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Mr. Armistead Gorrell Lambert (updated with service information)

12/27/1936 - 08/19/2021

Obituary:

Armistead Gorrell Lambert, a long-time resident of South Hill, VA, was born at home on December 27, 1936 in Brodnax, VA, a place that he often mentioned proudly. He died at home on August 19, 2021, getting ready for his day, with his wife and daughter beside him, just as he hoped. His parents were the late Samuel Joseph Lambert and Fannie Scott Lambert. The youngest of four siblings, he was predeceased by his sister, Alice Smith, and his brothers, Dr. Jake Lambert and S.J. Lambert, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Clarke Lambert; his daughter, Leigh Lambert; son-in-law, Erik Springer; and extended family. Armistead often said, “Friends are worth more than gold.” Grateful to have many friends from childhood and those met in later years, he appreciated the fellowship and assistance they gave—especially recently. A pharmacist, Armistead was co-owner of Garland Drug Company in South Hill. He worked there from 1964 to 2006, when he and his partner sold the business. After that, he continued working part-time as a pharmacist until he was 78. Having a strong work ethic, one of Armistead’s first paid jobs as a young child was “nail straightener” at his father’s saw mill (a penny per nail). Other gigs, connected to logging and agriculture, included cutting wheat, bailing hay, running a combine, chopping and hauling firewood. He attended elementary schools in La Crosse and Brodnax and graduated from Lawrenceville High School in 1954. He was voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates in football and baseball. He was chosen by the senior class as Most Athletic, Most Popular, Most Happy-Go-Lucky, and Best All-Around. Written next to his senior picture in the yearbook is: “A great athlete, an unusual sport, lots of wit, and plenty of laughs make this wonderful guy, Armistead.” In the weeks and days before his death, Armistead was helping to plan his 67th high school class reunion, scheduled for September 8. Recently, he made numerous phone calls to classmates, encouraging attendance and expressing excitement about the possibility of seeing them there. Continuing his education at the University of Richmond, he played on the Spiders football team. He also attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before transferring to the Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy. While at MCV, he worked part-time at Peoples Drug Store. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree, he was drafted into the military and spent two years as a pharmacist in the Army hospital at Fort Gordon, GA. Armistead and Sylvia were married in 1962 after a five-year courtship. Leigh was born on their twelfth wedding anniversary. Armistead said she was the best gift he could ever receive. He called Sylvia and Leigh his “pride and joy”. His hobbies were: A little farming—soybeans and pine trees; quail hunting—often coming home with his limit; playing bridge, Scrabble, and checkers; writing and reciting poems, most to honor close friends. An outdoorsman at heart, Armistead enjoyed mowing his yard and caring for his lawn. Recognized for “many hours of faithful dedication to the maintenance of the grounds” at First Baptist Church, he served on its Building and Grounds Committee and also held a deaconship there. He liked a good meal, music, and reading. These simple pleasures sustained him until the end of his life on Earth—a life that was extended, thanks to modern medicine, a tenacious will to live, and the “grace of God”. If you knew Armistead, please remember him fondly and imagine his distinctive voice, proclaiming “I’ll check you later!” A celebration of life will be held at a future date. A memorial book for signing in person is available at Crowder-Hite-Crews Funeral Home and Crematory in South Hill. Online condolences may be sent through their website, www.crowderhitecrews.com.

Armistead Gorrell Lambert, age 84, died at his home in South Hill
last summer on August 19, 2021. He was born at home in Brodnax on
December 27, 1936.
A memorial service will be held 1 year and 1 day after his death.
This celebration of life will take place on Saturday, August 20,
2022 at 11am at First Baptist Church, 410 North Mecklenburg Avenue,
South Hill, Virginia 23970. A reception will follow nearby at The
Dogwood Event Venue, 313 Franklin Street, South Hill, Virginia 23970.
Armistead’s detailed obituary from last year is online at
crowderhitecrews.com/obituaries/entry/433/.

