Jeannine A. Smail, 84 — VPIS Board Member

February 5, 2010

Jeannine A. Smail, 84, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2010.  Beloved wife of the late J. Paul Smail, mother of Jeannine Henriet, stepmother of William, Sam and Michael Smail. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Jeannine became very involved in volunteer work, the most noted being on the Falls Church Veterans Memorial Committee, which erected a memorial to veterans in 1994.  She also served as a friendly visitor and caller for the Fairfax Red Cross, and on the Board of Directors of the Village Preservation and Improvement Society.

Viewing/visitation will take place Tuesday morning, February 9, from 9:45-10:15 a.m. at Murphy Falls Church Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad Street (Rt.7).  The funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. and the internment at 11.30 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery.

Dr. James Henry Meriwether Henderson, 92, Son of Mary Ellen Henderson

Dr. James Henry Meriwether Henderson, Professor/Dean Emeritus of Tuskegee University and a Falls Church native, died Dec. 3 at age 92. He was a plant physiologist at Tuskegee for more than 50 years and was the son of Falls Church educator Mary Ellen Henderson.

Survivors include his son, Edwin B. (Nikki) Henderson II, of Falls Church.

A memorial service will be held at the Tuskegee University Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. A memorial service is also scheduled at Highland Beach, Md. on Aug. 10, 2010. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the James H.M. Henderson memorial scholarship fund established at Tuskegee University.

In 2001, Tuskegee News editor and publisher Guy Rhodes wrote a history of Dr. Henderson when he was 84. Excerpts (recently updated by Mr. Rhodes) appear below: Read more

Mary Anne Burke Graves, 66, Retired Mount Daniel Kindergarten Teacher

Mary Anne Burke Graves, 66, retired Mount Daniel kindergarten teacher, died on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.  Beloved wife of the late Larry Graves; mother of Kiernan Graves; daughter of Capitola Taff; sister to Betsy Lynn and Jim, Brian, Russell, and Ginger Burke; also survived by 12 nieces and nephews.

Known for her creativity in the classroom, Mary Anne teamed up with art teachers and colleagues to win many Washington Post Grants in the Arts, letting the arts come alive for her kindergarten students  at Mount Daniel.  A lover of books and travel, she retired in June 2009.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Falls Church Arts, c/o C. Kaye, Treasurer, P.O. Box 6912, Falls Church, VA 22040.

Information excerpted from Washington Post and Inside Track, November 2009.

Merrill Peterson, 88, UVA Dean and Jeffersonian Scholar

Merrill D. Peterson, 88, a University of Virginia history professor, former Chair of the History Department and Dean of the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University and noted Jeffersonian scholar, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Charlottesville.

Survivors include two sons, Jeffrey W. Peterson, of Falls Church, and Kent M. Peterson of Lenexa, Kansas, and a grandchild, James W. Peterson. His wife of 51 years, Jean H. Peterson, died in 1995.

A memorial service will be held in Charlottesville at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, 2 p.m. Sunday, September 27, in the Rotunda Room. Read more

In Memoriam: George Thomas Smith

January 6, 1915 – August 3, 2009

George Thomas Smith passed away on August 3, 2009 at the age of 94. George was born in Washington, DC and lived most of his life in Falls Church. He served in the Army Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and then worked for the War Department at the Pentagon. Following his Army career, George worked at the Naval Research Laboratories in D.C. from 1947 until he retired in1972.

George married Manilla V. Malcolm in 1942. She passed away in July of 2000. George is survived by his son, George Thomas Smith, Jr. and his wife, Athena Karas Smith of Landenberg, PA, his grand-daughter, Valerie Smith Campbell and her husband, Nicholas, of Canoga Park, CA and his brother, William S. Smith of Springfield, VA.

George was a loving, caring friend and neighbor, and was one of the last original owners on Poplar Drive. When weather permitted, he could be seen riding “Shorty”, his motorized scooter, up West Street to shop at the Giant. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

In Memoriam: Bob Morrison

Former city treasurer H. Robert “Bob” Morrison passed away Sunday night after a long illness.

First elected in 1993 after a career as a photographer for National Geographic magazine, Mr. Morrison was serving his fourth term when he retired for health reasons in June 2006. 

He continued his photographic endeavors while treasurer and in retirement, contributing many photos of school and city events.  His work often appeared in the Falls Church News-Press and was featured at local galleries.  Mr. Morrison also served for many years on FCC-TV’s cable access board.

 The Morrison family will receive visitors tomorrow evening (Tuesday the 14th) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at their home, 502 Walden Court.  A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 8th at 11:00 a.m. at Galloway United Methodist Church, 306 Annandale Road.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Falls Church Education Foundation Bob Morrison Scholarship Fund.