Obituaries for Nov. 9, 2011

Etta Brown Fitch departed this life on Oct. 17 at her home in Richmond. She was preceded in death by her husband, Plummer L. Fitch Jr.; and son, Steve M. Fitch. She was born May 17, 1926, in Nelson County, to Henry Brown and Ada Green Brown. She was an active deaconess over the period of 45 years with Mt. Eagle Baptist Church; Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Nelson County; Chestnut Grove Baptist Church in Charlottesville; Swansboro Baptist Church and Grace Institutional Baptist Church in Richmond. She served many years with the missionaries of Swansboro and Grace Institutional. She was also a member of the Southside Ministerial Allowance Choir for close to 10 years.

She leaves to mourn her children, Garrett L. Fitch of Waynesboro, Catherine F. Harris (John), of Maryland, Barbara F. Allen (Charles) and Sheila F. Gardner (Mac), of Richmond, and Richard P. Gardner Sr.; a devoted son-in-law for many years; nine grandchildren, Tammie H. Paul (Eric) and John W. Harris II (Vanessa), of Maryland, Tracie Fitch, Greta Fitch and Pamela Fitch, of Waynesboro, Richard P. Gardner II of Petersburg, and Shana A. Hendricks (Jason), Derek C. Allen and Leslie Gardner Jackson, of Richmond; 13 great-grandchildren, Ian and Kamrin, of Maryland, Samone, Kelly, Christopher and Jessika, of Waynesboro, Kennedi of Northern Virginia, Nadiah, Laila, Haniya and Lauren, of Richmond, and Allyn and Ryann of Maryland; two great-great-grandchildren; two devoted friends, Mary B. Allen of Roseland, and Annie P. Brown of Waynesboro; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Virgie Mae Peregoy Garth, 89, of Charlottesville, died Oct. 21 at her home. She was born on June 17, 1922, in Nelson County, the daughter of the late James and Susie Allen Peregoy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Holland Birckhead Garth Sr.; her son, Holland B. Garth Jr.; and 11 brothers and sisters.

Virgie retired from Crouse-Hinds in 1986 after 22 years of service. She was a beloved mother and grandmother, homemaker and member of Spring Hill Baptist Church. She enjoyed needlework and gardening.

She is survived by three children, Phyllis Cason of Charlottesville, Cornelia G. Swann and her husband, Richard, of Florida, and Charlotte Garlic and her husband, Bill, of Charlottesville; daughter-in-law, Cathy Garth Briscoe of Charlottesville; five grandchildren, Terry S. Wood, Randy F. Sours, Stephanie L. Briscoe, Richard F. Swann Jr. and Angela Herrion; eight great- grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

The family wants to offer a special thanks to her caretaker Dora Mundie and to the Hospice of the Piedmont, especially Patsy Lambert and Janet Vanderlin.

A graveside service was held Oct. 25 at Holly Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Johnny Hartless officiating.

There was no formal visitation, but friends viewed and signed the register at Hill and Wood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Albemarle SPCA, 3355 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901; or the Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911.

Walker Lynwood Gunter, 55, of Wingina, passed away Oct. 19 at his home.

Born in Lynchburg, May 20, 1956, he was the son of the late Sammy L. and Helen McCormick Gunter. He was a former employee of Whitehurst Paving Company.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Williams Gunter of Wingina, and their three children, Daniel Gunter and wife, Aymee, of Gladstone, Tracy Sales and husband, Rob, of Madison Heights, and Joshua Gunter and Kaylie, of Gladstone; three children by a previous marriage, Tammy, William and Angie; three sisters, Linda Deel Mays and Debra Fielder, both of Madison Heights, and Beverly Burnley of Wingina; one brother, Billy Wade Gunter of Gladstone; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Sylvia Cunningham.

Funeral services were held Oct. 21 at Maple Grove Church, Buckingham County. Interment followed. The family received friends at the funeral home.

Colelda Mays Johnson, 84, of Lynchburg, passed away Oct. 20 at Lynchburg General Hospital. She was the wife of the late Tom C. Johnson.

