Joseph Bernard Chapman

Pastor Joseph Bernard (Joe) Chapman, 57, of 585 Roxbury Street, Clifton Forge, died early Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, at his residence. He was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia on August 23, 1951, a son of Joseph S. and Beatrice Davis Chapman of Zuni, Virginia. He was employed as an Electrolux Salesman for DAB Inc. Electrolux of Roanoke. He was the current Pastor of Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church at Gala near Eagle Rock. He was very active in the Jail Ministry program where he ministered at the Botetourt Regional Jail in Fincastle, the Alleghany Regional Jail in Covington, and at the Augusta Correctional Center at Craigsville. He served in the United States Air Force as a sergeant and was a Aero Medical Technician. Joe loved and played baseball, basketball and softball, playing in High School, College , the Air Force and afterwards. He had a great love of Fishing and being with people. He was well loved throughout the community. In addition to his parents, Joseph S. and Beatrice Davis Chapman of Zuni, Va., he is survived by his wife, Marlene Bell Chapman of Clifton Forge; a daughter, NaTasha Nicole Chapman of Charlotte, N.C.; a sister and brother-in-law, Cynthia C. and Lorenzo Smith of Glen Allen, Va.; special in-laws, Bertel "B.T." and Florence Lane of Ivor, Va.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Vickie and the Rev. Willie Dixon of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Faye and Leon Saunders of Denver, Colorado; aunt, Yvonne Gay and husband Howard; uncle, Rossie Davis, Jr. and wife Renee; a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Lemuel Bartee Chapman in 1973 and by his paternal grandparents, Samuel and Josephine Chapman, maternal grandparents, Rossie and Lucille Davis, and step grandmother, Adelle Davis.
A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday at 12 noon from the Main Street Baptist Church in Clifton Forge with Pastor Mike Rollins, Pastor Randolph Chapman, and the Rev. Willie Dixon officiating, assisted by other area ministers. Interment will follow in the Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery at Gala, Eagle Rock. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening form 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. Within the visitation there will be a time of personal reflection to share memories at 7 p.m. The family suggest memorial tributes in Joe's name take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society, Alleghany Highlands Division, c/o Karen Buzzard, 807 McCormick Blvd., Clifton Forge, Va., 24422, or to the Mountain Regional Hospice Volunteers, P.O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. To send a condolence to be printed and presented to the family please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.