Obituaries for Dec. 14, 2011

Frances L. Browning

Frances L. Browning passed away Dec. 7 at her residence surrounded by her family after an extended illness. She was born in Lovingston, and lived at her home place in Browning’s Cove (Shipman) until her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alexander M. Browning; and her son, Gary Grey Browning. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Frank L. Stevens and Bernice Parrish Stevens; three sisters, Helen Gentry, Margie Bibb and Jeanette Stevens; and two brothers, Frank L. Stevens and Linwood (L.D.) Stevens.

She leaves to cherish her memory two sons, Frankie Browning and wife, Laura, of Hurst, Texas, and Alexander (Lukie) Browning and wife, Mary Camm, of Shipman; two daughters, Brenda Wood and husband, Forrest, of Woods Mill, and Sandra Dale Fulcher and husband, Doug, of Madison Heights; five grandchildren, Tracey Fulcher, Chris Browning and wife, Amanda, Lee Carr, Stacy Wood and Tyler Browning; three great-grandchildren, Jemma Browning, Makayla and Mariah Carr; one brother, Charles Stevens and wife, Ann; one sister, Peggy Marshall and husband, Marvin; and a dedicated caregiver, Anna Walker. 

Frances retired from the University of Virginia Blood Bank, worked for the Nelson County Sheriffs Department, was a volunteer for the County Rescue Squads, active member of the Nelson United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and participated in the annual fall festival at the church. She participated in the local voter polls. She was also employed for many years at Shady’s in Lovingston.

A funeral service was held Dec. 11 at the Nelson United Methodist Church with the Rev. Debbie Powell officiating. Interment followed in the Browning family cemetery at Shipman.

The family received friends at the funeral home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston, (434) 263-4097.

James Franklin Cash

James “Jamie” Franklin Cash, 47, of Tyro, died Dec. 8. Born in Lynchburg, Jan. 20, 1964, he was a son of Nora Bell Jordan Cash and the late Bennie Franklin Cash. He was a self-employed plasterer.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his maternal grandmother, Mazie Bradley Jordan; one brother, Anthony Wayne Cash (Norma Jean) of Lowesville; one sister, April Dawn Cash Martin (Chip) of Afton; aunts and uncles, Jerry, Brenda, Sandra, Herbert, Sara and Barbara; nieces and nephews, Jake Anthony, Alicia Jean, Trevor Daniel and Madison Sewyn; paternal aunt and uncles, George Washington, David Glen and Debbie; and best friends, Bobby Wayne Fitzgerald and Brad Morris.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Byrum-Parr Funeral Home. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. The family requests that donations be made in Jamie’s honor to Byrum-Parr Funeral Home, P.O. Box 10, Roseland, VA 22967.

Wayne Allen Hurt

Wayne Allen Hurt, 57, of Madison, died Dec. 8 at his residence.

He was born Oct. 9, 1954, in Charlottesville, a son of the late John Allen Hurt. He attended Wolftown Pentecostal Church. He is survived by his mother, Irene Marie Hurt of Madison; wife, Charlene Hurt of Lovingston; two daughters, Angela Price and husband, Dale, of Luray, and Kristy Laplante of Fredericksburg; a sister, Charlotte Pittman and husband, Walter, of Front Royal; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services were held Dec. 11 at Preddy Funeral Home Chapel in Madison conducted by Pastor Jeff Shifflett and Pastor Kent Woodward. The family received friends Dec. 10 at the funeral home.

Virginia Stevens Mays

Virginia Stevens Mays, 96, of 1305 Broad Street, Altavista, died Dec. 9 at Gretna Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was the wife of the late Thurmond (Curley) Mays.

She was born May 6, 1915 in Nelson County, a daughter of the late Marshall and Lavina Burnette Stevens. She was a member of Lane Memorial United Methodist Church where she formerly served as secretary and a former member of the Altavista Garden Club. Additionally, Mrs. Mays enjoyed sewing, gardening around her home and fishing.

She is survived by a granddaughter, Melanie Mays Srsic and her husband, Jared, of Bedford; a grandson, Justin Michael Mays and his wife, Lisa, of Lynchburg; and three great-grandchildren, Rylee Mays, Morgan Mays and Janko Srsic.

