MURFREESBORO – George Sherman Northam Sr. of Murfreesboro died January 30, 2012 at Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin, VA after a brief illness. He turned 88 years old while in the ICU.

He was born in Bloxom, VA to the late Shepherd Thomas Northam and Verna Rew Northam. He graduated from Laurel High School, Laurel, Delaware, in 1942.

He joined the United States Army in March 1943, training with the 559th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile). After Pearl Harbor he joined the Eighth Army serving during World War II in Dutch New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, and with the occupation forces in Japan. His final hitch ended with the Second Engineer Amphibian (Special) Brigade.

During his lifetime he has been a resident of Pocomoke City, MD, Laurel, Del., Silver Springs and Wheaton, MD, and Murfreesboro. He operated a coffee shop in downtown Laurel after his discharge, eventually joining his brother in the restaurant known as The Dutch Shop. For most of his life he worked as a bookkeeper and accountant for various businesses and organizations, including Artcraft Electrical Supply Company, Salisbury, and Birds Eye Foods, Pocomoke. At one time he was an announcer and salesman for Radio Station WDVM (later WDMV 54), Pocomoke. He retired from the Accounting Department of Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, in 1985.

He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9862, Gaithersburg (formerly Rockville), MD, serving as quartermaster and commander, and later in Maryland District 2. He was a past member of the Laurel, Del., Hope Lodge No. 4 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He was a member of St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church, Pocomoke City, where he had fond memories of times of worship and fellowship.

He is survived by two sons, Edward Thomas Northam and his wife, Libera, of Pocomoke City and George S. Northam, Jr. of Herndon, VA; two granddaughters, Holly Louise Northam of North Myrtle Beach, SC, and Heidi Leigh Northam-Byars of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; his devoted friend, Felbert (Phil) G. Lamb; and nieces and numerous cousins in Maryland and Virginia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Edward T. Northam; his step “big” brother, Willard H. Northam; step father Mulford “Sam” Northam; and step mother Madelyn Sparrow Northam.

Family and friends will gather at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2012, for a graveside service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cemetery, Third Street, Pocomoke.  The Rev. Barbara A. Bassuener, Rector, will officiate.

If desired, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church, 18 Third Street, Pocomoke City, MD 21851, or PAWS of Hertford County, P.O. Box 153, Murfreesboro, NC 27855.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, 107 Vine Street, Pocomoke City, MD 21851.  To send condolences, please visit www.hollowayfh.com.