Obituaries/Death Notices

Rev. Harlan Beckley

The following is from an email shared by Trinity UMC (Lexington). The Trinity Church family extends Christian sympathy to the family of Rev. Dr. Harlan Beckley, who passed away [on Monday, October 20, 2025]. Please keep Harlan’s family in your thoughts and prayers, especially his wife Debby and their children

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Rev. Frederick Chancellor Hamilton

Frederick Chancellor Hamilton, beloved husband, father, and lifelong servant of God, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2025. His life was a testament to faith, compassion, and service. For thirty-seven years, he ministered to congregations across Virginia as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, followed by twelve years of

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Rev. Charles E. Johnson, Jr.

The Virginia Annual Conference received word that Rev. Charles E. Johnson, Jr. passed away on October 7, 2025. Please keep the family of Rev. Johnson in your thoughts & prayers. An obituary has not been shared yet, please check here for more information when it’s available.

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Marjorie Jennings Raney

Marjorie Jennings Raney was the spouse of Rev. William N. Raney. Marjorie Jennings Raney passed away peacefully in her home on September 16, 2025, at the age of 99. She lived a long, full life and had the special honor of becoming a great-great-grandmother. Born and raised in Virginia, she

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Ruth Hedrick Wilkinson

Ruth Hedrick Wilkinson, 79, of Richmond, Virginia, entered into eternal rest on September 24, 2025. Born in Richmond on June 27, 1946, Ruth grew up in Beaverdam and the Shenandoah Valley, where her faith, family values, and servant’s heart began to shape the extraordinary life she would live. Ruth was

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Rev. William F. Porter, Jr.

Rev. William Forest Porter, Jr,, 74, of Lake Anna, Va, died on Friday, September 19, 2025. He was born on October 21, 1950 in Lawrenceville, Va to the late Forest and Lucille Porter. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Ruth Swortzel Porter. He is

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Rev. Jo Ellen Hetherington

REV. JO ELLEN HETHERINGTON, 75, of Dublin, VA, went home to be with the Lord she faithfully served on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Highland Ridge Rehab Center. She was born March 9, 1950 in Bland, VA, the daughter of the late Joe Byrnes Hetherington and Mary Gillespie Hetherington Vest.

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Rev. Priscilla Gay Hall

The Virginia Annual Conference received word that Rev. Priscilla Gay Hall passed away on September 13, 2025. We will share more details if they are available. Please keep the family of Rev. Hall in your thoughts & prayers.

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Rev. Dennis C. Lipke

The Virginia Annual Conference received word that Rev. Dennis Lipke passed away on September 10, 2025. We will share more details if they are available. Please keep the family of Rev. Lipke and the congregation of Matoaca UMC in your thoughts & prayers.

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Rev. Dr. Cheryl Martin Bass Rhodes

Rev. Dr. Cheryl Martin Bass Rhodes, affectionately known as “Oma,” passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025, with family by her side in Columbia, South Carolina, at the age of 78. Cheryl was born on December 10, 1946, in Petersburg, Virginia. She attended Hampton High School and graduated from Ferguson

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Rev. Jim E. Galford

James “Jim” Emory Galford, 81, of 404 Somerset Place, Rustburg died Sunday, August 24, 2025 at his home. He was the husband of Sheila Lemley Galford for thirty-one years. He was born July 17, 1944 in Marlinton, West Virginia, a son of the late Jim Arnold Galford and Una Marie

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Rev. James A. Salmon

The Virginia Annual Conference received word that Rev. James A. Salmon passed away on August 14, 2025. Rev. Salmon is survived by his wife, Rev. Sue Ann Salmon. We will share more details if they are available. Please keep the family of Rev. Salmon in your thoughts & prayers.

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