Celebration of Life
Joyce West Pizzeck - Celebration of Life
June 18, 2022 • Rev. Brian Sixbey • 1 Corinthians 13:13
Joyce West Pizzeck, affectionately known as Mamaw, passed away May 24, 2022. Born in Haywood County, NC she had been a longtime resident of Hampton. Joyce retired from Hampton General Hospital after a long career as an LPN. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved spending time with her family. The week of her passing she was surrounded by her entire family as they shared lifelong memories, heartfelt conversations, and tears drawing laughter. Joyce was known for her amazing crochet work and loved doing arts and crafts. She was active with the Wesley Circle and donated her time making prayer shawls for those in need. On any given day, Joyce would be reading, working on a word search, talking on the phone, and giving of herself. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Pizzeck and granddaughter, Julie Silver. She is survived by her children, Regena Silver (Donnie), Rev. Don Ryan Pizzeck (Bonnie), and Keith Pizzeck (Diane); sister, Rosemary Hutchins (George); grandchildren, Mary Jo Silver Findley, Brandon Silver (Robyn), Angie Pizzeck (Kim), Erin Pizzeck, Ryan Pizzeck (Tamara), Greg Pizzeck (Jenny), and Shaun Pizzeck; as well as 10 great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life - Ann Williams
January 23, 2022 • Rev. Brian Sixbey • 1 Corinthians 13
Ann Grizzard Williams passed away on Friday, January 7th, at the age of 89. She wanted to live to see 90, but God had other plans for her. A Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, native, Ann was an only child and former "Ms. Roanoke Rapids". She attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York and Georgetown University in Washington DC. She returned to Roanoke Rapids and married Robert H. Williams, Jr. and then they moved to Newport News in 1957. Ann started her career in l968 at Fort Monroe and worked as Secretary to numerous Generals until her retirement in 1993. Ann has been a member of First United Methodist Church Fox Hill since the early 90's. She loved her Church Family and was active in various Sunday School and Bible Study groups and served on various committees. Ann was preceded in death by her loving husband of nearly 65 years, Robert H. Williams, Jr. and a son, Martin H. Williams. Survivors include two daughters, Lisa Walker (Kent), Susan Craft (Sam), one son, Scott Williams (Linda); five grandchildren, Ryan, Sarah, Chad, Savannah, and Julie; five great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and two lifelong friends, Mary Francis Fisher and Mildred Geisler. Ann's love for people touched so many of us and we will miss her phone calls, encouraging words, and sweet soul. She didn't know a stranger and spoke to everyone she came across.
Remembering Daniel Brookman
September 19, 2021 • Rev. Brian Sixbey
On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, Dan Brookman transitioned to his heavenly home surrounded by family after a short illness. Dan, originally from Narrows, VA, graduated from the NNS Apprentice School in 1976 as a machinist. He was a Master Shipbuilder with 43 years of service, most of those years spent at the Apprentice School dedicated to nurturing success for all apprentices. Dan was a First UMC Fox Hill member, a Fox Hill Volunteer Fire Dept Lifetime Member, Waverly Hunt Club Member, Troop 84 BSA Assistant Scoutmaster, and commissioner, coach, and mentor for many others. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Kathy; children, Katie (Brian), Lee (Gary), Donnie (Tyler); grandchildren, Adalynn and Elliott; his father, Donald (Pat); siblings, Dave (Susan), Amy (Tim), Joe, Scott (Teresa), Jimmy (Gail), Annette, Mike; with 18 nieces and nephews and 15 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Catherine. The family will receive friends Sunday, September 19, 1 PM at First UMC Fox Hill, followed by a memorial service at 2 PM. The memorial service will be live-streamed at http://www.firstumcfoxhill.org. Donations can be made to the Apprentice School Foundation at http://tasfd.org or First UMC Fox Hill. Arrangements by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.
Joseph Luke Messick
May 23, 2021 • Rev. Brian Sixbey
Joseph Luke Messick, 22, died unexpectedly on Monday, May 17, 2021, while traveling to play the game he loved, soccer. Born on February 5, 1999, he was a lifelong resident of Hampton. Luke graduated from Kecoughtan High School in 2017 and went on to further his education at Randolph Macon College. He was making a career out of soccer and he passionately played the game whenever and wherever he had the chance. Luke was a goalkeeper for the 1999 Region 1 ODP team which traveled to Barcelona, Spain for games as well as Virginia RUSH Academy, VA Legacy, VB City, Lionsbridge FC, VB United, Loko FC, AC Commonwealth, United Stars FC, Ole Sporting, PetroTela PA, and Shaka Boyz BSC where he put on a world class beach soccer performance and even received the Golden Glove Award at the most recent edition of the North American Sand Soccer Championships held in 2019. Over the past several months, he has been proudly collecting trophies and league MVP awards for Transporte Juanita in various indoor and outdoor leagues around Richmond, VA where he was affectionately known as 'El Gato Blanco.' He was also a co-founder, manager, and player with Ashland Town FC. At Kecoughtan, in addition to his numerous academic accolades, Luke played varsity soccer where he was team MVP in 2015 and 2016, team captain in 2016 and 2017, and was awarded 1st Team All-Conference in 2016 and 2017. He also ran in Conference and Regional meets for the varsity Cross Country team. Luke is survived by his parents David and Marcy Messick; his brother, Joshua Messick (Breanne Barnes); grandparents, David and Stephanie Messick and Clifford and Doris Swilley; uncles and aunts, Chris Messick, Lisa Ryan (Rich), Stuart Swilley (Nancy) and Mark Swilley; cousins, Kyle, Colton, Landon, Dillon, Tyler, Emily, Sabra, Fletcher, Nolan, and Amanda; his godparents, Tom and Rebeca Cho; and a large extended family and circle of friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 4 PM, Sunday, May 23, 2021, at First United Methodist Church, Fox Hill. A Celebration of Life will be held starting at 1:00 pm Sunday, May 30 at River Birch Pavilion at Gosnold's Hope Park. At the time of his passing, Luke was actively creating a charity to support youth soccer in Ghana and elsewhere. He supported a team in Ghana over the last several years. This program will now be finalized and named the Luke Messick Futbol Charities, Inc. Until those accounts are finalized, donations may be made payable to First UMC Fox Hill, 1 Salt Pond Rd, Hampton, VA 23664, designated for Luke Messick or to the church's Memorial Fund.
Remembering Bobbie Lee “Bob” Richardson
July 31, 2021 • Rev. Brian Sixbey • Psalm 23
Bobbie Lee “Bob” Richardson, 82, died Sunday, November 29, 2020. Bob was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee to the late Jasper Lee and Gladys Smithson Richardson. He graduated from East Tennessee College (now University). A Hampton resident since 1961, Bob taught Industrial Art (Shop) at the Junior High School level for 30 years, retiring in 1991. He was a member of First United Methodist Church Fox Hill. Also preceded in death by a brother, Billy Richardson, and a sister, Betty Keith; survivors include his wife of 54 years, LaRose Richardson; two sons, David Richardson and wife Rachel and Jasper Richardson and wife, Jennifer; three grandchildren, Luke, Kate, and Will; a sister, Pat Compton and husband, Ronald; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Keith; several nephews and a niece.