Obituaries for the week of May 21

Staff reports
Published: May 21, 2008

Margaret Cabell Ash
Margaret Cabell Ash, 92, of Madison Heights died on May 9.
She was born May 8, 1916, in Amherst County, to the late James Walter Cabell and Jenny Patterson Cabell. She was a member of Bolling Hill Baptist Church. The last of her siblings, she was preceded in death by four brothers, James, William, Walter and Woodrow Cabell; and four sisters, Virginia, Joycee, Elizabeth and Sara Cabell.
She is survived by her only son, Walter James Ash of New York, and a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was conducted on May 17 at Bolling Hill Baptist Church. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Catherine Brooks Burford
Catherine Brooks Burford, 74, of Lynchburg, died on May 15.
Born Feb. 21, 1934, in Lynchburg, she was a daughter of the late Pendleton S. Baker and Helen Driscoll Baker. She was the widow of Alvia Leydon Burford. Twice married, her first husband was the late Harold Atwood Brooks.
She is survived by her son, Darrell Brooks and his wife, Kathy, of Forest; a sister, Diane Gowen of Lynchburg; two brothers, Richard Baker and his wife, Tammy, of Amherst, and Warren Baker and his wife, Debbi, of Madison Heights; two grandchildren, Sarah and Jonathan Brooks of Forest; and numerous friends, nieces and nephews.
She retired in 1989 from the State Highway Department after 36 years of service.
The family received friends on May 17 at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg.

Bertha Moore Critzer
Bertha Moore Critzer, 76, of Cove Creek, died on May 13.
She was born on Feb. 2, 1932, in Two Rivers, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Critzer; her parents, William and Della Moore; and her brother, Leon Moore.
She is survived by her brothers, Lynn Moore and his wife, Patsy, and Carl Moore; one sister-in-law, Nelda Moore; 10 children, William Critzer and his wife, Linda, Barbara Henderson and her fiance, Lin, James West and his wife, Teresa, Joyce West, Roy Critzer, Mildred Critzer, Mary Gallarzo-Flores, Nancy Critzer, Isabella Critzer, and Peggy deSibour and her husband, Henri.
She is also survived by 18 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews and friends and by all the critters at the farm.
A graveside service was conducted on May 16 at the Grace Episcopal Churchyard in Red Hill.

Diana Lee Tyndall DeMadaler
Diana Lee Tyndall DeMadaler, 53, of Manassas, died May 12. She was the daughter of Lloyd L. and Louise W. Tyndall of Madison Heights and the late Shirley Quick Tyndall.
She was born Dec. 1, 1954, at Fort Belvoir and was raised in the Territory of Hawaii, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., South Bend, Ind., and Madison Heights. She graduated from Amherst County High School and was a member of the choir and the Amerechos Choral group. She also graduated from Virginia Tech where she was a member of the choir.
She worked for State Farm Insurance Company and several other insurance companies in Charlottesville and Manassas. Her last job was as a bail bondsman with Freedom Bail Bonds of Fairfax and Manassas.
She is survived by her sister, Nita T. Brueggemann of Monroe; her brother, L. Kevin Tyndall of Richmond; her stepsisters, Deborah A. Wilmer of Lynchburg, and Teresa W. Donnell and husband, Peter, Donnell of Evington; stepbrothers, Tracy V. Wilmer, Gary A. Wilmer, both of Lynchburg, and Danny R. Wilmer and his wife, Vania F. Wilmer, of New Jersey; and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
A celebration of her was held on May 15 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Madison Heights.

Tony Lee Driskill
Tony Lee Driskill, 22, of Concord, died on May 14.
He is survived by his father, Kenneth Driskill and his stepmother, Lisa, and his mother, Melissa Daniel, and stepfather, Dale.
Born Sept. 30, 1985, in Lynchburg, he was a member of Tree of Life Ministries Church, where he was also employed. He was a graduate of Rustburg High School. Known as DJ “T”, he enjoyed being the DJ for various events.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Travis Driskill; one stepbrother, Zack Ferguson; two stepsisters, Heather Ferguson and Cheyanne Daniel; maternal grandparents, Jack and Janice Moses of Evington; his paternal grandparents, Earl and Nancy Mottley of Concord; his great-grandmother, Myra Mays of Amherst; step-grandparents, James and Gladys Daniel and Dana Franklin; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and many, many special friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Kenneth Gordon Driskill.
A celebration of his life was held on May 18 at Tree of Life Church. Interment was in Concord Community Cemetery.

