Larry William Finney
Mr. Larry William Finney, 69, was called home on December 28, 2020 doing what he loved the most “Trucking”. He was born September 18, 1951 to the late Jack Finney and the late James Ella Reid Finney. Growing up he was a member of and was baptized at St. James Pentecostal Holiness Church. Along with singing with the St. James Harmonizers, he also played the electric guitar.
“Smokestack” as he was affectionately called by his trucker friends, was educated with the Henry County Public School system and later graduated in 1969 from George Washington Carver High School. After graduation, Larry worked at Stanley Furniture and for a year at Fieldcrest Mills, but he quickly realized that was not his calling. Under the tutelage of Glen Clemmons, he learned how to drive the dump truck, and started driving for Stanley Bowles. From there, his career in trucking started. Larry worked for several companies over his 46-year span of trucking before starting his own company, Finney Transport with three trucks under him. He was employed with C & T Durham when he transitioned. Larry was a great talker, and never met a stranger. He would talk to a stop sign if the stop sign said, “Hello”.
Along with driving his truck, he loved to eat, listen to music, and play cards, Honky Tonk, Old R & B, and Gospel is what he listened to. In cards, spades and bid whist were his passions. He would eat everything but a green bean. He would say, “The only green bean is one off of my plate!” It was not a lot that Larry liked to do but, spending time with the family and friends was his favorite pastime and made it his business, to let each, and every one of us feel and know his love.
Larry was preceded in death by both parents, Mr. Jack and Mrs. James Ella Finney, two brothers; James Reid and Carl Finney; and a grandson Jakacio Fitzgerald.
Larry’s Legacy continues with four daughters, Melanie Moore of Martinsville, Virginia, Tressy Bowe of Richmond, Virginia, Debra Johnson of Martinsville, Virginia and Essence Oliver (niece) of Eden, North Carolina. Four sons, Arthur Finney (nephew) of Fieldale, Virginia, Christopher Mitchell (Candice) of Suffolk Virginia, William Finney of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Issac Manns of Atlanta, Georgia. Three sisters, Lula Finney of the home, Lillian Wade of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Mary Stockton of Fieldale, Virginia. Two brothers, Rev. Johnny Finney II of Birmingham, Alabama, and Glen Clemmons of Martinsville, Virginia; granddaughters, Christin Reynolds of Raleigh, North Carolina, Londyn Finney of Atlanta, Georgia, Kita Robertson, Genesis & Legacy Martin of Eden, North Carolina and Nyema Wade of Martinsville, Virginia; grandsons, Domineek Richardson of Dublin, Virginia, RonTrell Valentine, Bernard Valentine & Dominique Johnson of Martinsville, Virginia; godmother, Janie Hagwood; special friends, Gaynell and Melvin Prunty, Ricky Gant, Melvin Jackson, Easter Thompson, Shirley Barksdale, Jennifer Green, Brenda Finney and a host of relatives and friends.
The funeral will be Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 1:00 P. M. at The Assembly Building, on Carver Road. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at St. James Pentecostal Holiness Church Cemetery, 605 John Baker Road, Fieldale, Virginia.
Wright Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.wrightfuneralservices.net
