SPRING GROVE - Haywood Greer Sr. died quietly at the age of 82 on Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at his home in Spring Grove with his wife Virginia and daughter Gwendolyn by his side after a courageous battle with Parkinson's. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Gwendolyn Ruth Ford Greer; his twin brother, Royal Norwood Greer; and his parents, Royal David Greer and Mary Pearl Hatsell Greer. He was born Jan. 26, 1922, in Jacksonville, N.C., and moved to Hampton after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He became the youngest civil service Fire Chief at 33 years of age and retired in that position in 1973 from the Fort Monroe Fire Dept. After retirement, he continued with his love of automotive mechanics by becoming part-owner of an auto repair business in downtown Hampton and later worked at Carl's Garage in Waverly until fully retiring in 1994 to his cottage along the James River. He belonged to Army-Navy Masonic Lodge No. 306 and was a charter member of Central Baptist Church in Hampton. George leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 12 years, Virginia; one daughter, Gwendolyn Ann Greer of Spring Grove; four sons, George H. Greer Jr. and his wife, Jean, of Smithfield, Gary Greer and his wife, Terri, and Gene Greer and his wife, Jennifer, all of Hampton, and Gerald Greer of Nashville, Tenn.; one sister, Janiece Greer Goddard and her husband, Jack, of Fuquay; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A life celebration service for Haywood will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to either the American Cancer Society, 895 Middle Ground Blvd., Suite 154, Newport News, VA 23606, or the APDA Virginia Beach Chapter, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 4560 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Friends are encouraged to visit www.mem.com to share words of comfort with the family. Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton.
Published in the Daily Press on 12/14/2004.