Vernelle Barnes Pusey

PUSEY, Vernelle Barnes, departed this life to be with her Lord on November 13, 2008. She was born in North-umberland County, Va. on October 27, 1916. The youngest of eight children, she was courted by Paul H. Pusey Jr., motored about Heathsville in his home-built car and later married him on July 30, 1933. They moved to Richmond, where Mr. Pusey founded Paul H. Pusey, Inc. automobile company, and together they raised their three children, William A. Pusey, now of Richmond, Patricia Pusey Clark, now of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Nancy Pusey Ayres, now of Big Canoe, Ga. In addition to being a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mrs. Pusey was active in church, community and civic affairs. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Richmond, where she loved to work with the youth and young adults well into her later years and served on the Board of the Richmond Baptist Seminary. She was a member of the Country Club of Virginia, The Woman's Club, and The Tuckahoe Woman's Club, of which she was also a Director. She served on the Richmond City Council in 1968 and 1969, being the second female Council member. She was President of the Richmond YMCA and chaired Chapter 10 of the Mental Health and Retardation Board from 1970-73 and the Mental Health Committee of the Chapter 10 Board from 1974-76. She was the Legislative Chairman of the Richmond Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board, the Mental Health Representative of the HAS Board and served on the Governor's Voluntary Formulary Board. She was on the Memorial Guidance Clinic Board, the Richmond Community Action Board and the Richmond Community Senior Center Board, as well as the United Way Citizen's Study Committee and numerous other boards and committees. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Velpar Investments, Inc., a family holding company, and the Paul H. Pusey Foundation, a private charitable foundation. Upon her and her husband's retirement, they entrusted the continued operation of both to their children and grand-children. Mrs. Pusey was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Paul Pusey, whom she longed to rejoin. She is survived by her son, Bill Pusey and wife, Patti; daughters, Pat Clark and Nancy Ayres and husband, Bob. "Mimi", with her infectious laughter and zest for life, will be greatly missed by her eight grandchildren, whom she whipped into shape during annual family vacations at Virginia Beach and her 25 great-grandchildren. After a private burial at Hollywood Cemetery, a memorial service and reception will be held at First Baptist Church, Monument Avenue and Boulevard, in Richmond, at 2 p.m. on November 24. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.