Obituary of Daphne Richardson Spurlock

Daphne Richardson Spurlock of Aiken, SC, formerly of Petersburg, VA, passed away on November 23, 2018, at the age of 94.  She died at the home of her daughter, Edith Towns, in Aiken where she had moved in 2017.  She was surrounded by family at the time of her death.

Daphne was born on July 15, 1924, in Florence, SC, the only child of Irvine Manning Richardson and Daphne Coker Richardson. She graduated from St. Mary’s Junior College (Raleigh, NC) in 1943, and from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) in 1945 where she earned a B.S. in Business Administration. It was there she met her husband, Harold Norman Spurlock (“Hank”).  Daphne and Hank were married 57 years at the time of his death in 2003. Together, they raised four children, Sallie Spurlock Mahan, Irvine Richardson Spurlock, Edith Spurlock Towns, and Harold Norman Spurlock, Jr. Her son Irvine pre-deceased her in 2007.

Daphne was a life-long Episcopalian.  At Christ and Grace Episcopal Church in Petersburg, where she was a member for 44 years, she served as president of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), chairman of the Altar Guild, and Diocesan Altar Guild Chairman in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.  Also while living in Petersburg, she was a member of the Cockade City Garden Club and the Petersburg Garden Club, and she was on the founding boards of Historic Blandford Cemetery Foundation and the Interfaith Adult Day Care.

She loved her home and family, including extended family, and she loved to entertain. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing bridge and working crossword puzzles.

Besides being a true Southern lady to the end, warmly greeting visitors even in her last hours, she was known to all as a woman of strength, dignity, and style. She loved beautiful clothes, as did her mother and grandmother.  She had a great sense of humor and could be immensely entertaining as a teller of stories about people and events in her life, a trait she may well have inherited from her father.  

She wished to be remembered as a dutiful and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as well as a true and loyal friend to those who were in her life.  

Besides Sallie, Edith and husband Tony, and Norman and wife Katie, she is survived by her daughter-in-law Catherine Spurlock and husband John Angevine of Chester, VA, and her nephew Dan Spurlock and wife Lori Atkins of Waverly, VA, and Dan’s two children, Zack and Beth Spurlock, as well as 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren include:  Jay Mahan of Triangle, VA; Sara Mahan and husband Michael Danza of Joshua Tree, CA; Bryson Spurlock Tomsky and husband Chris of Louisville, KY; Irv Spurlock and wife Stephanie of Wake, VA; Hal Spurlock and wife Lourdes of Suffolk, VA; Andrew Towns of Aiken, SC; Jimmy Spurlock and wife Marissa of Charlottesville, VA; David Towns and wife Jenna on mission in Swaziland, Africa; Hannah Towns of Aiken, SC; Rob and Claire Spurlock of Staunton, VA; Dan Mahan and wife Lara of New Bedford, MA; and Sam Drumellar of Paris, France.  She also is survived by cousins from both her mother’s and father’s sides, and numerous Spurlock nephews and nieces.

In accordance with her wishes, her ashes will be transported to the family burial plot at Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville, NC, so that she can be laid to rest beside her beloved husband and close to her parents. A graveside ceremony will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, February 22, 2019.  A memorial service will be held at Christ and Grace Episcopal Church in Petersburg, VA, at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

DIRECTIONS

INTERNMENT OF ASHES, Friday, Feb 22, 2019 11:00 am

Directions from the north to Cross Creek Cemetery, Lamon St, Fayetteville, NC  for Feb 22, 2019 internment of ashes for Daphne R. Spurlock:

Exit 52A/NC 24W from I-95 which becomes Grove St. Continue past Lamon St. and historic cemetery on right to Ann St. Turn right onto Ann St, go 2 blocks and turn right onto Gale St. Turn onto dirt road,  head toward tent and chairs, and funeral home staff will direct you where to park.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE, Saturday, Feb 23, 2019 11:00 am

Directions from the north to Christ & Grace Episcopal Church, 1545 S. Sycamore St, Petersburg, VA for Feb 23, 2019 celebration of life in honor of Daphne R. Spurlock:

Exit 52 from I-95. Head west on West Washington St./Rt 36W.   Turn left to head south on S. Sycamore Street/ALT Rt 301.  After crossing over I-85, take 2ndt left which is the Christ & Grace driveway.  Parking is up the hill on the left as well as behind the church.    There are three entrances to the sanctuary: the front door, the side door next to the driveway (which is  handicapped accessible), or the rear door which brings you into the administrative, fellowship, and education part of the church where you would turn right and head down the hall, then left down 3 steps and into the sanctuary.

MEMORIAL GIFTS

Per Daphne’s wishes, gifts in her memory may be given to one of the following:

Crater District Area Agency on Aging

23 Seyler Road

Petersburg, VA 23805

OR

Interfaith Adult Day Care

201 Walnut Blvd.

Petersburg, VA 23805

OR

Feed the Children

feedthechildren.org