DATE: Wednesday, April 2, 1997              TAG: 9704020421

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   36 lines

JOHN T. DYSON SR.

John Thomas Dyson Sr., 76, of the 400 block of Hornell Lane, died March 31, 1997.

Retired from the Navy with 21 years of service, Mr. Dyson was the first black postal clerk and letter carrier in Virginia Beach, also retiring after 21 years. He was also the first black transit bus driver in Virginia Beach. A Petersburg, Va., native, he was a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Oceana Lodge (NU)69 Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons, Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, American Legion Post 81 in Virginia Beach.

Survivors include his wife, Jeannettie Peek Dyson; three daughters, Marjorie Gross of Midlothian, Va., Dianne Heggie of New York City, Tonye Gayle of Beaumont, Texas; two sons, the Rev. John T. Dyson Jr. of Beaumont, Rogie Peek of Philadelphia; four sisters, Vivian Robinson, Margaret Dyson, both of the Bronx, N.Y., Reba Atkins, Elva Banks, both of Petersburg, Va.; six brothers, the Rev. Joseph Dyson of Petersburg, Herbert Dyson, James Dyson, both of Springfield, Mass., the Rev. Fletcher Dyson of Augusta, Ga., Frank Dyson of Ontario, Canada, Eddie Dyson of Norfolk; five grandchildren, Rogie Peek Jr. of the home, Monika Quince, Jinneh Dyson, Jason and Stacey Walker; and two great-grandchildren; four goddaughters, Debbie James of Athens, Ga., Patsy Burt, Tonya Robinson, Sierra Peek, all of Virginia Beach; mother-in-law, Hattie Laura Peek of Athens, Ga.; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Mamie V. Dyson and Deacon Eddie E. Dyson.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Mount Olive Baptist Church by the Rev. Lamont Brown and the Rev. Jerome Ross. Interment will be in Rosewood Memorial Park. Family will receive friends for visitation at the P.G. Thomasson Funeral Services from 7 to 9 p.m. today. ILLUSTRATION: Photo KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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