Curtis Wayne Newsome, Jr.

Curt Newsome departed this life on May 31, 2026 in Abingdon, Virginia, after a lengthy illness. He was born October 29, 1958, in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Curtis Wayne and Gayle Newsome. Curt was in the first graduating class of Phoebus High School and earned his undergraduate degree from Emory & Henry College in 1982. He was a 4-year starter on defense in football and pitched 3 seasons of baseball for the Wasps.

After graduating from Emory & Henry, Curt began his football coaching odyssey at Ervinton High School in Dickenson County. From there, he moved back home to the eastern part of the state, with high school coaching stops at Phoebus, Kecoughtan, and Heritage High School. His collegiate coaching career began as an assistant at James Madison University for two stints, before and after serving as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech. In 2014, he returned to his alma mater, where he directed the Wasps for ten seasons. In the fall of 2024, Curt was selected to the Emory & Henry University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Hard-nosed and fiercely competitive, his true gift was in understanding young people and earning their trust. Building relationships proved to be the key to their successes, both on the field and, more importantly, in life. From the second-string boy who lived up in a holler in Clinchco to the various future NFL players he recruited and coached, Curt knew what made them tick. And he loved them.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 43 years, Melinda; children, Curt III (Beth) of Williamsburg and Elizabeth Heiskell (Tyler) of Richmond; and grandchildren, Wyatt and Eloise. He is also survived by his brothers, Bryan of Manakin-Sabot and Vaughn (Joy) of Smithfield; one brother-in-law; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family would like to especially thank the nurses and staff of the Cancer Center at Johnston Memorial Hospital for their wonderful care and kindness.

The funeral service for Coach Curt Newsome will be at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon. Visitation will follow the service. He will be interred in Hampton, Virginia. A celebration of life will be held in Hampton at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kirk Nairn Memorial Scholarship at P.O. Box 1242, Abingdon, VA 24211, or online at 4knscholarship.com, or to Highlands Fellowship Food Pantry, 22417 Watauga Rd., Abingdon, VA 24211.

The family of Curt Newsome is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210; 276-623-2700.