Nansemond-Isle of Wight-Southampton-Suffolk City County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Birdsong, Thomas H., 1933 

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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