Lauriston Kennerly Elliott

Lauriston Kennerly Elliott went to be with his Lord and Savior May 3, 2024 at the age of  83, after decades of battling Parkinson’s.  He was born in South Boston, VA September 13, 1940 to the late Lauriston Conway Elliott and Cora Lelia Nolan Elliott.  Kennerly grew up in Granville County, NC, on the farm of which he is so proud because it has been in the Elliott family since the 1740s. 

For sixty years, he was married to Margaret Henderson Elliott who survives.  He is also survived by two children, Alice Marilyn Elliott Bond (Rev. Michael) of Durham, NC, David Kennerly Elliott of Halifax VA, two grandsons, Reuben Michael Bond (Felicia) of the Family Farm in Granville County NC, Ryan David Bond of Durham and the Family Farm, two great granddaughters, Elliana Ava Bond and Amara Elana Bond.  He was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Larry Thomas Elliott and wife Jean Dover Elliott, Missionaries to Honduras.  Kennerly was a member of Dan River Baptist Church for 58 years where he was Usher all those years and served on the Building Committee when he was responsible for keeping the heat and AC on for services.  He loved doing things for the Church as he did in his home church Grassy Creek Baptist in Bullock, NC.

Kennerly attended Oak Hill School in Granville County, NC where he graduated in 1958.  He loved building furniture and constructed a complete cedar bedroom set while in high school agriculture classes as well as received training in arc welding.  While in high school he received a certificate for being the winner of the Safe Driving Rod-e-o with the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1958.  Upon graduation from high school he received a scholarship to attend North Carolina State College of the University of North Carolina School of Agriculture in modern farming.  After the completion of this scholarship program he was offered a grant to continue in the agriculture department at which time he came back home to enjoy life and animals on the Family Farm rather than study books and take tests.   

His enjoyment of life was doing anything outdoors which began as a child working in cornfields, wheat fields, tobacco fields, stocking the three ponds on the Family Farm and fishing.  He loved taking care of the hogs, milk cows, and chickens on the Family Farm.  He loved fixing things especially John Deere Tractors and bushhogs.  Kennerly worked at the Halifax County Fair for the Wilkins family in the animal barn taking care of all the animals.  He was honored by the Wilkins family in October 2007 for over 40 years of dedicated service.  

He began working for VDOT in 1966 building roads operating bull dozers, dump trucks, rollers, and then moved to the VDOT Halifax Residency shop as a mechanic repairing the machinery which he loved.  Each year Kennerly received an Outstanding Achievement Award from VDOT for no injuries, no accidents, being on the job every day.  He was so proud of his CDL, which allowed him to also drive the Dan River Church big bus to take the teenagers to camps at Myrtle Beach in the summer and to the Oak Hill Retreat Center during other times of the year.   While employed at VDOT for 30 years he attended J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond VA a session once a year to became certified in anti-lock brake systems I and II, fuel engines, heat vent AC, automatic transmissions, arc welding, transaxles, HVAC.  In 1992 he was awarded certification in the American Red Cross for completing courses in Adult CPR and Standard First Aid certification.

          Kennerly had a passion for spending time with his children and his grandchildren.   He took them to the beach, the mountains, Florida to Disney and various aquariums.  He never met a stranger and spent time with all the neighbors working vegetable gardens with them or helping with their cows, after moving to Halifax in 1966 from the Family Farm.  He enjoyed cutting trees and chopping wood for others to keep their homes warm in the winter.   He enjoyed all sports and played on the county leagues from 1966-2005 for teams of softball, slow pitch, baseball, basketball, and bowling where he won in the 45^th Virginia State Bowling Tournament in Roanoke Virginia in 1997.  While playing on these teams, he received trophies for winning and team coaching.  He thoroughly enjoyed the Dan River Ruritan Club with perfect attendance from 1976-2020, especially the dinners.  He served on various committees as well as being Chairman at times. 

A graveside service will be held at Dan River Baptist Church on May 6, 2024 at 10 AM on Monday with Rev. John Campbell and Rev. Michael Bond officiating.   Burial will follow in Dan River Baptist Church cemetery.

Family visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home on Sunday, May 5, 2024 from   6 PM to 8 PM.   Grandson Ryan has prepared a life-span video of Kennerly.    

For memorials please consider a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.powellfuneralinc.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592