Mary P. Humphrey

Humphrey, Mary Plummer (Edmunds), most recently of Midlothian, VA died November 5, 2012 after a short illness. She was born in 1924 in Petersburg, VA to Lucy Atkinson Pryor McIlwaine Edmunds and Thomas Fitzgerald Edmunds and grew up in McKenney, VA. She met the love of her life, Harry Brandt Humphrey, Jr. in Richmond in 1943 and spent the next 51 years with him in Richmond and Chester, VA. She was very active in The Episcopal Church (first as a founding member of St. Matthew’s in Henrico County and then as a member of St. John’s in Chester) before returning to her Presbyterian roots at Chester Presbyterian Church in Chester, VA. When she moved to Midlothian and was unable to attend church, Salisbury Presbyterian Church adopted her; members there gave her many hours of companionship and spiritual connection. Along with leading and participating in Bible Study groups during her lifetime she was part of church circles and councils. In her 50’s she took a class on genealogy which began a passionate quest for information about her family history; along the way she became a professional genealogist and did research for many, many clients, helping clear the way for them to join some of the genealogical societies of which she was able to be a part: DAR, Jamestowne Society, Colonial Dames, and Eppes Society among them. She loved her job as examiner of the paperwork which would either accept or reject membership and took very seriously her position as the gatekeeper people had to get past before becoming a member. The highlight of her year once was her trip with other decendants of the Eppes family to the ancestral home in England. She led an extremely active senior life which also included the Petersburg and Richmond Forum attendance, book review clubs, Women’s clubs, and membership in the Red Hat Society. She played Bridge and was active in a garden club in earlier years as well. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister Lucy Ann Traynham. She is survived by her children: Mary Lou Paulett (husband Franke, daughter Lisa Morris), Harry Brandt Humphrey, III (wife Patrizia (Trish), son Benjamin (wife Shanda and daughter Hailey)), and Betsy Lemley (son Matthew Uber, daughter Laura Miser (husband Michael, children Landon, Logan and Lilly) and daughter Rebecca Uber), sister Jane Powers, brother and sister-in-law Thomas Fitzgerald Edmunds, Jr. and Cecelia Edmunds, two aunts, one uncle, many cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews as well as many extremely devoted friends. The family will receive visitors at the J.T. Morriss Funeral Home on Adams Street in Petersburg from 7-9 PM on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. Funeral service will be held in the chapel there at 1:00 PM on Thursday, November 8, followed by burial at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salisbury Presbyterian Church in Midlothian.