February 8, 2011

Melvin Pierce Brinkley, 93, of Suffolk, Va., passed away Feb. 8, 2011. He was born in Bertie County, N.C., the son of the late Mary Pierce Brinkley and Wallace Tenwood Brinkley. He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Catherine Marie Jones Brinkley. He retired from farming and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Melvin was a member of Cypress Chapel Christian Church and the Men’s Bible Class. He was a charter member of the Cypress Chapel Ruritan Club and also was a member of the Boiler Makers of America.

Melvin is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond T. Brinkley and Becky Haar Brinkley, of Suffolk, Va., Chaplain Melvin Garrett Brinkley and Margaret Brady Brinkley, of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Catherine Kaye Brinkley and husband, Jonas Persson, and Elizabeth Mae Brinkley; great-grandchild, Leif Lukas James Persson. He is also survived by his two cousins, Carson Brinkley and Ida Blumberg.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at 10 a.m. at Cypress Chapel Christian Church with the Rev. Dr. Willis I. Dowling officiating. Burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery. Friends may join the family Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory and other times at the residence of Raymond and Becky Brinkley. Memorial donations may be made to Cypress Chapel Christian Church Renovation fund at 1891 Cypress Chapel Road, Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.