Class Notes

Betty Hammers Wiley, age 90, longtime resident of Purcellville, passed away in Cary, NC, on December 22, 2021.

A self-described small town girl, Betty grew up in the tiny hamlet of Stewartstown, PA, living above her parents’ seafood store. It was a dream come true to travel to the “slightly larger” Maryville, TN for college (‘53), where she sang her heart out in every organized choir and mether husband, James O. Wiley. In 2018, Maryville College honored Betty with its Distinguished Alumni Award and Betty wowed the crowd with one of her signature meaning-of-life stories (click here for video of remarks).

Betty and Jim arrived in Purcellville in 1958, when Jim became the town dentist and Betty – literally – didn’t miss a beat, as a member of the First Loudoun Chorale Group and children’s choir director at Leesburg Presbyterian Church. She volunteered for the Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Arthritis Foundation Drives and others. She served as President, Vice President, and Community Service Chairman for the Loudoun Jr. Woman’s Club. The Wileys were one of six families that started St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Purcellville. Betty went on to become longtime choir director of St. Andrew’s.

Always the organizer, Betty was the founder and first Organizing Director of the Loudoun Valley Community Center (LVCC) after serving two years on the first Parks and Recreation Board. She initiated a senior citizen program featuring day trips, speakers, and parties, and renovated a kitchen to serve seniors and teens. She organized grants and worked with the American Hearing Society in DC to start the Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center in Leesburg, where she served as President of the Board of Directors for a number of years. She was named Outstanding Jr. Woman in Northern Virginia for the depth and breadth of her contributions to the community.

In later years, Betty suffered from significant hearing loss, which was a big challenge given her love of music and conversation. She worked on self-help projects for the Hard of Hearing Chapter in Loudoun and after two years, other volunteers developed a group now known as NOVA WEST in

Fairfax/Sterling. Betty also worked on the state committee for the American Disabilities Act. Although she dabbled in art throughout the years, Betty’s creativity blossomed through late-in-life painting. She became a serious artist, known for oil paintings of local pastoral scenes and colorful floral still lifes. Her in-home gallery was a must-stop on the Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour (WLAST), as much for the elaborate homemade food spread as for Betty’s numerous paintings hung (by Jim) in every room. “PaintingforJoy” became her life mantra as well as her email address.

In 2017, the Town of Purcellville recognized both Betty and Jim“Doc” Wiley with the key to thetown, which was a true highlight for Betty and fitting tribute from the place in which she invested her whole heart.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband Jim and is survived by her brother Bob Hammers of Red Lion, PA (wife Hazel) and by her children Karen Wiley-Eberle of Cary, NC, David Wiley (wife Camille) of Key West, FL, and Judi Crenshaw of Richmond, VA, along with grandchildren Meghan and Brennan Eberle, Mariel and Loren Wiley, and Gray, Emlyn, and Aidan Crenshaw (Granna 7 forever!).

Barbara Ann M. Wilson of Doe Run Barbara Ann M. Wilson, 81, of Doe Run, Pa. passed away peacefully with her family beside her on Oct. 27, 2013. Born on Dec. 28, 1931 in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Eddie and Mary Miller of Marlborough Village, Kennett Square. She was a 1949 graduate of Unionville Consolidated School where she was a cheerleader and 1948 Harvest Queen. She graduated from Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn. with a BS in elementary education. The Superintendent of Kennett Consolidated School District interviewed her over the phone while she was still in Maryville and offered her a first grade position at the original elementary school which was behind the current high school. When her children reached middle school she returned to teaching at the New Garden Elementary School where she continued to teach first, second and third grades for 35 years. She met her late husband, Sam Wilson at Unionville High on the basketball court when she did a cheer and fell backwards into him as he was warming up for the game. They were married after his return from his Army assignment in Salzburg, Austria. They moved to Doe Run where Sam was the manager of the PA division of the King Ranch. Their 49 years together on the ranch were filled with adventures day and night. Barbara was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a senior officer and chairman of the Children of the American Revolution on the local, state and national levels. She traveled with the organization every summer to the various regional meetings across the United States promoting the organization’s goals of conservation, national heritage, patriotism and supporting the national projects. Mrs. Wilson was a member of the Kennett Square Order of the Eastern Star where she was a Worthy Matron and went on to be a District Deputy for the state of Pennsylvania. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader for troop #744 at Unionville Elementary and Middle Schools leading the girls in camping experiences and community service with her co-leaders Phyllis Dreisbach and Grace Pratt. After retirement she served many years as a volunteer at The Encore Shop in Hamorton, Pa. She enjoyed knitting, needlepointing and embroidery in her spare time. She traveled extensively with her family around the world enjoying the sites she had taught to her students. She loved staying at The Forum in Ocean City and considered the owners her second family. She always had a story to tell about her trips to the casinos. She is survived by her son, Samuel S. Wilson, Jr., daughter, Mary Jean, son-in-law Mark Stenz, granddaughter, Taylor and grandpups, Ellie, Lily, Molly and Toggle.

Lacy Donald Woody passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018. Lacy was born on May 9, 1931, in Del Rio, TN to Ernest and Bertie Murr Woody. He graduated from Cocke County High School in 1949, received a BS Degree from Maryville College in 1952, and an MS Degree from Wayne State University in 1960. He taught science at Thomas School in Detroit for 16 years, the last four years were as a supervisor working with student teachers. He moved to Hillsdale, MI and served as Junior High Principal at Jonesville, MI. During the summers the family enjoyed spending time on Scott’s Lake in Northern Michigan, where they owned and rented 6 cabins. The family moved to Maryville, TN in 1971 and Lacy taught 6th grade science for three years at Alcoa Elementary School. Another interesting venture was the opening of three Orange Bowl Fast Food Restaurants. The first was in the Kingsport Mall, then the West Town Mall and later one in Foothills Mall. He retired in 1990 after closing the last Orange Bowl. One of Lacy’s greatest interests was flying. He earned his private Pilot’s License in 1962, later purchased his own plane and earned his Instrument Pilot’s License. Other interests included water sports like boating, skiing and water rafting, camping, and taking the family on many trips in their motor home. Lacy always had a winsome smile and made friends wherever he went. Lacy was preceded in death by his parents and his late wife, Esta Tomblin Woody. He is survived by his three children: Don Woody (Diane), Morristown, Randy Woody, Suwanee, GA, and Barbara Taylor (Tony), Maryville. Grandchildren include Michelle Woody Byrd (JR), Allison Woody Williamson (Alex), Ryan Woody, Savanna Woody, Hudson Woody, Senior Airman Wesley Taylor and Meredith Taylor. He has 5 great grandchildren. He is survived by two sisters, Betty Russell Endsley and Barbara Lowe. Special thanks to the doctors and staff at Thompson Cancer Center and to 9 North Transitional Care Unit at Fort Sanders for the excellent care he received. Lacy was an active member of Monte Vista Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Monte Vista Baptist Church Building Fund, 1735 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN 37803. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com