"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Robert Lenard Claiborne transitioned to be with his parents and siblings on December 3, 2024, at the age of 92.  He was affectionally known as "Uncle Len".  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather.  He was a pillar in his community who was loved, respected and admired by his family, friends and community.  Everywhere he went, people recognized him, and he knew them.  Robert and his siblings grew up in Surry County Virginia and were members of the Oak Grove Baptist Church.

Robert started working at the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company (Huntington Ingalls Industries) at age 16 and retired after 41 years of service in 1993.  After retirement, he began working as a Truck Driver for the Murphy Brown Trucking Company for 6 years.  Robert loved and enjoyed sharing treasured family stories, events, and history, he loved cooking, baking, and gardening, true acts of love in the purest form.  His most adored passion was his family, attending family reunions, cookouts, and visits from numerous family members and watching his family grow.

Robert Lenard Claiborne was born on March 31, 1932, to Guy and Lula Claiborne. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Robin Claiborne, Annette Conaway, LaTonya Brown and his thirteen siblings, Frank Claiborne, Henry Davis Claiborne, Gracie Brock, Jonah Claiborne, Lula Mae Claiborne, Purcell Claiborne, Joseph Claiborne, Guy Claiborne, Jr., Viola Sanders, James Claiborne, Mary Florence Parham, Roosevelt Claiborne and John Arthur Claiborne.

He leaves a host of loving and devoted family and friends to cherish his memories. His wife of 57 years, Barbara Claiborne, three daughters, Jacqueline Claiborne, Charlene Shaw (Kenny), and JoAnn Barkley (Bernard), four sons, Ronnie Brock (Marion), Larry Jones, Michael Lockett (Alice), and Jeffery Crocker. Robert has a total of twenty-nine grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Jesse Winfield(Cheryl); six sisters-in-law, Shirley Winfield Davis, Lavertta Claiborne, Sarah Claiborne, Cora Claiborne, Margarita Winfield. and Isabelle Claiborne.

A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00am on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 38070 Rocky Hock Road, Wakefield, Virginia, Bishop Darren Gay Sr., Pastor of Higher Way Ministries, Petersburg, VA, Eulogist and Pastor Felecia Fisher, Executive Pastor, Higher Way Ministries, Officiant. Interment will follow immediately at Waverly, Cemetery, Spring Branch Road, Waverly, Virginia.

Public Viewing will be 12:00pm - 6:00pm Friday,, December 20, 2024, at Peace Funeral Home, 237 Railroad Avenue. Waverly, Virginia.

Please keep the Claiborne Family uplifted in prayer.