Henry Claiborne Pope
- Born: Nov. 21, 1938 Johnston, NC
- Died: March 20, 2011 Virginia Beach, VA
- Buried: Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach, VA
- Married: Carol Ann Lewis on May 29, 1956, in Johnston, NC
Henry Claiborne Pope
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| Speck's children with Carol Ann Lewis Pope |
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| Bonnie Gail Pope Nutter |
| David Claibone Pope |
Henry "Speck" Claiborne Pope was born on November 21, 1938, in Johnston County, North Carolina, the youngest son of Nancy Agnes Stancil and Clarence Raymond Pope. He had an older sister, Frances, and three older brothers: Gene, Marshall, and Charles Ray. Delivered at home in the Glendale Community by Dr. Woodard, Claiborne grew up attending Center Ridge Presbyterian Church, which his maternal grandfather, Henry Stancil, helped establish. His sister Frances, who always called him Claiborne, fondly recalled wishing he could remain a small child. His distinctive nickname, "Speck," originated from his numerous freckles as a youngster, a name given by one of his brothers that stuck with him throughout his life.
A memorable childhood incident involved his older brothers teaching a four-year-old "Speck" to swim by repeatedly tossing him into a swimming hole until he learned to navigate the water. Growing up, Claiborne was an avid sports fan, initially rooting for North Carolina State like his brothers, but eventually becoming a devoted University of North Carolina Tar Heels fan, though he supported all North Carolina teams unless they played the Tar Heels.
Claiborne's upbringing was deeply rooted in farm life. He worked hard on the family farm, where they grew tobacco, corn, soybeans, and wheat. His responsibilities included driving the tractor, planting, and harvesting crops. At just 15, his father passed away, and Claiborne continued farming with the assistance of his Pope uncles, meticulously tending to the 4½ acres of tobacco. He continued farming until his high school graduation in 1956. Like his older brother Marshall, Claiborne was agile and athletic, excelling as a talented basketball player and serving as captain of the Glendale basketball team.
Claiborne met Carol Ann Lewis, who hailed from Kenly, North Carolina. Carol Ann, born on December 31, 1937, in Wayne County, NC, was the daughter of Stephen and Louise Lewis. She had started school in Norfolk but graduated from Kenly High School. The two high schools, Kenly and Glendale, were fierce rivals. Carol Ann affectionately called Henry Claiborne "Speck." She remembered a thrilling moment when "Speck" picked her up from school on his motorcycle, and after a student yelled, "Let it rip!" he did, with Carol Ann clinging on for dear life.
"Speck" and Carol Ann decided to marry and had their ceremony performed by a retired minister, Rev. Starling, in his home on May 29, 1956. Carol Ann wore a light blue dress. For their honeymoon, "Speck's" brother Marshall and his wife Jean offered their vacant cottage near Micro, and his older brother Gene lent them his car.
Initially, "Speck" worked as a bread truck driver, making deliveries in Johnston County, North Carolina. During this time, Carol Ann's parents relocated back to Norfolk, Virginia. In 1958, "Speck" and Carol Ann moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where "Speck" secured a job doing maintenance on the seven-story Commodore Maury Hotel. Their first child, daughter Bonnie Gail, was welcomed into their lives. Their son, David, was born in 1960.
"Speck's" amiable nature quickly earned him a new position in charge of collections for Cavalier Coin Company in Virginia Beach. His friendly demeanor helped him excel, and he later co-owned "Amusements Inc.," a coin-operated machine business, where he worked for 40 years. Even after retirement, his expertise was so sought after that he agreed to return to work, provided he was driven to and from home.
By the mid-1960s, Carol Ann's parents returned to Kenly to help manage the Dixie Diner, and "Speck" and Carol Ann purchased their home in an older neighborhood of Virginia Beach, just blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.
"Speck" was actively involved in his community, especially during Little League and football seasons, serving as a player's agent to ensure player eligibility, which culminated in a Virginia Beach championship. While "Speck" focused on the players, Carol Ann was busy as vice-president of Little League and managing the concession stand.
A touching story of "Speck's" compassion involved "Little Dog," a cold, wet, and abandoned puppy he found after a hurricane. Although initially intending to take the puppy to the police station, "Little Dog" became "Speck's" special companion, bringing him immense joy over the years and even accompanying him on visits to family in Kenly.
"Speck" deeply loved his family and eagerly anticipated the annual Pope Family Reunion in Johnston County, North Carolina, each June. He would playfully chide his relatives, remarking, "It must be more miles from Kenly to Virginia Beach than it was from Virginia Beach to Kenly because you seldom visit me!" His farming heritage endured, as he cultivated an extra-large garden filled with various crops, including his favorite boiled peanuts, and maintained a lush green lawn with an irrigation system even in winter.
"Speck" cherished his family and friends, always ready with a joke or an interesting story. He never met a stranger, greeting everyone with a smile, a kind word, and an outstretched hand. Carol Ann often said he loved to entertain and kept her laughing, making everyone from the pharmacist to the Food Lion clerk feel good. His niece, Marsha Johnson Barfield, described him as a magnetic presence who made every room come alive.
Carol Ann Lewis Pope made her home in Virginia Beach with "Speck" for 55 years. She worked with the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts as a deputy clerk.
Henry "Speck" Claiborne Pope died suddenly at 72 on Sunday, March 20, 2011. He had spent the morning with neighborhood friends for coffee and the newspaper, returning home to greet Carol Ann before taking a customary nap on the couch. He passed away peacefully in his sleep from a heart attack. "Speck" is buried in Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Carol Ann Lewis Pope passed away at the age of 76 on January 12, 2014, in her home and is also buried in Rosewood Memorial Park. "Speck's" life, as reflected in Bessie Stanley's quote, "He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much," and Carol Ann's enduring love, left a lasting legacy of warmth, laughter, and cherished memories for all who knew them.