U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
SNYDER
William Grant Snyder Jr., 58, of 12331 Jeff Davis Hwy., Chester, passed away on July 3, 2002. Survived by his mother, Nellie Page; one sister, Shirley Belvins, both of Lake Gaston; one brother, Rodney Snyder of Bon Air. Burial will be private. Arrangements by K.L. Jordan Funeral Services, 5008 Nine Mile Rd. K L JORDAN FUNERAL CREMATION
STEELE
Wade Hampton Steele Jr., 84, of Concord, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, July 10, 2002. He was a former co-owner of J.W. Wood Wholesale Distributor, traveling for them for 47 years. He is survived by his wife, Judith "Billie" Carson Steele; two children, W. Hampton Steele III and Gloria S. Winston; a sister, Margaret S. Jones; and five grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13, 2002 in Calvary Baptist Church, with burial following in Concord Cemetery. Robinson Funeral Home, Appomattox.
THURSTON
Mrs. Marie Harris Thurston, of Crozier in Goochland County, died July 8, 2002. In addition to her husband of 59 years, Gordon Willson Thurston, she is survived by a daughter, Beverly Marie Thurston of Crozier; and a son, Thomas Willson Thurston of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A cryptside service will be held Thursday, July 11 at 11 a.m. in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Dr. James H. Slatton, River Road Church, Baptist, officiating. The family requests no flowers please.
THWEATT
Mrs. Mary Mauney Roberts Thweatt, age 87, daughter of Gray
Green and Aaron Anderson Roberts, both now deceased, and widow of Archie
Brown Thweatt, passed away at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Amelia on July 9, 2002. She is survived by four sisters and two brothers, Isabel Venable Roberts Cochrane of Charlotte, N.C., Betty Lewis Roberts Martin of Hampton, Louis
Green Roberts of Reidsville, N.C., Aaron Anderson Roberts Jr. of Powhatan, Elizabeth Roberts Neal of Petersburg and Nancy Thorpe Roberts Trout of Richmond. Mrs. Thweatt received her education at Biltmore College in Asheville, N.C. and later moved to Chesterfield County and was employed by E.I. Dupont. Mrs. Thweatt was a resident of Petersburg where she was a member of Third Presbyterian Church, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, John Bannister Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the American Colonies and the Appomattox Garden Club. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 11 at 10 a.m. at Third Presbyterian Church, 1660 DuPuy Rd., Petersburg, with the Rev. William McElveen officiating. Interment will follow at Old Blandford Cemetery. Mrs.. Thweatt's nephews will be pallbearers: William Lewis Martin, Thomas Johnston Roberts, Paul Tait Roberts, James Anderson Roberts, Lloyd Coleman Dunnavant and Joseph Warner Scarborough. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a memorial gift to Third Presbyterian Church, 1660 DuPuy Road, Petersburg, Va. 23803-6200.
TRACEY
William "Bill" Tracey, 47, of Richmond, formerly of Baltimore, Md., passed away July 9, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Janet S. Tracey; son, Keith L. Spottswood and his wife, Pansy; two brothers, Charles Tracey and Leo Tracey, both of Richmond; three sisters, Theresa McClusky, Mary Drouillard and Joanne Wacker, all of Baltimore, Md.; two grandsons, Brandon A. Spottswood and Percy Sanford; and a very loved nephew, Joshua Coker. His remains rest at the Nelsen Funeral Homes Laburnum Chapel, where the family will receive friends Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Varina Episcopal Church, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. NELSEN FUNERAL HOME REGISTER CONDOLENCES WWW.NELSENFH.COM
VAN
TASSEL Richard T. Van Tassel, age 77, of Jetersville, formerly of Bridgeport, Conn., died on July 9, 2002. He is survived by his daughter, Janice Boggs-Mills of Jetersville. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by sisters, Marian Rodgers, Vernice Coupe, Louise Long; brothers, Edward and Bernard Van Tassel; preceded in death by a sister, Gwen Storch. Funeral services will be held on Friday, 11 a.m., July 12 at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia. Please assemble at the cemetery at 10:45 a.m. HILLSMAN HIX FUNERAL HOME
WALKER
Thomas Earl Walker of 404 E. Brookland Park Blvd. entered eternal rest July 7, 2002. Cherishing his memory are his mother, Mary Chandler; five brothers, three sisters; a devoted great-aunt, Eleanor Morgan; four aunts, two uncles, one niece, one nephew, a host of other relatives and friends. A eulogistic service will be conducted Friday, 1 p.m. at the All Faiths Chapel, 212 E. Leigh St. Professional services entrusted to the: A D PRICE FUNERAL HOME
Washington
Queen Victoria Washington, age 80, of Richmond, died July 6, 2002. She is survived by her devoted husband, Jerry T. Washington Jr.; three sons, Jerry III, Melvin and William; 13 grandchildren; six sisters, Mozell Anderson, Edith Robinson, Annabell Manuel, Blanch White, Glady King and Clara Jackson; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Remains rest at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th St., where the family will receive friends Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. Remains will lie in state Friday, 12 noon at Great Hope Baptist Church, 2101 Venable St., where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Dr. Earl Bledsoe officiating. Burial Forest Lawn Cemetery.
