Abram Troy Lassiter Jr.

Abram Troy Lassiter Jr., 84, formerly of Richmond, died Wednesday, May 3, 2006, in Morehead City, N.C. A.T. attended Davidson College for one semester and then transferred to North Carolina State University. While at State, he was a member and president of Alpha Lambda Tau Fraternity. He was also the manager of the 1941 and 1942 State football teams, earning a letter and becoming a member of the Monogram Club. He was also a member of the livestock judging team and on the staff of the campus agriculture publication. He left State to serve in the United States Army, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He returned to State at the end of his military service and completed his B.S. degree in animal science. After graduating, A.T. worked with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, A.T. became an associate professor with Virginia Tech in the Extension Department. He left Virginia Tech and later was employed as the first marketing manager of the Virginia Farm Bureau after three years with Gwaltney's of Smithfield. A.T. later rejoined Gwaltney's, which was purchased by IT&T. During his tenure at ITT Gwaltney, A.T. became vice president of procurement until his retirement from ITT in 1982. A.T. was first appointed to the Virginia Pork Industry Commission by then Governor Mills Godwin. He served terms as a first secretary, chairman and director. In November of 1973, Mr. Lassiter was elected as president of the Virginia Agri-Business Council. In 1980, he received the Virginia Pork Industry's highest service award. In 2002, A.T. and his wife, Jane, moved to Morehead City, N.C., to be closer to their three grandsons. Mr. Lassiter was predeceased by his son, A. Troy Lassiter III. He is survived by his wife, Betty Allison Lassiter, of Morehead City, N.C.; his daughter, Lynn Lassiter Irvin and her husband, Bob, of Atlanta, Ga.; his son, Andrew Allison Lassiter and wife, Catherine, of Morehead City, N.C.; and his three grandsons, Andrew Allison Lassiter Jr., William Edgerton Lassiter and Harrison Burke Lassiter, of Morehead City, N.C. Funeral arrangements are by Underwood Funeral Home of Smithfield, N.C. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2006 at Underwood Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 1 p.m. at Oakland Presbyterian Church in the Cleveland community and then continue at the graveside at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Smithfield, N.C. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City or to the Oakland Presbyterian Church in Johnston County.