Mr. Warren E. Northan of Parksley

Warren Edward “Babe Ruth” Northan was born on April 3, 1949 to the late Virgie Mae Northan Anderson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and reared in Accomack County, Virginia. He peacefully transitioned on August 19, 2021 in Nassawadox, Virginia.

Babe Ruth graduated from Mary N. Smith High School in 1967. As a young boy, he was known to “shift gears” on his bicycle while out in the yard playing, an early manifestation of what would become a lifelong career. After high school, he joined the workforce at Holly Farms. He began as a line worker and eventually became a truck driver for the company. In the late 1980s, after driving many years for Holly Farms, he became owner and operator of W. E. Northam and Sons Trucking Company. As an owner/operator, “Reverend Jackson” (as he was known in the trucking world), became an inspiration to other young men desiring to drive trucks and he played an integral part in making this a reality for many of them. During his teenage years, Babe Ruth began spending time at C.C. Humbles Funeral Service and soon found himself under the guidance of Mr. Clifton C. Humbles. In addition to over 30 years in the trucking business, he dedicated countless hours of service to C. C. Humbles Funeral Service and later Cooper & Humbles Funeral Company, Inc.

On April 15, 1972, Babe Ruth was joined in matrimony to Annie Sample Northan.

Babe Ruth was an avid sports fan of the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to being a sports fans, he was well known as a big trash talker who could back up his talking on the baseball field. If you knew him, you knew that the trash talk was all in fun. He was kind, generous, loving, and selfless to any and everyone. Babe Ruth loved to be around people and he loved to make them laugh. Across the various communities that he engaged in including truck stops, he was known to be well dressed and he ALWAYS smelled good! Gold jewelry, dress shoes, socks, and jeans with a crease that could cut you were a standard. His cologne was known to linger in the room long after he departed. Just as engaging as his personality, his love for great cologne always left a lasting impression. Babe Ruth also loved a good game of spades, was a self-proclaimed pool shark, and he loved dancing and listening to Motown music.

Babe Ruth professed Christ as his personal Saviour and would gladly share Joel Osteen’s messages, which he watched twice every Sunday.

In addition to his mother, Virgie Mae Northan Anderson, he was preceded in death by his brother, Herbert Anderson and sister, Sadie Petitt.
Cherishing his memories are: his wife, Annie Sample Northan; daughters, Monika Upshur, Felicia Northan, and Tamesha Giddens; grandchildren, Jonathan Upshur and Brettani Upshur; great-grandchildren, Cameron, Jonathan, II, and Carter; sisters, Marlene Chisum and Vanessa (Jeff) Locklear; nephew, Jeffrey Locklear; nieces, Jada Locklear, Tayannia Ames, and Nicole Hickman; and a host of cousins, other relatives, and special friends.

Lovingly and sorrowfully submitted,
The Family

Private graveside services for Mr. Warren E. Northan, better known as “Babe Ruth or Rev. Jackson” of Parksley,  will be conducted  Saturday at 12PM from the Adams U. M. Cemetery, Parksley, with Rev. Milton P. Bunting officiating. Arrangements by the Cooper &  Humbles Funeral Co., Accomac.

Services may be viewed virtually at www.cooperandhumbles.com.

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