The Honorable G. Blair Harry, a lifelong resident of the Suffolk community, passed away at his home Aug. 4 surrounded by his family and friends.

He was 62.

Judge Harry was born in Suffolk on March 26, 1943, the son of Jack and Callie Harry.

He graduated from Suffolk High School in 1961 and from Randolph-Macon College in 1965. At Randolph Macon, he was a forward for the Yellow Jackets basketball team and was elected captain his senior year. He was also a member and president of the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Judge Harry received a law degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1968.

After finishing law school, he taught business law at Virginia Commonwealth University before practicing as an associate with Robert E. Gillette in Suffolk.

Throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, Judge Harry was a partner with Hunter and Harry, followed by a private practice, then a partner at Pretlow, Harry and Eason. In 1990, he was appointed by the General Assembly to serve as a judge of the General District Courts of the Fifth Judicial District.

He was subsequently reappointed twice and served the Commonwealth until shortly before his passing.

Judge Harry was a member and past president of the Suffolk Bar Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of United Virginia Bank. I

n addition, he enjoyed a passion for golf and was a member of the Nansemond River Golf Club.

He is survived by his mother, Callie Hobbs Harry of Suffolk; two daughters, Courtenay Harry and her husband Lex Wolf of New York, NY, Karen Beth Harry of Greenville, N.C.; and his son, Gordon Blair Harry, Jr., of Greenville, N.C.

In addition, he is survived by his siblings, including two brothers, John C. Harry III and his wife Billie of Suffolk, and C. Thomas Harry and his wife Carol of Suffolk, and his sister, Elizabeth Harry Tarkington and her husband Steve of Franklin.

Judge Harry is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews.

A service celebrating his life will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8 at R.W. Baker & Company Funeral Home and Crematory by Rev. T. Floyd Irby followed by a graveside service at Holly Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to support the Blair Harry Memorial Scholarship, c/o BB&T Bank, 1525 North Main Street, Suffolk, Virginia 23434. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.