In Memory of
Bill and Virginia Lawson
from "Old Nick", August, 2008 - submitted by Editor Bob Chope
Sadly, we brought the news to the membership in the March 2008 edition of this newsletter of the passage of Cousin Virginia Whiting Sumpter Lawson (see below). Now we must inform the membership of the passage of her husband, Cousin William (Bill) Davies Lawson. In the commemorative article on Virginia Lawson it was explained that Bill and Virginia were second cousins and both descended from our Davies line. Cousin Virginia passed away on December 22, 2007 at the age of 81.
Bill went to join Virginia on April 7, 2008, apparently from complications resulting from a fall on Easter weekend. Bill was 80.
Bill Lawson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1927. He was the son of Alfred Lawson and Mary Margaret Davies. His mother, Mary Margaret Davies, was the daughter of Samuel Nicholas Davies and Margaret Ann Davis of Amherst County, Virginia. Samuel Nicholas descended through Whiting Davies, Nicholas Clayton Davies, Henry Davies and Nicholas Davies (Old Nick).
Bill served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater. He earned the World War II Victory Medal. After fulfilling his military obligation, he attended the Newark Public School of Fine and Industrial Art in New Jersey. He graduated in 1951 with a diploma in Advertising Arts.
Bill spent his entire professional career as a silk screener. For many years he worked for a number of employers in New Jersey. Eventually Virginia and he moved first to Lynchburg and then to Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was in Virginia that Bill started his own silk screening business, "WDL of Virginia, Inc."
While in semi-retirement in Virginia Beach, Bill derived great pleasure from ministering to the residents at the Oakwood Rehabilitation Center. It was also in this facility that Bill spent the last two weeks of his life as a resident while working to recover from his Easter weekend fall.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Deborah Lawson; three granddaughters, Lisa George, Jesse Numbers and Linda De Rosa; two great-grandsons, Joshua and Zachary Numbers; and numerous cousins that he held dear.
The editor understands that through his mother, Bill maintained contact with his cousins in Virginia, as well as close ties with with uncles, George Samuel Davies and Roderick Ludwell Davies. Although born and raised in Pennsylvania, Bill developed an undying passion for his Virginia kin and the "Old Dominion." It was this passion that eventually lead to his meeting and marrying his second cousin, Virginia Sumpter.
No more perfect a marriage could possibly have ever existed than the one between Bill and Virginia. They were both totally dedicated to each other, knowing without words each others needs. For several years before Virginia died in 2007, she was in need of constant care. Bill threw himself into the task without complaint.
As with Virginia, Bill will be missed by his family and friends. We have also lost another early member and loyal supporter of our family organization.
The Editor thanks Cousin Mary Margaret Shelton for forwarding the news about Bill's passing.
from "Old Nick", March, 2008 - submitted by Editor Bob Chope
The following is based on Virginia Lawson's obituary as it appeared in the Lynchburg News Advance.
"Virginia Whiting Sumpter Lawson, 81, went to be with her Lord on December 22, 2007, in her Virginia Beach, VA, home. Mrs. Lawson was born in Lynchburg, VA, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Norfolk, VA. She was Treasurer of the Great Bridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1950, she married "Sweet" William Davies Lawson and they shared over 57 years together. Virginia graduated from E.C. Class High School, Lynchburg, VA, Class of 1943. She is survived by her husband; brother, George Hamilton "G.H." Sumpter; daughter Deborah Lawson; three granddaughters, Lisa George, Jessica Numbers, and Linda DeRossa; two great-grandsons, Joshua and Zachary Numbers; and many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews. Her family was her passion and they will greatly miss her."
Virginia's funeral was held at the Woodlawn Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, December 27, 2007. Her interment was in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6329 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia.
Virginia, born in Lynchburg on January 9, 1926. She was the daughter of George Hamilton Sumpter and Alice Amanda (nee Davis) Sumpter. Her Davies ancestors are through her mother and are as follows: Alice Amanda Davis was the daughter of William Ludwell Davis and Sarah Whiting (nee Davies) Davis. Sarah was the daughter of Whiting Davies and Sarah Ann Susannah (nee Parks) Davies. From Whiting, her line follows through Nicholas Clayton Davies, Henry Landon Davies to Nicholas Davies.
Virginia's husband, William Davies Lawson, is her second cousin. William (Bill) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1927. Virginia and Bill were married on August 12, 1950. For a many years following their marriage they lived in New Jersey. When Bill retired they moved first to Lynchburg, VA and then to Virginia Beach, VA where Bill started a company, "WD of Virginia, Inc." The company specialized in performing silk screen printing and screen making.
Bill's Davies ancestry is as follows: Alfred Lawson and Mary Margaret (nee Davies) Lawson, Samuel Nicholas Davies and Margaret (nee Davis) Davies, Whiting Davies and Sarah Anne Susannah (nee Parks) Davies, Nicholas Clayton Davies, Henry Landon Davies and Nicholas Davies.
What is interesting about their respective family lineages is that Sarah Whiting Davies and Samuel Nicholas Davies were sister and brother. Likewise, Margaret Davis and William Ludwell Davis were sister and brother. Therefore, not only were they second cousins, but they were double second cousins.
Among all of the Davies cousins that the Editor has had the pleasure and privilege to know, he has known Virginia and Bill, and their daughter Debbie, the longest. Virginia was always dedicated to her family, both past and present. Whenever there was a family gathering of those the least bit interested in our family history, she would bring the old Davies family Bible to show the detailed data found on its pages.
She was also the most pleasant conversationalist. Virginia enjoyed a good joke and loved nothing more than to tell stories about the many adventures of our ancestors. Debbie is in the process of compiling the stories that her mother so loved to tell from all of those who were fortunate to hear them. If you have a Virginia story to share, please write it down and send it to Debbie Lawson. (Note: Debbie's address and email were included in the original article, but they are omitted here to protect her privacy. Stories sent to davies@comcast.net will be forwarded to her.)
To see the Lawsons in the Davies Family Tree, click here.
Bill and Virginia attended both of the Davies Family Reunions in Lynchburg:
1998 (above, with Mary Margaret Shelton at Pebbleton) and 2001 (below).
