Helen Speight Savage, 88, died Feb. 24, 2009 in Georgetown, S.C. A native of Suffolk, she was the widow of Joseph Arn Savage and the daughter of John Harvey Speight and Mary Elizabeth Jones Speight. She was predeceased by three grandchildren: Whitney Jo Savage, William Chadwick Ward, and Kevin Savage Oman. She was also predeceased by all four of her siblings: Mary Speight Moore, Margaret Speight Glaus, Harvey Thomas Speight and J. H. Speight.
She is survived by two daughters and one son: Kaye Savage Schroeder and husband, John, of Pawleys Island, S.C.; Jo Ann Savage Ward, of Suffolk; and Joseph A. Savage Jr. and wife, Jane, of Tampa, Fla.; five beloved grandchildren survived her: William Robert Oman Jr. and wife, Heather, of Greensboro, N.C.; Kimberly Jo Oman Abernethy and husband, Ram, of Hickory, N.C.; William Jason Ward and wife, Christine, of Richmond, Va.; Ashley Savage Marchetti and husband, Steve, of Tampa, Fla., and Lindsay Kaye Savage, of Tampa, Fla.; eight great-grandchildren: Will and Jack Oman, Ethan Abernethy, Grace and Kylie Ward, Dylan, Ella and Madison Jane Marchetti. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law: Mildred Speight, of Suffolk, and Helen Speight, of Hampton, and two nephews and four nieces: Linwood Moore and wife, Betty; Betty West and husband, Tom; Wayne Speight and wife, Hope; Paige Speight Nolin, Jane Speight and Alyce Savage Thomas, plus numerous great-nephews and nieces.
Mrs. Savage was a member of Southside Baptist Church and the Ladies Seven Sunday School Class. She and her husband lived all of their lives together in Whaleyville, where they farmed and raised their family. It was her true joy to see their family grow and meet their eight great-grandchildren. Prior to her marriage, she attended Bethlehem Christian Church and after her marriage, attended Liberty Spring Christian Church.
A funeral service will be held Friday, Feb. 27 at Southside Baptist Church at 2 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Stewart McCarter. Interment will follow at Liberty Spring Christian Church Cemetery. Friends may join the family on Thursday evening for visitation at Parr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3515 Robs Drive, Suffolk from 7 to 8 p.m. or at a reception following the burial. The family will also receive friends at the residence. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southside Baptist Church Building Fund, 917 Carolina Road, Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.