U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Jeanne C. Biggar was gerontologist
May 27, 2003
A funeral for the Rev. Dr. Jeanne C. Biggar, a retired gerontology professor who entered the ministry in her 60s to continue her life's work with the aging, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Church of Our Savior in Charlottesville.
Dr. Biggar, a priest of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, died in Louisa County on May 8. She was 79.
While a faculty member at the University of Virginia from 1969 to 1986, Dr. Biggar became a leading demographer in her field. Her research was among the earliest to describe the impact of migration of the elderly on local communities.
She helped establish a multidisciplinary gerontology program at U.Va. and taught some of the university's earliest women's studies courses.
"Jeanne truly deserves the title of pioneer," said Gordon Walker, chief executive officer of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging and a former U.Va. faculty member.
Dr. Biggar was a founding member of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging.
A former teacher, Dr. Biggar returned to college in the 1960s at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after the death of her husband, Donald. She earned a master's degree and a doctorate in sociology, statistics and demography with a concentration in gerontology.
Toward the end of her career in academia, she entered seminary and was ordained in 1985. In her ministry, friends said, Dr. Biggar enjoyed a more personal approach to gerontology. She served as a missioner for the aging in two regions of the diocese and was a former chairwoman of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia's Committee on Aging.
"She would not let physical decline from age get in the way of recognizing a person's dignity," said the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. "You never retire from life, and that was her motto. She believed retirement gave you the opportunity to use gifts that may have been overlooked in your working years. "
Lee said Dr. Biggar offered him invaluable assistance in drafting speeches he gave at nursing homes, and she was a leader in developing programs that encouraged parishioners to visit and volunteer with the elderly.
"There was a sparkle in her life and even as she grew infirm, the sparkle continued," Lee said.
Dr. Biggar also led the Commission on Aging in Louisa County, where she helped found and then co-directed Sophia House, an interfaith retreat and conference center for senior adults.
"To be 60 and entering a new career; a lot of us thought that was a pretty gutsy move," said the Rev. Marian Windel, director of Sophia House. "Jeanne certainly practiced what she preached, that age should not be a barrier and just because you are at a certain place chronologically, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go after your dreams."
Her ministry included an interim pastorate at Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville and an assistant's post at Church of Our Savior, also in Charlottesville, where she was that parish's first female clergy member. She was also a former priest-in-charge at Good Shepherd of the Hills in Boonesville.
Survivors include a son, Lee Biggar of Topsail Beach, N.C.; and a stepsister, Dorothy Summers of Tucson, Ariz.
Burial will be held at a later date.
Tecumseh Deerfoot Cook
Apr 12, 2003
Chief Tecumseh Deerfoot Cook often said the secret to his longevity was simple: "Eat plenty of raccoons and muskrats and drink Pamunkey River water. But lay off the'possum."
Born on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation - one of two reservations in the state and one of the oldest in the nation - Chief Cook led the tribe from 1942 to 1984.
As a young man he worked in Philadelphia for several years, but soon returned to live the rest of his life on the reservation.
He died Friday at 103.
One of his many duties as tribal chief was to present the annual tribute to Virginia's governor, a tradition that dates to a 1646 treaty. He represented the tribe at more than 60 tributes, the last one in 2000, shortly after his 101st birthday.
"People who don't know us think there is nothing to being a chief," he said in 1984. "There have been many nights when I have gone to bed and woken up with my pillow wet. You are always fighting to get something done."
There are about 75 members of the tribe living on the 1,200-acre reservation.
Under his leadership the tribe's shad hatchery was expanded and he secured federal grants to build the Pamunkey Indian Museum and Community Center on the reservation in 1977.
In the late 1970s, Chief Cook helped negotiate restitution from Southern Railway Co. for the railroad's use of 1½ miles of track that runs through the reservation.
But he took little credit for those accomplishments
"I never thought I was a good chief. I served because I was asked to serve," he said at a 1984 ceremony marking his tenure.
Chief William P. "Swift Water" Miles, the current head of the tribe, offered a different view.
"He gave 42 years of his life for his community and sustained our tribal government and our reservation, so I would contradict that," Miles said. "I remember visiting the reservation as a child and I was awestruck by him. I looked up to him as a chief even then. We'll miss the wisdom of his years."
Family members said he was trapping, hunting and fishing well into his 90s.
Chief Cook made his living as a hunting guide for Old Town Farm, a lodge property adjacent to the reservation that is owned by Ethyl Corp. He continued to greet and entertain guests until about six years ago.
He was a deacon of the Pamunkey Indian Baptist Church for more than 60 years.