She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Mays; and three sisters, Gladys Akers, Hazel Wright and Louise Hatcher.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Dec. 14 at Lane Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Alan Combs with interment to follow in Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m. at the church.

The family suggests that those wishing to make memorials consider Lane Memorial United Methodist Church, 1201 Bedford Ave., Altavista, VA 24517; or Altavista EMS, P.O. Box 1, Altavista, VA 24517.

To send condolences, please visit www.finchandfinchfuneralservice.com.

Annie Juanita Anderson Ward Orman

Annie Juanita Anderson Ward Orman, 88, a resident of Lovingston Health and Rehab Center and formerly of Afton, passed away Dec. 6.

She was born on June 16, 1923, in Nelson County, the daughter of the late Herman and Sarah Hawsie Truslow Anderson. Mrs. Orman was a member of Hebron Baptist Church and was retired from ConAgra.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Mason Claude Ward; her second husband, Harold “Pappy” Orman; one grandson, Chad Randolph Thompson; sisters, Elvery Hutchenson, Christie Crowe and Eunice Smith; brothers, Rudolph, Gene and Charles Anderson; and a son-in-law, Randy Thompson.

Survivors include her children, Eddie Orman and his wife, Sherry, of South Hill, Harold Orman Jr. and his wife, Joyce, of Afton, Buddy C. Ward and his wife, Phyllis, of Waynesboro, Carolyn Orman Vanderveer and her husband, Charlie, of Afton, Judy Orman Critzer and her husband, Dennis, of Lowesville, and Teresa Orman Thompson of Afton; one sister, Gwen Honnoll of Waynesboro; 13 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

The family received friends Dec. 8 at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes of Waynesboro. A service was conducted Dec. 9 at Hebron Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Embrey officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were her grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hebron Baptist Church, 66 Tanbark Road, Afton,VA 22920. Family and friends may view the obit and send condolences on line at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com.

H. Gordon Smyth

H. Gordon Smyth, a resident of Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, passed away peacefully on Dec. 4.

Gordon was born in Pottsville, Pa., on March 18, 1927, son of the late Harold M. and Jessie Edwards Smyth. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Anne.

One of his fondest childhood memories was of his time spent at a cabin, named “The Hurry Up,” his parents had at Deer Lake, near Pottsville. He was a graduate of Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering.

While at Lehigh University, he interviewed with the DuPont Company, was offered a job, accepted it and thus began his 42 year affiliation with DuPont. His first job with DuPont was in manufacturing shift work, in Waynesboro. There, at Mrs. Davis’ Boarding House on Wayne Avenue, a place where young single teachers and DuPont beginners could eat dinner for only one dollar, Gordon and his future wife, Mary Beth Reed, met. They were married on June 23, 1951.

During their life together, the Smyth’s lived in Seaford, Del., Wilmington, Del., Summit, N.J., Charlotte, N.C., and in Virginia. He retired from DuPont in 1990, as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Gordon and Mary Beth adopted two children, a son and a daughter.

He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Mary Beth Smyth; and a son, Reed Smyth and his wife, Midge, and their two children, Beth and Wesley, all of Rochester Hills, Mich.

The Smyths began their association with Nelson County, in 1979 when they purchased a condominium at Wintergreen. When Gordon retired from DuPont in 1990, he followed the words of Edgar Bronfman who said, “You don’t retire from something, you retire to something.” Gordon and Mary Beth retired to the establishment of the Smyth Foundation. The focus of the Smyth Foundation is education, particularly in Nelson County and Charlottesville. Each year the foundation grants four college scholarships to Nelson County High School seniors. To date, the Smyths have seen 46 students through to college completion. In addition, the Foundation annually makes awards to 10 people who work in the Nelson County School District and provides three travel scholarships to teachers, to further their knowledge and skills. In Charlottesville, Gordon has supported the Miller Center at the University of Virginia, Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge Foundation and most recently the Boys and Girls Club of Charlottesville. He gave generously of his time and resources to the Presbyterian Churches in the communities in which he and Mary Beth resided.

A graveside service was held Dec. 7 in Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 5016 Rockfish Valley Highway, Nellysford, followed by a memorial service at South Plains Presbyterian Church, 410 Black Cat Road, Keswick.

