Rochester A. Pulley

"The Lord is my shepherd ..." On Thursday morning, Dec. 24, 2009, the Lord visited Mr. Rochester A. Pulley at his residence, 500 Farmer St., Gillhaven Manor, and had a conversation with him saying, "Come and go with me, I'm taking you to your Father's house."

Rochester Pulley, age 81, was born Feb. 28, 1928, in Brunswick County, Va., to the late Mr. Fed and Mrs. Anna Mallory Pulley. Upon moving to Dinwiddie with his parents, he attended the Dinwiddie County Public Schools. Moving to Petersburg, he became an employee of Richard's Wine Cellar under the supervision of the late Mr. Robert Barlow. Upon residing in Petersburg, he became a member of Gillfield Baptist Church.

Mr. Pulley was preceded by his wives, Carrie Thorne Pulley and Martha Pulley; son, Calvin Jerome Pulley; two brothers, Acrea and John Pulley; several nieces and nephews.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughters, devoted Ella Williamson (Eddie) of Richmond, Va., Carrie Jane Pulley of Petersburg, Va., Lisa Pulley of Hopewell, Va., and Gail Perry of Dinwiddie County, Va.; one son, Alex Pulley (Alma) of Petersburg, Va.; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four sisters, Agnes Thorne of Dinwiddie County, Va., Mattie Jones of Stony Creek, Va., Bernice Harvell of Petersburg, Va., and Susie Allen (Clifton) of Sandston, Va.; five brothers, James Pulley of Richmond, Va., Fred Pulley (Susie) of Carson, VA, Willard Pulley of Brunswick County VA, Stephen Pulley of Stony Creek, Va., and Eddie Pulley (Pearl) of Dinwiddie County, Va.; two brothers-in-law, John M. Thorne (Lucy) of Dinwiddie County, Va., and Roosevelt Thorne (Mable) of Hopewell, Va.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, devoted friends, Rudy Bailey, Jimmy Jones, Howard Whitaker, Henry Pegram, Economy Barber Shop friends, Gillhaven Manor residents and Karen Edmonds.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at the chapel of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Ave., Petersburg, Va., Minister Darlene Williamson officiating. Interment to follow at Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery.

Honorary and active pallbearers are asked to assemble 1:30 p.m. at the funeral establishment.

The family will assemble 1 p.m. at the 322 North Carolina Ave., Petersburg, the day of the services and may be contacted by calling (804) 712-4125.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mr. Pulley online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com where you may view a video tribute online or at the establishment.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of the J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Ave., Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.