Barbara Sutherland

BARBARA HALE SUTHERLAND went to her Heavenly Home early in the morning on January 7, 2026. A lifelong resident of Buchanan County, she was born in Clell, Virginia, on July 27, 1937, to Roy and Mary Duty Hale.
Barbara was a graduate of Garden High School and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in education from Radford College, where she was a sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma. She later obtained her master's degree in education from Virginia Tech.
Her 33-year teaching career began at Vansant Elementary School, and she eventually retired from P.V. Dennis Elementary School. Generations of students still speak fondly of her kindness, dedication, and the lasting impact she made on their lives.
On August 10, 1959, she married Grayson Eugene "Gene" Sutherland of Grundy, Virginia. Together they made their home in Grundy, where they built a life and raised their sons, Clinton (Clint) Hale and Samuel (Sam) Hay.
Barbara was deeply involved in her community, both through her church and civic service. She was a member of Vansant Presbyterian Church for more than 25 years, served as a long-standing member of the Board of Trustees of the Buchanan County Public Library, and was active in the daughters of the American Revolution and the Red Hat Society. She was also a devoted member of the Buchanan County Public Library's Book and Film Club and the Friends of the Buchanan County Public Library.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sisters, Irene Parker, Doris Gunter, Katy Jo Gale, her stepmother, Eva Hale, and her stepbrother, Jim VanDyke.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Clint (Faith) of Abingdon, Virginia, and Sam (Karyn) of Montgomery, Texas, her granddaughters, Ali Sutherland of Abingdon, Virginia, Hannah Loyd (Chase) of Chicago, Illinois, Rachel Sutherland of Atlanta, Georgia, Lauryn Sutherland of Tampa, Florida, and stepsister, Brenda Douglas of Charlottesville, Virginia. She is also survived by several beloved nieces and nephews.
Barbara will be especially remembered by Mary Ruth Spencer of Vansant, her best friend of many, many years, and by her most trusted companion, her dog, Happy Jack, with whom she shared more car and golf-cart rides than one could count.
The family extends their immeasurable gratitude to Mary Ratliff, Diana McCoy, Crystal Blackburn, and Debbie Deel, who lovingly served as her caretakers in the final years and days of her life.
A memorial service will be held at Buchanan First Presbyterian Church, 21223 Riverside Drive, Grundy, VA, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the service hour at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Buchanan County Humane Society, the Buchanan County Public Library, or Vansant Presbyterian Church.
Memorial condolence may be viewed at shortridgeramey.com.
The family of Barbara Hale Sutherland have entrusted the care of their loved one to Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy, VA.