Robert Sebrell

Robert P. Sebrell SUFFOLK - Robert Pittman Sebrell, 88, formerly of Portsmouth, died Nov. 18, 2010 in a Suffolk hospital. He was predeceased by his wife, Doris Brett Sebrell; parents, Robert Pittman Sr. and Elsie Tyree Sebrell; and two brothers, Virginius Sebrell and William Sebrell. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps from 1944-46 and the Coast Guard in 1951, owned and operated Sebrell's General Welding and Iron Works in Capron from 1952-57, worked for the Department of Agriculture in 1957, Norfolk Naval Shipyard from 1957-61, Newport News Shipbuilding from 1961-69, COMNAVAIRLANT from 1969-81, and CDI Marine. He was a member of Churchland Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Men's Bible Class substitute teacher and class secretary, Seaboard Masonic Lodge No. 56, Portsmouth Scottish Rite and was past president of the Siesta Gardens Civic Club. His hobbies included woodworking, furniture restoration and reading history. Survivors include two daughters, Sherry S. Parker and husband Philip Parker of Suffolk, and Lynn S. Woody and husband Joseph Woody IV of Chester, Va.; two sisters, Grace S. Stuckert and Ann S. Haywood of Berea, Ky.; one brother, James Lee Sebrell of Portsmouth; four grandchildren, Joy P. Watkins of Bedford, Va., Timothy Parker of Sonora, Calif., Kelly W. Leatherwood of Warrenton, and J.W. Woody V of St. Paul, Minn.; and two great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Gavin Leatherwood. A funeral will be held Monday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. in Churchland Baptist Church by the Rev. Lawrence B. Coleman. Burial, with military honors, will be in Churchland Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Suffolk, Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be sent to Churchland Baptist Church. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.