Major General (Ret.) Carroll Thackston

Major General (Retired) Carroll Thackston of South Boston,VA went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 17, 2013. He passed away peacefully at Lynchburg General Hospital where he was surrounded by family. General Thackston faithfully served his country for more than forty years in many capacities with the United States Army, rising to the rank of Major General and serving as the Adjutant General of the Virginia National Guard after being appointed to the post by former Governor George Allen. He served on active duty for six years, and spent 35 years in the National Guard, where his first military assignment was as detachment commander with the 1173rd Transportation Company. He also served as Inspector General, Commander of the 116th Support Battalion, State Military Personnel Officer and Chief of Staff before serving as Assistant Adjutant General and then The Adjutant General. He was awarded two Virginia Distinguished Service Medals during his tenure. He retired from the military in 1998. In addition to his service to his country, General Thackston is also known for his service to his community, the ultimate citizen soldier. He served on the South Boston Town Council, was elected as Mayor in 2004, and was serving his third term. Long active in civic and governmental affairs, General Thackston served on the boards of the Southfax Sertoma Club, the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, the Richmond and South Boston United Way, a member of the South Boston School Board, the Board of the South Boston-Halifax County Museum, YMCA, and the VMI Board of Visitors. He was currently serving on the Halifax County Educational Foundation, the Virginia National Guard Foundation, The Foundation of the Higher Education Center, and the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region Board of Directors. As a VMI Alumnus, he served as an advisor on the VMI Alumni Board. He was a devoted Christian and member of First Presbyterian Church of South Boston, where he was an Elder. He was born in Concord, Virginia in 1933. He attended Virginia Military Institute, from where he earned a Bachelor Degree in History in 1955. In his professional life, he was a former human resources manager at Daystrom Furniture and a former manager of the Virginia Employment Commission in South Boston. General Thackston is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 53 years, Frances Anne LaNeave, son Michael and his fiancée Crystal, son Jonathan and his wife Ann Marie, and son Mark and his wife Erin. He is blessed with four grandchildren, Drury, Milam, Courtland, and Carrington. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Nancy Pool and her husband Del, niece Salli Pool, nephew David Good, and two great-nephews Matthew and Michael Good. He will be remembered for his service to God and Country, his leadership, sense of humor and integrity. He loved his family and was a true gentleman. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at 2 o'clock at First Presbyterian Church in South Boston. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery with Military Rites. Visitation will be Wednesday 7-8:30 P.M. at Powell Funeral Home and other times at his home. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Fund for Halifax County, C/O Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, 541 Loyal Street, Danville, VA 24541, First Presbyterian Church, 800 North Main Street, South Boston, VA 24592, or the VMI Foundation, PO Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450, or the Virginia National Guard Foundation, Inc., Bldg. 316 ATTN: Mr. Cecil, Fort Pickett, Blackstone, VA 23824.