Sumpter Turner Priddy Jr.

PRIDDY, Sumpter Turner, Jr., 92, of Ashland, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, January 12, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cornelia Williamson Priddy and Sumpter Turner Priddy, Sr. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Robin; and five children, Rives Priddy (Nancy Cook), Sumpter Priddy III, Bruce Spiller (Bob), Dr. John Priddy (Crystal) and Tim Priddy (Nancy). He has nine grandchildren; John Norman, Taylor Andrews (Spence), Tim Norman, Grace Eckhardt (Todd), Raleigh Priddy, Luke Priddy, Leo Priddy, Rosalie Priddy and Wyatt Priddy; and two great-grandchildren, Brody Andrews and Easton Eckhardt. He attended Randolph Macon College and Hampden Sydney College and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He served in the Army with the 133 Combat Engineers. He served for 31 years as CEO of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association, the voice of Free Enterprise. He served 8 years on the Community College Board. He represented the Virginia Retail Jewelers, the Virginia Society of CPA’s, the Virginia Outdoor Advertising Association, The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, where he was presented with the Dalton award and life membership of the VA Tech/Maryland School of Veterinary Medicine. Sumpter coordinated a number of national and regional legislative conferences upon request from such distinguished people, such as Gov. Mills Godwin, Gov. Linwood Holton, and Gov. John Dalton. He was President of the Virginia Jaycees, served as National Vice President, and was inducted into the U.S. Jaycees Hall of Leadership. Sumpter received many coveted awards, including the Virginia Cultural Laureate Award for Community Service, Executive of the Year from the Virginia Society for Association Executives, the Unsung Award for his contributions to the retail industry and his support of Free Enterprise, and also the Silver Plaque Award from the National Retail Federation. He was a member and elder of King’s Chapel Presbyterian Church, The Commonwealth Club, the Montpelier Ruritan Club, and a life-long member of the Ashland Rescue Squad. He was a history buff with a phenomenal memory of the past. His love for Hanover County is reflected in his efforts to see that a comprehensive history was written, "Nature’s Bounty, Nation’s Glory". The family will receive friends from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the Nelsen Funeral Home, Reid Chapel, 412 S. Washington Hwy., Ashland, VA 23005. A private burial will be held at Woodland Cemetery in Ashland, VA. A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Monday, January 16, 2017 at First Baptist Church, Ashland. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to King’s Chapel Presbyterian Church, 13346 W. Patrick Henry Rd., Doswell, VA 23047, or to the Heritage and History of Hanover County, Inc., PO Box 819, Mechanicsville, VA 23111.