Jean Long Purcell

Jean Long Purcell

Jean Long Purcell, 98, of Orange, died at Dogwood Village of Orange County on Wednesday, February 16, 2011.

Ms. Purcell was retired Chief of the Richmond Times Dispatch Orange Bureau and previously served as a correspondent to the Richmond News Leader, The Charlottesville Daily Progress, and several radio and television stations.

Ms. Purcell was born on February 3, 1913, in Richmond and graduated from the Richmond Normal School. She was married to the late Henry H. Purcell and moved to Orange in the mid 1930's. She immediately became quite active in local affairs.

Before the establishment of the Orange County Rescue Squad, Ms. Purcell served as Captain of the Red Cross Motor Corps, a service for transporting patients to hospital and medical facilities. In the 1950's, she served as Chairman of an advisory committee for Orange County schools. Later Ms. Purcell was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Orange County Public Library, a founding member of the Orange County Historical Society, a charter member and President of the Orange Garden Club and a member of the Orange Advisory Board of the Piedmont Environmental Council. She was also one of the original volunteer docents at James Madison's Montpelier.

Ms. Purcell is survived by two sons, H. Harwood Purcell and his wife, Frances, and Thomas M. Purcell and his wife, Catherine, all of Orange; five grandchildren, Ned and Clayton Purcell of Orange, Courtenay Palaski of Los Angeles, Sara Perine of Philadelphia and Margaret Purcell of Nashville. Three great grandchildren also survive.

A graveside burial service for family and friends will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2011, at Graham Cemetery in Orange.

Preddy Funeral Home of Orange is in charge of arrangements.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.