Philip Alexander Seward

Alex's obituary

Philip Alexander Seward, 62

RICHMOND--Mr. Philip Alexander Seward died February 24, 2009, at Beth Sholom Nursing Home.

Born Philip Larry Seward in Suffolk, Virginia, on November 20, 1946, he grew up on the family farm near Elberon, Virginia.

He was an accomplished athlete in Little League and Pony League baseball in Surry County. He lettered in baseball and basketball in high school. He was a member of the marching band during elementary and high school and represented his school as an alto saxophonist at Virginia All-State Band.

From the time he was able to reach the steering wheel, he was driving tractors and his father’s pickup on the farm. While in his teens, he hauled land plaster and fertilizer for his father's business.

He received academic honors in high school and was valedictorian of his senior class. He attended Virginia Tech where he served in the Cadet Corps as a freshman and majored in agricultural engineering.

He later completed his education at Virginia Commonwealth University where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus on accounting. During this time, he moonlighted as a cab driver in Richmond.

During his professional career he worked in accounting for the federal government in the District of Columbia and for private businesses in New York, Florida and Virginia.

He was a member of Surry Baptist Church and was active in the Churchland Jaycees.

Prior to moving to Richmond in 2008 because of health problems, he lived on the family farm in Surry County for more than twenty years.

He was the son of the late Roy Ellis Seward, Sr. of Elberon, Virginia.

Survivors include his mother, Elma Joyner Seward of Richmond; his sister, Connie S. Langston, and brother-in-law, James Oliver Langston of Smyrna, Tennessee; his brother Roy E. Seward Jr., and sister-in-law Lynne K. Seward of Richmond, Virginia; his brother, Kevin R. Seward and sister-in-law, Catherine Carter of Holliston, Massachusetts; and three nieces, Heather Langston Pottkotter of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Terry B. Seward of Richmond, Virginia and Sook Ja W. Seward of Sandston, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Surry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 188, Surry, VA 23883, and Surry Baptist Church, 76 Church St., VA 23883.

A memorial service will be held at Surry Baptist Church in Surry, Virginia, at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

a night in December

Poster from 1966, image thanks to R.E. Seward.

Alex (then known as Larry) was one of several dancers at this event. Dim recollection reveals that one of the songs danced to was "Land of 1,000 Dances".

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

remembering Alex

This is an online memorial for Philip Alexander Seward.

If you knew Alex and wish to share your memories or stories about him, feel free to click on the comments link just below.

(There was also the Legacy guest book for Alex, which was online until April 7th. There's still an opportunity to remember Alex at J.T. Morriss and Son.)

a bit about Alex

Originally posted here:

My brother, Philip Alexander Seward, passed away last night at age 62.

He started out a young fellow who many thought would be on his way someplace. He'd graduated a year early from high school, attended Virginia Tech for a time, then VCU. Went on to work as an bank auditor and an accountant.

But he had chronic health conditions that made his life an uneasy roller coaster ride in both mood and metabolism. Ultimately, any conventional plans he had were undone.

After doing what he could and living everywhere from New York to Florida, he moved back home to live with his mom.

Restless and seeking sociability, he'd frequent restaurants, cafes, truck stops, diners and convenience store counters in nearby Surry, or in Ivor or Windsor or Waverly or Suffolk or Portsmouth. Out there somewhere he might talk to a trucker or a farmer or a waitress or the owner of where he was or someone else passing through.

In later years at home, he'd watch international business news on satellite TV, always seeking information and looking for a connection to the flow of events that his plans might have made for him out in the world.

As his physical condition became less steady, he chose to go out less frequently and to places closer by.

He moved to a rest home in Richmond early last year. His health continued to decline despite the efforts and attentions of so many, including his mom, eldest brother and sister-in-law. In form and comprehension, he was shrinking and becoming ever frailer. And at some point, the coming of this day became obvious.

So I created a label that tied together the bits of him I'd shared here with everyone & anyone & no one in particular.

He's the second sax player from the left here:

The wild knit shirt there are two sides to is one he wore (no doubt while dancing the Hustle in Va. Beach) in the '70s. The jacket from Loraine's Restaurant in Ivor is his old jacket from his old haunt. He was the one who told me there was a Stuckey's coming. Or the one I met for lunch at a now long gone Smithfield steakhouse.

He was a big part of this vanishing world, where I'd grown up and where I'd go back to visit.

And now like Elvis (or I should say James Brown), he's left the building. And the stage lights are down.