THOMAS E. LOFTIN SR.

Mr. Thomas Earl Loftin, Sr., of 200 Weaver Ave., Emporia, departed this life Thursday, January 29, 2015, at the Southside Virginia Medical Center.

He was born May 18, 1929, in Kinston, North Carolina, to the late Timothy and Laurina Loftin. William and Annie Loftin, his foster parents , raised him in Petersburg, VA. Thomas was educated in the Petersburg Public School System and also received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the Virginia State College now University. While living in Petersburg, he was a member of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church.

Thomas served in the United States Army and was a Veteran of World War II. After his military service, Thomas relocated to Long Island, NY, where he was the manager of the West Hampton Beach Dry Cleaners. After several years living in Long Island, he relocated to southern New Jersey where he worked part time at different dry cleaning establishments and spent much of his time as a volunteer at many public schools because of his love for children. Thomas was a lover of music and was an avid collector of jazz, swing, bebop, rhythm and blues, and gospel albums.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Thomas E. Loftin, Jr., and Omega R. Loftin; one sister, Emily Dixon; and two brothers, Clarence and Timothy Loftin.

He leaves to cherish in his memories to his former wife, Shirley Hargraves Loftin; two sons, Jerome Loftin, of West Palm Beach, FL, and Duke Loftin (Diane), of West Hampton Beach, NY; two daughters, Angela Brown (Walter), of Chester, and Patricia Creighton (Rickey), of Petersburg; four grandchildren, LaToya LaSmith (Calvin), of Chester, Patrice Creighton, of Petersburg, Chanel Loftin, of Westhampton, NY, and Aisha Creighton, of Petersburg; two sisters, Hattie Harris, of Burlington, NJ, and Bertha Scott, of Mount Holly, NJ; one brother, Alfred Loftin, of Burlington, NJ; two great-grandchildren, Calvin LaSmith, III of Chester, and Haiden Bell, of West Hampton Beach, NY; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 5, 2015, at the Amelia Veteran Cemetery, 10300 Pridesville, Road, Amelia.

Mr. Loftin will lie in state Wednesday, February 4, at the Chapel of the William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, 137 Harrison St., Petersburg, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, 137 Harrison St., Petersburg, 804-732-7841. For more information or to leave a condolence, please visit our website at www.blandenterprisesinc.com.