Nathan Russell Bayton Jr.

June 3, 1949 - December 2, 2020

Trustee Nathan Russell Bayton, Jr., 71, of Essex County transitioned from earth to heaven on December 2, 2020 at Bon Secours Hospital.. He was the oldest son of the late Nathan Russell Bayton, Sr. and the late Mamie Beatrice Green Bayton. Nathan attended school in Essex County, where he graduated from Essex High School in 1967. He spent one year at Virginia Union University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia State University. He was baptized at an early age at Oak Grove Baptist Church. As a young adult, he joined Angel Visit Church where he was a faithful member of the Usher Ministry, Men’s Choir, the Men’s Ministry and was serving as Chairperson of the Trustee Ministry. He also served as the Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School. The year 1972 was special for Nathan Bayton Jr. In January, he began his career as a Claims Adjuster for Nationwide Insurance Company. On August 12, 1972, he was joined in holy matrimony to Griselda Shavannah Amy. To that union, two sons were born; Nathan Russell Bayton, III and Garrick Adair Bayton. In 1979, when his father’s health was failing, Nathan decided to leave his rewarding career and return to Essex to take charge of the family farm. During the month of September 1983, Nathan was interviewed by Anne Heinze and consequently an article was published in the Landhandler Magazine, entitled “He Buys Marketing Knowledge”. This was considered quite an honor for a local farmer in Essex County. After working several years on the family farm, he made a decision to sell the major farm equipment and initiated a lease agreement with a local farmer. This was the prelude to him becoming a Commercial Truck Driver. He was influenced to become a Truck Driver because of his admiration of his cousins, the late James Russell Bayton, the late Claudius Milton Bowler (Jack) and John Richard Bayton. Therefore, in 1987, Nathan purchased a Mack Tractor Trailer and became the Owner and Operator of N. R. Bayton Trucking LLC. During the era of the Citizens Band (CB) Radios, his handle was “Crowbar”. Under the leadership of Mr. Francis Savage, Nathan served as the Area Vice President of the Civic League of Essex County. He was also an active member of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Essex County Wetlands Preservation Committee. In the community, he was known as a handy man and sometimes counselor. He was very resourceful and did not mind lending a helping hand or a word of encouragement. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing with his late uncle Harry Green, his cousin Darryl, friend William, his sons, and grandchildren. Nathan also loved driving his red Ford F150 and the blue Mustang. Driving mustangs was a hobby that he shared with his sons. He leaves to mourn a great loss, his devoted wife of 48 years, Reverend Dr. Griselda Amy Bayton; sons Nathan Russell Bayton III (Robin) and Garrick Adair Bayton, Sr. (Dana); Grandchildren, Grandchildren, Kyla Monet Bayton, Nathan R. Bayton IV, Nolan Isaiah Bayton, Cameron Anderson, Garrick A. Bayton, Jr., and Ghianna Marie Bayton; his brother Glenn Darnell Bayton (Diane), two nieces, and five nephews; six great nieces, three great nephews: two brothers-in-law Frederick Amy, Sr. (Glynova) and Reuben Amy, Jr; two God daughters Desylvia Bowler Taliaferro, Adarius Trent Curry, two God granddaughters (Janiyah and Kairis) and a host of relatives and friends. A family and community viewing service will be held on Monday, December 7, 2020 (4:00PM – 8:00PM) at Vincent’s Funeral Home in West Point, Virginia.