Nancy A. Purefoy

Nancy Ann Lee Purefoy, 91, of Marion, Virginia, peacefully passed away on March 26, 2025, surrounded by her six loving children in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was born on October 26, 1933, in Sugar Grove, Virginia, the daughter of Fred Jefferson Lee and Cleo Cintha Cox Lee.

Nancy graduated from Carnegie High School in 1952 in Marion, Virginia. Later in life, she enrolled in a variety of college courses through Wytheville Community College. As a young woman, she married James George Purefoy on April 4, 1959, in Norfolk, Virginia. They were married for 56 years until James’ passing on December 5, 2015. Their union created a legacy of love, represented by both her immediate and extended family.

Nancy worked at Mountain Community Action Program (Mt. CAP) as an Outreach Supervisor, retiring in 2001 after 20 years of service. Following retirement, she continued her life of service as a part-time Substance Abuse Relief Counselor at Blue Ridge Transitions for several years.

Family was everything to Mrs. Purefoy. She loved nothing more than her immediate and extended family, placing them above all else. Her passions included cooking and baking, canning vegetables, making homemade jellies, antiquing, and gardening. For the past 40 years, she could always be found from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. watching her favorite soap opera, The Young & The Restless. Never a day passed without hearing Nancy lovingly express her endearing phrase, “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”

Although Nancy often said she did not care for dogs, she grew to love each of her children’s pets and was fiercely protective of them. Any dog that crossed the threshold of her home immediately became loyal to her, following her every move and patiently waiting for her to sneak them a treat.

Faith was the foundation of Nancy’s life. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Marion, Virginia, for over 52 years, where she served in a variety of roles. As a child, she was a member of First Baptist Church of Sugar Grove, Virginia. This foundation of faith guided and sustained her until the day our Lord called her home. She covered her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, extended family, and friends with her prayers, support, and fearless commitment to truth, grace, the written Word of God, and her love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, James George Purefoy, in 2015, as well as five brothers and three sisters: Robert Clay Lee, Clarence Franklin Lee, Carl Joseph Lee, Ellis Letcher Lee, Fred Jefferson Lee, Mary Frances Boyden, Emily Carol Collins, and Shirley Temple Boyd.

She is survived by her brother, James Thomas Lee and his wife Elaine of Sugar Grove, Virginia; her sister, Lorraine Lee Jackson of Marion, Virginia; and her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Barbara Ann Lee of Washington, D.C., Nathaniel Purefoy of Kansas City, Missouri, and Haywood Purefoy of Cleveland, Ohio.

Nancy’s memory will be cherished by her five sons and one daughter: James Derrick Purefoy and his wife Myra of Charlotte, North Carolina; Deirdre Maria McGeachy and her husband Alfred of Sugar Grove, Virginia; David Lee Purefoy of Richmond, Virginia; George Daren Purefoy of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Daniel Torrance Purefoy and his wife Carlo of Atlanta, Georgia; and Donald Scott Purefoy and his wife Miriam of Richmond, Virginia. She also held a special place in her heart for Sheila Clark and her husband Carl of Surry, Virginia, a cherished friend whom she loved and treated as a daughter.

Nancy was blessed with fifteen grandchildren: Amanda Gwinn, Nick Purefoy, Donavan McGeachy, Gabrielle McGeachy, Lauren Chapman, Olivia Purefoy, Gavin Purefoy, Morgan Purefoy, Daniel Purefoy, Tori Purefoy, Nia Neunie, Leah Purefoy, Marlie Purefoy, Jennifer Carson, and Jessica Scott. She also leaves behind one great-grandchild, Kaydence Korinne Gwinn, along with a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Visitation will be held on April 5, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Bradley’s Funeral Home & Crematory in Marion, Virginia. A Celebration of Life service will begin at 10:30 a.m., with interment to follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Marion, Virginia.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to those who provided such wonderful care and support during our mother’s cancer treatment and hospice care. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to those who visited her and provided meals for our family. Special recognition is given to Dr. Madhu Kolli of Tidewater Kidney Specialists; Dr. Scott Cross, P.A. Kathy Sharp, and Nurse Barbara Piper of the Brock Cancer Center, Virginia Oncology Association, Virginia Beach, Virginia; and the Wings Over Virginia Hospice Association team, including Julie Barnes, Terry Cartwright, Rose Hill, Janet Yue, and Chaplain James Ravenell.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mt. Pleasant Preservation Society Museum in the name of Nancy Ann Lee Purefoy. Contributions may be sent to:

Mt. Pleasant Preservation Society MuseumP.O. Box 733Marion, VA 24354501(c)(3) #: 722132-8

Bradley's Funeral Home of Marion,VA, is serving the family of Nancy Purefoy.