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  1. "Ode to Armstead Lambert "

    Mrs. Lambert, Leigh and Erik. You all have our deepest condolences. Words cannot express how the Stone family feels. I look at you all as our extended family because of the over 50 some years that my Daddy, Lewis Stone was employed at Garland Drug Store. Your husband and father was always good to my Dad and our family as well as Mr. Billy Doyle. Whenever I would see them together or think of the three of them, I would think, “God made some great men in them”.
    Leigh, I could not close without telling you, that it was an honor when your Dad asked me to help your Mother with you, in your 1st six weeks after you were born. You were such a sweet baby.
    You two Woman are the love of Armstead Lambert’s life. When we talked, he would update me on both of you. We never ended our conversations without him giving me the biggest laughs. He is such a loving and caring person and has been greatly missed. I know that he loves God and that’s what counts!!!
    I won’t ever forget the poem that he wrote and read at my Daddy Homegoing Service in 2008 entitled, “Ode to Lewis Stone,”So beautiful and I still pull it out, every now and then to re-read it.
    I don’t write poems like Armistead Lambert, but I can say that I love him and miss him.
    My Mother, Rosa Stone sends her love and condolences to the family as well. May God bless and keep you all in His loving arms.

  2. We offer our sincere condolences to the Lambert Family. Mr. Lambert and his family held a special place in our late father’s heart late Charles “Charlie” Tanner.

    The Tanner-Brown Family

  3. I'm going to miss you Buddy

    I remember the Day I meet Armistead, He came across the street and we introduced ourselves to each other and started talking. It was almost immediate, It was like a long lost best friend. Armistead always joked with me that if I was older and around during his time, or if he was younger we could have really done some things.

    I haven’t meet many people that could compare to Armistead and I don’t think i have the vocabulary to do him justice. The world lost an amazing person and I am going to truly miss him, but will cherish the memories I have of him.

    My deepest condolences Mrs. Lambert, Leigh & Erik for your loss.

    When I was moving from Virginia to Texas, He always would say ” Deep in the heart of Texas” and would tell me how he rewrote the song to be “Deep in the heart of Brodnax”. So from Deep in the Heart of Texas to Armistead Lambert I’m really going to miss you Buddy.

  4. Love ya’ll

    Sylvia and Leigh, I was so saddened to hear of Armistead’s death. What a wonderful man, husband, and father. I know there’s a big hole in your hearts and lives. He adored you both! We will be praying for you constantly. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

  5. Great Man

    Leigh, I’m so sorry about the loss of your dad. It was always a pleasure chatting with you and he in the hospital, though I know he didn’t want to be here. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Mary Smith

  6. My sincere sympathy to you and your family. Remember the good times even when you and Armstead were courting. He and Hugh went squirrel hunting by boat on Lake Gaston. He never let me live down those SNAPS.

  7. A life well lived.

    Knowing Armistead was a study at best. As a neighbor one could ask for none better. The memories of he and dad tending their garden are memorable. Also are the memories of looking across the street and seeing him dutifully cutting grass into the late evening. There are memories of him pulling people out of the mud between Pettus Town and Binford St before Raleigh was extended through. So many memories. A dedicated husband, father and citizen who will be remembered by all.

  8. I am so sorry for your loss Armistead was a great man. He was a great teacher and story teller. He told me many stories about family members that he knew before I went to work at Garland Drug. He will now have the most well kept lawn in heaven. He will be missed. He and Billy are even now probably remembering the good old days of Garland Drug.

  9. A true original

    Dear Sylvia and Leigh, Armistead was absolutely an original! I am praying for both of you for the Lord’s comfort in your time of loss. I feel that the last several years have been hard on both of you and I pray that these sad memories will turn to happy ones.
    Love,
    Betty Bruce

  10. Leigh and family, I was so sorry to see the news of your dad’s passing. The few times I met him he was very entertaining. I know your heart is breaking right now and also know that you have many cherished memories to carry you all through this very difficult time. Sending hugs and condolences.

  11. Sylvia and Family

    My prayers are with you as you grieve your loss and Heaven’s gain. I did not know Armistead, but from reading his obit, there are plenty of good memories. So dwell on these in the days to come.