Survivors include two daughters, Eleanor Cook Fields, of Millington, Tenn., and Elizabeth Cook Allmond, of Warminster, Pa.; one son, G. Warren Cook, of the Pamunkey Indian Reservation; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
BEVERLEY
Anna Kidd Beverley, on November 1, 2001, age 87, went to be with God and to be reunited with Fred, her husband of 58 years, who preceded her in death in 1989. She was retired from Thalhimer's Dept. Stores. She and Fred had moved to Homosassa, Fla., where she lived for 24 years before moving to St. Petersburg for the last year of her life. While in Homosassa, she was a very active member of the First Methodist Church and was an award winner for her many years of volunteer work in the community. In Richmond, she was a longtime member of Memorial Methodist Church on Broad Rock Rd. Survivors include two sons, Charles and wife, Trudy of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Hoy and wife, Tish of Richmond; two daughters, Charlotte Ford and husband, Ben of Cape Coral, Fla., and Jean DuPuy and a very special, Ted
Williams of Tierra Verde, Fla.; four sisters, Ethel Henry of Atlanta, Ga., Elizabeth Hays and Irene Byrd of Richmond, Eunice Towles of Lakeland, Fla.; and one brother, Charlie Kidd of Richmond; 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull St. Rd., where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (today), and where funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday. Interment Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
BOLES
John Brian Boles, formerly of Richmond and having current residences in Urbanna, Va. and Clinton, Ohio, died October 22, 2001 at his home in Clinton after a short battle with cancer. John is survived by his wife, Laura; two stepdaughters, Jessie and Megan of Clinton; and a daughter, Savannah; and his first wife, Peggy of Cincinnati. He is also survived by his parents, Richard and Marilyn; a brother, Dick; and sister, Anne, all of Little Rock, Ark. as well as a brother, Bob of New York City. John was previously employed by Wheat First Securities in Richmond and at the time of his death was the President of Pinnacle Management Group, Inc. Private services were held on October 25 in Clinton, Ohio. A Memorial Service will be held on November 6 at 7 p.m. at Saluda Baptist Church in Saluda, Va. For additional information, please call Ken Rogers at (804)758-0992 or (804)758-4240.
CHRISTIAN
Nellie Pauline Christian, 74, of Richmond and Blackstone, Va., formerly of Orange, died Saturday, November 3, 2001 at the Heritage Hall Nursing Home. Born June 25, 1927 in Orange County. She was the daughter of the late Henry Clay Matthews and the late Edith Dofflemoyer Matthews. Her husband was the late Horace Berkeley Christian. She is survived by one daughter, Anita P. Gomer and her husband, Robert L. Gomer of Highland Springs, Va.; one brother, Archie Matthews of Orange; two sisters, Alice Hylton of Brandywine, Md., and Juanita Baker of Virginia Beach, Va.; one granddaughter, Amy Elizabeth Miller of Richmond. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond and Paul Matthews. Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 6, 2001, 3 p.m. at the graveside in the North Pamunkey Baptist Church Cemetery, Rt. 629, Orange County. The Rev. Jeff White will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Preddy Funeral Chapel in Orange.
CLEMENTS
John Percy Clements Jr., died October 29, 2001. He is survived by his son, Coty Clements; his parents, John and Juanita Clements; his brother, Ron Clements; and two sisters, Janet Thomas and Diane Rogers. The family will hold a private service at a later date.
CRAWLEY
Departed this life November 4, 2001, Mrs. Helena B. Crawley of 1009 Nelson Street. Remains rest at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th Street. Funeral notice later.
DeMERITT
Eleanor DeMeritt of Richmond, formerly of New England, died Friday, November 2, 2001. A graduate of Mary Washington College, she proceeded to do her graduate work at the College of William and Mary. Her teaching career began in her native Massachusetts and continued in the Richmond City Schools and Henrico County's Brookland Middle School. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 10 in Dell Park Cemetery, Natick, Mass. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to your favorite charity or St. James's Episcopal Church, 1205 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. 23220.
FARBER
Dr. Herman W. Farber, 92, of Petersburg, Va., passed away Sunday, November 4, 2001. He was born in Weldon, N.C. He attended Wake Forrest College in Wake Forrest, received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He interned at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and externed at Children's Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He served in WWII in the South Pacific attached to station Hospital 227, a mash type unit that island hopped with the troops as they moved toward Japan. He came to Petersburg after WWII. He practiced medicine in Petersburg for 50 years, after which he retired. He was a member of the Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the American Medical Association, Medical Society of Virginia and the 4th district Southside Medical Association, served as Chief of Staff at Petersburg Hospital, also served as Chief of Staff of the Pediatrics Dept. He was a past president of the Lions Club, President of Temple Rodof Sholom when it disbanded in 1976, was instrumental in having the temple building donated to the City of Petersburg as a branch library in the southern part of the city. He is survived by his wife, Henrietta Farber; two sons, James Farber and wife, Pat, Mark Farber; three grandchildren, Elizabeth and husband, Chris Alburger, Emily Farber, Kymberly Kochan; a great-grandson, Sam Alburger; and a brother, Morton Farber and his wife, Sophie. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 6, 2001 at 1 p.m. in the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Visitation will follow the service until 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Rodof Sholom Branch Library, 1865 S. Sycmore, St. Petersburg, Va. 23805 or Southside Virginia Emergency Crew, P.O. Box 574, Petersburg, Va. 23804.
