Nansemond-Isle of Wight-Southampton County-Suffolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Birdsong, Thomas H., 1933 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ THOMAS HENRY BIRDSONG Birdsong Funeral Rites To Be Held Here on Saturday Former Mayor of Suffolk, Active Industrial and Civic Leader, Who Succumbed Last Night, to Be Buried At Cedar Hill Cemetery. Thomas Henry Birdsong, mayor of Suffolk for eight years and a member of the city council for twelve, and, until stricken with illness, one of the city's most active business and civic leaders, died at his residence, 216 Pinner Street, last night at 10 o'clock. Death followed a second stroke of paralysis suffered three days ago. Funeral arrangements have been set for Saturday afternoon with services at the residence at 3:30 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Joseph T. Allen, pastor of Main Street Methodist church with which Mr. Birdsong was affiliated, and the Rev. H.P. Clarke, pastor of Monumental M.E. Church, of Portsmouth, a former pastor and friend of the deceased. Burial will take place at Cedar Hill cemetery. Friends of the Birdsong family will serve as honorary pall-bearers. Native of Isle of Wight Mr. Birdsong was 66 years of age at the time of his death, having been born in 1867. He was a son of Sidney A. and Georgiana Hall Birdsong, of Isle of Wight county. Closely identified with the business and civic life of the city, Mr. Birdsong had interests throughout the Virginia peanut belt. He owned the T.H. Birdsong & Co. of Suffolk; the Holland Supply Co., of Holland; Adams Grove Supply Co., of Adams Grove and had interests at Courtland and Emporia. His wide knowledge of the peanut industry led to his election as president of the Virginia Cooperative Peanut Association and as manager of its affairs. Called Into Public Service He was called to the service of the city by petition when the non-partisan city-manager form of government was adopted here. He served on the city council from its beginning until two years ago when he refused to stand for re-election on account of his declining health. Upon the death of Mayor J.H. Macleary, Mr. Birdsong was chosen to head the city government. He was mayor until his retirement. Mr. Birdsong was a charter member of the Suffolk Rotary Club and held membership and actively participated in the work of the civic club until he retired two years ago. He also was greatly interested in the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. Active in Peanut Industry Widely known, both here and throughout the peanut growing area of Virginia and North Carolina, Mr. Birdsong was one of the city's outstanding and most popular citizens. Surviving Mr. Birdsong are his widow, the former Miss Martha McLemore, of Southampton, and a sister of Judge James L. McLemore; five sons, Thomas Birdsong, of Courtland, Hall Birdsong of Emporia, William, Harvard and McLemore Birdsong, of Suffolk; two daughters, Mrs. Harold M. [sic; H.] Macklin, of Courtland, and Mrs. A. Taylor Darden, of Suffolk; a sister, Miss Nannie Birdsong, of Suffolk; three brothers, Rosser Birdsong, of Philadelphia; Silas Birdsong of New York and Frank Birdsong of Norfolk. [photo, captioned: Career Ends THOMAS H. BIRDSONG - Photo by Hamblin.] ****************************************************************************** THOMAS H. BIRDSONS, LONG PROMINENT IN SOUTHAMPTON, DEAD Thos. H. Birdsong, one of the most widely-known men in this part of Virginia, died at his home in Suffolk last night about 10 o’clock after a protracted illness. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but will probably be held Saturday. Mr. Birdsong was a native of Isle of Wight County, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Birdsong [sic*], and for many years was a leading merchant and citizen of Courtland. Moving to Suffolk about 18 years ago, he had become prominently identified with the life of that city where he served for a number of years as Mayor. He was owner of the Birdsong Storage Co., of Suffolk, the Birdsong Supply Co., of Holland, and T.H. Birdsong & Co. of Courtland, besides having large interests in other enterprises. He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Mattie McLemore, daughter of the late B.F. McLemore of Courtland, and a sister of County Clerk H.B. McLemore and of Judge James L. McLemore; one sister, Miss Nannie Birdsong of Suffolk; three brothers, Rosser Birdsong of Philadelphia, Silas Birdsong of New York, and Frank Birdsong of Norfolk; five sons, Thomas Birdsong of Courtland, Hall Birdsong of Emporia, and William, Harvard and McLemore Birdsong of Suffolk; two daughters, Mrs. Harold H. Macklin of Courtland, and Mrs. Taylor Darden of Suffolk, and several grandchildren. [photo, captioned: Mr. Birdsong Dead THOMAS HENRY BIRDSONG] Thomas Henry BIRDSONG, merchant, former Mayor of Suffolk, b. 22 Aug 1867, Isle of Wight Co., d. 5 Oct 1933, at home, Suffolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery*, Suffolk, "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 11, No. 168, Fri., Oct. 6, 1933, pp. 1 & 5; "Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Vol. 28, No. 52, Fri., Oct. 6, 1933, p. 1 *Additional information: Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_a.txt A photo of his gravestone - added by Steve Poole - is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #135493741. D.Cert. 21858 (Suffolk #270) His parents, Algenon Sidney & Georgianna (HALL) BIRDSONG, are buried in Antioch Christian Church Cemetery, near Windsor. Antioch list, another extension of the SCHS Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/cemeteries/antioch.txt Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #20: http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html His father's obit ("Virginian-Pilot," June 9, 1916) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/b632a1ob.txt His father was a Confederate veteran, having served as a private in Co. H, 13th VA Cavalry. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager Matt Harris. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/b632t3ob.txt