Edith Murphy Varner Cheatham

CHEATHAM, Edith Murphy Varner, 92, died on August 16, 2009 at The Hermitage in Richmond, Virginia. She is survived by her three children, Mary Alice, Scott and Joy; six grand-children, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Edith was born April 14, 1917 in Bishops Head, Dorchester County, Maryland. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was full of love and purpose, and considered life's challenges to be adventures rather than burdens. Her life's work was being a partner in the Methodist ministry, serving alongside her first husband of 42 years, Rev. Lee Scott Varner. Together, they served congregations as he pastored churches throughout the Virginia Methodist Conference. In 1979, they moved to Vienna, Austria and served as missionaries there, establishing the first English Speaking United Methodist Church in Vienna with a strong international congregation. After Lee's death in 1980, Edith served as pastor for the Vienna English Speaking Church until 1981, when the new pastor arrived. She remained in Vienna for a time and then returned to live in Virginia. The Vienna Church they started has grown and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary (Information about the Vienna Church is available online at esumc.at). While in her eighties and living at The Hermitage (a Methodist retirement home) in Richmond, Virginia, Edith met and married her second husband, M. Deane Cheatham in 1999. They lived together at the Hermitage until his death in the spring of 2009. Edith's family is grateful for the loving care she and Deane received at The Hermitage in their final years. The family will receive friends Saturday, August 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad Street, Glen Allen, Virginia. A funeral service will be conducted Sunday, August 23, at 3 p.m. at Shady Grove United Methodist Church (a church served by the Varners in the 1940s) located near Short Pump at 4825 Pouncey Tract Road, Glen Allen, Virginia. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts in honor of Edith Varner may be made payable to ADVANCE GCFA, and designated for Advance #12001A, the English Speaking United Methodist Church in Vienna, Austria, and mailed to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, N.Y. 10087-9068.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.