Rev. John Haddon Knibb, Jr, 92, died unexpectedly Saturday, November 24, 2018. Born in South Norfolk, VA, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and enrolled in officer training at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he graduated in 1946. Following graduation, he served on a ship in the Pacific. After his tour of duty, he enrolled at Lynchburg College and Yale Divinity School where he earned his Masters of Divinity in 1951.

After ordination, Rev. Knibb served multiple churches in Virginia and Illinois. In 1967, he moved to Hampton to become pastor of Hampton Christian Church until retiring and moving to Chesapeake in 1992. While in Hampton, he became one of the founders of the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center. He served continuously on the board of the Center until his death. He is Pastor Emeritus of Hampton Christian Church and is an elder at Chalice Christian Church in Virginia Beach.

Preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Williams Knibb, and a brother, Donald Knibb, Rev. Knibb is survived by two daughters, Teresa Korevaar of Silver Spring, MD, and Anita Reasor Carter and her husband, C. B. Carter of Kingsport, TN; a son, John Mark Knibb and his wife Debi of Chesapeake; a sister Hazel Heider of Richmond; two brothers, David Knibb of Bellevue, WA and Robert Knibb of Lufkin, TX; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at 9:00 AM Thursday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 437 Providence Road, Chesapeake, after which a funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 AM with Rev. Drs. Sonja F. Oliver, Bill Austin, and Clarence Brown officiating. Thursday afternoon at 2:30 PM, there will be a short service conducted at Elpis Christian Church, 2703 Elpis Church Road, Maidens, VA (Goochland County) with Rev. Paul Simrell officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center, 1306 Thomas Street, Hampton, VA 23669. www.rhaydensmith.com.