Johnnie P. Shearin

Johnnie P. Shearin, 92, departed this life on April 13, 2017 in Chesapeake, Virginia.  He was born on March 27, 1925 to Johnnie B. and Addie Hicks Shearin in Oxford, North Carolina in Warren County.  He received his education in the Warren County School System.  In 1948, he married Gracie Lee Carroll.  He accepted Christ as his personal Savior at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Macon, North Carolina.  Later, he moved to Virginia in 1950 and became a member of First Baptist Church Elm Avenue for over forty years.

Before his health began to decline, he was a faithful member of the Senior Usher Board, Trustee Board of the Ushers’ Association, Male Chorus and Pilgrim Lodge #1651 Odd Fellows.

Johnnie served proudly in the United States Army and received an Honorable Discharge.  After 35 years of service, he retired as a Machinist with Ammunition Depot and Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1987.

Affectionately called “Poppy” and “Granddaddy,” his children have many fond memories to cherish for years to come.

Johnnie is predeceased by his spouse, Gracie Lee Shearin, two brothers, Oliver Shearin and Ernest Shearin, and one sister, Emma Kelly.

He leaves to mourn, one brother, James Shearin of Baltimore, Maryland; one devoted son, Wilbert Shearin (Pamela) of Chesapeake, Virginia; two daughters, Alice Geraldine Ladson of Charleston, South Carolina, Carolyn S. Rinaldi (Anthony) of Collinsville, Virginia; eight grandchildren, Harold Ladson, III (Latoniah), Tiffany Ladson Lang (Thomas), Antoine Ladson, Antoinette Ladson, Alexandra Shearin, Jasmine Shearin, Ashton Rinaldi, Jillian Rinaldi; eight great-great grandchildren, four sisters-in-law, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 19^th from 5 pm to 7 pm at Corprew Funeral Home.  A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2017, 11 am at First Baptist Church Elm Avenue, 1025 Elm Avenue, Portsmouth, VA  23704.  Interment will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake.