Nathan J. Joyner

Mr. Nathan Junior Joyner, of Petersburg, has gone home to rest in the arms of his Lord, Jesus Christ, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, at Southside Regional Hospital.

He was born July 29, 1939, to the late Aradel Wright Joyner and William Avery Joyner in Franklinton, N.C.

At an early age, Nathan became a member of First Baptist Church in Franklinton, N.C., where he was reared for most of his teenage years. He later moved to Durham, N.C., and worked as a police officer. Mr. Joyner relocated to Petersburg where he continued to serve as a police officer at Virginia State University for over 20 years.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Emma Jean Higginbotham, Betty Bullock and Dorothy J. Lawrence; four brothers, Thomas Joyner, James Joyner, William Joyner and Jerry Joyner.

He leaves to cherish his memory: two sons, Carlos Porter of Richmond and Nathan Joyner Jr. of Baltimore; two sisters, Alice Richardson (Clifton) of Ettrick, Geraldine Joyner of Durham, N.C.; two brothers, Allen Joyner Durham, N.C., and Tony Joyner of Durham, N.C.; three grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews in Virginia, North Carolina, New York and Florida; a very devoted friend, Sandra Coleman of Petersburg; and a long-time friend, Clifton Jones.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008, at the Chapel William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, Petersburg, with Pastor Boyd Bullock officiating. The interment will be at Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery. The family will assemble at 1 p.m. at the residence, 20904 Brickhouse Drive, Ettrick.

Services have been entrusted to the staff of William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, now serving from three locations; (804) 732-7841. Please send online condolences to: www.blandenterprisesinc.com.