Gladys Argatha Smith Burcham

BURCHAM, Gladys Argatha Smith, went to be with the Lord on January 30, 2009. Gladys Smith was born in Richmond, Virginia, on March 3, 1919. She graduated from Highland Springs High School and attended business school there. She married Preston L. Burcham on April 22, 1942. They moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where she lived the remainder of her life, being active in her church and community. She received a commendation for her volunteer work in the community. Gladys Burcham was a member of the Jessica Callahan Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and had received her 50-year membership pin from the organization. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Preston Burcham: sisters, Edith N. Martin and Dorothy Smith; and brothers, Russell, Claude and James Smith. She is survived by three daughters, Joyce Burcham of New York, N.Y., Jacqueline Burcham Stewart of Richmond, Va., and her husband, Richard, and Jeanne Burcham of Kensington, Md.; and three grandchildren, Jennifer, Alex and Tyler Stewart, all of Richmond, Va. The family will receive visitors at the Everly Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, Va. 22302, on Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 3 to 7 p.m., with an Eastern Star Ceremony. A funeral service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria, Va. 22305, on Friday, February 6, 2009 at 11 a.m., with a reception following. Interment will take place 11 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2009 at Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, Va.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.