Mary Frances Sutherland

Mary Frances Sutherland, a resident of Charleston Gardens, passed away on October 12, 2013. The only child of Ruby Perry Dunlap and James Hobart Dunlap, she was born in Kanawha County at her St. Albans home on July 6, 1925. As an eighth grader, Mary Frances was a recipient of the WV Golden Horseshoe Award and went on to graduate Valedictorian of her St. Albans High School Class of 1943. After receiving her B.S. degree in Pre-Med from WV University in 1946, she was employed as a bacteriologist by the State Hygienic Laboratory in Charleston, WV. She and Maxwell Edward Sutherland were married on October 16, 1948 and celebrated nearly 48 years of marriage before his death in 1996. Their South Charleston residence was her home for 56 years. Mary Frances was a sixty-year member of Randolph Street Baptist Church in Charleston and a member of Chi Omega Sorority, Theta Chapter. She was a lover of the arts, having attended the Charleston Symphony when it was in its infancy in the 1930s and performed at the Shrine Mosque. Rachmaninoff Concerto #2 was a favorite of hers. As an eleven-year-old musician, Mary Frances herself was presented with an award by the State Federation of Music when she played the piano in a contest at Charleston High School. She also had the honor of playing piano on the radio. After her family was raised, Mary Frances enjoyed traveling and painting. She had an amazing eye for color, and a chocolate milkshake could always make her smile! Mary Frances is survived by daughter Julie Lukowski and husband Pete of St. Albans, WV; daughter Jill Cain and husband Bill of Huntersville, NC; daughter Janice Harvey and husband Jack of Centreville, VA; daughter Joyce Carll and husband Don of Atlanta, GA; son Jeff Sutherland of Alexandria, VA; eleven grandchildren, four great-grandsons, and two step great-grandchildren. Her son Jim preceded her in death in 2009. A Service to Honor the Life of Mary Frances Sutherland will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the Randolph Street Baptist Church in Charleston with Pastor Jason McClanahan officiating. Burial will follow at Cunningham Memorial Park in St. Albans. Family and friends may visit from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday, October 14, 2013 at Snodgrass Funeral Home in South Charleston. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Randolph Street Baptist Church, 213 Randolph St., Charleston, WV 25302 or to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, Inc., 1030 N. Orange Ave. , Suite 105, Orlando, FL 32801, www.rmhccf.org