Mildred W. Doughty
Published 3:47 pm Wednesday, June 24, 2015
FRANKLIN—Mildred Katherine Williams Doughty, 105, widow of Lonnie Lee Doughty, her husband of 60 years, passed away June 24, 2015, in Franklin, Virginia.
She was born on June 16, 1910, in Courtland, Virginia, and was a daughter of the late George Kenneth and Viola Whitehead Williams.
In 1927, Mildred was invited to play the piano on a radio broadcast upon the opening of The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Mildred was an alumna of the College of William & Mary, graduating in the class of 1932. She taught school in Crewe and in Portsmouth. She was a member of the Olde Guarde at the College of William & Mary and the South of the James Alumni Chapter.
Mildred was the oldest member of High Street United Methodist Church, where she was a member of its Friendship Bible Class and taught both in the children and adult departments. She was a member and former president of the church’s United Methodist Women and the Ruthie Ponder Circle. Mildred served on the church board for 14 years, and was one of the original organizers of High Street’s Women’s Annual Luncheon and Bazaar.
She was a former member of a variety of organizations in Franklin, including the Christian Woman’s Club, Southampton County Historical Society, Cypress Cove Country Club and the Franklin Woman’s Club. In 1966, while president of the Franklin Woman’s Club, Mrs. Doughty was instrumental in organizing the Franklin Junior Woman’s Club. Mildred loved gardening and flower arranging, and was a former member of the Southampton Garden Club.
On April 30, 2007, on the occasion of Mrs. Doughty’s 75th Reunion from William & Mary, the Alumni Association recognized her by placing a personalized brick in her honor in Clarke Plaza at the Alumni House.
On Mother’s Day of 2011 she was honored as Franklin’s Oldest Living Mother.
Mildred was one of the oldest living graduates from the College of William & Mary. On April 30, 2012, on the occasion of Mrs. Doughty’s 80th Reunion at William and Mary, she received a dozen white roses and a standing ovation from her Olde Guarde colleagues. Her picture was taken with the College’s President Taylor Reveley and published in the William & Mary Alumni magazine Summer 2012.
In January 2014, Mrs. Doughty was selected one of Who’s Who in Virginia’s Long Term Care Facilities. She was pictured on the October page of the calendar.
Left to cherish her memory are four daughters, Linda D. Mahoney and husband, William A., of Virginia Beach, Carolyn D. Chio and husband, Wade A., of Sun City, Arizona, and M. Gwendolyn Doughty of New Bern, North Carolina, and Elaine D. Burkhart of Clayton, Georgia; three grandchildren, Alyson M. McCauley and husband, Daniel J., of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Kevin C. McGurty and wife, Stephanie B., of Chesapeake and Eric L. Burkhart and wife, Joyce M., of Niceville, Florida. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Dylan and Morgan McCauley, Kevin, Ashley and Cassidy McGurty, Jason, Nathan and Alyssa Burkhart and two great-great-grandchildren, Isabella Burkhart and Tristran Forbes, a sister, Rebecca W. Davies of Suffolk, Virginia, and nephews and nieces.
She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Lisa B. Baker; a brother, George K. Williams Jr. and wife, Doris H. Williams; a son-in-law, the Rev. Dr. Harold E. Burkhart; and a brother-in-law, Hugh C. Davies.
The funeral will be on Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m., in High Street United Methodist Church, 31094 Camp Parkway, Courtland, with the Rev. John Ashley officiating. Burial will follow at Poplar Spring Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at a reception at the church following the burial.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to High Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 218, Franklin, VA, 23851. or to a favorite charity.
Wright Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be offered at www.wrightfuneralhome.org.