Courtland – The Rev. Durward Vaughan, 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior February 23, 2011. He was born in Lunenburg County, a son of the late Vernon V. and Ethel Bland Vaughan, and was predeceased by two sisters, Louise Jeter and Verna Noel, and a son-in-law, Carl Holt. He was a former Fire Chief at Fort Pickett, and the Assistant Fire Chief at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC.  Durward was the first “lay counselor”, responsible for the classification of prisoners in the state of Virginia for the Department of Corrections.

He was a member and pastor at Clarksbury Baptist Church for over forty years. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and minister to many. He quietly walked this earth, and was always known for helping others.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 65 years, Ruth Perkins Vaughan; four daughters, Ann W. Vaughan, Jenny V. Holt, Wanda V. Davis (William), and Linda V. Barnes (Kirby); one brother, Carl Vaughan of Goldsboro, NC; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be conducted at 2 pm Sunday, February 27, 2011 at Clarksbury Baptist Church with the Rev. Wilson Conwell and the Rev. Celestine Blow officiating. The interment will be at 11 am Monday, February 28 at the Perkins Family Cemetery, Dundas, Va. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 pm Saturday at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin. In lieu of flowers, Rev. Vaughan’s wishes were for those so inclined to buy clothes or food for a needy person. www.wrightfuneralhome.org