William Pitt Jr.

William Pitt Jr. (June) of 1502 Lincoln St., Petersburg, Va., went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 24, 2007.

He was born to the late William Pitt Sr. and Mother Doll Baby Pitt on April 18, 1928, in Rocky Mount, N.C.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eloise S. Pitt; her parents, Barrel Fisher and Pearl Mae Shaw; two brothers, Nathaniel Pitt (Nat) and Roosevelt Pitt (Pete); sister, Ella Pitt Jones (Ella Mae); grandson, Aaron M. Seward; great-grandson, Rollie Brown (Lil' Rollie); and brother-in-law, Harvey Shaw.

He graduated from Peabody High School and attended Virginia State College. He was a carpenter by trade. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served in World War II. He retired from Brown and Williamson Tobacco Co. and played on the CCAC baseball team. For a short while he worked for the Petersburg School System. He also helped a lot of people in the community and had a love for musical instruments.

Mr. Pitt received Christ at an early age and in his youth worshipped at Bethesda Bibleway Church under the leadership of Bishop John S. Beane and Bishop Willie L. Balthrop Sr. While at Bethesda, he managed the Gospel Charms. In his later years, he worshipped at Star of Hope Bibleway under the leadership of Pastor Arlie Lindsey Jr.

He is survived by three daughters, Joan P. Cunningham (Lester), Minister Janet P. Seward of Richmond, Va., and Barbara P. Thomas; two sons, William Pitt III (Verhonda) and Michael W. Pitt, all of Petersburg; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two aunts, Aunt Rebecca Walston of Pennsylvania and Aunt Maggie Gray of North Carolina; a number of cousins, nieces and nephews; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Ray, Lillian Branford (Kenneth) of Chesterfield, Va., Bonita Shaw of Philadelphia; five brothers-in-law, Jessie Shaw, Arnold Shaw (Lucy), of Connecticut, Maurice Shaw of Texas, George Shaw (Maxcine) of Ohio and Teddy Shaw.

A homegoing service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Refuge Temple Church, Petersburg, with Elder Earl Tucker officiating. Pastor Arlie Lindsey Jr. will deliver the eulogy. Interment will be in Dinwiddie Memorial Park. The remains will lie in state at the church on Thursday from 9:45 a.m. until the hour of service. Relatives and friends will assemble at 4610 Fairway Road, Petersburg (Dinwiddie County), at 10 a.m. The family can be reached at (804) 861-3319 or (804) 919-0977.

Services under the direction of Tucker's Funeral Home, 415 Halifax St., Petersburg. A.A. Tucker, funeral director.