James Page “J. P.” Childress

James Page “J.P.” Childress was 93 years on May 22, 2024, when he left his earthly home to be with his Lord and Savior and his beloved wife of sixty-eight years.

J. P. was born in Old Well, Phenix, VA on May 31, 1930, to his parents Forest and Bertha Woodall Childress. When his father became ill while J. P. was in the fifth grade, he left school to help support the family while his two brothers were serving in World War II.  He followed suit by joining the US Navy and serving as an aircraft mechanic during the Korean War.  While in the Navy he married the love of his life, Laura Ferguson Childress and eventually settled in Keysville, VA, where they raised their three children and served Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church during their years together.

J. P. learned the value of hard work at an early age and was successful in his roles as a carpenter, heavy equipment operator, restaurant owner, and a diesel mechanic. In his spare time, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing.

J. P. is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William Childress and Clinton Childress; sister, Winifred Howard; wife, Laura Childress; and daughter, Maxine Childress.

Surviving family members are his son, James “Jimmy” Page Childress, Jr. and his wife, Johnna of Blackstone, VA; daughter, Lisa Childress Emerson and her husband, Warren of Keysville, VA; eight grandchildren, Megan Glover, Krystal Ashworth, Molly Childress, Nicholas Childress, Austin Scruggs, Austin Emerson, Kayla Emerson, and Olivia Emerson; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 26, 2024, at Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church, Meherrin, VA, with interment to follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.  A public viewing will be Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Browning-Duffer Funeral Home, Keysville, VA.  Those who wish to honor J. P.’s life may do so by making a donation to St. Jude’s Research Hospital at their website: stjude.org; or by calling: 1-800-213-6584; or send a check to: Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA is in charge of arrangements.