Otis Daniel Talley

Otis Daniel Talley, son of the late Irving and Bettie Gravitt Talley, was born on May 6, 1940 in South Boston, Virginia. During the early morning hours of Thursday, February 10, 2005 a heavenly angel visited his bedside, closed his eyes and took him from labor to reward. Otis received his education in the Halifax County School System. He was baptized and received Christ as his Lord and Savior at the White Oak Fork Baptist Church in Halifax. He married the love of his life, Dorothy Mae Hayes in 1965. Shortly afterwards they moved to Baltimore seeking employment. Otis worked in the Baltimore school system as a custodial engineer for twenty-five years, while also working concurrently for Crane and Craine Realtors. Otis was gifted in many areas. There was no task too difficult for him to tackle and conquer whether it was electrical, plumbing, flooring, landscaping, chauffeuring or simply entertaining. Holidays and special days were spent at Otis and Dorothy's. His culinary skills were exceptional - from preparation of fried potatoes and onions, eggs and bunker hill beef to a dinner smorgasbord of any and everything from fried chicken to his famous sweet potato pies. Otis' culinary skills matched his full loving, warmhearted lovable personality. He could walk into a room of gloom and doom and fill it with joy and laughter. No one was a stranger to him. His presence at the family reunions in Virginia and other family gatherings were highlights of his life. Seeking a closer relationship with the Lord, Otis along with his loving wife Dorothy, joined New Shiloh Baptist Church several years ago and remained faithful until his death. He enjoyed the choirs immensely and always wanted you to hear what his Pastor had preached about, often stating "he is a preaching man." Otis was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Arthur; two sisters, Nannie and Dorothy. He was a family man and would stop at nothing to ensure their happiness. He leaves to cherish wonderful memories: his loving and devoted wife of forty years, Dorothy; two devoted sons, Michael and Marc; two granddaughters, Tieara and Amber; a loving and devoted daughter-in-law, Lisa; one brother, Joseph Talley of Alexandria, Virginia; one sister, Elaine Talley of Fredericksburg, Va.; three aunts, Katie T. Williams, Gracie T. Stanfield and Cecil T. Crutchfleld all of Va.; a devoted mother-in-law, Nellie Brooks; four sisters-in-law, Shirley Talley, Clara Lewis, Ann Knolls and Linda Hayes; three brothers-in-law, George (Jack) Tuck and Bishop Ralph Hayes of Halifax, Va. and Michael Lewis of Baltimore, Md.; two special friends, Haywood Tindall and Joseph Cross; a host of nieces (a devoted one, Barbara, who always had home grown veggies or special cured meats to send to Uncle Otis and Aunt Dorothy); a host of nephews (a devoted one who was often mistaken for his son, Ervin J.); cousins and other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Otis Daniel Talley

May 6, 1940 - February 10, 2005