Richard Luther Blake, son of the late Fred Pope and Mary Louise Blakes, was born in South Hampton County, Virginia on August 4, 1948.  God called him home on January 5, 2022.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, the love of his life, Varetta W. Blake, Sister, Theresa Mae “Terri” Pope, and Brother, William Monroe Pope.

He was educated in the Portsmouth Public School System and studied Computer Information Systems at the University of the District of Columbia, in Washington, DC.

Richard served in the U.S. Army for 19 years where he was introduced to the survey profession.  He was a licensed land surveyor and spent 39 years operating, managing and evaluating various civil engineering projects with emphasis in the area of land surveying.  He was a member of the American Congress of Surveying & Mapping, the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and the Virginia Association of Surveyors, Central Chapter.

In the early 1980s, Richard and his wife, Varetta, became involved in a grass-roots effort and worked tirelessly to make Martin Luther King’s birthday a national holiday.

Richard was the first of six children.  He leaves to cherish his memory two brothers, Lewis Pope of Portsmouth, VA and Stanley Pope of East Point, GA.  A sister, Aretha Harris of Richmond, VA. Nieces Rhonda Herrington, Michelle Holland, Jacqueline Bell, Nancy Smith-Jones, and Tina Pope.  Two nephews, Christopher Pope and Jaquan Brooks.  Uncles Pete Pope (Patsy), Nathaniel Warren (Linda), and Booker T. Warren (Vaughn).  A host of great nieces and nephews, cousins, family and friends.