Ladys Marshall Graves
Ladys Marshall Graves, 94, of Crozet died on May 14.
Born on Aug. 23, l913, in Batesville, she was the daughter of the late Charles H. and Lizzie S. Marshall. She was preceded in death by her husband, A. Leslie Graves Sr.; an infant daughter; two sons, A. Leslie Graves Jr. and Kenneth C. Graves; two sisters, Alma Tomlin and Daisy Gibson; and four brothers, Leonard, William, Gordon, and Lewis Marshall; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She is survived by one daughter, Anne G. Hunter of Virginia Beach; one son, Bobby D. Graves and his wife, Barbara, of Afton; one sister, Hannah Gibson; and one half brother, George E. Marshall and his wife, Eleanor, both of Charlottesville; two daughters-in-law, Helen C. Graves of Sanford, N.C. and Mary P. Graves of Nellysford; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She joined the Batesville Methodist Church on Aug. 2, 1925. She worked at C.H. Williams, Sears, and Conagra, and she cared for the elderly at their homes.
A funeral service was held at the Batesville United Methodist Church on May 17. Interment followed at Rockgate Cemetery in Crozet.

Sharon Blackwell Kestner
Sharon Blackwell Kestner, 52, of Lynn Lane, Waynesboro, died on May 14.
She was born Jan. 18, 1956, in Waynesboro, daughter of Wallace Blackwell and Helen Terrell Blackwell.
She started her nursing career in 1978 as Unit Secretary for Waynesboro Community Hospital. In 2001, she graduated from Valley Vocational and Technical School nursing program with her LPN degree. Until 2004, Sharon worked in the operating room at Augusta Medical Center.
She was a member of the Waynesboro Salvation Army Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Michele Leigh Kestner, and granddaughter, Riley Brooke Felici.
She is survived by her husband, Johnnie M. Kestner of Waynesboro; two daughters, Marsha Kestner Felici and her husband, Tony, and Lauren Kestner, both of Waynesboro; two sisters, Teresa Blackwell Stevens and her husband, Danny, of Afton, Vicky Blackwell Vance and her husband, Terry, of Iron Station, N.C.; three brothers, Tony McLain Blackwell, Adam LaRue Blackwell and his wife, Darlene, Timothy Boyd Blackwell and his wife, Nicki, all of Waynesboro; and many nieces and nephews.
A service was conducted on May 17. Interment followed at Augusta Memorial Park.

Ann Roberson Marsh
Ann Roberson Marsh, 76, of Lynchburg, died on May 16.
Survivors include her sons, Thomas Haywood Marsh Jr. of Cary, N.C. and Terry Darryl Marsh of Lynchburg; grandchildren, Jonathan Ryan Marsh of Kalispell, Mont., Savannah Nicole Marsh of Cary, N.C.; and Ephifaney Harvey of Jacksonville, Fla.; brothers, H. B. Roberson of Richmond, H. R. Roberson of Dunn Loring, and W. K. Roberson Jr. of Lawrence, Kan.; sisters, Helen R. Jamerson of Rustburg, and Juanita R. Mason of Vinton; sister-in-law, Kay Woody of Madison Heights, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Haywood Marsh, three brothers and three sisters.
Graveside services were held on May 20 at Fort Hill Memorial Park.

Manilla Cash Mays
Manilla “Mother” Cash Mays, 95, died May 12. She was the wife of the late Leonard Jefferson Mays for 61 years.
Born in northern Amherst County on Sept. 17, 1912, she was the daughter of the late Joel Benjamin Cash and the late Maude Mays Cash. She was preceded in death by four brothers, William Thurman Cash, Joel Bernard Cash, Ernest Edd Cash and Isaac Maynard (Kiah) Cash; five sisters, Lillian C. Shelton, Oni Mae Cash (infant), Essie C. Howard, Erma C. Camden and Printice C. Hussey; and a grandson, Greg Massie.
She is survived by two daughters, Jean A. Mays and Lourine M. Massie, both of Amherst; three sons, S. Leonard Mays and his wife, Lois, of The Villages, Fla., Claude W. Mays and his wife, Janet, of Madison Heights, and Lawrence W. Mays and his wife, Amy, of Lynchburg; eight grandchildren, Harold and Jeff Massie, Debbie Thurman, Alan Mays, Karen Tricoli, Brian Mays, Cathy Patrick and Andrew Mays; six step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was a member of Ivy Hill United Methodist Church in Amherst, but more recently attended Emmanuel Baptist Church in Amherst, with her two daughters.
A funeral service was conducted on May 17 at Driskill Funeral Chapel in Amherst. Burial followed in the Amherst Cemetery.

Jessie Thompson Rodwell
Jessie Thompson Rodwell, of Amherst, died on May 10. She was the wife of the late Eddie L. Rodwell.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Blair and Cris Thompson Jr.; her twin sister, Farrell Thompson Turner; and brother-in-law, Jake Turner.
She was born in Amherst on Oct. 6, 1924, to the late Deacon Cris and Tessie Blair Thompson. She accepted Christ at age 12 and joined the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Amherst. She served on the Usher Board and President of the Olive Star Women’s Auxiliary. She completed her education in the Amherst County School System and the Apex School of Cosmetology. She was the owner and operator of Jessie’s Beauty Salon for 60 years. She was married to Eddie L. Rodwell for 52 years.
She is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law, Troy Thompson (Ophelia) of Washington, D.C., Basil Thompson (Gail) of Amherst and James P. Thompson (Mildred) of Hyattsville, Md.; two nephews; sister-in-law, Hattie Thompson Ward; friends; and two cousins.
Homegoing services were held on May 15 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Amherst.

