Kathryne Venable Adams

ADAMS, Kathryne Venable Tompkins, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, was taken from this earth to the eternal arms of Jesus, her Savior, on Thursday, October 21, 2010. Born March 29, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Artie Martin and Hettie Price Tompkins of Danville. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 53 years, Raymond Lynwood Adams, of Blackstone, who adored her. She is also survived by two daughters, Kathy Adams Pierce and her husband, Mark, of Cary, North Carolina, and Laura Adams Zischke and her husband, Todd, of Louisa County; seven grandchildren, whom she lovingly called her "precious lambs," including Mark Stephen and Samuel Josiah Pierce of Cary, North Carolina, and Michelle Lauren, Nicole Alexandra, Julia Madison, Kevin Todd, and Joy Morgan Zischke of Louisa County; sister, Angie Tompkins Greenfield and husband, Walter, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; three brothers, Artie M. Tompkins Jr. and wife, Jackie, of Danville, Joseph P. Tompkins and wife, Jeri, of Lebanon, Ohio, and James W. Tompkins and wife, Peggy, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; sister-in-law, Marjorie Adams Cheatham and husband, Milton, of Midlothian; brother-in-law, Robert Wells Adams and wife, Betty, of Chesterfield. Kathryne, the first college graduate in her family, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Longwood College. She taught for four years in Pittsylvania, Fairfax, and Nottoway County schools before becoming a mother at which time she devoted herself wholeheartedly to the care of her daughters. A talented seamstress, she sewed beautiful dresses and designed ballet costumes and was a creative and industrious homemaker. She taught her children and grandchildren to walk with God, serve with gladness, and to focus on "others, Lord, yes, others, let this my motto be." Kathryne was a member of Crenshaw United Methodist Church in Blackstone for over 50 years. She taught Sunday School and was a member of the Mary Virginia Irby Bible Class, the United Methodist Women, and the Wainwright Circle. She particularly loved serving at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center during the annual Ministers' Convocation. After her daughters were grown, she worked at Southside Virginia Community College in the library and became an amateur photographer. Later, she worked alongside her husband as he ran Blackstone Hardware. A celebration of life service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, October 24, 2010, at the Blackstone Presbyterian Church (due to renovation of Crenshaw). Burial will be private at Lakeview Cemetery, Blackstone. The family will receive friends at the home, 254 Mill Road, Blackstone, on Saturday, October 23, at all times. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial contributions be made to the Parkinson Foundation, Nottoway County Emergency Squad, or the Homeschool Foundation-Widows and Orphans Curriculum Fund. Registry and condolences may be sent through www.mcmillianfuneralhome.com. Services tendered by Joseph McMillian Funeral Home, 1826 Cox Rd., Blackstone, Va. 23824.


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