Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Riddick, Willis S., 1875 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ WILLIS SMITH RIDDICK DEATH OF AN ESTIMABLE CITIZEN. WILLIS S. RIDDICK is dead. This announcement will carry a thrill of sorrow to many hearts. It has already saddened our whole community. For weeks and months he has been lingering and all of us saw that he could not live long, and yet he clung to life with such tenacity, and endured wasting affliction with such courage that his friends hoped, even after he became almost a walking skeleton, that his days might be lengthened out, almost beyond what seemed possible. Twelve days before his death he had a heavy hemorrhage from the lungs, loosing a large quantity of blood, which completely prostrated him, but he continued to live, until his condition was supposed to be better, On Monday afternoon last, his attendants discovered that he was suddenly growing worse, and before the nearest friends could be called he had breathed his last. He died like one falling asleep, without a struggle or a groan. Dr. Baker, his family physician, who had been unremitting in his attention, was by his bedside, his son-in-law, Mr. C.W. Wright, with Mrs. Wright his daughter, Willis S. Riddick, Jr., who had arrived a few days previous from school, and the other three children, with Messrs. James H. Riddick and Jethro B. Riddick, with one or two others, were all who were present, to witness his parting breath. The writer, his pastor, reached his room a few minutes after he had ceased to breathe. WILLIS SMITH RIDDICK, was born in Nansemond county, a few miles from Cypress Chapel, at the farm now owned hy Maj. James R. Saunders, on the 22nd of December 1818. He was the eldest son, of the late Burwell Riddick, and Margaret his wife, whose maiden name was Smith, and from whom he received his middle name. At his death he only lacked nine days of being 57 years of age. In his early life he developed a fine talent for business, and soon began to acquire means, not to hoard, but to dispense with a liberal hand to the wants of family connections and all around him. He married MARY ANN RIDDICK, daughter of Jethro Riddick, a charming woman, bearing his own name, but very distantly related, on the 28th of Febuary 1850. To them was born ten children, five of whom died in infancy, and five still live. Beside a large amount of private business, our friend was for many years before the war, the Agent of the Dismal Swamp Land Company, superintending all the interest of that large company. He was a few years since the Treasurer of Nansemond county, and was President of the Farmers Bank of Nansemond when he died, a position he had filled from the establishment of the Bank. He could have been elected to the Legislature of the State several times, but always declined the honor and the responsibility. Bro. Riddick was converted under the ministry of the writer of this notice in 1848, during a precious revival season at Cypress Chapel. When the Christian Church was organized in Suffolk, in 1860, he transferred his membership to this place, and has been, almost ever since, an earnest worker in and a liberal supporter of the church. His loss to the church will be severely felt. During his last illness he gave the clearest evidence of his unwavering faith in Christ and his willingness to trust him in death. To his pastor he unbosomed himself with freedom, and in our many interviews, during the last months of his life, he often spoke of the hope he had of meeting his wife, who passed away before him a few years, and other loved ones in Heaven. We feel sure that he has gained an eternal rest, where affliction severe will be no more felt. Our brother was modest, timid and never knew his own great worth. He acquired a large estate, and was at his death perhaps the owner of more real estate than any of the older citizens of Suffolk, yet he was plain and simple in his manners and treated all with whom he was brought in contact, even the most humble, with the kindest consideration. His funeral came off at the Christian Church, on Wednesday, the house crowded to its utmost capacity, and many could not find seats. The friends of the family, the Masonic fraternity, Directors of the Farmer Bank, and many citizens of town and county assembled at his residence and went in procession to the church, and to the cemetery. The procession was the largest ever in Suffolk, on any similar occasion. All classes seemed anxious to [show?] him honor in his death. Willis Smith RIDDICK, farmer & businessman, former Treasurer of Nansemond Co., b. 22 Dec 1818, Nansemond Co., d. 13 Dec 1875, Suffolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block C, Lot 33*), Suffolk, 15 Dec 1875, "Christian Sun" (Suffolk, VA), Vol. XXVIII, No. 51, Fri., Dec. 17, 1875, p. 3; file at: https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93062839/1875-12-17/ed-1/seq-3/ *Additional information: His father Burwell Allen RIDDICK (1796 - 1859) is buried in Block D, Lot 71. Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_p.txt A photo of his monument - added by Steve Poole - is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #66542092. His step-mother Sophia Ann (ALLEN) RIDDICK 2m. Confederate veteran David B. CURRY; they are also buried there: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_a.txt His marriage record (Portsmouth 1885 #68) gives his father as Willis F. Nansemond Co. D.Reg. Dist. No. 1 #74 gives d. of consumption; occupation: President, Farmers Bank. His wife's obits ("Christian Sun," Apr. 28, 1871, pp. 2 & 3) are posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/r320m7ob.txt His father's obit ("Christian Sun," July 1, 1859, p. 2) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/r320b2ob.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/r320w5ob.txt