William L. Prentiss Jr., local and regional band director, musician and educator, dies at 58 Wilson A. Seaborn succumbs at 76

following his death on Monday, Jan. 20, 2023. He was 76.

Family and friends paid final tributes to him Saturday, Feb. 11, at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jarrett.

He was born in Sussex County and began his education career after graduating from Virginia State University.

Mr. Seaborn

before he began the travel firm that he dubbed Sussex Tours after his birthplace. Among other things, he organized end-of-year trips to amusement parks for students and their teachers while also helping people take trips overseas and across the country. He ran the business for 20 years before retiring.

er, Ellen Seaborn; a grandson; and a great-grandson.

led to their receiving scholarships to various colleges and universities. He did double duty at Virginia Union University, where he served as assistant band director and also taught students as an adjunct music professor.

He was a member of national and state associations for musical educators, served on the Reynolds Community College Music Advisory Board, and participated in the Commonwealth Winds Community Band.

He also was a member two honorary band fraternities, Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Beta Mu. Outside of education, he created two professional performance groups that he played with at various times, Opium Jazz, when he lived in Hampton Roads, and Quintessential Jazz in Richmond.

Mr. Prentiss also was an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, served as basileus or president of Norfolk State’s Pi Gamma Chapter as well as Gamma Xi Chapter in Virginia Beach and Pi Phi Chapter in Richmond.

Mr. Prentiss also was a past president of the Richmond Alumni Chapter of Norfolk State.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Diana “Dee Dee” Witcher Prentiss, whom he met at Norfolk State; daughters, Dara S. Prentiss, Jana N. Prentiss and Maya V. Prentiss; his mother, Rosa Prentiss; his sisters, Dr. Janice P. Bennett and Rosalind HillBey; and his brother, Norman E. Washington Sr.

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

Mr. Seaborn served on the faculty of Richmond Public Schools and also as a Title I school-community coordinator

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Zona Brooks Seaborn; son Derek Seaborn; daughter Sheila Rivers Adams; his moth-