"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go and prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14: 1-3

William S. "Dick" Sivels, Sr., as affectionately known to his family and friends, peacefully transitioned to his heavenly home in the morning of Thursday, January 25, 2018 at his home in Chesapeake, Va. He was born to the late Namon and Casandra Sivels on June 26, 1922 in Norfolk County, Va. (now Chesapeake, Va.) William Sr. was a lifetime member of Gabriel Chapel A.M.E Zion Church.

William Sr. was the eighth of nine children and the last surviving sibling. He was married to the late Mattie Cuffee Sivels. Their union was blessed with their thirteen supportive, loving and "close-knit" children.

William Sr. was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged following wartime service in North Africa, and both the European and Pacific Theatres of Operation, with the 9th Cavalry Regiment. After leaving the military, he went on to work in Federal Civil Service at the Norfolk Naval Supply Center. He remained there until his retirement in 1981, ending with nearly 38 years of Federal Service.

William Sr. was educated in the Norfolk County School System but had to drop out after his sixth grade year. A short time later, he went to work as a farm hand on a community farm, where as a young teenager, he worked from sun-up to sun-down. Though the work was hard and sometimes difficult, he learned and developed himself into a highly skilled farmer. So much so, that years later in his adult life, farming became his second passion. He started and built one of the Best small-sized agricultural and livestock farms in the City of Chesapeake. He raised his own cattle, hogs, chickens, rabbits, hunting dogs, and a mule, just to name a few. He rented and tended the land of many of his relatives, neighbors and friends. He was considered by most who knew to be an all-around handyman and vocational trades craftsman. In and around the Long Ridge/Cuffeytown community, he helped with numerous trade projects. William Sr. was always resourceful and mechanically adept. He generally could fix or repair mostly anything. He was truly uniquely talented. He was compassionate, pragmatic, diligent, a hard-worker, a bricklayer, a gardener, a fisherman, a sportsman, and an avid hunter. William Sr. was unselfish. He was a strong man with an unwavering faith in God. He persevered over many odds. William Sr. was a "plain-spoken" man!

In addition to his parents and late wife of 64 years, he was preceded in death by two sons, Karl and Thomas Sivels, and a daughter, Kimberly Satterfield; four brothers, Leronia Mullen, James, Malachi, and Thomas Sivels; and four sisters, Velma Banks, Catherine Brickhouse, Chloe Etheridge and Zola Johnson. William Sr. leaves to cherish his fond memories his seven daughters, Casandra Sivels, Gwendolyn Bell (James, deceased), Devone Simmons (special friend Sam), Tonia Brown (Terry, deceased), Etta Sivels, Connie McMurrin (Perry), Erica Bell (James); and a beloved foster daughter, Tryna Cuffee all of Chesapeake, VA. Three sons, William S. Sivels, Jr. (Sandra), of Richmond, VA, Leander W. Sivels (Connie), Christopher G. Sivels, Sr. both of Chesapeake, VA; and a beloved foster son, Lawrence C. Brickhouse, Jr. (Bea) of Philadelphia, PA. Twenty-one precious grandchildren, and twenty-four great grandchildren. A sister-in-law, Vernetta R. Cuffee of Chesapeake, VA. And special cousins-in-law, Dorethea Brown Cuffee and Daisy Brown Cuffee of Chesapeake, VA. Also, he leaves a host of caring nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss his loving and caring spirit.

His funeral will be held at 12:00 pm Thursday, February 1, 2018 at Gabriel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Interment will follow at Roosevelt Memorial Park. Viewing will be held Wednesday, January 31, 2018 from 5 to 7pm at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.pretlowandsons.com .