Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Pope, Dr. Benjamin A., 1945 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ DR. BENJAMIN ASHBY POPE Dr. Benjamin Ashby Pope, 69, widely known physician of Newsoms, died Wednesday, April 18, in a Richmond hospital after a long illness. He was the son of the late Amos and Emmaline Worrell Pope of Southampton County, and husband of the late Adeline Hart Pope, of Newsoms, and had been a lifelong resident of Southampton County. He had practiced medicine for more than 45 years, and was a member of Newsoms Methodist Church. Surviving him are three daughters, Miss Sarah E. Pope, of Franklin; Mrs. John Hoggard of Norfolk and Mrs. Charles R. Howitz of Chester, Pa.; four sons, Benjamin A. Pope, Jr., of Auburn, Ala., Capt. Amos H. Pope, USA, stationed in Iceland; William M. Pope of Arlington; Jack Pope, USA, stationed at Camp Blanding, Fla., and 8 grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Newsoms Methodist Church by the pastor, the Rev. J.W. Morrison. Burial was in Newsoms Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Amos E. Pope, W.P. Gillette, Jr., James T. Gillette, Caleb R. Everett, D.C. Gillette, T.A. Gillette, Lee L. Thorpe and H.A. Barrett. Honorary pallbearers were doctors of the Tidewater Medical Association. ****************************************************************************** DR. BENJAMIN ASHBY POPE We never realized our county would be without Dr. Pope. His daily work was done each day in the conscious conviction that he would care for all who called on him, regardless of need; time or race. We have often heard of the family doctor who knew the thoughts of his patients, as well as their physical ills. In this capacity Dr. Pope was an outstanding example of the beloved physician that lived this Christian principle to all he served. His love for children was his absorbing interest. The example set before his own family in caring for their needs, demonstrated the devotions he had for them. Following the death of his wife he cared for all their wants. No detail living was too small for his careful consideration. The counsel in which he administered gave evidence in their later lives the example of their father. To his family and his patients he was revered as physician and advisor for all their problems. Many were the occasions of his meeting the material as well as the physical wants of those sick. This was never done openly and only ones who knew him could at times discover these many acts of Christian benevolence. In his church work he would go about in his automobile on Sunday morning to carry those not having transportation, especially the children of his community. His keen interest in their welfare led him to be active in Sunday school work until his last illness. He saw that they were given instruction of value and example. In addition to his medical work the educational needs of his children and those of his community were constantly before him. Only a short time before his passing, Dr. Pope expressed his wish to see that the children of our county be afforded the best in education and he looked forward with pride and anticipation in the recent advances for post war development. Dr. Pope lived through a period that transcended the greatest advances in his profession. During the forty-seven years in which he served his county, he endeavored to attend the local medical meetings to associate himself with its progress. Many times he voiced his approval of the new contributions in which he was able to render his patients. Dr. Pope leaves us with the realization of one who has devoted his entire life to others. Such unselfish service is rare and the idealism of his Christian way of life affected everyone who contacted him. Such a life given to the people of our county will be always remembered by those who received his skill and counsel and by associates in his profession. Morgan B. Raiford, M.D. Dr. Benjamin Ashby POPE, Newsoms physician, b. 10 Aug 1875, Southampton Co., d. 18 Apr 1945, Richmond, interred in Hollywood Cemetery*, Newsoms, 21 Apr 1945, "Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Vol. 40, No. 26, Fri., Apr. 27, 1945, p. 1; "Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Vol. 40, No. 27, Fri., May 4, 1945, p. 5 *Additional information: Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Hollywood list (N-50): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/hollywd.txt A photo of his gravestone - added by Ray Gurganus - is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #44990013. D.Cert. 7821 (Richmond #928) His wife's obit ("Tidewater News," July 29, 1921, p. 1) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/p100a4ob.txt His father is buried with his first wife in a POPE family cemetery, on Meherrin Rd. SCHS Cemetery Project, Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (I-65): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol1.txt His mother is buried with her first husband in a GILLETTE family cemetery, near Isaac Xrds. SCHS Cemetery Project, Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (II-51): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol1.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/southampton/obits/p100b3ob.txt