Out in King and Queen, Virginia, folks knew him simply as Daddy or Papa. He was a man who lived by the water and spent his best days out in the woods. When he passed away peacefully in his own home back on March 16, 2025, he left behind a family that loved him deeply and a long trail of good memories.
For years, he was a familiar sight along the local waterways. You could often find him working his shad nets or checking on his crab pots. He knew the tides, the bends in the water, and the quiet spots where the fish were always biting. The outdoors was not just a weekend hobby for him; it was a way of life that shaped everything he did.
Staying at home during his final days meant the world to him and his family. He wanted to be in the place he built and loved, surrounded by the people who mattered most. When his time came, he was right where he belonged, resting easy in his own house.
His family waited until Saturday, August 29, 2026, to carry out his very last requests. They gathered together to honor the man who taught them how to fish, how to hold onto faith, and how to treat people right. It was a solemn day, but it was also a full celebration of a life well lived.
To honor his love for the outdoors, his family took his ashes out to the three bodies of water he worked for decades. They scattered portions of his ashes into the York River, the Pamunkey River, and the Mattaponi River. Those rivers were like second homes to him throughout every season of the year.
They did not stop at the riverbanks, though. The family brought another portion of his ashes to their local home church in King and Queen. There, they laid him to rest right near his late wife’s plot, putting the two of them close together once again.
Local folks from King William Florist helped out by crafting special hunting-themed floating flowers for the water service. Family and friends came together to share stories, offer prayers, and say their final goodbyes. Though he is gone from the docks and the woods, his family says the lessons he taught and the love he gave will stay with them forever
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