THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030447
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Paul Davis Vann Jr., 76, of 23160 Meherrin Road, departed this life Nov. 1, 1995, in Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin, Va.
Mr. Vann was a native of Southampton County. He was the son of the late Paul Davis Vann Sr. and the late Mrs. Devilla Britt Vann. He was a graduate of Hayden High School, received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education and his M.S. degree in Administration from Virginia State University.
He was employed at Southampton County Training School, which later became Riverview High School, as an agriculture teacher and coach from 1945-65. He organized the school's first football team and served as its coach for 20 years. He also coached the girls' basketball team and had several state championships. He was principal of Hamilton Holmes High School from 1965-66. He was principal of Riverview High School from 1966-70. He served as State Supervisor of Agriculture Education from 1970-84. He retired in 1984 after serving 39 years in the field of education.
Mr. Vann joined the Mill Neck Baptist Church, Como, N.C., at an early age. Later, he transferred his membership to First Baptist Church, Courtland, where he remained a faithful and dedicated member until his death. He was also a veteran of World War II.
Mr. Vann held many leadership positions. Included are president of the Freshman Class, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Va., president of the Southampton County Teachers Association, president of the Paul D. Camp Community Board of Directors, member of the Southampton County Board of Supervisors, board member of Southampton Memorial Hospital, member of the Executive Interscholastic Association, member of the Executive Committee - Virginia High School League, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and treasurer of First Baptist Church, Courtland. He was also a deacon of the church.
Mr. Vann was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for 54 years. He held leadership positions on the local and district levels.
In all of his leadership positions, Mr. Vann received numerous awards, citations, and plaques from his professional, fraternal, civic, educational and religious organizations. These awards covered the range from local, state and national levels.
Mr. Vann was always working for others in the spirit of love - his family, his friends, his church, his fraternity, and his community. His greatest joy in life was unselfishly helping others.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife and his best friend, Mrs. Senora Saunders Vann; his loving daughter, Sylvia Vann Terry; his son-in-law, Michael Terry; his grandchildren, Shawna and Michael II; a sister and brother-in-law, Flossie and Melvin Grimes, Richmond; his in-laws: Mr. and Mrs. Chester Washington, Baltimore; Mr. and Mrs. Quince Irving, Roanoke, Va.; Mrs. Virginia Mason, Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Belcher, Roanoke, Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Len Page, Altadena, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Saunders, Roanoke; Mr. and Mrs. George Saunders, Roanoke; Mrs. Kathleen Saunders, Roanoke; a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church, Courtland, by the Rev. C.R. Barnes. Burial will be in Southampton Memorial Park, Franklin. The remains will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Saturday. The family will receive friends today at First Baptist Church from 7 to 8 p.m. Engram Funeral Home, Courtland, is handling arrangements. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB