SUFFOLK—Clayton Louis Best, 81, passed away on June 10, 2014, at Southampton Memorial Hospital.

Born in Bolton, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Curtis Wilson Best Sr. and Dorothy Ezzell Best.

He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, and had retired from Union Camp Corporation after 41 years of service in the Pulp Mill as a washroom operator.

Louis was a lifetime member of the Bronco Hunt Club. He was a member of Franklin Baptist Church. Louis was also predeceased by his sisters, Retha Mae Messervy, Doris Best Baines and Louise Gordon, and his brothers, C.W. “Doug” Best and Harry Lee Best.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Bessie Francis Best; two daughters, Rhonda DeEtte Best and Lori Hamm and husband, Ray Boykin; two sons, Clayton Louis Best II and wife, Jane, and Curtis Francis Best and wife, Kathy; sister, Annette Davis of California; brother, Ervin Best and wife, Carol, of Lanexa; sister-in-law, Mary Frances Best; grandchildren, Nicholas Robertson, Geoffrey Harbick, Clayton Hamm, Allie Best, Jenna Best and Clayton Louis Best III; and a great-grandchild, Michael Harbick.

The funeral will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, June 13, in Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Brent Kimlick and the Rev. Sharon James officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Southampton Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Franklin Baptist Church, 208 N. High St., Franklin, VA 23851.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org