Born May 27, 1927 in Nelson County, she was the daughter of the late Joseph C. and Cora M. Mays and was also preceded in death by five brothers, Cecil, Edward, Herbert, David and Joseph Mays; and four sisters, Gladys Mays, Lucille Cash, Flossie Campbell and Darlene Gibson.

She was a homemaker and was of Baptist faith.

Colelda is survived by her son, Herbert Mays and wife, Gloria, of Rustburg; sister, Marjorie Campbell of Faulconerville; two grandchildren, Kevin and Tracy Mays; five great-grandchildren, Jordan, Dane, Grayson, Montana and Dakota; and numerous other loved ones and friends.

A funeral service was held Oct. 24 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel with Pastor Bill Evans officiating. Interment followed in Virginia Memorial Park in Forest.

The family received friends Oct. 23 at the funeral home.

Mary Roselle Harvey Mays, 96, went to be with her Lord Oct. 20.

She was born June 24, 1915 at her parent’s farm that overlooks Piney River in Lowesville, Amherst County. Roselle was the fifth of 13 children born to Thomas Edwin and Margie Massie Harvey. She graduated from Fleetwood High School in Nelson County, where she and her sister were members of their championship basketball team. Roselle was a resident of Newport News for over 70 years. She worked at Sears Roebuck until 1970 and was previously employed at Leggett’s. She was a member of Orcutt Baptist Church where she was a member of the Dorcus Rebecca Sunday School Class and W.M.U. Through the years she was a member of the Jubilee Choir, and was pianist and Sunday school teacher for the primary department. She was also active at Parkview Baptist Church for many years. She was known for her cooking skills, including homemade rolls and chocolate pie. Her family looked forward to her home cooked meals.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Wilkerson Mays; her parents, Ed and Margie Massie Harvey; seven brothers, Massie, Julian, Fulcher, Billy, Sumpter, Herbert and Garnett; and three sisters, Bertha H. Phillips, Maxine H. Jones, and Marjorie H. Jessee.

Survivors include one son and his wife and two daughters and their husbands, Frederick and Patty Mays, Don and Mary Anne M. Davis, of Newport News, and John and Cheryl M. Howard of Yorktown and Amherst; eight grandchildren, Sharon Davis Shipley (Michael), Karen Davis Wells (Rodney), Jonathan Davis (Nina), Erick Mays (Tara), Ansley Mays Trice (Winston), Dr. Chera Howard Hope (Adrian), Dr. Miriam Howard Shipman (Chris) and Heather Howard Hannock (Lance); 13 great-grandchildren, Justin and Rachel Shipley, Jessica, Sarah and Joshua Wells, Jeremiah Davis, Payton and Reed Mays, Mays Trice, Carson and Camden Hope, Greyson and soon-to-be-born Mayson Shipman, and Hannah Hannock; two sisters, Tessie H. Mays of Amherst, and Frances H. Reynolds of Newport News; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was conducted Oct. 22 at Orcutt Baptist Church by Pastor Chris Fowler and Don Davis. Visitation with the family preceded the service. Burial was in Peninsula Memorial Park.

Rather than flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Orcutt Baptist Church, 653 Baxter Lane, Newport News, VA 23602; or Piney River Baptist Church, 1190 Woodson Road, Lowesville, VA 22967.

Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Calvin Nash Jr., 56, of Richmond, formerly of Arvonia, died Oct. 14 after a brief illness. He was born on April 26, 1955 a son of John C. Nash Sr., of Arvonia, and the late Leola Anderson Nash.

He is also survived by his wife, Inez Nash; two sons, Shawn Warner of Faber, and Richard L. Price Jr. of Palmyra; a daughter, Sharon P. Key of Kents Store; a brother, Timothy Nash; three sisters, Alice and Carol Nash, all of Arvonia, and Betty Cable of Richmond; 11 gradnchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A funeral service was conducted Oct. 19 at the Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Arvonia. The Rev. Gregory Fisher officiated. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Friends called at Colbert Funeral Home, Bremo Bluff, Oct. 18.