ELLEN MERCER DIMING
Ellen Mercer Diming passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hospice of Virginia in Richmond, within eight days of her 97th birthday on July 21, 2018.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin H. Diming of Charlottesville, and sister, Marie Mercer of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
She was born July 29, 1921, in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland to Esau and Margaret Mercer. She grew up during the Great Depression in Mass. where she attended public schools. She was a 1943 graduate of Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass. In 1947, she used the GI Bill to earn an M.A. in Teaching from Radcliffe College and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Societies.
During World War II, Ellen served in the US Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) from 1944-1946. As a Specialist (S) 2nd Class, she was responsible for training new WAVES recruits at their Hunter College NYC boot camp.
After WWII, she taught History and English for 18 years in Junior and Senior High Schools in Minn., Mass., N.C., and S.C. She was a charter member and president of the local unit of the Virginia Blue Ridge WAVES and Navy Nurses for several years. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the AAUW Book Club, the Senior Center of Charlottesville, and a volunteer for the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA).
As a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, she served on Vestries in Bedford and Ayer, Mass., taught Sunday School and was an active member of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) organization. In their retirement years, Ellen and her husband Alvin greatly enjoyed attending 25 Elderhostels.
She is survived by her children: Stephen (wife Patricia) of Elon College, N.C.; Philip (wife Charlotte) of Oakley, Calif.; Paul (wife Pamela) of Midlothian; and Clare King of Montgomery Village, Md. Three grandchildren: Sandra Riley, of Virginia Beach, Christopher Diming of Durham, England, and Cynthia King of Montgomery Village; two great-grandchildren: Lilly and Willow; and one sister, Grace Flewelling of Port Charlotte, Fla. survive her.
The family would like to thank the Richmond staffs of All Saints Episcopal Church, Westminster Canterbury, and Hospice of Virginia for their constant support over the last several weeks.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, 2018, at Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church with the Reverend David Stoddart officiating. Burial is at 2 p.m. in Culpeper National Cemetery, Culpeper. Hill and Wood Funeral Home of Charlottesville will coordinate funeral and burial services.
Instead of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Hallock Endowment Fund (www.coosonline.org/hallock-endowment-fund) Church of Our Saviour, 1165 Rio Rd., East, Charlottesville, Va., 22901, or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.
RANDALL LEE “R.J.” FAIN
Randall Lee “R.J.” Fain, Jr., 23, of Ararat, passed away early Sunday morning, August 12, 2018, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was born May 29, 1995, in Forsyth County, the son of Randall Lee Fain, Sr. and Sherry Booker Carter. He was a logger at Fain Brothers Logging Company and was a member of White Plains Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Angelia Oxendine Fain of the home; his mother and stepfather, Sherry and Roger Carter of Pilot Mountain, N.C.; his father and stepmother, Randall Lee Fain, Sr. and Linda Fain of Ararat; a sister, Lora Vipperman of Mount Airy, N.C.; a brother and sister-in-law, Joshua and LeAnn Vipperman of Greensboro, N.C.; his maternal grandmother, Girlene Booker Dollyhigh of Mount Airy, N.C.; his paternal grandfather, Arlice Fain of Ararat; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jeff and Darlene Adkins of Lexington; a brother-in-law, Buddy Oxendine of Lexington; his extended family, Jackie Fain, Shorty Fain, John Fain, and Sarah Fain, all of Ararat; a special aunt and uncle, Maxine and Joe Wright of Walnut Cove, N.C.; and his special friends, Bill and Shirley Binkley of Pilot Mountain. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Robert Ray Booker; his paternal grandmother, Kathleen Mattie Fain; and a special uncle, Wayne Fain.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday (today), August 15, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, N.C., with the Rev. Tommy Nichols officiating. Burial will follow in the Henry Young Family Cemetery in Ararat. The family will receive friends Wednesday from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
MOZELLE ROGERS TAYLOR
Mozelle Rogers Taylor, 92, of Stuart, died on Monday August 6, 2018, at Blue Ridge Therapy Connection. She was born on March 11, 1926, to the late Fannie Lankford Rogers and William Edgar Rogers In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos Taylor, one son; Carlos Junior Taylor, seven sisters and six brothers.
She was a member of North View Primitive Baptist Church in Stokes County and worked as a self employed farmer. She loved gardening, flowers, hard work and especially her family.
She is survived by one daughter; Ann Sheppard and husband Gary of Stuart, one daughter in law; Carol Taylor of Stuart, three grandchildren; Mitch Sheppard and fiancée Chelsea Raby, Shannon Sowers and husband Wayne, Scott Taylor and wife Susan and two great-grandchildren; Christian and Faith Taylor and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held on Thursday August 9, 2018, at Norris Funeral Services Chapel in Stuart with Pastor Melton Gunter and Pastor Tammy Franklin officiating. Burial was in Peters Creek Baptist Church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Peters Creek Baptist Cemetery Fund c/o Delana Biggs 8214 NC 89 Hwy. West Westfield N.C. 27053 and Mountain Valley Hospice 18981 Jeb Stuart Hwy, Stuart, VA 24171.
Norris Funeral Services in Stuart served the Taylor family. Online Condolences may be made at www.norrisfuneral.com
HERMAN JAMES VAUGHN
Mr. Herman James Vaughn, age 90, of Vesta, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2018, at the Blue Ridge Therapy Connection in Stuart. He was born in Patrick County on May 18, 1928, to the late Moir and Sallie Dollarhite Vaughn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Shelor Vaughn; three sisters, Ellen Handy, Vera Burnette, Stella Gusler; and three brothers, Willie, Cecil, and Ray Vaughn. Mr. Vaughn served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He had retired from the textile industry.
Surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, Vicky and Tom Godfrey, of Danville, Shirley and Robert Jones, of Riner, Wanda Quesenberry, of Meadows of Dan; five grandchildren, Ben Godfrey and fiancé, Julie, Brad Godfrey and wife, Jamie, Amanda Nester and husband, Donnie, Lee Quesenberry and wife, Becky, Angela Dancy; eight great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; one sister, Jane Lawson, of Midlothian; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Cotton and Ruby Vaughn, of Collinsville, Leon and Brenda Vaughn of Stuart; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 13, 2018, at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart with Pastor Joe Young officiating. Burial was in the New Dan River Primitive Baptist Church with military rites performed by the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. Online condolences may be sent to www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
