John Brinkley

John W. Brinkley SUNBURY - John Walter Brinkley, 62, of the 900 block of Highway 158 East, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, in Chowan Hospital, Edenton, following a courageous 3-year battle with cancer. Mr. Brinkley was born in Gates County and was the son of the late Bennie Aaron and Earlie Byrum Brinkley. A retired supervisor from Union Camp Corp., now International Paper in Franklin, Va., after 33 years of employment, he was the owner and operator of Brinkley's Lawn Care and Landscaping, serving customers all over northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. He was a faithful member of Rocky Hock Baptist Church and the Partners in Christ Sunday School Class. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Marjorie Fowler and a brother, Marcelle Brinkley. Surviving are his wife of 21 years, Ann Spruill Brinkley; three daughters, Gina B. Brown and husband Glenn of Cary, Tammy B. Jenkins and husband Jay of Chesapeake and Lisa B. Wiley and husband Wayne of Clayton; three sons, Quintin Chappell and wife Melissa of Edenton, Will Chappell of Greenville, N.C., and Alex Chappell and wife Samantha of Sunbury; eight grandchildren, Olivia, Bella, Carli, Brooke, Ethan, Hudson, Caleb and Chloe; a sister, Bessie Lee Gardner of Suffolk; and two brothers, T.J. Brinkley of Gates and James Earl Brinkley of Sunbury. A funeral will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in Rocky Hock Baptist Church by Dr. James Horton. Burial will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery. Friends may join the family today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, and all other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the building fund of Rocky Hock Baptist Church, 113 Rocky Hock Church Road, Edenton, NC 27932 or to any chapter of the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.millerfhc.com.