Family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Smyth Education Fund, c/o CACF, P.O. Box 1767, Charlottesville, VA 22902; or South Plains Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 277, Keswick, VA 22947.

Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.

Safard Cliel ‘Sonny; Taylor

Stuarts Draft — Safard Cliel “Sonny” Taylor, 69, of Stuarts Draft, passed away early Dec. 10 at Augusta Health.

He was born July 4, 1942 in Lynchburg, son of the late Orcie W. and Gladys Coffey Taylor. Sonny moved from Tye River to Stuarts Draft in 1952.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his mother- and father-in-law, Wallace H. and Elsie Thomas Dameron; paternal grandparents, Henry Massie and Zina Coffey Taylor; maternal grandparents, Charlie and Teressie Fitzgerald Coffey; and brothers-in-law, Charles A. Dameron and Manley Allen.

Sonny attended Fleetwood Elementary School in Nelson County, Stuarts Draft Elementary School and Wilson Memorial High School. He enjoyed hunting bear, deer and turkey. For 29 years, Sonny and William Coffey were in logging together.

He is survived by his wife, Mary “Sissy” Dameron Taylor; two brothers, Donald “Don” Taylor and his wife, Sue of Waynesboro, and Ronald “Butch” Taylor and his wife, Mary Lee, of Stuarts Draft; brother-in-law, Ralph Dameron and his wife, Carolyn; sisters-in-law, Betty Allen and Margie Dameron, of Stuarts Draft; nieces and nephews, Jesse Taylor and his wife, Becky, Nancy Varner and her husband, Greg, Eric McLaughlin and his wife, Tina, Tonya Liptrap and her husband, James, Sonya Cohron and her husband, Bruce, Monica Humphries and her husband, John Paul, Penny Blake, Charles “Eddie” Dameron, Michael Dameron, and Tommy Dameron and his wife, Lynn; great-nieces and -nephews, Taylor and Hannah Varner, Eric McLaughlin Jr., Megan and Issac Rader, Darrell, Derrick and Tabby Liptrap, Lara and Jacob Blake, Sara Cohron and Andrew, Miranda and Katie Dameron; great-great-niece, Kenna Liptrap; numerous cousins and extended family, Chris, Deanna, Lance Marshall, Cody and Taylor Swisher; and special friends and neighbors.

The family received friends Dec. 12 at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes of Stuarts Draft.

A funeral service was conducted Dec. 13 in Stuarts Draft Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes with pastors Billy Coffey and Don Cash officiating. Burial followed in White Rock Cemetery in Tye River.

Active pallbearers were Jerry Bryant, Larry Bryant, Chris Marshall, William Coffey, Eric McLaughlin, Sr., John Paul Humphries, Matt Welcher, Jesse Taylor, Harman Gray and John Hailey.

Honorary pallbearers were Chris Marshall, Angie Hanby, Freda Liptrap, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah, 3 East at Augusta Health and family and friends who assisted at the hospital.

Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences on line at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com.

Eva Lee Urquhart

Ms. Eva Lee Urquhart, 76, of 1616 Buchanan Street, Lynchburg, departed this life Dec. 2 at Virginia Baptist Hospital, Lynchburg. Born June 2, 1935 in Nelson County, she was the daughter of the late William Diggs and Mrs. Lena Turner Diggs.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Marie Preston and Mary Hudson; and one brother, Theodore Diggs.

She was a cook at the C&S Café‚ and Sports Shoppe. She was a member of the Prayer of Faith Temple, Lynchburg.

Ms. Urquhart is survived by two sons, James Urquhart (Yvette) of Long Island, and Louis Urquhart (Fontaine) of Big Island; two sisters, Edith Johnson (Herbert) of Washington, D.C., and Annie Mae Dolsey of Lynchburg; two brothers, Carrington Diggs of Washington, D.C., and his wife, Malcinia, and William Diggs of Baltimore, Md.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted Dec. 10 at Prayer of Faith Temple, 3100 Hill Street, Lynchburg, by Pastor Jonathan Willis. Interment followed in Forest Hill Burial Park. The body was in state prior to the funeral service.

Miller Funeral Home, Gretna, is in charge of the arrangements.