On the morning of Saturday, November 26, 2016, surrounded by his children, Mr.Michael Lee Thorpe passed away peacefully. Affectionately known as "Merk" to family and friends, Michael was born on March 2, 1950, in Virginia Beach, Va. He was the fifth child of the late Rufus Thorpe and Lucille Williams Thorpe. As a young teenager, Michael moved to Petersburg and made his home. Before his retirement, he worked in the furniture Industry.He was predeceased by his brother, Rufus Thorpe, Jr.Everyone who knew Michael knew he loved life and strived to get the most out of it. He loved to tell jokes, watch old western movies and he was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan.Michael is survived by his life partner, Hazel Clark; his daughter, April Parker; and his sons, Michael and Ricky Clark; his siblings, Shirley Hargrow (Thomas, Sr.), Lorraine Joyner-Williams, Ella Williams, Lillie Hinton, Bruce Thorpe (Helena), Darlene Brown, Randy Thorpe, Lorenzo Thorpe, Sr. (Sharon), Gwendolyn Thorpe and Carl Thorpe (Mildred); eight grandchildren, Thomas, Keon, Michael, Jasmine, Kareem, Charisma, Precious and Joshua; four great-grandchildren, Mekhi, Nahla, Jakari and Infinity. He will truly be missed by all his nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.Services for Mr. Michael Thorpe will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, December 3, 2016, at the Chapel of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va. Interment will be held at Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery.The family will assemble at 1:30 p.m. the day of the service at the funeral establishment.A wake will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at the funeral establishment.Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mr. Thorpe and watch the funeral services live online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.