Ellen Mayo Harrison Napier

NAPIER, Ellen Mayo Harrison, died peacefully at her home on February 25, 2009. Mrs. Napier was born on September 27, 1921 in New Bern, North Carolina. She was predeceased by her parents, Catherine Stapleford Harrison and Richard Grant Harrison. Mrs. Napier was raised in Richmond and graduated from John Marshall High School. She attended Smithdeal-Massey Business College. In 1942, she married the love of her life, Oscar Taylor Napier. They started in the grocery business in their early years as proprietors of McGuire Park Foods and the Super Mart at Stratford Hills Shopping Center, before Mr. Napier started in the real estate business in 1957. Mrs. Napier was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. She was fun-loving and known for her sense of humor. She especially enjoyed her "Bridge Club" friends and volunteering her time at Chippenham Hospital. In her later life, she enjoyed traveling, and especially spending winters in Naples, Florida with her family. She was a beautiful and elegant lady, with a deep faith and strength that helped sustain her through a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. Mrs. Napier is a past member of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, which she attended throughout her childhood and Bon Air Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Napier is survived by her devoted husband, Oscar T. Napier; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Jim Allison; son and daughter-in-law, Rich and Judy Napier; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Kathy Napier; grandchildren, David Page and wife, Shelly, Brian Napier, Kristen Napier and Megan Napier; and great-grandchildren, Caroline Page, Ella Page and Sarah Michele Page. She is also survived by her sister, Ruth Harrison Miles and her husband, Alexander W. Miles, sister, Nancy Harrison Wright, brother-in-law, Clarence G. Price, as well as several nieces. She was predeceased by her sister, Frances Harrison Price. The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Mature Options for their care of Mrs. Napier in her home over the past several years, with special gratitude to Betty Miller.They were all "angels among us". The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bliley's - Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., where funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum at Hollywood Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be directed to VCU Massey Cancer Center, P.O. Box 980214, Richmond, Va. 23298 or Bon Secours Hospice Foundation, 5855 Bremo Rd., Suite 710, Richmond, Va. 23226.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.