by Brian Moreno

Eddie O. Folk was born on June 21st, 1894, in Nansemond, VA to James and Laura Folk were both from the same town of Buckhorn, VA, and moved to Nansemond County upon the birth of their son. Eddie Folk had 3 siblings and the family lived with his grandparents. However, Mr. Folk was raised Baptist. Folk spent most of his life as a member of First Baptist church, where he was a church usher for 40 years.

At the age of 24, Mr. Folk enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves and left his life as a janitor. He enlisted in Norfolk, VA on May 3rd, 1918, in the area of the aviation section of the Naval Reserves. His first assignment was at Hampton Naval Air Station in the state of VA. Folk retired from the naval shipyard after 32 years of service.

Once ending his naval career as an employee at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Eddie Folk received an honorable retirement from officials of the yard. The certificate was awarded from Captain V. A. Powell (USN. Ret.). Upon retiring from the shipyards, Mr. Folk also received a citation from Rear Admiral George Holderness, who conveyed a sense of disappointment to lose such a good and hardworking employee. Eddie Folk did not go to combat because he serves most of his time in the Naval shipyard as a reserve member. Folk married Julia Dodson on June 16, 1926, and they had a daughter named Doreatha in 1930. The family lived at 223 St. Julian Ave., Norfolk. Doreathea married Stewart Alston in 1954.

Folk died on February 28, 1962 of a coronary thrombosis and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Norfolk.

Sources:

“Church usher 40 years: Funeral for eddie folk will be held on sunday.” (1962, Mar 03). New Journal and Guide (1916-) Retrieved fromhttp://0-search.proquest.com.library.nsu.edu/historical-newspapers/church-usher-40-years/docview/568664325/se-2

“Eddie Folk retires from shipyard after 32 years.” (1957, Jul 20). New Journal and Guide (1916-) Retrieved fromhttp://0-search.proquest.com.library.nsu.edu/historical-newspapers/eddie-folk-retires-shipyard-after-32-years/docview/568542022/se-2

“United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMNJ-LKM : 11 March 2022), Eddie Faulk in entry for Henry Faulk, 1900.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CCMB-76Z : accessed 12 December 2022), Eddie Folk, Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 72, sheet 14A, line 2, family 241, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2471; FHL microfilm 2,342,205.

United States Census, 1940 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTMW-H3Z

“United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940,” database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPRH-PQX6 : 3 September 2021), Eddie C Folk, 11 Jun 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

“Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HN4S-J1PZ : 28 January 2020), Eddie Faulk, 1894.

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRZ-KDQQ : 16 August 2019), Eddie Oscar Folk, 26 Feb 1962; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

“Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRM2-VH5 : 29 January 2020), Eddie O. Folk, 1926.

“Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9J-23JT : 20 February 2021), Eddie Oscar Folk in entry for Stewart Howard Alston and Doreatha Gladys Folk, 29 Aug 1954; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, certificate 21424, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.