Elton Baxter Seward Sr 30 JUN 1924 - 16 FEB 2005 SEWARD Elton Baxter Seward, 80, a lifelong resident of Surry County, passed away Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at Riverside Convalescent Center in Smitfafkld, Va. Born June 30, 1924 in Surry County, Baxter was the son of the late Henry E. and Lelia Ellis Seward. Baxter was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Dorothy Beale Seward, and siblings, Mary Leigh Brittle, Henry C. Seward and Roy E. Seward. He is survived by his wife, Martha B. Powell-Seward; his two daughters, Dyanne S. Brantky and husband, Stanley of Ivor, Nancy S. Layden and husband, Henry of Smitfafkld; his three sons, Elton B. Seward Jr. and wife, Janet of Elberon, Michael A. Seward and wife, Emi of Smithfkld, and Jeffrey A. Seward and wife, Melanie of Elberon; 12 grandchildren, Jason P.H. Brantley, Matthew A. Brantley, Melissa B. Ebert, David L. Johnson IV, Michelle L. Harry, Jonathan B. Seward, Elizabeth W. Seward, Catharine E. Seward, Beth Seward, Brenton A. Seward, Brooke H. Seward and Taylor A. Seward; sisters, Virginia "Bunky" Thacker of and Ann S. Cobb of Wakefield; five great-grandchildren, William Brantley Ebert, Matthew Aurelius Brantky Jr., Ana Margot Brantley, Caroline Faith Brantley and Mason Allen Harry; two stepdaughters, Jackie P. Smith of Smithfield and Patty P. Starnes of Elberon. Mr. Seward was a lifelong farmer and a prominent businessman in Surry County. He established Seward Farms with his sons in the 1970s. He was named the Virginia Pork Producer of the Year in 1996. Baxter was a member of Surry Baptist Churcfa and Surry Ruritan Club. Funeral services will be held at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, on Saturday, February 19, 2005 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Donald Jones, Rev. Ray Rowland, and the Rev. Tommy Reynolds officiating. Interment will follow in Moore's Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery in Elberon. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening 7 until 8:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Moore's Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 5900 Beechland Rd., Elberon, Va. 23846; the Surry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 188, Surry, Va. 23883; or the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 97, SmithfieM, Va. 23431. Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, assisted the family with arrangements. Richmond, Virginia Richmond Times-Dispatch 17 Feb, 2005 Page B7 Obituary for Elton Baxter SEWARD ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## Narrative Summary of the Obituary Elton Baxter Seward Sr., born 30 June 1924, was a lifelong Surry County resident and businessman. He passed away on 16 February 2005. He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy, and survived by his second wife, Martha, and their children and grandchildren. ## Narrative Summary of Funeral Services Funeral services for Elton Baxter Seward Sr. were held on 19 February 2005 at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield. He was interred at Moore's Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery in Elberon. ## The Edited Obituary Elton Baxter Seward Sr 30 JUN 1924 - 16 FEB 2005 SEWARD Elton Baxter Seward, 80, a lifelong resident of Surry County, passed away Wednesday, 16 February 2005 at Riverside Convalescent Center in Smithfield, Va. Born 30 June 1924 in Surry County, Baxter was the son of the late Henry E. and Lelia Ellis Seward. Baxter was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Dorothy Beale Seward, and siblings, Mary Leigh Brittle, Henry C. Seward, and Roy E. Seward. He is survived by his wife, Martha B. Powell-Seward; his two daughters, Dyanne S. Brantley and husband, Stanley of Ivor, Nancy S. Layden and husband, Henry of Smithfield; his three sons, Elton B. Seward Jr. and wife, Janet of Elberon, Michael A. Seward and wife, Emi of Smithfield, and Jeffrey A. Seward and wife, Melanie of Elberon; 12 grandchildren, Jason P.H. Brantley, Matthew A. Brantley, Melissa B. Ebert, David L. Johnson IV, Michelle L. Harry, Jonathan B. Seward, Elizabeth W. Seward, Catharine E. Seward, Beth Seward, Brenton A. Seward, Brooke H. Seward, and Taylor A. Seward; sisters, Virginia "Bunky" Thacker and Ann S. Cobb of Wakefield; five great-grandchildren, William Brantley Ebert, Matthew Aurelius Brantley Jr., Ana Margot Brantley, Caroline Faith Brantley, and Mason Allen Harry; two stepdaughters, Jackie P. Smith of Smithfield and Patty P. Starnes of Elberon. Mr. Seward was a lifelong farmer and a prominent businessman in Surry County. He established Seward Farms with his sons in the 1970s. He was named the Virginia Pork Producer of the Year in 1996. Baxter was a member of Surry Baptist Church and Surry Ruritan Club. Funeral services will be held at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, on Saturday, 19 February 2005 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Donald Jones, Rev. Ray Rowland, and the Rev. Tommy Reynolds officiating. Interment will follow in Moore's Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery in Elberon. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening 7 until 8:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Moore's Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 5900 Beechland Rd., Elberon, Va. 23846; the Surry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 188, Surry, Va. 23883; or the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 97, Smithfield, Va. 23431. Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, assisted the family with arrangements. ## Vital Statistics Summary | Name | Elton Baxter Seward Sr. | |---------|----------------------------------| | Age | 80 | | Birth | 30 June 1924; Surry County | | Death | 16 February 2005; Smithfield, Va | ## Table of Relationships | Name | Relationship | Residence | |-------------------------|-----------------------|----------------| | Elton Baxter Seward Sr. | Decedent | Smithfield, Va | | Martha B. Powell-Seward | Spouse | Unknown | | Henry E. Seward | Predeceased Parent | -- | | Lelia Ellis Seward | Predeceased Parent | -- | | Dorothy Beale Seward | Predeceased Spouse | -- | | Dyanne S. Brantley | Child | Ivor | | Nancy S. Layden | Child | Smithfield | | Elton B. Seward Jr. | Child | Elberon | | Michael A. Seward | Child | Smithfield | | Jeffrey A. Seward | Child | Elberon | | Virginia Bunky Thacker | Sibling | Unknown | | Ann S. Cobb | Sibling | Wakefield | | Mary Leigh Brittle | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Henry C. Seward | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Roy E. Seward | Predeceased Sibling | -- | ## Other Relevant Information 1. Elton Baxter Seward Sr. was a lifelong resident of Surry County. 2. He established Seward Farms with his sons in the 1970s. 3. He was named the Virginia Pork Producer of the Year in 1996. 4. Elton Baxter Seward Sr. was a member of Surry Baptist Church. 5. He was also a member of the Surry Ruritan Club. ## Publication Details - Place: Richmond, Virginia - Name: Richmond Times-Dispatch - Date: 17 February 2005 - Page: B7