Mary Virginia Woodson Irby

Mary Virginia Woodson Irby, 91, departed this life on Saturday, October 23, 2010. She was born in Narrows, VA the first of four daughters to Lelia and E.E. Woodson.

Mary graduated from Blackstone College for Girls and Radford College, taught public school until she married Willie B. Irby of Blackstone.

They reared five children, Daniel Hunter(Mary), Cornelia Hale(Mike), Edwin Woodson, Sarah Wesley(John), and Elizabeth Watts. She is survived by all of her children, a sister, Connie Smith, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary dedicated her life to Crenshaw United Methodist Church teaching there from the time she was a college student until nearly age 90. She served the Mary Virginia Irby Class, the local United Methodist Women, and Farmville District President of the United Methodist Women. She wrote and published History of the Crenshaw United Methodist Church, the first 175 years. Mary was an authority on and wrote the history of the stain glass windows in the sanctuary. She was a Trustee of Ferrum College.
Her love of farm life was spread around Blackstone and surrounding communities with 25 years of cultivation of garden chrysanthemums, growing hundreds of thousands of gorgeous fall mums throughout the years. She served many years as Secretary to the Virginia Sheep Federation.

Visitation will be held Monday evening 7:00-9:00 PM at the Crenshaw United Methodist Church. Services will be held in the VUMAC auditorium in Blackstone on Tuesday, October 26 at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery. Out of town guests and friends may join us at Crenshaw Mens Bible Class for lunch prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Crenshaw United Methodist Church, Building Fund. Online registry and condolences available at www.mcmillianfuneralhome.com. Services tendered by the Joseph McMillian Funeral Home, Blackstone.

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