Paula J. Elrod

HAMPTON - Paula Jean Elrod, 46, a lifelong resident of Hampton, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 at the Sentara Careplex.
Paula loved her family which included a host of family pets over the years. She graduated in 1980 from Hampton High School and made her professional mark in the predominately male field of computer repair. She excelled in managing people and eventually became the manager of the IT department at the Hampton branch of the West Corporation. Paula was an avid gardener, sunbather, and lived to watch her boys play baseball every spring. She was a previous board member at Northampton Little League in Hampton and was always concerned about the welfare of all the children in our community.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bobbie J. Spears; her mother, Pauline Cummings Spears; and her sister and brother-in-law, Deborah K. and Robin Watlet.
She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, Lonnie F. Elrod Jr. of Hampton; son, Steven W. Browning and his girlfriend, Nicole Grose of Richmond; son, Kyle T. Elrod of Hampton; sister, Brenda Dunevant and her husband, Jimmy of Urbanna; brother, Bobby J. Spears and his wife, Patti of Boca Raton, Fla.; a number of other relatives, including aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. She also leaves her dogs, Max, Watson and Jasper, in the care of her boys.
Friends are encouraged to visit www.mem.com to share words of comfort with the family.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Feb. 28, at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and a Celebration of Paula's life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 1, at the funeral home. Paula will be laid to rest in Hampton Memorial Gardens following the funeral service.
Flowers are appreciated, however donations to The Foundation For a Smokefree America (http://www.anti-smoking.org) would be a great alternative.
Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.