John Henry Shorter

John Henry Shorter

John Henry Shorter, 80, of Ebenezer Road, Gladys, went to sleep in the arms of Jesus on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at his home. He was the husband first to the late Maxine Marshall Roark Shorter and second to Catherine Jones Shorter.

Mr. Shorter was born in Charlotte County on Sept. 13, 1930, a son of the late Paul McKinney Shorter and Mabel Overstreet Shorter. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. After attending VPI he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and he was a retired employee of the Virginia Department of Corrections.

In addition to his wife, Catherine, he is survived by two sons, George Winston Roark Jr. (Shari), of Houston, Texas, and John Marshall Shorter, of Rustburg; one daughter, Debbie Lou R. Sprouse (Tony), of Red House; two stepsons, Ricky Jones (Susan), of Rustburg, and Ronell Jones (Beth), of Gladys; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Norwood Shorter (Nancy), of Brookneal, and Kenny Shorter (Carol), of Gladys; two sisters, Yvonne Shorter, of Appomattox, and Nona Powell (Frank), of Richmond.

He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Coleman Roark, and two brothers, Clanton Shorter and Carl Shorter.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, 2010, at Beulah Baptist Church by the Rev. Shelby Royal. The family will receive friends at the residence.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Henderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Brookneal, is in charge of arrangements.