Alton “Al” Wayne Haskins, 75, died Sunday October 2, 2022, at The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice in Greenville, NC.
The son of Ovid James Haskins and Lila Keeter Haskins, he was born on July 3, 1947, in Halifax County.
Mr. Haskins was “The Voice of the Roanoke Valley” and was well known, across the entire region, for his decades of work in local radio stations.
He loved the times he spent calling play-by-play for high school football, basketball, and baseball as well as the opportunities to travel the country for those teams that excelled in regional and national tournaments.
He enjoyed helping with the Little League program in Roanoke Rapids and broadcasted their games and All-Star tournaments as well.
As a result, he was inducted into the Roanoke Rapids Youth Baseball Hall of Fame. He served his community many ways including on the board, and as board chair, of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Haskins loved working in his yard and shone with pride anytime someone complimented his landscaping.
He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and jokingly took credit for all their successes.
He retired from First Media Radio. During his retirement and before, he loved spending time with his eight grandchildren riding four wheelers and golf carts around his property in Aurelian Springs and tending to his lawn.
Mr. Haskins is survived by the love of his life and his wife of 45 years, Nell Ferrell Haskins.
He is also survived by daughters Julie Haskins Hough (Eric), Natalie Haskins English, Shantea Haskins Connell (Rodney), Wendy Young Lovekamp, and Cindy Young Wollett (Michael); grandchildren, Dustin Wollett (Grace), Bert Hines, Emery Lovekamp, Zackery Connell, Foster Lovekamp, Ellie Wollett, Sydney Connell, and Rick English; great-grandchild, Henry Wollett; Sisters, Brenda Jarman Warren, Rochella Hux, and Connie Spence; brothers, Donald Ray Haskins and Gene Haskins and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Bill Haskins; his sister Sallie Davis; and other extended family members and friends.
Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Friday, October 7 at Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service (507 US-158, Roanoke Rapids).
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, October 8, at Calvary Baptist Church (1405 Bolling Road, Roanoke Rapids), with Pastor Randy Martin presiding. Interment will follow in Cedarwood cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, act.alz.org.
The online guest register may be signed at hockadayfs.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service.