William Sidney "Billy" Poarch, Sr., 90, of Jarratt, Virginia, passed away peacefully at his home in Jarratt on August 2, 2026.

Born on June 30, 1936, at the family home about five miles southwest of Stony Creek, Billy was the youngest of nine children born to Joseph Wade and Mary Lee Perkins Poarch. He graduated as valedictorian of his class of five from Stony Creek High School in 1954.

A lifelong farmer, Billy devoted more than 70 years to farming in Sussex and Greensville Counties. His dedication to agriculture earned him recognition as Virginia Young Farmer of the Year in 1966 and Virginia Peanut Farmer of the Year in 1982. In 1983, he was appointed to the Virginia Peanut Commission, where he served the Commonwealth's peanut industry, and later served for many years on the Virginia Peanut Growers Association. He was also a founding member of the Severn Peanut Club.

Billy was a familiar face at the annual Virginia Peanut Festival in Emporia, where he proudly drove his tractor in the parade for many years and was later honored as its Grand Marshal. He also enjoyed participating in numerous agricultural exhibitions and community events throughout Southside Virginia.

Faith and service were central to Billy's life. He served as a deacon at Sappony Baptist Church and was a devoted member of High Hills Baptist Church and Purdy Baptist Church throughout different seasons of his life.

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to agriculture and his community, Billy received the Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award from the Emporia-Greensville Chamber of Commerce in 1992 and Volunteer of the Year in 2015.

Billy believed deeply in serving others before himself. Over the years, he dedicated countless hours to public service, serving with the Jarratt Volunteer Fire Department, on the Jarratt Town Council, and on the Greensville County School Board. He was also a proud member of the Southside Tractor Club and the Chesterfield Tractor Club. Despite his many accomplishments, Billy remained humble, quick with a smile, and happiest when he was spending time with family, working the land he loved, or lending a helping hand to a neighbor.

Billy also spent countless hours sharing his antique tractors and, with his custom-built hayride trailer, brought smiles to thousands of children—and plenty of adults—over the years. Few things brought him more joy than sharing his love of farming, history, and community with generations of local families.

Billy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Wrenn Poarch; his parents, Joseph Wade and Mary Lee Perkins Poarch; and his siblings, Henrietta Jones, Vollie Poarch, Broaddus Poarch, John Poarch, Pauline Tudor, Margaret "Sister" Helms, Raymond Poarch, and Willie Poarch.

He is survived by his special friend, Kitty McClelland; his sons, William S. Poarch, Jr. (wife Nancy) and Joseph W. Poarch II (Kristy); his granddaughters, Meredith Erin Pearl, Zella Kathryn Poarch, Sidney Wrenn Poarch, and Bella Luz Poarch; his great-grandchildren, Declan Pearl and Isla Pearl; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Billy's devoted caregivers - Ella Bullock, Katina Mason, Kristina Wright, Theresa Ricks, and Ty Wilson - for the compassionate care, friendship, and unwavering support they provided.

The family will receive friends at Owen Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Owen Funeral Home on Thursday, August 6, at 11:00 a.m., with interment to follow at High Hills Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will host a reception for extended family and friends at the Jarratt Fire Department following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jarratt Volunteer Fire Department or to the charity of your choice.

Billy never sought recognition for the life he lived—he simply believed in working hard, serving others, and leaving things better than he found them. Whether in the peanut fields, on a tractor, in his church, at Town Hall, or giving hayrides to generations of children, he quietly made his corner of Virginia a better place. His legacy is found not only in the awards he received or the offices he held, but in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, humility, and unwavering willingness to serve others. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Gone to the Other End