Edward Delk

Edward Delk CHESAPEAKE - Edward Delk passed away Dec. 31, 2009, in Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 24, 1930, in the Douglas Park section of Norfolk, the son of the late Marcus and Cora Chambers Delk, and the eldest of seven sisters and brothers. He remained an active member of Shiloh Baptist Church and in recent years taught the Adult Sunday School class. He was educated in Norfolk public schools, graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, received an honorable discharge from the United States Army and became an honor graduate of Hampton University (formerly Hampton Institute), where he was initiated into the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Edward graduated from Howard University School of Law with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. In 1962, he married the former Shirley Caldwell of Gary, Ind., and to this union was born two sons: Edward Caldwell Delk and Eric Von Delk. He worked at the Department of Justice (Immigration and Naturalization) from 1963 to 1965 and was engaged in the private practice of law in Norfolk from 1965 to 1987. Edward was a real estate consultant and developer from 1987 to 1992, a law professor at Commonwealth College (now Bryant & Stratton College) from 1992 to 2008, and a professor at Strayer University from 2006 until his passing. Some of his many professional and civic activities included the following: president, Greenhill Farms Civic League; member, Norfolk Charter Advisory Study Commission; president, Norfolk Institute; vice president, Old Dominion Bar Association; executive director, Urban Coalition of Norfolk; chairman, Community Oversight Committee appointed by Norfolk School Board (charged with preventing racial discrimination in the allocation of human and physical resources in Norfolk public schools); director, secretary and general counsel, Atlantic National Bank; counsel, Williams Village, a 90-unit apartment complex for low and moderate income families, Virginia Beach; and counsel, COGIC Memorial Homes for the Elderly Inc., a 150-unit high rise for the elderly, Norfolk. Edward leaves to cherish his memory a wife, Shirley C. Delk; two sons, Edward (Danielle) and Eric; twin granddaughters, Pascale and Natalie; four sisters, Yvonne Delk, Arlethia Delk Staton (Joseph), Myra Delk Wallace and Margaret Delk Edney (Joseph); two brothers, Marcus Delk Jr. (Linda) and William Delk Sr. (Mozella); and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family will receive visitors beginning at noon each day from Tuesday through Thursday at 312 Geranium Lane, Chesapeake. A memorial wake will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in Riddick Funeral Services, 1225 Norview Ave., followed by a fraternal memorial. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Shiloh Baptist Church, 745 Park Ave., Norfolk. The Rev. Keith I. Jones will officiate. Edward's cremains will be interred at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road, Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the name of Edward Delk to the American Cancer Society, 4416 Expressway Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.