Cary Barclay Epes

1948 - 2021

Cary Barclay Epes (nee William Edward Sunday) died on October 26, 2021 after a lengthy battle with MDS, a form of Leukemia. He was born on May 6, 1948 to Laura Nelson Sunday in Richmond Va. She put him up for adoption and he was blessed to be taken into the loving home of Lucile and Charles Epes in Newport News. His childhood was spent playing along the beach of the James River. He was very fortunate to have an opportunity to serve as a US Senate Page from 1962 to 1965 in Washington DC where he witnessed the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Social Security Act, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the National Wilderness Act. along with numerous other laws. He met and saw on a regular basis all of the Senators on a daily basis and has a list of autographs that could never be equaled.

After reaching the age limit for a Page he returned to Newport News and spent his Senior year at Warwick High School. He then attended Christopher Newport College but had to leave due to the draft. He joined the Army Security Agency and spent a year in Viet Nam. He was awarded the Amy Commendation Medal in recognition of his efforts that saved countless American lives. Although he could find no reason for the war to exist or any reason for so many American boys to give up their lives, he was proud to serve with his generation and greatly appreciated the camaraderie of friendship that developed between them.

After the Army, Cary began a 37-year career in the banking industry on the Peninsula working both in the Retail and Commercial areas. He finished as Chief Lending Officer at Old Point Bank. Early in his career he was able to finish his college education at Christopher Newport University night class program and graduated in January 1978. He was also able to give back to the community through service on the boards of Faith Presbyterian Church, Hilton Presbyterian, the Peninsula MS Board, the Hampton Roads Jaycees, the Warwick Rotary Club, the International Seamans Friend House, Habitat for Humanity, The Hampton Roads Better Business Bureau, Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Newport News Industrial Development Board, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the Alumni Society at CNU and the Board of Advisors of the Luter School of Business at CNU. His proudest accomplishment was his donation of 23 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. Although he had been active in multiple churches, Cary learned that God does not live in a book or fancy building. God can be found throughout nature and in the hearts of man. As such all men are created equally in God's eyes and he treated each person with respect and dignity. He abhorred discrimination in any form.

Cary met his future wife Brenda L. Buchanan at CNC. They were married on his leave before going to Viet Nam on February 22, 1969. They have two children, Cary Jr. and Karla E. Fife. Cary and his wife Tara's first child, Braeden, was stillborn. They subsequently gave birth to Ella. Karla and her husband Steve have two children, Tavia and Aden. He is survived by his immediate family as well as the brother and sister of his adopted family, Susan Epes Foltz and Charles C Epes, III and their families. He is also survived by his 106-year-old mother, Lucile Moseley Epes. His natural family refused all attempts to meet him so there is no knowing if he still has family there. No one had greater love for his wife, children, family or fellow man than Cary. Cary took up golf later in his life and greatly enjoyed all the many friendships he found in the game. Particularly with the Moberg Monday morning group at the Woodlands.

The family wishes to thank the nurses at Riverside Cancer Infusion Center for their devoted care to him over his years of treatment for his cancer. Tikishia Everett in particular provided care that probably added substantial time and quality to his life.

There will be no funeral or memorial service. A visitation will be held on Friday, October 29 from 12-1PM at Peninsula Funeral Home. According to his wishes he will be cremated and his ashes spread over the James River. Any expressions of sympathy should be made by contributions to Christopher Newport University with instructions to be credited to the Lucile Epes/Hilda Buchanan scholarship that he and Brenda endowed.