Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

On an awesome autumn day, October 18, 1962, I was born Felipe Jerome Newsom. To many of you, I was known as “BigDaddy”, "Grip the Wheel”, “Flea Bite”, “Pops,” “PawPaw”, “Bam” and “Gutty”.

My parents, Joshua and Virginia Newsom, were blessed and the world would never be the same. I was the delight of my family and everyone wanted to keep me, because I was a “Fat Yellow baby” (Who could blame them)?

At an early age, my parents instilled the importance of attending church and school. It was at that time, I attended Glen Jean Elementary School. After I graduated from Mount Hope High School, I joined the United States Army………before I go on, let me go back for a moment…..during my early childhood years, I became a member of The First Baptist Church of Glen Jean and later in life, I joined Heart of God Ministries. Those of you who knew me, know that I was a man of many words, and most of those words were not so good (“Shhhhhhh, let’s just keep that to ourselves).

Moving forward again, after the military, I returned home to be with my family. Along the way, in both my personal and professional life I met many, many friends. This is the point where you start laughing at the memorable moments because there were too many memorable times to name here. (“And keep those memories to yourselves”). Keep in mind my love for sports (“Oh and I was good at all of them too”). As you all know I was an avid fan of the San Francisco ‘49ers.

I was preceded in death by my parents, Joshua and Virginia Newsom; brothers, Ronald Leftwich, Joshua Newsom Jr., Charles Newsom, Edwin Newsom, and Billy Newsom; my greatest treasures that I leave to mourn my children, Charles Jones (Allison), Shyretta Manns, Jason Manns, Felisha McMillan, RonRicco Burger, Danielle Oglesby, Kobe and Karmen Grimes; fourteen grandchildren, Trinity, Sareniti, Malakai, Maliyah, Santana, Jason, Jayda, Moses, Zamiah, Zayden, Lataya, Bri’elle, Airtraya, and Iylah, nine brothers, James Newsom, Donald Leftwich, Roger Newsom (Catherine), Aaron McGhee, Dwight Newsom, Ronnie Newsom, Dana Newsom ,Tim Newsom and DeMond Newsom, nine sisters, Patricia Newsom, Lillian Alberty, Brenda Newsom, Betty Nicholas, Shelia Marion, Jostina Thomas, Regina Harris, Sharon Newsom, and Elana Newsom; special aunt, Betty Shelton and a host of uncles,nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Friday, May 28, 2021 at Heart of God Ministries 1703 S. Kanawha St. Beckley with Bishop Fred T. Simms officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park Beckley.

Friends, while wearing gloves and masks and observing social distancing, may view one hour prior to the service.

Our family is sincerely grateful for the outpouring of love and kind expressions, sympathy as we grieve the sudden loss of Felipe. We extend our special thanks to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor for their services, Jan Care Ambulance, and friend and additional caretaker TiaDawn Champion.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.