Obituary - Norvell Prentis Smiley Jr

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Norvell Prentis Smiley Jr.

Prentis Smiley Jr. WILLIAMSBURG - Norvell Prentis Smiley Jr. of James City County died Dec. 25, 2008. 

Prentis was born in Bristol, Va., in 1938. He graduated from E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, Va., in 1956 and from Lynchburg College in 1960. He graduated from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at The College of William and Mary in 1964. While attending law school, Prentis served as a park ranger for the Colonial National Park Service. He practiced law in York County for 30 years. In 1995, Prentis was elected to the circuit court bench for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. He sat in the circuit court for York County and the City of Poquoson. 

Prentis was preceded in death by his parents, Norvell and Mary Smiley. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Nita; brother, David Smiley and wife Ann of Virginia Beach; stepsons, George DeShazor Jr. and wife Kathy of Virginia Beach, Mike DeShazor and wife Kim of Mount Airy, Md., Bill DeShazor of South Carolina; stepdaughter, Colette Kosler of Newport News; and several grandchildren. 

Prentis was an avid golfer and a member of the Williamsburg Country Club. He was an enthusiastic fan of the Boston Red Sox and enjoyed supporting William and Mary athletics. Prentis was active with the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, and served as its president in 1975. Prentis was a kind, generous and loving husband, father and friend, and he will be deeply missed. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the chapel at the funeral home.