos Grocery. Upon graduation from Gretna High School in 1958, Bobby attended post graduate at Hargrave Military Academy and then attended Ferrum College, where he played football. Bobby served his country as a member of the United States Air Force from 1960 through 1964, stationed in the U.S. and Korea. After his military service, he worked for Klopman Mills. In 1974, Bobby joined Nationwide Insurance Company and was a career agent, opening Bobby Ferguson Insurance Agency in Gretna, VA, where he and his wife, Gail, worked together for over 32 years. Bobby loved life and lived it to the fullest, enjoying cooking, gardening, golfing, fishing, hunting and dancing. An avid sports fan, Bobby loved Hokie football and was a member of the Franklin County Hokie Club. Bobby was a member of the Anderson Masonic Lodge #258 A.F. and A.M. and the American Legion Post #232. He served on the Gretna Planning Commission and was on the board of Cedars Country Club. Bobby attended First Baptist Church of Gretna. Bobby is survived by his wife, Gail of the residence; daughter, Nancy Ayers (Jimmy) of Monroe, VA; daughter, JoJo Stamey (Dave) of Hoover, AL; son, Kenton Ferguson (Kathy) of Raleigh, NC and four grandchildren, Jamie and Jordan Ayers and Brannon and Bennett Ferguson. Internment to follow at Carl O. Moran Memorial Gardens. The family would like to extend warmest thanks to the staff of Seven Hills Home Health and Hospice (Lynchburg) and to Bobby's special caregiver from Seven Hills, Stephanie Hubbard, LPN; Dr. Francis Carter and staff (Altavista) and the physicians and staff of the UVA Hepatic Service.⁵ His Social Security Number was 228-48-0548.⁸ He was buried at Carl O. Moran Memorial Garden, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.^4,5 He was born on May 28, 1940 at Lynchburg, Virginia.^3,4,5,6,8 He married Gail Annette Cocke, daughter of Gordon Newton Cocke and Helen Graves Bennett, on September 8, 1962 at Gretna, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.^1,2,3,4 Robert Henry "Bobby" Ferguson Jr. died on November 24, 2012 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 72.^4,5,8,7

     His Social Security Number was 398-38-1000.⁵ William Richard "Bill" Bernish Jr. was born on July 22, 1941 at Saint Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota.^3,4,5 He married Ava Lee Cocke, daughter of Gordon Newton Cocke and Helen Graves Bennett, on April 29, 1967 at Danville, Virginia.^1,2,3 William Richard "Bill" Bernish Jr. died on March 6, 2014 at age 72.⁵

     His Social Security Number was 224-14-5610.³ Leslie Wyatt Blair was buried at Gretna Burial Park, Gretna, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.¹ He was born on February 26, 1920 at Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.^1,3,6,4 He married Gladys Lynwood Cocke, daughter of Giles Owen Cocke and Toy Lee Owen, on July 21, 1940 at Danville, Virginia.^2,7 Leslie Wyatt Blair died on June 15, 2002 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 82.^1,3,8,5

     Anne Carolyn Blair Anne Carolyn Blair, age 76 of Gainesville, GA, formerly of Gretna, VA died Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Born September 25, 1944, in Danville, she was the daughter of the late Leslie "Les" Wyatt Blair and Gladys Cocke Blair. She is survived by two sons, Brad Pickerel, and wife, Kim of Gainesville, GA, and Barry Pickerel and wife, Julie of Ball Ground, GA; one brother, Greg Blair, and wife, Lyne of Rustburg; three grandchildren, Madison Lee Daugherty, Madison Ilene Pickerel, and Jainey Barrett Pickerel; two great-grandchildren, Lucas Evans, and Theodore Evans; one niece, Amanda Blair; and one nephew Kyler Lincoln. Graveside services will be conducted at Gretna Burial Park.¹ She was buried at Gretna Burial Park, Gretna, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.¹ She was born on September 25, 1944 at Danville, Virginia.^1,3 As of August 16, 1963,her married name was Pickerel.³ She married John Howard Pickerel on August 16, 1963 at Caswell Co., North Carolina.³ Anne Carolyn Blair and John Howard Pickerel were divorced in August, 1976.⁵ As of November 27, 1982,her married name was Witcher.⁵ Anne Carolyn Blair married Ernest Bobb Witcher on November 27, 1982 at Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.⁵ Anne Carolyn Blair and Ernest Bobb Witcher were divorced on December 21, 1992 at Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.² Anne Carolyn Blair died on September 8, 2021 at Georgia at age 76.¹

     Ernest Bobb Witcher was buried at Liberty Memorial Cemetery, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.^3,5,8 His Social Security Number was 223-56-2490.¹⁰ He was born on June 28, 1943 at Norfolk, Virginia.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,10,7,8} He married Anne Carolyn Blair, daughter of Leslie Wyatt Blair and Gladys Lynwood Cocke, on November 27, 1982 at Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.¹ Ernest Bobb Witcher and Anne Carolyn Blair were divorced on December 21, 1992 at Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.² Ernest Bobb Witcher died on October 20, 1997 at Danville, Virginia, at age 54.^3,5,6,10,8,9 He Ernest Bobb Witcher, 54, of 201-D Seminole Trail, Danville, died Monday, October 20, 1997 at Danville Regional Medical Center. Born June 28, 1943 in Norfolk, he was a son of Annie Bobb Witcher of Penhook and the late Vincent Heniy Witcher Jr. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Gretna. Mr. Witcher was a sales representative with National Motor Club of America, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, a graduate of Old Dominion University and received his MBA from Averett College. In addition to his mother, he to survived by his wife, Susan Dunn Witcher of the residence; three brothers, Vincent H. Witcher III of Richmond, Ronald B. Witcher of Richmond and James S. Witcher of Virginia Beach. Interment will follow in Liberty Memorial Cemetery, Sandy Level. on October 22, 1997.³

     Her Social Security Number was 228-26-3630.⁴ Hilda Blanch Keesee was born on June 14, 1924 at Sycomore, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.^2,3,4 As of December 21, 1943,her married name was Cocke.¹ She married Elmer James Cocke, son of Giles Owen Cocke and Toy Lee Owen, on December 21, 1943 at Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.^1,2 Hilda Blanch Keesee died on March 14, 1987 at South Carolina at age 62.² She Mrs. Hilda Keesee Cocke, 62, of 1575 Masters Street, Orangeburg, died Saturday. Mrs. Cocke was born in Sycamore, Va., a daughter of the late John W. Keesee and Mamie Burnett Keesee. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was a retired manager of Allied Department Store of Orangeburg. Survivors include her husband, Elmer J. Cocke of Orangeburg; two daughters, Mrs. Hilton M. (Donna) Duncan Jr. of Orangeburg and Mrs. Robert (Debbie) Melon of Columbia; three sons, Stanley T. Cocke of Danville, Gary G. Cocke of DeSota, Texas, and Michael J. Cocke of Orangeburg; two sisters, Mrs. Louise Jones of Gretna, Va., and Mrs. Sara Hitlzheimer of Danville, Va., five brothers, Roy Keesee and Edwin Keesee, both of Hampton, Va., James Keesee of Gretna, Va., Robert Keesee of Indianapolis, Ind., and Earl Keesee of Tucson, Ariz; and eight grandchildren. on March 16, 1987.²