Obituaries - Nov. 25, 2009

J. Marvin Davis

J. Marvin Davis, 68, of Shipman, died Nov. 16.  He was born Dec. 25, 1940, at Elma, in Nelson County, the son of the late Walter M. and Ruth Hazel Mann Davis.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Leonard Jackson “Jack” Davis II.

Marvin was a 1958 graduate of Nelson County High School, and in 1959 became employed at the American Cyanamid Plant at Piney River for 12 years.  In 1971 he was elected as treasurer of Nelson County and retired from that position in 1996.  He was a member of Fleetwood Harmony Masonic Lodge 92AF&AM with 44 years of membership and was a former Worshipful Master of the Lodge, and a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his devoted wife Nancy Campbell Davis; son, Gary W. Davis, and special friend Emily of Waynesboro; daughter, Lisa D. Gambrell and husband Rick of Manassas; sister-in-law, Jane M. Davis of Shipman; and his three grandchildren, Jonathan S. Kennedy, and wife, Kate, W. Adam Kennedy, and wife Kim, and Megan Marie Kennedy, great-grandchild, Camden S. Kennedy.

A funeral service was held Nov. 20 at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. John P. Campbell and the Rev. Michael Fitzgerald officiating.  Interment followed in the Davis Cemetery in Shipman with Masonic Rites accorded by Fleetwood Harmony Lodge 92AF&AM.

The family suggests that memorials take the form of contributions to Nelson County Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 44 Faber, Virginia 22938 or your local chapter American Heart Association.

Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston assisted the family with arrangements.

Joan Hellmann

Joan Hellmann (nee) Brunskill died peacefully at home in Charlottesville, on Oct. 12.

She was born Sept. 8, 1922, in Lancaster, England, the daughter of J.E.M. Brunskill and Margaret Brunskill.

Joan graduated from the Bedford High School for Girls in England. After living in Cairo, Egypt, for many years, she served as an employee of the British Foreign Office and the U.S. State Department during World War II. In Italy, she met her husband of 63 years, Lt. Col. Jacob G. Hellmann, while serving in the State Department. She was a devoted army wife and mother of three children. In later years she was an accomplished quilter winning numerous awards.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

She is survived by a brother, J.M.L. Brunskill of Warwickshire, England; two daughters, Jane M. Papadopolis of Sparks, Nev., and Elizabeth S. Lychenheim of Ellicott City, Md.; one son, Peter J. Hellmann of Schuyler; and four grandchildren, Dorian Papadopolis, Teresa Papadopolis, Sara Lychenheim, and Jacob A. Hellmann.

Joan was a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church in Spotsylvania. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Building Fund, Christ Episcopal Church, 8951 Courthouse Road, P.O. Box 94, Spotsylvania, VA 22553.

A memorial service was to be held Nov. 28 at the Church of Our Saviour in Charlottesville.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.

Joyce Elaine Holt

Joyce Elaine Holt, 78, of Maryland, passed away at her home on July 8 after a long illness. With her beloved Robert beside her, she answered the call from the Father God and went on to glory.

She resided at Gunpowder Crossing Lane in Baltimore. She was a friendly face in the neighborhood of Sleepy Hollow.

Joyce leaves behind her beloved husband, Robert G. Taylor of White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., who has been her husband for 30 years. She will be greatly missed by him, and her daughter, Beverly Bell and her husband, Edward, of Dagsboro, Del.

Joyce was born on July 26, 1930, a daughter of the late William T. and Bertha Puckett Small of Nellysford. Joyce was the last of 10 children. Her sisters, Nadie Small Haney, Muriel Small Bryant, Erma Small Southall, Edna Small Stackie, and Elzie Everett Small; and her brothers, Douglas Small and Robert Watson Small, all preceded her in death.

Joyce is survived by her sister, Audrey G. Gibson, who now resides in a nursing home in King George. She also leaves behind her stepsons, Robert Gregory Taylor and John Carroll Taylor, both of West Virginia, Jerry Taylor and Larry Taylor; a stepdaughter, Sharon and her husband, John Howard, of North Carolina. A host of grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and friends who will miss her also. Joyce enjoyed her talks with her neighbors Dwight, Ometta, Gloria, and Lynn.

Joyce worked at the Union Trust Bank (Wachovia) for 37 years. She retired at 62 and remained a housewife taking good care of home and her husband.

Joyce never met a stranger that stayed that way. She always had a story or joke to tell. She was a great advocate for stray cats. She especially was attached to a Tom cat that she named “White Face.” She also could really play a sweet sound on her harmonica, and enjoyed sharing an old hymn with her neighbors. A yellow lab named Eddie warmed his way into her heart also.

Her wishes were that her body would be cremated the ashes sprinkled in Nellysford, in Nelson County.

Memorial services will be held in Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, July 8, 2010. For further information please call (410) 574-7198.

