Janet Thornton Hurt Willis

Janet Thornton Hurt Willis Janet Thornton Hurt Willis passed away on Sunday morning, December 5, 2010 at her home in the Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community. She was born September 25, 1922 to Werter Hobson Hurt and Janet Stringfellow Hurt in Culpeper County. She leaves behind Addison Gordon Willis, Jr., her beloved husband of sixty-six years. She was known affectionately as "Polly" to her brothers and sisters, Werter H. Hurt, Jr., Charles W. Hurt, Elizabeth Hurt Shipp, and Mary Hurt Winslow.

She is survived by her children; Mary Bolling Gassman and her husband, Kenneth Gassman, Jr. of Richmond, Va., Addison Gordon Willis, III and his wife, Barbara Creighton Willis of Richmond, Va., Werter Hurt Willis and his wife, Janice Inskeep Willis of Charleston, S.C., and Janet Lucille Young and her husband, Brian Young of Blacksburg, VA, her grandchildren; Mary Hart Gassman Spivey, Elizabeth Gassman Cheron, and Mackenzie Gassman Weiss; Andrew Willis, Creighton Willis, and Sarah Willis Sullivan; Larkin Willis, Zachary Willis, and Hunter Willis; Brian Young, Gavin Young, Jansen Young, and Rebekah Young. In addition, she is also survived by thirteen great-grandchildren.

She devoted her life to her husband and family, and as her family grew, she took great delight in welcoming each new member. Her family and friends knew her as a gracious and warm hostess. She generously participated in her church and community, singing in the Culpeper Baptist Church choir, teaching Sunday school, and serving on the Flower Committee. Her passion for gardening led to a long association with Culpeper Garden Club, serving in many capacities, including President. She had been active in the Community Concert Association and Culpeper Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She attended Mary Washington College and Westhampton College.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 7, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Hwy., Culpeper VA. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Culpeper Baptist Church, 318 S. West St., Culpeper, VA, with internment to follow at Culpeper Masonic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benevolent Fund of the Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community, PO Box 191, Culpeper, VA 22701 or Culpeper Baptist Church, 318 S. West St. Culpeper, VA 22701.




This obituary was originally published in the Culpeper StarExponent.