Clarence Vann Sr.

Clarence H. Vann Sr. PORTSMOUTH - Clarence Herbert Vann Sr., 86, formerly of the 300 block of Dwight Drive, entered eternal rest Sept. 11, 2008, in Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center. He was born in Hertford County, North Carolina, to the late Thomas and Bettie Riddick Vann. He was educated in the Ahoskie public school system. Mr. Vann later furthered his education with vocational studies at both Norfolk State University and New Horizons Regional Education Center. Mr. Vann was an Army veteran of World War II and also served in Korea. He retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Shop 17, after 36 years of service. He had various hobbies which included auto mechanics, carpentry, roofing, plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration. In addition to his parents, Mr. Vann was predeceased by four sons, Joseph, Jesse, Dwayne and Kenneth; two brothers, Henry and Phelps; and four sisters, Lila, Julie, Nettie and Beulah. Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Sallie Ann Fennell Vann; four daughters, Christine Brown (Felton) of Chesapeake, Sallie Turner (Clinton) and Wilma Vass (Larry), both of Portsmouth, and Valerie Lamb (Thaddeus) of Suffolk; two sons, Clarence Vann Jr. and Reginald Vann (Brenda), both of Portsmouth; a sister, Irene Vaughn of New York; and brother, Jesse D. Vann (Esther) of New York; 20 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Special thanks to the staffs of Bell's Residential Adult Care and Carrington Place of Chesapeake for their dedicated service and support. A celebration of Mr. Vann's life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Portsmouth, with Bishop Curtis E. Edmonds Sr. officiating. Viewing will begin today at Corprew Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Vann family cemetery, Ahoskie.