FOSTER
John W. Foster, age 76, of Richmond, passed away November 1, 2001. He is survived by two sons, Julian and Wilbert; six grandchildren, two great-grandsons; one sister, Juanita
Foster Ford of New York; two nieces, one nephew, two daughters-in-law, other relatives and friends. Remains rest at the Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th Street, where funeral services will be held Tuesday, 11 a.m. Rev. Sylvester
Smith officiating. Burial Forest Lawn Cemetery.
FRYE
Martha Brander Frye, 81, of Chesterfield, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, November 3, 2001. She is survived by her daughter, Veta
Smith Butler; sons, Garland W.
Smith and his wife, Joyce, and Larry E.
Smith and his wife, Kathy; sister, Mary Brander Jennings; seven grandchildren, Linda Tuck Rutledge, Harrell (Chip) Tuck III and his wife, Diane, Karen Tuck Lawson and her husband, Joe, Paige Smith, Marnie
Smith Longest and her husband, Todd, Andrew
Smith and Sarah Smith. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull St. Rd., where the family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at Maury Cemetery.
GOSSARD
Angela Marie Shelton Gossard, 24, of Richmond, went to be with the Lord, Friday, November 2, 2001. She is survived by her husband, Jonathan R. Gossard; her son, Zion J. Gossard; parents, Regina and Ron Webster; brother, Ronny Webster Jr.; sister, Joy L. Shelton; grandmother, Rita Dolan; and great-grandparents, Grace and Hulet Dolan. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Rd., where the family will receive friends Monday, 6 to 8 p.m., and where funeral services will be held Tuesday, 2 p.m. Interment Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to New Life For Youth or the Rubicon Women's Center.
HARPINE
John William Harpine III, 44, of Richmond, died Saturday, November 3, 2001. He is survived by his son, Alexander M. Harpine; his sister, Gayle H. Burnett; uncles and aunts, R. Stanley Harpine, Jack and Betty Chilton, Marie Reading, H.H. and Jessie Anne Price. He was preceded in death by a son, John W. Harpine IV. Mr. Harpine was formerly employed by PRIMESTAR, a division of Continental Cablevision. He was a devoted father and beloved brother. Remains rest at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad St. Rd., where the family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, in the Chapel of Shady Grove United Methodist Church on Pouncey Tract Rd. Interment in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Cross September 11th Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 655, Richmond, Va. 23205.
HARRELL
Benzina C. Harrell of Richmond, departed this life Sunday, November 4, 2001. Remains rest at the Mimms Funeral Home, 19th and Hull Sts. Funeral notice later.
HARRISON
Roosevelt Harrison Jr. of Richmond, departed this life Sunday, November 4, 2001. Remains rest at the Mimms Funeral Home, 19th and Hull Sts. Funeral notice later.
HENDRICK
Departed this life November 4, 2001, Mrs. Elizabeth T. Hendrick of Richmond. Remains rest at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th Street. Funeral notice later.
HOPKINS
Cassandra RaSchelle Hopkins (Sandy), went to be with the Lord on October 31, 2001. She leaves to cherish her memory two children, Ralph N. and Anntesha N. Hopkins; her loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel W. Sr. and Anne King Hopkins; two sisters, Deborah H. Thompson (Walter) and Natalie H. Bailey (Donald); three brothers, Nathaniel W. Jr. (Veronica), Broderick D., and Lamont R. Sr., (Thealisa) Hopkins; six aunts and five uncles, five nieces and six nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends among them a devoted cousin, Wendy Battle. Remains rest at the Chiles Funeral Home, 2100 Fairmount Avenue, where funeral services will be conducted Tuesday 1 p.m. Rev. Ira Hopkins officiating. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visit online memorial at www.Chilesfuneralhome.com.
JU
Ling Chia Ju, 80, of Richmond, formerly of Queens, N.Y. died Friday, November 2, 2001. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sarela Ju; three children, Maureen, Jackie and Billy; grandchildren, Christopher and Alyssa, Jessica and Andrew, Mitchell and Amanda; one brother and one sister, both of Shanghai, China. Mr. Ju had a distinguished career in the U.S. Merchant Marines. He was a veteran of WWII and was head chef at Grace Line Cruises and Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center. The family will receive friends 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 Parham Rd., where services will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday. Interment Westhampton Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.
