John Whitfield Sutherland, 88, passed away July 13, 2009. He was born in Lynchburg, Va., the son of the late Eleanor G. and John T. Sutherland. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Brandon Sutherland and daughter, Julia S. Perkinson. John was a U.S. Navy veteran having served during WWII and in Korea. He was a former resident of South Norfolk and retired as a sheet metal mechanic from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Shop #17. John was a member of Southside Baptist Church and the Men’s Adult 12 Bible Class. He was also a member of the Norfolk VFW Post #4809.
John is survived by his daughter and sons-in-law, June S. and Tim Garrison of Suffolk, Va., and Mark Perkinson of Richmond, Va.; grandsons, Brandon Garrison of Suffolk, Va., and Jonathan Perkinson and his wife Jenni of Dinwiddie County, Va; and great grandchildren, Zachary and Alexandra Perkinson.
A graveside service, with military honors, will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Va., at 2 p.m. with Rev. Stewart McCarter and Rev. Jonathan Rissmiller officiating. Friends may join the family for visitation at Parr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3515 Robs Drive, Suffolk, on Tuesday, from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Southside Baptist Church, 917 Carolina Road, Suffolk, Va., 23434. Special thanks to DaVita Great Bridge for the special and professional care they gave. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.