Southampton-Sussex County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Pace, Willie T. Sr., 1954 

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WILLIE THOMAS PACE

FUNERAL TODAY FOR W.T. PACE, PIONEER BUSINESS LEADER, CITIZEN

   Willie Thomas Pace, Sr., 88, Franklin’s pioneer hardware dealer and one of 
its oldest residents, died at the home on West Second Avenue on Tuesday 
afternoon about 5:30 o’clock after a long period of ill health.

   Funeral services were conducted at the residence this afternoon at 3 
o’clock, with Rev. James W. Turner, pastor of High Street Methodist Church, 
officiating.  Burial was in the family plot in Poplar Spring Cemetery.

   Mr. Pace was born in Sussex County in 1866, the son of the late John James 
and Eugenia Briggs Pace.  After attending a business college in Baltimore, 
Md., he came to Franklin in 1885, when the town boasted a population of some 
800 souls.  For three years he was bookkeeper for the late C.C. Vaughan, Sr., 
local merchant; in 1888, he was bookkeeper for Camp Manufacturing Company, and 
in 1889, he served in the same capacity for Pretlow & Co.

   On Jan. 1, 1890, Mr. Pace and the late John E. Gilliam established a 
hardware business under the firm name of Gilliam & Pace, the store being 
located at Main St. and First Ave.  In 1893 he bought out Mr. Gilliam and 
continued the business at the same location until 1902, when he moved into the 
large three-story brick building he had erected at the corner of Main Street 
and Second Avenue.  For nearly half a century there after he remained the 
active head of the business, in which he was associated with his sons, W.T. 
Pace, Jr. and Henderson Leigh Pace, until failing health forces his retirement.

   In 1892, Mr. Pace was instrumental in organized the Franklin Light 
Infantry, the first military company permitted in Southampton County following 
the War Between the States.  His last public appearance occurred on Saturday, 
June 12, this year, when he rode in the parade and attended the exercises 
marking the dedication of the new General Vaughan Armory.

   In addition to being a progressive businessman, Mr. Pace was a good and 
useful member of the community.  From 1890 to 1912 he was Town Recorder and 
Treasurer; and he was a member of the local School Board for about six years. 
Early in life, he joined the Methodist Church, to which he devoted his time 
and talents with great zeal.  He was a steward of High Street Methodist Church 
for many years, church treasurer for 35 years, and superintendent of the 
Sunday school.  At the time of his death he was an honorary steward of the 
church.

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

WILLIE THOMAS PACE

W.T. PACE, SR., BURIED THURSDAY

   Funeral services for Willie Thomas Pace, Sr., 88, retired Franklin merchant 
who died Tuesday afternoon, August 31, about 5:30 o’clock, were conducted from 
the residence Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock.

   Rev. James Wesley Turner, pastor of High Street Methodist Church, of which 
the deceased was a member, officiated.  He was assisted by Rev. R.D. 
Stephenson, former pastor of the Franklin Baptist Church, and Rev. J.S. Maxey, 
associated pastor of High Street Methodist Church.

   Burial was in Poplar Spring Cemetery in the presence of a large number of 
friends of the family.

   Active pallbearers were Edward F. Gilliam, Edgar B. Jackson, Dr. Darden W. 
Jones, J. Edward Moylar, S.W. Rawls, Jr., Harry Steinhardt, C.C. Vaughan, 3rd, 
and George O. Watkins.

   The official board of High Street Methodist Church and the directors of 
Vaughan & Company, Bankers, served as honorary pallbearers.

   Numerous floral tributes surrounded the grave, testifying to the high 
esteem in which Mr. Pace was held by all who knew him.


William "Willie" Thomas PACE, Sr., retired Franklin merchant, 
former Franklin Town Recorder & Treasurer, 
Sussex Co. native, d. 31 Aug 1954, Franklin, age 88, 
interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Section 1, Plot 20*), Franklin, 
   2 Sep 1954, 
"The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Sep. 2, 1954 [both same date] 

*Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project,
   Poplar Spring list: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/poplar1.txt 

Additional information: 

Willie 1m. 03-28-1888 Meta Goodman (PARKER) PACE; 
her obit ("Tidewater News," May 27, 1921, p. 1) is posted at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/p200m1ob.txt 
She is buried with Willie. 

Willie 2m. ca. 1922 Maria Louise (CAUTHORNE SMITH) PACE; 
her obit ("Tidewater News," May 5, 1933) is posted at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/p200m2ob.txt 
She is buried Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, MD. 

Willie 3m. Dianna Christine (RAWLS) PACE; 
she is buried with her parents- Section 1, Plot 28B. 


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/p200w2ob.txt