Emmett Edward "Ed" Bottoms
Class of 1961

Chesapeake - Emmett Edward "ED" Bottoms, August 08, 1943 March 01, 2014, has joined his parents, Winifred and Emmett. Ed is survived by his daughter, Jennifer B. Boone and her husband, Jeff; son, Jeremy E. Bottoms and his wife Dustine; daughter, Erin B. Carlson and her husband Nate; granddaughter, Leslie Anne Bottoms; and many friends over his lifetime.

Ed graduated from Cradock High School in 1961 and continued his education to receive a Bachelor of Science is Secondary Education from Old Dominion University in 1966. After teaching history at Deep Creek High School, Ed became a Probation and Parole Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving Portsmouth and Chesapeake. Later, he joined the City of Chesapeake as a Clerk of the Circuit Court. In 1983, he received a Master of Arts degree from ODU. He was also an Adjunct Professor at Regent University, Christopher Newport University, and ODU. Ed developed a passion for archaeology early in his childhood and, in 1963, helped found the Archaeological Society of Virginia's Nansemond Chapter.

Ed served as a member of the Archaeology Society of Virginia's Executive Board and held the offices of the ASV Nansemond Chapter President, Vice-President, and served on the chapter's Program and Community Outreach committees.

Even though he couldn't be "in the dirt" any longer that didn't stop him. He continued to be actively involved and was frequently consulted for his expertise and opinion on artifacts and publications by educators, historians, and every day "rock hunters' from all over.

He wrote many articles and papers on the prehistoric and historic Indians of Virginia and North Carolina. He was most proud of his work with 1969 1971 on the "Survey of North Carlina Pealeo-Indian Projectile Points, Reports 1-5". These reports were published in the "Chesopiean", "A Journal of Archaeology, Anthropology, Ethnology", and "History in the Americas".

In October 2000, he was selected as the "ASV's Advocational Archeologist of the Year" for his many contributions to Virginia archaeology and the preservation of the state's artifacts.

Ed served as chairman of the ASV's Jamestown 2007 Trilogy Committee. He was also co-editor of the Trilogy's volume I: "Pots, Pipes and Trash Pits" and volume II: "Pottery, Projectile Points and Native People".

In 2011, he was a member of an ASV committee that was instrumental in getting a VDOT Roadside Marker installed in Southampton County, VA to commemorate the "Hand Site" (44SN22), an archaeological site, which was excavated in the 1960s and found to be associated with early man in the Archaic Period (about 3000 B.C.) up to Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples of the proto-historic period (1500 1700s).

For his work on the Hand Site Marker and volunteer work with the Chereonhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, VA, he was made an honorary member of the tribe.

Ed also volunteered his time to work at the ASV's Kittewan Plantation in Charles City County, VA. He also donated, in 2012, a collection of 1930s era colorfully painted Virginia Indian pottery to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in Richmond, VA. In addition, a large collection of artifacts have been donated to the Jamestown Foundation and part of this is on display there.

On December, 7, 2013, Ed Bottoms was presented with an "Award of Excellence" for his lifetime of dedication to the archaeology of our region through his early and prominent Paleo-Indian Projectile Point Surveys. This award was presented to him by Cliff Jackson, president of the Piedmont North Carolina Chapter of the AACA, during South Hill Archaeology Day, which was held in South Hill, VA.

Many, many thanks to Dad's wonderful friends who called and visited to check on him and offered themselves without hesitation. Also, thank you to the doctors and staff who helped with Dad's care.

The family will receive friends at Snellings Funeral Home, George Washington Highway Chapel on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 4 to 6 p.m. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens by Pastor Mike Plasters. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ASV Kittewan Plantation c/o ASV Treasurer, Carl Fischer, 1685 Sweet Hall Road, West Point, VA 23181. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.snellingsfuneralhome.com

Published in The Virginian Pilot on Mar. 4, 2014