Isle of Wight-Southampton County-Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Raiford, Robert E., 1953 

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Robert E. Raiford Long Operator Of Fish Boats, Dies 

  Funeral services for Robert Edmond [sic; Edmund] Raiford, 77, for 30 years 
owner-operator of the Raiford Boating and Fishing Company, Ocean View, who 
died unexpectedly on Thursday, September 17 at Tappahannock, were conducted 
Sunday at the Cox Funeral Home in Norfolk.  The Rev. Beecher L. Rhodes, D.D., 
pastor emeritus of Berkley Avenue Baptist Church, officiated.  Entombment was 
in the Forest Lawn Mausoleum. 

  A native of Isle of Wight County, Mr. Raiford had been a resident of Norfolk 
since 1905, coming to Norfolk from Franklin.  After establishing his home 
there, lately at 505 West Ocean View Avenue, he was in the general contracting 
business for a number of years prior to organizing the boating and fishing 
company.  During this time, he built the first Nansemond Hotel at the View. 

  He was a member of the Ocean View Democratic Club and the Izaak Walton 
League.  He retired from business several years ago. 

  He was a son of the late Merritt L. and Mrs. Martha Darden Raiford.  His 
late wife was the former Jessie B. Haymes [sic; Hayes]. 

  Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. N. Gibson of Norfolk, Miss Alma L. 
Raiford, of Norfolk, and Southampton County, and Miss Lily Raiford of 
Southampton County, and a number of nieces and nephews. 


Robert Edmund RAIFORD, of Ocean View, retired fishing boat operator, 
b. 5 Mar 1876*, Isle of Wight Co., d. 17 Sep 1953, Tappahannock, Essex Co., 
entombed in Forest Lawn Mausoleum*, Norfolk, 20 Sep 1953, 
"Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 36, No. 16, Thurs., Sep. 24, 1953, p. 1 

*Additional information: 

Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives, Forest Lawn list, 
   gives Corridor D, Tier B, Crypt 125: 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/cemeteries/forestlawn/flc09-portl-ra.html

A photo of his marker - added by SWF - is posted with Find a Grave Memorial 
   #58410334. 

The Isle of Wight Co. B.Reg. gives no name RAYFORD, b. 5 Mar 1876, son of 
   M. & Martha RAYFORD. 

His WW-I draft card gives b. 14 Aug 1876. 

D.Cert. 21425 (Central Dist. #10) also gives b. 14 Aug 1876. 

His parents, Merritt Lee & Martha Frances "Fannie" (DARDEN) RAIFORD, 
   are buried in a RAIFORD family cemetery, Black Creek & Line Pine Rds. 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 2 (II-5): 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol2.txt 

A typical classified ad for his business: 

"Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 17, No. 54, Fri., May 26, 1939, p. 5 

BOATS FOR HIRE 
[...] 

Raiford Boathouse 

Boats for hire, with or without attendant. 
Motor Boats for Deep Sea Fishing - Bait and tackle furnished. 
4½ St. Willoughby, Ocean View. 
Boathouse phone 39948-O.V. Res. Phone 30661. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/r163r2ob.txt