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Earl Carlyle Currin Jr., 80, went to be with the Lord on Aug. 19. Earl was born on Nov. 23,1943, the son of the late Earl Carlyle Currin Sr. and Frances Lucille Eudailey Currin. At a very young age, Earl learned the value of hard work in the tobacco fields of his family’s farm in Lunenburg County. Earl was a 1962 graduate of Victoria High School, and from Virginia Tech, where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agricultural Economics and his Doctorate in Educational Administration. He served in the Virginia Army National Guard in the Christiansburg division.

Earl retired from the Southside Virginia Community College after a 37-year career, with the last 27 years as the Provost of the John H. Daniel campus. He served on the Board of the Southside Electric Cooperative for 38 years and represented Southside Electric Cooperative on the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Board for 14 years. Earl was a member of the Benchmark Community Bank Board for 28 years, where he served as a past chairman. In addition, he represented Lunenburg County on the Piedmont Planning Commission for 15 years, serving as the vice-chairman and chairman. He was a 50-year member of the St. John’s Lodge in Keysville.

Earl took pride in his beef cattle on White Oaks Farm and was an avid hunter with his specialty being spring gobbler season. He preserved his 100th gobbler, but just stopped counting after that. He was a voracious reader, loved tending to his garden, and enjoyed watching Virginia Tech Sports.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Lucy Brown Buchanan Hawthorne Currin, who was also his high school sweetheart. In addition to being survived by his wife, “Cookie“, he is survived by his son, Earl Carlyle Currin III, and his wife, Trisha; his daughter, Kristin Hawthorne Currin Lacks, and her husband, Michael “Dikie”; his daughter, Lucy Sterling Currin Berger, and her husband, Bruce; and his daughter, Maurene Buchanan Currin Sutton, and her husband, Jeff. Earl is also survived by his 10 grandchildren: Sterling Carlyle Currin; Samuel Philip, Esther Mariah, Audrey Marie, and William Colton Lacks; Henry Hawthorne and Wilson Givens Berger; Jillian Riley, Lucy Carlyle and Waverly Buchanan Sutton. He is survived by his brother, Gerald Mason Currin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Ronald Glenn Currin.

Earl was a devoted Christian and an active member of the Victoria Christian Church, where he served as a Deacon, Elder, Trustee and the beloved teacher of his Senior Adult Sunday School Class, which he taught for over 30 years.

He was devoted to his family and was deeply loved as husband, father and grandfather. His life was exemplary of the utmost integrity and impeccable character. Earl was a man true to his word and his word was his bond. He was honest and fair in all his dealings with others. A true Christian gentleman, he was loved and respected by all who knew him.

A Bible verse that fits his life perfectly is Micah 6:8, “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The family will receive friends Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Clarke Funeral Home in Kenbridge. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Victoria Christian Church, 2100 Lee Avenue, Victoria. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor his life may make a donation to The Southside Opportunity Fund, P.O. Box 7, Crewe, Virginia 23930; Attn: Joy Stump. This is a scholarship program that grants awards to deserving high school seniors who will be entering college or trade school. Donations may also be made to the Power Line Worker Training School at Southside Virginia Community College, 109 Campus Drive, Alberta, Virginia 23821, Care of SVCC Foundation, Attn: Jamie Jones; or the Victoria Christian Church, P.O. Box 786, Victoria, Virginia 23974.