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NEWSOMS – William Floyd Grizzard Jr., 81, passed away peacefully on Sept. 22, 2024 at home surrounded by family.

Bill was born on Sept. 21, 1943 in Drewryville, Virginia. He graduated from Southampton High School in 1961 and entered the Army shortly after, serving proudly during Vietnam. He got his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He worked in education for the rest of his life. He was employed with Henrico Public Schools and in 1973, he started his 38 year career with Southampton County Public Schools. At SCPS, he was a School Administrator and Director of Auxiliary Services. As the Direc

or of Auxiliary Services, he was in charge of maintenance and transportation of the Southampton County Schools. He was a key leader in the building of the Southampton High School (opened in 1993) and was passionate about ensuring the schools and buses ran with the highest quality. Bill’s favorite times were spent with the mechanics in the bus garage. He retired from the county in 2011.

Bill was preceded to heaven by his father, William F. Grizzard and mother, Mildred Bryant Grizzard. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Catherine Cobb Grizzard; beloved daughter, Catherine Grizzard Yeatts (Kevin); granddaughter, Madelyn Westbrook Yeatts of Mechanicsville, Virginia; sister, Joyce Grizzard Porter; nephew, Julian Patrick Porter III (Kelly) and their children, Elizabeth and Julia; niece, Julie Porter Walton (Jamie) and their son, Jameson of Chesterfield, Virginia. Bill was a deeply respected husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

While we lost a cherished member of our family, many have lost a friend or loved one in him. He has been a teacher to many, whether that was at Barnes Church, the school system or to those who enjoyed talking to him and getting advice. Besides being a father and grandfather, his greatest passion was spending time on the river fishing with his friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 in Wright Funeral Home in Franklin with Pastor Drew Dunn officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Newsoms. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 6 -8 p.m. in Wright Funeral Home and suggests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Barnes Church in Newsoms or any favorite charity.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org