WAVERLY—Lorraine Raiford Sheffield, 83, died July 16, 2007, at Medical College of Virginia Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Southampton County, she was the daughter of the late Phillip Malone and Otelia West Raiford. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Benjamin Sheffield Jr.

In her early years, she was a member of the Corinth Friends Meeting in Southampton County and after marrying her beloved Sammy she became a much loved and faithful member of the Waverly Congregational Christian Church where she taught the Young Adult Sunday School Class for more than 50 years.

She was also honored to become an ordained deacon of the church. Lorraine was a 1941 graduate of Ivor High School and a 1945 graduate of Longwood College with a degree in home economics. In a teaching career that spanned 32 years, she taught home economics at Waverly High School from 1945 to 1953, worked as the Sussex County Extension agent from 1953 to 1955, taught chemistry and biology at Waverly High School from 1961 to 1970 and taught chemistry and biology at Tidewater Academy from 1970 to 1985, where she was also the senior guidance counselor.

She was the past president of the Waverly Woman’s Club where she was a member since 1945; a charter member and past matron of the Waverly Chapter, No. 172 Order of the Eastern Star; a member of the Sussex County Educational Association; Virginia Educational Association and the National Educational Association.

A loving and caring person to all who were blessed to be a part of her life, she will be sorely missed by her family and extended family whose lives she touched in many ways. The family will especially miss her daily “evening call” at 8 p.m.

Survivors include her daughter, Susan Raiford Sheffield Barrett and husband Hand of Colonial Heights; three granddaughters, Jessica Williams, Sara Williams and Carrie Barrett; a grandson, Cory Barrett; and a sister, Mae R. Brown and husband David; a devoted sister-in-law, Daphne Chapman; and an extended family of several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a sister, Frances R. Neave and three brothers, George Philip Raiford, Walter Raiford Sr., and John Calvin Raiford.

A funeral was held Thursday at Waverly Congregational Christian Church, Waverly, with the Rev. Joy Heaton and Pastor Jeff Crim officiating. Interment followed in the Waverly Cemetery.

Purviance Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, Wakefield, was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Waverly Congregational Christian Church, P.O. Box 636, or the Waverly Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 583, both of Waverly, VA 23890; or Crater Community Hospice, 840 W. Roslyn Road, Suite E, Colonial Heights, VA 23834.

Condolences may be posted at www.jtmorriss.com.