Melvin Lewis Locke “Lewis”, age 91, a lifelong resident of Charlotte County, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, June 19, 2024. He was born October 10, 1932, the eldest child of Otis Merton Locke, Jr. (Pop) and Winnie Lewis Locke. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Marshall Linwood Locke, and his beloved daughter-in-law, Norma Fears Locke.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy McKay Locke, with whom he shared a special bond of love. He is also survived by three children, Doris Locke Dunavant; Richard Lewis Locke and wife, Suzanne; Robert Otis Locke and wife, Claire; sister, Carol Locke and ten grandchildren, Ashley Locke-Cox, Sean Dunavant, Jacob, Jarrit, Addie, Grace, Lauren, Lindsay, Lewie, and Luke Locke.
Lewis proudly served four years active duty and four years reserve in the US Navy during the Korean War, aboard the USS Wisconsin BB64. He was a true patriot and continued to serve by active participation in the American Legion, Post 260. Although he held various positions as a member, he felt the most privileged to be a member of the Honor Guard.
Lewis was a supervisor at Virginia Crafts for around 15 years.
He was a dedicated US Postal Service Rural Mail Carrier for 30 years. He was well known on his route by his customers and made many life-long friends as he went above and beyond to serve them.
During his time working for the Post Office and VA Crafts, he continued to manage the family tobacco farm. The satisfaction he found in watching the crops grow and curing tobacco was rewarding. Even after he was no longer able to farm, he would drive to the fields to check out the crops, as the next generation continued farming.
Additionally, he was an Officer with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and Chairman of US Department of Agriculture, Charlotte County, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Committee.
Lewis was a member of Eureka Baptist Church for most of his life, and served in many roles, including, Trustee, Deacon, Sunday School Director, and Choir.
He was known for his witty sense of humor, hard work, integrity, kindness, and love for his family.
The family will receive friends and family 6pm-8pm, Friday, June 21, 2024, at Browning-Duffer Funeral Home at 110 H Street, Keysville, VA 23947.
A funeral service will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Eureka Baptist Church, Keysville, VA with Interment to follow at Eureka Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Lewis’s honor to Charlotte County Rescue Squad or Eureka Baptist Church Cemetery Fund. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA is in charge of arrangements.
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MARK ANTHONY FEARS
PRAYERS
Rebecca Smith
Mr. Locke was a wonderful man who will always be remembered with fondness from my childhood in Eureka. My deepest condolences to his family~
Pat Stone
I had the privilege of working with Lewis in the Keysville Post Office for many years. It was always interesting when I would ride with him around Route 3 for route inspections. He taught me a lot during those rides mainly around Lunenburg County. He knew that I loved pink tomatoes, so he would plant a few for me in his garden. My sincere condolences to the Locke family. He was a great man that will be missed.
Jerry and Connie Mason
Wonderful man. Prayers for comfort!
Jerome Davis
Very kind man
Bonnie & Spider Gilliam
Our sympathy to all the family. He was a good citizen and served his community and church iin so many ways.
Lesley Montemayor
Condolences to the Locke family on the passing of Lewis. I believe that, in part, I joined Eureka Baptist Church because of him. I remember him asking me “When are you going to join?”. He was also our mailman for a time. What a great man he was.
May he rest in peace. Lesley Montemayor, husband Robert, and family- Julie, Amy, Christopher
Janice Daniel
Condolences and prayers sent to the Locke family
Wayne hammond
We are so very sorry to here of Lewis passing. He was a wonderful man. He is in heaven with his loved ones. I know Granny ( Thelma) is rejoicing in his homecoming. My wife and I would have been at his service had we known but only found out today. Prayers for his well fe and family
Wayne & Lenee’ Hammond
Joseph Giles
I will always have wonderful memories of Lewis and his family. Dorothy, Carol and family, we remember you in our thoughts and prayers!
Rev. Joseph Giles, Tiffany and Rebekah
WESLEY powell
Mr.lewis Lock: was one fine man . I met him and all of his wonderful family in 1977. I moved to Hay.40, only a mile from his home and farm . I move for my job at Burlington Mills same year. I went by and spoke to them , and I spoke to his brother Marshall . He was a nice man and he told me he thought i was a crazy to want to now whose tobacco that is and he had enough of tobacco when he was younger. He said I don’t want nothing to do with it , that belongs to my brother Lewis. Marshall told LEWIS ABOUT ME. LEWIS CAME TO SEE ME, AND I’M GLAD HE DID. I considered them friends that year. I was pulling tobacco the first day and I heard someone coming up behind me plucking fast. I said oh to myself , someone may want too see if I can really pull tobacco . I didn’t know at the time but, the fast priming man was 16 or 17 yr.old Richard Locke. He Pulled tobacco right like I did and broke the leaves off against the stalk . MY wife worked for them too, at the bulk barn. She told me at home thst she heard Richard tell Lewis , I’m glad we have him and hope he continues to work like he is now and help all season, he pulls fast and breaks the leaf at the stalk keeping all the weight on the leaf . We worked for them and thoroughly enjoyed everyday, then I went to my job at Burlington mills on 2Nd. shift . MERT LOCK , LEWIS’S DAD AND THIS FAMILY WER A FFAMILY I ADMIRED TILL THIS VERY DAY . I DIDN’T SEE THEM BUT TWICE AFTER MOVING BACK TO HALIFAX THE 20TH.OF DEC.1980. ONE I WENT TO VISIT LEWIS AND HIS WIFE AT THEIR HOME AND I JUST SO HAPPENED TO SEE , LEWIS,, DORTHY, CAROLE,AND DORIS AT BURGER KING IN CENTERVILLE, SO.BO., VA. AND HE I THINK WAS 88 YRS.OF AGE. I SAT AND TALKED WITH THEM AND HE TOLD ME MAN YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF A GOOD MEMORY . THEY WERE GOING BACK HOME FROM A FUNERAL THEY ATTENDED IN DANVILLE, VA..I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING LEWIS IN HEAVEN AND HIS FAMILY WHEN JESUS CHRIST CALLS MY NAME FOR MY HOME GOING . I WILL SEE YOU LATTER MY FRIEND, BROTHER LEWIS LOCK. WESLEY N. POWELL.
Cynthia Mann
Dorothy and Carol I’m so sorry for your loss. I use to work with Lewis at VA. Crafts. He was my supervisor and he was such a good man. Prayers.