CARRSVILLE – Sherman Lankford Blythe, 76, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2003, in Obici Hospital.

A native of Southampton County, he was a son of the late Emmitt McKinley and Florence Lankford Blythe Hollowell. Sherman was predeceased by his first wife, Alma E. Blythe; and two brothers, Otis M. Blythe and Sherman’s twin brother, Thurman R. Blythe.

He had retired from the sheet finishing department of Union Camp Corporation.

A Baptist, Sherman was a well-known musician, especially entertaining at nursing homes with the &uot;Over the Hill Gang&uot; band.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Johnson Blythe; four sons, R. Dale Blythe, Donnie O. Blythe, S. Carl Blythe, and Jerome K. Blythe; one step-daughter, Erlene T. Griffin; two stepsons, Robert L. Johnson Jr. and Earl R. Johnson; one sister, Daisy B. Johnson; and two brothers, H. Ashby Blythe and Morgan O. Blythe; 24 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in Wright Funeral Home, Franklin. Burial will follow at Southampton Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home, and other times at the home of Rob and Pat Johnson, 4020 Edinburgh Ct., Suffolk.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Ruth Petty, 116 Southampton Road, Franklin, Va. 23851.