Sankey Edd Lancaster

Sankey Edd Lancaster, 77, died February 1, 2014 at Halifax Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Sankey was born May 7, 1936, in Halifax County to the late George Robert Lancaster and Ellen Lovegrove Lancaster. A 1954 graduate of Aurelian Springs High School, Sankey served two years in the U.S. Army before joining Champion International Paper Company, where he worked for over 30 years. Having trained as a maintenance apprentice, Sankey worked in safety maintenance until his retirement in 1994. At home in Aurelian Springs, his labor of love became Lancaster Fabric House, a family business which he started with his wife in 1977. Sankey was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a member of Tabor United Methodist Church in Aurelian Springs. His hobbies were collecting antiques, fishing, watching Carolina basketball and Westerns, and hosting cookouts for family and friends. A long-time resident of Aurelian Springs, he called The Bayberry Inn home for the last year of his life.

In addition to his parents, Sankey was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Victoria Liles Lancaster, on September 8, 2012. Also preceding him in death were one brother, Ronald Lancaster; two sisters and a sister-in-law, Lillian Oliver, Martha Mullen, and Dolly Liles; and four brothers-in-law, Thomas Oliver, Robert Mullen, John Robin Liles III and Charles Herbert Liles.

Surviving are his son Marshall Lancaster, wife Karen, and their daughters Laursen Victoria and Anna Page of Silver Spring, Maryland; son Robin Lancaster and special friend, Rosemary Morriss, of Roanoke Rapids; two brothers, Leroy Lancaster of Roanoke Rapids and Donald Lancaster of Raleigh; two sisters, Shirley Powell (husband JD) and Alice (husband Jimmy) Darlington, both of Roanoke Rapids; sister-in-law Sue Duke (husband Randolph) of Aurelian Springs; brothers-in law Edward Liles (wife Kathy Jean) of Roanoke Rapids; Jimmy Liles and Harold Liles of Aurelian Springs; sister-in-law Doris Liles of Roanoke Rapids; and sister-in-law Robbin Lancaster of Palmetto, GA. Sankey is also survived by many special nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends at Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service, who is handling arrangements, from 7:00-9:00 pm on Tuesday, February 4. Rev. Sid Collins will conduct funeral services at Tabor United Methodist Church on Wednesday, February 5 at 11:00 am, with interment to follow in the church cemetery..