Henry Leslie Gayle Jr., 73, husband of Selma (Patsy) Wilkerson Gayle, died Thursday, May 12, 2005 at his home in Virgilina.

Native to Suffolk, he was the son of Henry Leslie Sr. and Vernon Lee Higgins Gayle. A former member of the Chuckatuck Ruritan Club, he was also a Charter and Life Member of the Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department. He retired in 1994 from the Newport News Shipyard after 32 years and then moved to Virgilina to live at his wife’s native home. A lifetime member of Oakland Christian Church, he was active at High View Baptist Church in Roxboro, N.C.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at High View Baptist Church in Roxboro with the Reverend Mike Whitt officiating. The interment will be in the Virgilina Cemetery. In addition to his wife, Mr. Gayle is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and John Youngk of Virgilina; and Nancy and Roger Rice of Roxboro; son and daughter-in-law, Henry Leslie III and Patricia Gayle of Virgilina. Also surviving are brothers, John Higgins Gayle and Vernon Oliver Gayle, both of Suffolk; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home. Send condolences to www.wchlf.com.