WATERFIELD
Frances Lewis Waterfield, 79, of Tappahannock, died Wednesday, July 10, 2002. She was the widow of William Carrington Bramble and Eugene Waterfield. She was a member of Upper Essex Church. She is survived by her children, Carrington Stephen Bramble and his wife, Martha Rebecca Bramble, Nina Mae Anderson and her husband Richard Allen Anderson; six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, three nieces and two nephews. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday in the Marks-Bristow Funeral Home. Interment Upper Essex Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. this evening at the funeral home.
WHITE
Departed this life July 5, 2002, Rayshawn "Ray-Ray" Deon White, age 8, of 3200 Delaware Ave. Survived by his devoted mother, Ms. Tracey White; father, Clinton St. John; sisters, Zeporia, Saintia, Tamechia and Shana; brothers, Quionte, Clinton Tyrell and Terrance; maternal grandparents, Vernon and Viola White Sr., paternal grandparents, Lawrence and Bessie Spearman; great-grandmother, Shirley Smith; great-great-grandmother, Louise White; uncle, Vernon White Jr.; godmother, Maxine Carter; close friend and mentor, Sterling Hayes; a host of other relatives and friends. Remains rest at the Brunson Funeral Chapel, 1st and Federal St. until 11 a.m. Friday. Then will rest at the Temple of Judah, 2120 Venable St., where funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. Bishop Melvin
Williams Jr., pastor, officiating. Interment Oakwood Cemetery. BRUNSONS FUNERAL CHAPEL
WILLIAMS
Pamela D. Ferguson Williams, 43, of Prince George, died July 7, 2002 at Henrico Doctors' Hospital. She was a supervisor at Ft. Lee Lodging for 12 years. She is survived by her mother, Mary (Bonnie) Williams; her husband, Reginald; two sons, Eric W. Ferguson and Reginald II; three sisters, Charlene, Joanne and Sharon; one brother, Donald; maternal grandmother, Annie Laura Ferguson. Funeral services 1 p.m. July 13 at Bethel Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Va. Rev. Kevin Childs officiating. Remains can be viewed at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when the family will receive friends until service time at the church. Arrangements by Cedell Brooks Funeral Home, Port Royal, Va. Online condolences may be expressed at www.brooksfuneralhome.com.
WITHERINGTON
Frances Morton Witherington, age 91, formerly of South Norfolk and Richmond, Va., died July 9, 2002 in Manassas, Va. She was born in South Norfolk, Va. and was the widow of Leon T. Witherington. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Witherington Fagan and her husband, William of Manassas, Va.; son, Aubrey Thomas Witherington and his wife, Bette of Lynchburg, Va.; four grandchildren, Thomas W. Witherington of Glastonbury, Conn., Mary Scott W. Swanson and her husband, Bruce of Richmond, Va., Karin Fagan Moorhead and her husband, Scott of Roanoke, Va. and Bryan D. Fagan of Jacksonville, Fla.; three great-grandchildren; and a niece, Sandra
Brown Sauls and husband, Johnny of Shiloh, N.C. Mrs. Witherington was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ellen Morton; father, Phillip A. Morton; sister, Mamie Brown; and brother, Harry Morton. Visitation will be Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2002, 1 p.m. at Riverside Memorial Park, Norfolk, Va. Rev. John Cornette officiating. Francis A. Gay Funeral Home, South Norfolk Chapel is handling arrangements. Because of Mrs. Witherington's great fondness of animals, memorial donations may be made to your local Humane Society/Animal Shelter.