  12. In memory of my sister Christine, the babysitter and my mother Virginia, the souse lady, my family extends our deepest condolences to the Lambert family. We have many fond memories of Mr. Lambert from the drugstore. We pray God will envelop you in his loving arms and comfort you.

  13. My buddy Armistead

    Armistead was quite a character and a funny man with tons of integrity. To know him was to love him. I remember when I first met him. He came by our dairy farm with my cousin Rick and they had Armisteads dog Dan. Dan was known as one of the best bird dog around. Armistead will live through our memories and stories and tears and laughter. Sending peace and love.

  14. Such a Sweet Man

    When I was a teenager Armstead always had a smile and he always found a way to purchase whatever I was selling to help fund my School. Bless his heart I have no idea looking back what on earth he did with all those doughnuts and wrapping paper!
    I feel blessed to have known him.

  15. Thank You Armistead

    On behalf of the Saunders family our sympathies to the Lamberts on the passing of Armistead. If I heard my father and mother talk about how much they enjoyed him once, I heard them say it a thousand times. I wonder how many times my father walked across the alley to get some wisdom from Armistead? Somewhere in our Saunders keepsakes is one of those great poems he wrote about my father. It was hilarious! An unforgettable
    member of the South Hill and southside Virginia community. RIP Mr. Lambert

  16. Peace and grace

    Thank you Armistead for all the help and support you gave my family and the town of South Hill during your years as pharmacist—I know my mama worried you to death but she loved you and had great confidence in your advice! Rest In Peace kind sir.

  17. Sylvia and family,
    Arminstead, my classmate of LHS–Class of 1954.It is so sad to learn of his passing only a couple weeks before our 67th class reunion. Oh, how much we will miss his smiling face and wit? John and I extend our deepest sympathy to each of you. May God Bless and keep you in his care. .
    Evelyn Bowen Drake

  18. Working at Garland Drug for Armistead & Billy was my first job. Armistead was a joy to work for. He was a great boss that kept us laughing. He would send us over to Hine’s Supermarket to get him souse meat for sandwiches. Even after I left Garland Drug to open Quik Stop he was a fateful customer in our convenient stores. He would come to our house sometimes so he could play checkers with Willie Bob. And yes he loved his two girls Sylvia & Leigh. I will miss him but I have wonderful memories of my years knowing Armistead. He always told us we could call Billy “Mr. Doyle” but he was just Armistead!! All my love to his two girls!

  19. Condolences

    We are so sorry for your loss! Armistead was a dear man! He and daddy had some great times together! We are praying for all of you during this difficult time. Love and prayers, Michelle King Edmonds and Malcom Lee King

  20. Member of first Baptist church

    Dear Lambert family I send my saddest condolences I know Leigh Lambert from the colonial theater me and her are best friends she loved her dad very much I am so sorry

  21. Friend of first Baptist church

    Dear Lambert family I send my saddest condolences my prayers are with you if you need anything please don’t hesitate to ask I am so sorry lambert family

  22. Remembering a Friend

    “Boss Man” was a good friend and I will always cherish the times we spent mostly on our trips to doctors appointments and our Saturday morning breakfast outings at Brian’s with the “gang”. He called me just last week to catch up on things as we did often. He was looking forward to his upcoming class reunion and I just knew he had already started his poem preparation for the event. He loved his “Walker” lawnmower and enjoyed his yard work.

    Linda and I send the family our love and condolences and thank you for sharing Armistead and his wonderful disposition.

  23. Forester

    I have lost a dear friend. I just saw Leigh’s post on facebook. ARMSTEAD I just found out that you have passed on. I’ve got on my Willie Nelson shirt. Every time we talked you wanted to know how much I would give you for that signed Willie Nelson book.
    Rest in peace my friend,.

    Dick Griffin

  24. SINCERE SYMPATHY

    GOD DEFINITELY GAINED ANOTHER ANGEL. ARMISTEAD
    WAS A REALLY GOOD PERSON; LOVED BY EVERYBODY WHO KNEW HIM. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. MAY GOD BE WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE MONTHS TO COME WITHOUT HIM. LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL FROM MY HOME TO YOURS.

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