Obituary for John E. Friend
John Edward Friend entered into eternal rest on January 23, 2017 at 4:40 p.m. at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Blackstone, VA with his wife by his side. John was born to the late Alexander Friend Sr. and Gertie Mae Banks Friend on February 13, 1947 in Dinwiddie, VA.
John was the youngest of ten children. He joined Union Baptist Church at an early age. He attended Ammon and Russell Grove Schools in Amelia, VA. Growing up he worked on the family farm and at a very young age he was taught to be a go getter and if you wanted nice things out of life, you had to work your hardest to get it.
John earned the nickname Chef by his friends and family. In 1969, he decided to follow his dream and became a long distance truck driver. He worked for Estes and later retired from Yellow Freight Trucking System after thirty years.
On December 8,1972 he married his childhood friend and neighbor, Charmaine Stewart. In 1979, while employed at Yellow Freight, John and family relocated to Charlotte, NC and resided there until 1995. During his career, John received numerous safe driving awards and certificates while being a member of the Teamsters Union.
John, along with his wife became registered foster parents in North Carolina and Virginia. In 1995, he relocated his family back to Amelia, VA and worked out of Raphine, VA with Yellow Freight until his retirement in 2004. after relocating back home, John joined Mt. Level Baptist Church in Amelia, VA along with his family.
John was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Byrd. To cherish his memories, John leaves a devoted wife of forty-five years, Charmaine Stewart Friend; daughters, Charlita Friend, Chantel Friend, Tahria and Shekeema Friend (Brandon); sons, Danny Covington, Edward (Dwayne) Glenn and Davis Friend; grandchildren, Khadijah Jackson, Kiarra Glenn, Tomiya Friend and Isaiah Friend; goddaughter Angela Stewart; sisters, JoAnn Thompson, Annie Wilson, Mae Taylor, Maris Davis (James), Martha Smith (Douglas) and Mary Simmons (Alphonso); brothers, Alexander Friend Jr. (Ella) and George Friend (Shirley); two brothers-in-law Raymond Stewart Jr. (Carrie) and Larry E. Stewart; devoted nephews, Larry Stewart Jr. (L.J.) and Edward Thompson; devoted cousin, Jasper Banks; devoted friends, Robert Jefferson Sr. and George Diggs; devoted caregivers, Albert Woodley, Cheryl Brown and the Hospice Team; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. at Mt. Level Baptist Church, Amelia. Interment church cemetery.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
Read More
John was the youngest of ten children. He joined Union Baptist Church at an early age. He attended Ammon and Russell Grove Schools in Amelia, VA. Growing up he worked on the family farm and at a very young age he was taught to be a go getter and if you wanted nice things out of life, you had to work your hardest to get it.
John earned the nickname Chef by his friends and family. In 1969, he decided to follow his dream and became a long distance truck driver. He worked for Estes and later retired from Yellow Freight Trucking System after thirty years.
On December 8,1972 he married his childhood friend and neighbor, Charmaine Stewart. In 1979, while employed at Yellow Freight, John and family relocated to Charlotte, NC and resided there until 1995. During his career, John received numerous safe driving awards and certificates while being a member of the Teamsters Union.
John, along with his wife became registered foster parents in North Carolina and Virginia. In 1995, he relocated his family back to Amelia, VA and worked out of Raphine, VA with Yellow Freight until his retirement in 2004. after relocating back home, John joined Mt. Level Baptist Church in Amelia, VA along with his family.
John was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Byrd. To cherish his memories, John leaves a devoted wife of forty-five years, Charmaine Stewart Friend; daughters, Charlita Friend, Chantel Friend, Tahria and Shekeema Friend (Brandon); sons, Danny Covington, Edward (Dwayne) Glenn and Davis Friend; grandchildren, Khadijah Jackson, Kiarra Glenn, Tomiya Friend and Isaiah Friend; goddaughter Angela Stewart; sisters, JoAnn Thompson, Annie Wilson, Mae Taylor, Maris Davis (James), Martha Smith (Douglas) and Mary Simmons (Alphonso); brothers, Alexander Friend Jr. (Ella) and George Friend (Shirley); two brothers-in-law Raymond Stewart Jr. (Carrie) and Larry E. Stewart; devoted nephews, Larry Stewart Jr. (L.J.) and Edward Thompson; devoted cousin, Jasper Banks; devoted friends, Robert Jefferson Sr. and George Diggs; devoted caregivers, Albert Woodley, Cheryl Brown and the Hospice Team; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. at Mt. Level Baptist Church, Amelia. Interment church cemetery.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
To plant a tree in memory of John E. Friend, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...