WOODSON
Mary Jane Jennings Woodson, 84, of Richmond, died Monday, July 8, 2002. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Winifred Woodson Stribling and her husband, Bradley; her son-in-law, Glenn Walters; two grandchildren, Thomas Edwin Walters and Sarah Louise Stribling. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Rd., where the family will receive friends 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Forest Hill Ave. and W. 43rd St.
YOUNG
Nell E. Young "Mama Nell," 78, passed peacefully Monday, July 8, 2002 at home after a long illness. She was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church, Dendron, Va. She was preceded in death by one son, Dwight E. Young. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Herbert L. Young; three sons, Ronell "Buck" (Gloria) of Virginia Beach, Va., Daniel Lee "Boonie" (Jennifer) of Richmond, Va. and Donald F. "Duck" (Diane) of Suitland, Md.; two brothers, Walter Kelly of Norfolk, Va. and Harvey Kelly of Williamsburg, Va.; four sisters, Rose Robinson, Evelyn Orange of Williamsburg, Va., Ann
Smith of Portsmouth, Va. and Susie Matthews of Norfolk, Va.; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; mother-in-law, Essie Young; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A homegoing celebration will be held 12 noon on Friday, July 12, 2002 at First Baptist Church, Dendron, Va. Burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Elberon. Viewing Thursday, July 11, 2002, 6 to 9 p.m. at Poole's Funeral Home and from 10:30 a.m. until the hour of the service Friday at the church. Arrangements by Poole's Funeral Home, Surrey.
Mark Ligon Hankins Jr.
Nov 07, 2002
Mark Ligon Hankins Jr. taught a generation of area children and adults to ride and love horses at Gravel Hill Stables in Midlothian, which he owned with a partner for about 20 years.
Many of the "goobers," as he called the children, grew up at his barn. But he was more than just one of the area's leading riding instructors.
"He was a person who had impact for life," said his wife, Mary Ellen Rhodes Hankins. "He was a good shoulder to cry on, a person to help you figure out your problems. He didn't want anybody to be a crybaby, but at the same time he had sympathy. He really made people feel better."
Mr. Hankins, a Midlothian resident, died in a local hospital Saturday of heart failure. He was 79.
"I remember dreaming about taking lessons from him and then I did," said former riding student Katherine Whitney of Richmond. "He was a surrogate father not just for me but a whole bunch of kids. He taught us things that really have carried us through the rest of our lives.
"One of the lessons he taught me came at a horse show," Whitney said. "It was hot-hot and they made an announcement that riders could take their jackets off.
"I was gratefully peeling out of mine when he asked, 'Do you think you're so good that you don't need an extra edge? The judges will be looking at hundreds of riders.' I put my jacket back on and I think I won.
"Every time I produce a piece of work, I have to think what that edge will be."
Another former riding student, Terry Adcock of Powhatan, coaxed Mr. Hankins out of retirement to help her return to the horse-show circuit. In a recent letter to Mrs. Hankins, she remembered gratefully the comfort he afforded her when she became ill with cancer.
Scared about what lay ahead for her, Adcock wrote that she would visit Mr. Hankins. Because he had persevered despite serious heart problems, he had an understanding that allowed her the comfort of being able to "sit at his kitchen table and not have to tell him why I was there."
A Richmond native, Mr. Hankins grew up in Farmville, where he became interested in horses during high school. After school he went into the Navy. During World War II, he participated in seven invasions in the Pacific theater, including the Philippines, as a Navy bosun's mate on LST 1027.
After the war, Mr. Hankins worked in landscape design for Tim Higgins. When his daughter was born, he returned to horses and helped operate Gravel Hill Stables until the mid-1970s.
He then worked as a landscape designer with the Maymont Foundation at a time when the foundation had received large federal grants. He installed Maymont's Japanese Gardens.
When he left Maymont, he opened a small sawmill and did custom cutting in walnut and cherry. "He became very interested in wood turning and became a master wood-turner," his wife said.
Mr. Hankins was a longtime Scoutmaster in the Midlothian area.
Besides his wife, survivors include a son, R. Jefferson Hankins, of Powhatan; a daughter, Dorothy "Dee" Nelms, of Midlothian; two sisters, Katheryn Wilson, of Gloucester, and Elizabeth McBay, of Honolulu; a half sister, Jane Smidt, of Gloucester; three half brothers, James "Butch" Hankins, of Bolton, Ga., and John Hankins and Douglas Hankins, of Huntington, W.Va.; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be Thursday at 2 p.m. outside his Midlothian home. Burial will be private.