Elizabeth Baber Saunders
Elizabeth Baber Saunders, 62, died on May 15.
Born May 29, 1945, in Evington, she was a daughter of the late Richard Baber and is survived by her mother, Sarah Mason Baber of Lynchburg. She was a member of In His Ministry Baptist Church. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, her twin, Virginia Lambert, and Cora Baber.
Survivors also include three children, Roy R. Saunders Jr., and wife, Lorrie, Kevin W. Saunders and wife, Wendy, both of Madison Heights, and Angela Dabney and fiance, Ted White, of Lynchburg; longtime companion, John Goff of Lynchburg; a brother, R.W. Baber of Lynchburg; four sisters, Sylvia Nelson of Oklahoma, Louise Drinkard of Lynchburg, Betty Smith of Georgia, and Dorothy Thomason and husband, Franklin, of Madison Heights; six grandchildren, Tracey Saunders, Caroline and Spencer Jones, Kristen, and Tiffany and Peyton Saunders; a great-granddaughter; and other relatives and friends.

George Preston Steen Jr.
George Preston Steen Jr., 67, of Bedford, died on May 19.
He was born in Amherst County on Sept. 3, 1940, a son of the late George P. Steen Sr. and Odell Virginia O’Brien Gowen. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Steen.
He was retired from Sam Moore Furniture and was a member of the Bedford Church of God.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Helen Wilson Steen; his children, Cindy Dooley and husband, John, Teresa Little and husband, Danny, Sharon Steen, Linda Witt and husband, Glyn, and Virginia Jenny Goff and husband, William Jr.; grandchildren, Jessica Waddle and husband, Jonathan, Joshua Coates, Annie DePriest and husband, Dean, Danny Little Jr., Nycolas Little, Amber Nicole Overstreet, Holly and Heidi Witt, Candace Goff, Brandi Goff, William Goff III and Lucas Goff; three great-grandchildren; his father, W. Nathan Gowen; brother, Donald Steen and wife, Verna; sister, Jean Gowen; brother, Jerry Gowen and wife, Mable; and brother, Edward Gowen and wife, Patricia.
A memorial service was held on May 21 at Bedford Church of God.

Edna Viola Thomas Thacker
Edna Viola Thomas Thacker, 66, of Scottsville, died on May 13.
Born Feb. 4, 1942, in Charlottesville, she was the daughter of the late Noah and Dorothy Davis Thacker. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, James Wallace Thacker Sr.; a daughter, Karen Thacker; a son, Stephen Lee Thacker; and two sisters, Frances Mayo and Shirley Thacker.
Surviving her are eight children, Franklin Thacker of Quinque, Sandra Taylor and her husband, Mac, of Charlottesville, Cynthia Bauguess and her husband, David, of Mt. Sidney, Stuart Thomas and his wife, Pearlene, of Lynchburg, Terry Smith and her husband, Walter, of Schuyler, Gloria Yager and her husband, Claude William, of Barboursville, James W. Thacker II and his wife, Libby, of Charlottesville, and Timothy Thacker and his wife, Laura, of Scottsville; 24 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Brenda Stevens and her husband, Gilbert, of Charlottesville and Thelma Venson of Charlottesville; two brothers, Noah Thacker and his wife, Shirley, of Charlottesville and Stanley Thacker of Charlottesville.
A funeral service was held on May 19 at the Hill and Wood Funeral Home chapel. Interment followed at Oakwood Cemetery.

Walter Massie Turner Sr.
Walter Massie Turner Sr., 68, of Madison Heights, died on May 14.
He was born May 22, 1939, in Lynchburg, to the late Dave Turner and Eleanor Beverley Turner. He was the husband of Catherine Vest Turner for 49 years. He was an avid farmer and was employed at the Lynchburg Foundry for 30 years.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two brothers, Linwood D. Turner and Harry D. Turner, and one sister, Nannie Cabel-Jackson.
He is survived by his wife; one brother, Ronnie R. Turner (Charlene) of Lynchburg; six sisters, Mary L. Crawley, Marie Osbourne, Maggie L. Crawford of Madison Heights, Shirley Dickerson (Harvey), Jean E. Jackson of Lynchburg and Margaret E. Turner of Nelson; five sons, Walter M. Turner Jr., Fulton L. Turner, Thomas Turner and Oscar D. Turner (Debra) of Madison Heights; one daughter, Barbara I. Horsley (Darnell) of Madison Heights; 13 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on May 19 at the Scott Zion Baptist Church in Madison Heights. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Samuel Clark Wood Jr.
Samuel Clark Wood Jr. of Lynchburg died on May 15. He was the husband of Joyce Reynolds Wood.
Born in Amherst County, Jan. 4, 1925, he was a son of the late Samuel C. and Ola Pearce Wood. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during World War II and was a member of Park View United Methodist Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Jeff Wood and his family of Lynchburg, and Kent Wood and his family of Forest; one brother; and one sister.
A memorial graveside service was conducted on May 19 at Fort Hill Memorial Park.