RUFUS FRENCH Jr.

Mr. Rufus French Jr., 86, passed away on April 6, 2012, after a long illness.

He was born Sept. 26, 1926, in Chatham County, N.C., and was preceded by his father, mother, three sisters, a brother, a nephew and a niece. He was retired from Brown and Williamson Factory. He also was a community activist and businessman. He owned several shoe shine parlors and was a well-known photographer. He was the owner of God Is Able Photo Studio in Petersburg, Va.

For over 40 years he was a member of Zion Apostolic Christian Memorial Church under the pastorship of Elder Linwood Christian and the current pastor, Bishop Samuel Wright Sr. About 15 years ago, he moved his membership to Friendship Congregation in Blandford. He was there for two years but returned to Zion Apostolic and was there until his health failed.

He is survived by four sons, Rufus III of Petersburg, Keith A. (Mamie) of York, Pa., Kenneth D. (Evelyn) of Dallas, Barry L. (Jackie) of Richmond; two daughters, Doris L. of Richmond, Evangelist E. Denise of Petersburg; and stepdaughter, Edith M. Smith of Petersburg; five grandchildren, Keith Austin French of Marietta, Ga., Nicholas M. French of Beijing, China, Sharne N. French of Marietta Ga.., Barry L. French Jr. of Cleveland and Brickell M. French, of Richmond, Va.; eight stepgrandchildren, Franklin Smith Jr. (Kathryn) of Woodbridge, Va., Rick Smith (Tiffany) of Houston, Dr. Ericka Smith of Alexandria, Va., Ryan Adams of Richmond, Va., Jeremy Adams of Cleveland, Timothy Adams (Jovan), Ashland, Va., Diante and Sheronda Ryals of Petersburg, Va; 13 great-grandchildren; two nieces, Jean Shaw of Laramie, Wyo., and Dian Simmons of Petersburg; and a number of other relatives and friends.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 13, 2012, at Oak Street A.M.E. Zion Church, Petersburg, Va., with the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Branch-Griffin officiating. Interment will be at Bermuda Memorial Park, Chesterfield, Va. The family will receive family and friends at 20606 Willowdale Drive, Ettrick, Va., and will assemble there at 10 a.m. the day of the service. Remains rest at Tucker's Funeral Home, 415 Halifax St., Petersburg, Va., the Rev. Antonio A. Tucker, funeral director.