Virginia Cottrell Blair

STEM, NC Virginia Cottrell Blair, 88, passed away on neember 23, 2009 at Woltz Hospice Home. She was borneecember 12, 1920 in Oxford and was a lifelong resident of Granville County. She was the daughter of the late Alfred Cottrell and the late Lavenia Cottrell and stepfather William Surratt. She was preceded ineeath by her husband of 67 years, Charles E. Blair, Sr. Mrs. Blair loved gardening and lived a life devoted to children. The loving mother of eight children of her own, she made great contributions to the lives of many other children as well through her work at Murdoch Center and John Umstead Hospital's Children's Psychiatric Institutes. Even after retirement she continued the nurturing of youngsters through the love and care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She neer met a baby she didn't love or a child for whom she didn't have many kind words. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, neember 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Gentry-neell & Vaughan Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Desmond Keenan. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Surviving are two daughters and their spouses, Judy Wayne Bradsher of Providence, Debbie Phillip Parrish of Elkin; three sons, Charles E. Blair, Jr. of Stem, Mike Yolanda Blair of Oxford, and Arthur Dale Blair of Creedmoor; 14 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. She was preceded ineeath by two sisters, Isabel Brown Elkins and Sally C. Aquino, brothers, Wilson and Tommy Blair, and two daughters, Eliza Catherine Blair and Marion Blair Wright The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. The family is being cared for by Gentry-neell & Vaughan Funeral Home and the Gentry Family Funeral services in Yadkinville. Online memorials www.gnvfh.com, select obituaries.