Gwynneth Mudd

The Rev. Gwynneth Lee Jones Mudd passed peacefully into eternity on Sunday, September 28, 2025, in Virginia Beach, VA. She was born July 21, 1937, in San Francisco, CA, daughter of Edmund Hawley Jones and Eileen Montgomery Jones. She is predeceased by her loving husband, William Elwood Mudd, who passed away May 20, 1981. Having met in high school in Fairfax, VA, they married at Scott AFB in Belleville, IL on April 20, 1957. Together, they served as a strong military family in Virginia, Thailand, Florida, Japan, and South Carolina, enjoying countless family camping and site-seeing trips, and developing many lifelong friendships along the way. Gwynn is survived by four children, Sheree Spence (Michael), Saundra Butts (Spencer), Robert Mudd, and James Mudd (Rob), by her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Jessica Petersen (Andre), Emery, Spencer, Isla, and Bryce, Jason Spence (Carrie) and Mary, Rachel Borriello (Matt) and Romi; Cody Mudd, Zachary Butts, Marrielle Spence, Dylan Mudd, and Ryan Mudd; as well as by her loving sister Wendy Wimberly and brother in law the Right Rev. Don Wimberly, and numerous nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by countless friends and colleagues.
Gwynn graduated from Fairfax High School and then attended the University of Maryland before getting married. She received her B.S. in Education from George Mason College of the University of Virginia, her M.S. in Education and Counseling from George Mason University, Certification in School Administration from Virginia Tech, and her Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. Gwynn began her professional life as a teacher, serving schools in Charleston, WV; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Misawa, Japan; Sumpter, SC; and Fairfax County, VA, where she ultimately worked as a school Counselor and Principal. Gwynn answered God's call to ministry and was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in 1992. She went on to serve as Assistant Rector at St. Aidan's in Alexandria, VA, and St. Peter's in Washington, NC; Canon Pastor of Christ's Church Cathedral in Lexington, KY; Rector of St. Luke's Church in Granville, OH, Episcopal Chaplain to Denison University in Granville, OH; Vicar at St. Paul's in Columbus, OH and St. Edward's in Whitehall, OH; and Rector at St. Stephen's in Norfolk, VA. She retired from full time ministry in 2005, but remained active as a frequent supply priest, spiritual director, teacher, and mission supporter throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. Gwynn was most recently affiliated with both St. Simon's by the Sea and Eastern Shore Chapel in Virginia Beach, VA. While Gwynn was professionally recognized as a gifted preacher and teacher, those who knew her best will celebrate that she was also an accomplished artist, prolific reader and writer, and wonderful soprano singer. She displayed a rich sense of humor, abundant generosity, a compassionate heart, and she found great joy in the simple pleasures of being with family, working in her yard, admiring the beauty of God's creation, and especially interacting with animals.
A Celebration of Life Service and reception will be held on November 3, 2025 at 2:00PM at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church, 2020 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23454. Gwynn will be buried with her late husband in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church, St. Simon's by the Sea Episcopal Church, or Love & Care Ministries of Virginia Beach.