THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607240305
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 40 lines
James Riley Best Jr., 94, known to his friends as Jim, passed away Monday afternoon, July 22, 1996, in a local hospital following a brief illness.
Jim was a longtime resident of Tidewater area and a native of Kitty Hawk, N.C. He was the son of the late James Riley Best and Mary Meekins Best. Lib, his wife of 45 years, passed away in 1981. He was predeceased by his sister, Lola Partridge, and his brother, Bob Best.
He is survived by his daughter, Bettie Jones and her husband, Jimmy, their sons, James and his wife, Deborah, and their children, Douglas and his wife, Monica, and their children, and Timothy. He is also survived by a son, James Riley Best III; many nieces and nephews; and his caregiver for the last several years of his life, Mrs. Cleo D. Burkhouse.
Jim was a member of Norview Methodist Church until moving to Virginia Beach in 1957, when he joined Salem Methodist Church. He held various positions in the churches during his memberships. He retired from Graybar Electric Co. in 1957 after 38 years of service, from Tidewater Supply Co. in 1978, and also sold real estate with Bill Games, Realtor for many years. He was an advocate of self-sufficiency, thrift, hard work and honor. An avid gardener, he enjoyed raising vegetables and left a legacy of fruit and nut trees to be enjoyed by many generations to come. He was a member of the Khedive Shrine Temple for over 50 years, and a 61-year member of the Masonic Fraternity, Atlantic Lodge, Number 2.
Kellum Funeral Home, Pleasant Hall Chapel, is handling funeral arrangements. Services will be conducted by the pastor of Salem United Methodist Church, the Rev. Charles Moore. Services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Colonial Grove Cemetery, immediately following the interment services. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a contribution be made to a charity of your choice, or to the Building Fund for Salem United Methodist Church. A memorial service will also be held in late November to commemorate his life, details to be announced at a later date. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB