Lonnie Moore

Alonza James “Lonnie” Moore III, cherished husband of Carol Pruitt Moore, finished the fight and won the race on Monday, August 18, 2025. A lifelong resident of Tangier Island, VA, he was born September 27, 1954 in Crisfield, MD to the late Alonza James Moore, Jr. and Edna Lee Sears. For 70 years, Lonnie kept the faith, and God welcomed him home.

A true man of the Chesapeake, Lonnie’s life was deeply rooted in the waters of the Bay he so dearly loved. For decades, he worked as captain of the This’ll Do, followed by the Loni Carol I and II, and lastly, the Alona Rahab, earning the respect of his fellow watermen and building lifelong friendships along the way. Lonnie was a force to be reckoned with no matter what boat he was runnin’. He was usually full throttle, which especially came in handy for boat docking competitions – often taking first place up and down the bay. In 1999, Lonnie’s love for the water led him to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, where he served as fleet and facility manager at Port Isobel until his retirement in 2019. His skill, knowledge, and dedication made him an invaluable member of the organization and further solidified his reputation as someone who understood, cared for, and protected the Bay.

Lonnie was not only well-respected in his community and throughout the Chesapeake Bay as a waterman, but also for his charitable and mission-based contributions on and off the island. He served on the board of directors for Tangier’s medical facility, the David B. Nichols Health Center, as well as the town council, and he was a faithful member of New Testament Congregation. Beyond his community, Lonnie volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and traveled with his church mission group on several disaster relief trips rendering aid to communities devastated by hurricanes. You’d never find a humbler man. Lonnie helped others simply because he felt it was the right thing to do.

Whether at work or play, Lonnie was always crackin’ a joke. He had an unmatched ability to make people laugh at just the right moment, and he cherished the joy those lighthearted moments brought to others. Perhaps a few of those moments earned him the nicknames “Lounge,” “Jungle Cat,” and “Gizmer.”

Above all, Lonnie adored his family. He was a devoted husband and father, but his greatest pride was found in being a grandfather and nothing brought a bigger smile to his face than hearing them call for “Poppy.” Undoubtedly, his love, guidance, and playful spirit will live on through them.

Lonnie will be remembered as a hardworking waterman, a devoted servant of the Lord, a trusted friend, and most importantly, a man who loved his family and community beyond measure. His life on Tangier and the memories he leaves behind will continue to ripple through the lives of all who knew and loved him.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 44 years, Carol Pruitt Moore; daughter, Loni Renee Charnock and her husband, Jason, all of Tangier; son, J. Alexander “Alex” Moore (Lydia) of Bishopville, MD; brother, Tracy Moore and his wife, Trenna, of Tangier; mother-in-law, Grace Pruitt; brothers-in-law, Jim Tyer, Chris Pruitt and his wife Suzanne, and George “Cook” Cannon, Jr.; sisters-in-law, Claudia Phillipson and Deborah Holland; grandchildren, Alona, Gavin, Rahab, Jason, and Eddie Charnock; special cousins, Jamie Parks and Donald “Thornie” Thorne; and many nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Barbara “Jody” Cannon; father-in-law, Vernon L. “Flapper” Pruitt, who was like a father to Lonnie; and brothers-in-law, George Phillipson and Vince Conder.

Special thanks to Lonnie’s brothers-in-law, Jim and Chris, nephew, Austin, the Tangier Volunteer Fire Department, and his hospice nurse, Susan Parks, all of whom were instrumental in allowing him to be in his home over the last several years. The family also extends heartfelt gratitude to the many friends and relatives who visited with Lonnie, and last but not least, endless appreciation to the staff at Shore Health and Rehabilitation Center, whose exceptional care over the last two months will never be forgotten.

A service in celebration of Lonnie’s life will be held at Swain Memorial United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. A time of sharing will be held one hour prior to the service. All are invited to join the family for a meal immediately following the service.

There will be two Chesapeake Bay Foundation boats and the Elizabeth Joy II departing from Crisfield at 11:30 a.m. and the Joyce Marie II will depart from Onancock at 10:00 a.m.

In light of Lonnie’s courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, the family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the PSP & CBD Foundation (www.pspcbdfoundation.org) or Tangier Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 239, Tangier, VA 23440.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.