Nansemond County-Suffolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries......Withers, Nathaniel R., 1920 

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NATHANIEL RIDDICK WITHERS 

N.R. WITHERS DIES IN SUFFOLK 

Was Prominent Business Man and Friend of Poor 

  Suffolk, Dec. 4. - Nathaniel Riddick Withers, one of the foremost citizens 
of this community, died today at his home in Main street, Suffolk, in the 
forty-eighth year of his age. 

  In his death Suffolk has lost a business man of unusual powers, a citizen of 
rare ability, and to the poor a kind friend. 

  Mr. Withers is the son of the late Austin C. Withers and Mrs. Missouri 
Taylor Withers, and is survived by his wife, who was Miss Rosa Etheredge; 
three sons, Nathaniel R. Withers, Jr., Melville Withers and Robert Withers, 
the latter a student at the Virginia Military Institute; two daughters, Misses 
Anna Withers and Mary Washington Withers; his mother, Mrs. Missouri Withers; 
his aunt, Miss Anna Mary Riddick; two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Woolford and Mrs. 
Herbert Darden, and one brother, J. Thornton Withers, and a number of nieces 
and nephews. 

  During his short and brilliant life in Suffolk, the deceased has been a 
member of the City Council, a member of the city school board, chairman of the 
city Democratic executive committee and a member of the district Democratic 
executive committee.  He was a member of St. Paul's P.E. Church, of the 
Masonic Lodge and of the orders of Elks and Eagles.  He was also affiliated 
with the leading business interests of the community, and was owner of the 
Suffolk Ice Plant, and was a member of the firm of Benthall Peanut Picker 
Company.  He had interests in many other of the business interests of the 
city, and was always in sympathy with the progress of the city. 

  Mr. Withers was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, and as a 
member of the city school board evinced a keen interest and activity in 
educational affairs of this city.  Being of kind, generous and lovable 
character, he is sincerely mourned by hosts of people in this section. 

  The funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and will 
be conducted by Rev. J.F. Coleman, rector of St. Paul's P.E. Church, at the 
residents in Main street.  Interment will be made in Cedar Hill Cemetery. 

  The active pallbearer will be the following: E.M.C. Quimby, J.C. Causey, 
Jr., F.A. Holladay, Harvey M. Butler, Dr. P.P. Causey, C.J. Dennis, W.G. Elam 
and Wallace Kilby.  All of his men friends are asked to be honorary 
pallbearers. 

****************************************************************************** 

     NATHANIEL R. WITHERS 

  Suffolk, Dec. 5. - The funeral services of Nathaniel Riddick Withers, who 
died at his home in Main street Saturday morning in his forty-eighth year of 
his age, will be held today (Monday) at 2:30 o'clock at the residence, 
conducted by Rev. John F. Coleman, rector of St. Paul's P.E. Church.  Burial 
will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery. 

  Until recently, Mr. Withers was chairman of the city Democratic excutive 
committee.  Failing health caused him to resign from this, as well as other 
activities. 

  The list of active pallbearers has been given in this paper.  Scores of his 
friends will follow his body to its last resting place as honorary 
pallbearers. 

  The burial service will be in charge of the members of Suffolk Lodge, No. 
30, A.F. and A.M., and will be interred with the impressive rites of the 
Masons. 

  All members of Suffolk Lodge, No. 30, are expected to assemble at their 
temple Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock to proceed to the funeral. 

[...] 

   FUNERAL OF MR. WITHERS. 

  Suffolk, Dec. 5. - Changes were made today in the arrangements for the 
funeral of Nathaniel R. Withers.  Instead of the funeral services at the 
residence on Main street, a service will be held at the grave in Cedar Hill 
cemetery at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. J.F. Coleman and in charge of the 
local lodge of Masons.  All friends of the deceased are invited to attend 
these services at the grave in Cedar Hill. 

****************************************************************************** 

FUNERAL OF N.R. WITHERS 

  SUFFOLK, VA. - Dec. 6 - Funeral services of Nathaniel Riddick Withers, one 
of Suffolk's prominent citizens and business men, who died at his home in Main 
Street on Saturday morning, were held from the grave in Cedar Hill cemetery 
this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. John F. Coleman, of 
St. Paul's church. 

  Mr. Withers was owner of the Suffolk ice plant, a member of the firm of the 
Benthall Machine Company and was a man of unusual business ability. 

  He was a former member of the city council, served on the city school board 
for a number of years, was chairman of the city democratic executive committee 
and was a member of the district democratic committee. 

  He was a member of St. Paul's P.E. church, a member of the Masonic lodge and 
of the Orders of Elks and Eagles. 

  Mr. Withers was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and was a man of 
unusual brilliancy and attractive personality. 


Nathaniel Riddick WITHERS, businessman, former city councilman, 
b. 2 Aug 1872, Suffolk, d. 4 Dec 1920, at home, Suffolk, 
interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block L, Lot 1*), Suffolk, 6 Dec 1920, 
"Virginian-Pilot & Norfolk (VA) Landmark, Vol. 82, No. 66, 
   Sun., Dec. 5, 1920, pt. 2, p. 11 {image 71}; 
"Virginian-Pilot & Norfolk (VA) Landmark, Vol. 82, No. 67, 
   Mon., Dec. 6, 1920, p. 8; 
"The Echo" (Suffolk, VA), Vol. 4, No. 5, Fri., Dec. 10, 1920 

*Additional information: 

His parents are buried in Block E, Lot 28. 
   Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical 
   Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_v.txt 

A photo of his gravestone - added by Steve Poole - is posted with 
   Find a Grave Memorial #136699750. 

D.Cert. 29210 (Suffolk #211) 

His father was a Confederate veteran, having served as a courier for 
   Gen. "Stonewall" JACKSON. 

His mother's obit ("Virginian-Pilot & Norfolk Landmark," May 27, 1924, p. 12) 
   is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/w362m1ob.txt 

His wife's obit ("Suffolk News-Herald," Mar. 22, 1965, p. 2) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/w362r1ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/w362n1ob.txt