Janice Pauline Saunders Hatton
Janice Pauline Saunders Hatton of Lynchburg, Va., passed away Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Born in Rockfish Depot, Nelson County, Va., on June 10, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Gabriel T. and Frances Giles Saunders. After graduating from Schuyler High School in 1945 she followed her two older sisters to Alexandria, Va. She went to work at Citizens Bank (now Truist) as a teller, eventually becoming the manager of the proof department and later establishing and heading the bank's research department. She was also named an operations officer for the bank. In 1948 she married the love of her life, Richard Andrew Hatton, Jr.
Mrs. Hatton was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her three sisters and their husbands, Mary Lee (Cecil), Louise Smith (David), and Arlene Proffitt (Ralph); and her great-grandson Alex Skinner.
She is survived by her daughter, Janice Lynn Hatton Suddith and son-in law, Rodney Suddith, of Lynchburg; her grandchildren, Sarah Gorman (Jim) of Norfolk, Abby Skinner of Richmond, and Amanda Novack (Matt) and Richard Suddith of Lynchburg; 15 great-grandchildren, Andrew Gorman, Matt Gorman, Tommy Gorman, John Gorman, Kate Gorman, Peter Gorman, Lucy Gorman, Anne Gorman, Maggie Gorman, James Gorman, Sam Lowery, Bobby Skinner, Buck Novack, Holcomb Novack, and Wrenlee Novack; her sister-in-law, Betty Hatton Griffith; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In Alexandria, Mr. and Mrs. Hatton were active members of the Methodist Protestant Church. In 1987 they moved to Lynchburg to be near their daughter and family. While in Lynchburg, they worshiped and served at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In Janice Hatton's life, love for her family was only exceeded by her love for and faith in her savior, Jesus Christ.
The family would like to express its thanks to Gentle Shepherd Hospice, especially Lory D'Amico and Mollie Robinson, for their kind and compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church or the Nelson County Historical Society.
A service to celebrate Janice's life will be held at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11 a.m. Following the service, the family will receive friends at the church. A private interment will take place at Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery in Roseland, Va.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit
www.tharpfuneralhome.com.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory

Published by The News & Advance on Aug. 20, 2025.