Patsy James Jarrell

Patsy James Jarrell, 77, of Madison, died Nov. 12 at Dogwood Village of Orange County.

She was born Feb. 19, 1932, in Madison, the daughter of the late Walter Baker James and Ethel Kipps James and wife of the late Thomas Russell Jarrell.

She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Berry and Clara Barnes.

Mrs. Jarrell was a member of Mt. Nebo Lutheran Church at Rochelle and was a former member of the Madison County Rescue Squad Auxiliary.

She is survived by her children, Kathy Elich and her husband, Scott, of Blacksburg, Nancy Copeland and her husband, Ron of Fredericksburg, Eddie Jarrell and his wife, Sue, of Madison; two sisters, Elizabeth Ann Binns and her husband, Jimmy, of Afton, Wilma Cunningham of Southern Pines, N.C.; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Funeral services were held Nov. 16 at Mt. Nebo Lutheran Church with interment at the church cemetery. The Rev. Patricia Nabers officiated.

The family received friends Nov. 15 at Preddy Funeral Home in Madison.

Memorial contributions may be made to MESA, P.O. Box 665, Madison, VA 22727 or Madison County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 868, Madison, VA 22727.

James William ‘Bill’ Johnson

James William “Bill” Johnson, 88, of Gladstone, died Nov. 13 in Fairmont Crossing. Born Oct. 7, 1921, in Bedford County, he was the son of the late James Alfred Johnson and Elizabeth Jane Key Johnson. 

Bill was a member of Thaxton Baptist Church. He was also a recipient of the Purple while serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a member of Bedford Moose Lodge 1897 and a life member of VFW Peaks of Otter Post 2157.

Bill attended Penicks School in Thaxton, and later graduated from Montvale High School. After graduation, he worked at Piedmont Label until he was inducted into the U.S. Army. He trained in the U.S. and was later sent overseas and landed on Omaha Beach 13 days after D-Day. He was in the Battle of St. Loa and then on Gen. George Patton’s drive into the Brittany Peninsula, where he was wounded. 

When he returned home from service, his family was operating a tomato cannery and farming. He and his father became co-owners of Peaks Cannery.  Bill and his father were very close and always worked together. They also had an orchard of apples and peaches, which they sold for many years. 

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a son, James Randall Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Ethel Hayslett-Johnson; a daughter, Pamela J. Bowling, of Bedford; a granddaughter, Marlene Witt Meador and her husband, Michael, of Bedford; three great-grandchildren, Brandie Witt, Macey Arthur and Johnathan Arthur; and a sister, Virginia B. Johnson Hawkins and her husband, Clifton, of Lynchburg; one niece; two nephews; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bedford Life Saving Crew, PO Box 161, Bedford, VA 24523 or Thaxton Baptist Church, PO Box 32, Thaxton, VA 24174.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Judy and Barbara, of Hospice of the Hills, and the staff of Fairmont Crossing. 

A celebration of Bill’s life was conducted Nov. 16 in the Tharp Funeral Chapel with Dr. Eldridge V. Cullum officiating. Burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery. The family received friends Nov. 15 at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford. To send condolences, please visit http://www.tharpfuneralhome.com.

Elsie Mae Tillman Phillips

Elsie Mae Tillman Phillips, 88, of Schuyler, died Nov. 21 at a local hospital.  She was born on the Tillman Farm in Schuyler on April 10, 1921, where she lived her entire life. 

In addition to her parents, Thomas Hiram and Elner Taylor Tillman, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Sidney “Bud” Phillips; three sisters, Mary Phillips, Gladys Marks and Martha Kitchen; and three brothers, Henry, George and Emmit Tillman.

Left to cherish her memory are many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Mrs. Phillips was a homemaker and member of Schuyler Baptist Church.

A funeral service was conducted Nov. 25 at Thacker Brothers Funeral Home in Scottsville by the Rev. Thomas Fowler.  Burial followed in the Tillman Family Cemetery in Schuyler.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Schuyler Baptist Church.

James Earl (Butch) Thompson

James Earl (Butch) Thompson, 51, of Lovingston, died Nov. 20 at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville.

Butch was born April 8, 1958, in Charlottesville the son of the late James William and Mildred Hamilton Thompson.

He was a graduate of Nelson County High School, a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, a former technician at the University of Virginia Medical Center and was presently employed as a technician with Region 10 of Nelson County.

He is survived by his wife Raylene Forman Thompson; daughter Gloria Carin Bocher of Howardsville; two step-children, Walter R. Pelt of Biloxi, Miss. and Andrea R. Pelt of Vero Beach, Fla.; aunts, Gloria Earleen Harris (Bill) and Shirley T. Spotswood (Harold) all of Lovingston, five grandchildren and several other aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins.

A service was held Nov. 25 at Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Richard Lilly officiating and the family receive friends following the service.

Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston.