MARILLA, Mrs. Dorris Adams, 97, passed away on June 23, 2008, at her home at Morningside Assisted Living in Midlothian, Va. Born in the Piney Fork community of Pittsylvania County, near Gretna, Va., she was the daughter of Jesse and Ella Mattox Adams. After attending Longwood College, she was a teacher in Staunton and Bedford, Virginia schools. In 1939, she moved with her husband, Irvine Marilla, to Parkersburg, W.Va., where they owned and operated a men's retail clothing business for 35 years. In Parkersburg, Mrs. Marilla was very active in community affairs. She was a member of the Parkersburg Women's Club and a Board member of the YWCA. As a Girl Scout leader for many years, she initiated extensive creative activities and travel opportunities for her scouts, as well as organizing community charitable events. A member of the First Baptist Church of Parkersburg, she was a deaconess and a long-time Sunday School teacher. In 1983, she and her husband, who passed away in 1995, moved to Richmond, where she became an active member of the First Baptist Church of Richmond. Mrs. Marilla is survived by a daughter, Patricia Reider and Michael Murphy of New York City, N.Y., and daughter, Kathryn Kent and her husband, Chris, of Alexandria, Va. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Jessica Reider Goldman (Brian), Michael Kent (Erin) and Jonathan Kent. Her great-grandchildren are Nash, Devin and Isabella Goldman, and Sophia and Layla Kent. She is also survived by her sister, Ruby Scruggs of Richmond; sister-in-law, Edna Marilla Taylor of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; and many nieces and nephews and their families. Mrs. Marilla deeply loved her family, her friends, and her church. An avid Bridge player, she was also a wonderful cook and flower arranger who enjoyed entertaining in her home and traveling with her family. Her favorite pastime in recent years was staying connected with family and friends. Friends may call at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, on Wednesday, June 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Richmond (Chapel) on Monument Avenue on Thursday, June 26, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Highland Burial Park in Danville on Thursday at 3 p.m.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Though I never met Dorris in person, we communicated over the phone when I came home from Vietnam, battered in body and broken in spirit. Dorris was very kind and shared words of her faith with me over the phone. Her kindness has remained with me for nearly four decades. What a wonderful long life for such a sweet lady. I shall remember her always.
Doug Durham
June 27, 2008 | San Francisco, CA
Dorris a.k.a. "Dot Dot" was an extraordinary woman, and it was obvious to me even after the short time I spent with her. Her daughter, Ernie, (Kathy) worked very hard to keep her mother happy and healthy, and I commend her for her noble efforts and devotion to her family. I'm always keeping your family in my prayers.
Love, Erica
Erica Simpson
June 27, 2008 | Nashville, TN
GOD BOXES,
I HAVE IN MY HAND TWO BOXES, WHICH GOD GAVE ME TO HOLD. HE SAID DORRIS PUT ALL YOUR SORROWS IN THE BLACK BOX & ALL YOUR JOYS IN THE GOLD. I HEEDED HIS WORDS & IN THE TWO BOXES BOTH MY JOYS & SORROWS I STORED. THE GOLD BECAME HEAVIER EACH DAY BUT THE BLACK BOX WAS AS LIGHT AS BEFORE. WITH CURIOSITY I OPENED THE BLACK BOX I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THAT BOX WAS AS LIGHT AS BEFORE. IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX WAS A HOLE WHICH ALL MY SORROWS HAD FALLEN OUT. I SHOWED THE HOLE TO GOD &...
Rene Jackson
June 25, 2008 | Sandston, VA
Remembered By
Rene Jackson
June 25, 2008 | Sandston, VA
