Rev. Talbert A. Callands

The Rev. Talbert A. Callands, age 98, of 2477 Mountain Road, Gretna, Virginia, departed this life on Saturday morning, February 4, 2017, at his residence. Born December 15, 1918, in Pittsylvania County, he was the son of the late Booker Callands and Hattie Haley Callands. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Cornelia Callands; one son, Charlie Callands; two daughters, Mary Callands and Hattie Hill; four brothers, Booker, George, McKinley and Roosevelt Callands; and two sisters, Caroline Callands-Musgrove and Sallie Middleton. The Rev. Callands received his education in the public schools of Pittsylvania County and a B.A. degree in theology from Richmond Virginia Seminary. He was a farmer, a former member of the Shockoe Masonic Lodge, #244 and member of the Riceville Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as associate minister. Those left to cherish his memories are his wife, Louise Callands of Java, Virginia; three sons, Talbert Callands Jr. of Claymont, Delaware, Hadell Callands of Washington, D.C. and Abdul Rasheed a.k.a. George Thomas (Ayesha) of Danville, Virginia; three stepsons, Richard Wilkerson (Joyce), Lewis Wilkerson and Larry Wilkerson, all of Atlantic City, New Jersey; two daughters, Lillian Smith (Earl) of Lanham, Maryland and Fannie Callands of Landover, Maryland; one stepdaughter, Evelyn Saunders (Norman) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; one daughter-in-law, Ethel Callands of Java, Virginia; one son-in-law, James Hill of Decatur, Georgia; two brothers-in-law, Dallas Coleman of Nathalie, Virginia and Arthur Coleman of Wilmington, Delaware; one sister-in-law, Thelma Callands of Reidsville, North Carolina; thirteen grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Riceville Missionary Baptist Church by theRev. Ronnie R. Walker. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. A viewing will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017, at Miller Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. with the family being present from 6 to 7 p.m. Miller Funeral Home, Gretna is in charge of the arrangements.