Adrian Croom Healy

Adrian Croom Healy, of Roanoke, Va., died 2 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2010, at Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was 96 years old and had lived in Roanoke since 1957. Mother of the Year for Religious Affairs in 1986, she had a wealth of friends and family who will sorely miss her. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Walker Bocock Healy, a former minister of First Presbyterian Church here in Roanoke. Born in Wilmington, N.C., the daughter of J. Murray and Alma J. Croom, she had two much loved sisters who predeceased her, Louise Croom Dowdy, of Sanford, N.C., and Miriam Croom Smith, of Raleigh, N.C. She attended Mercer University in Macon, Ga., for the equivalent of two years, often in summers, using the fall and winter months to earn tuition money. She met her future husband in Richmond, Va., where she attended the then Assembly's Training School, now the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and he was at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
She and her husband had five successful ministries at First Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas (assistant minister); First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, Ark.; First Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs, Ark.; First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, N.C.; and First Presbyterian Church, Roanoke, Va. Everywhere she lived she made many friends, and her home was always filled with family and friends.
She is survived by her three children; four grandsons; and seven great-grandchildren to wit: Adrian Louise Healy Patterson (William H.) of Roanoke, Winifred Healy Stone, of New York City, Walker Bocock Healy Jr. (Nancy Robertson), of Roanoke, Guillermo Federico Restrepo (Suzanne), of Roanoke, Walker David Patterson (Terri), of Salem, Samuel Venable Stone, of Roselle, N.J., Jonathan Alexander Stone (Marja), of New York City, William Marcus Restrepo, of Elizabethton, Tenn., Coquina Healy Restrepo and Calliope Karma Restrepo, both of Roanoke, McKenzie Louise Patterson, of Salem, Duncan Aeneas Restrepo, of Roanoke, Andi Christine Patterson, of Salem, and Walker David Patterson Jr., of Salem.
Her church family is wide and includes three local churches: First Presbyterian, Colonial Presbyterian, and Greene Memorial United Methodist where she held an associate membership and where her son and older daughter are members. Memorials may be made to any of the three churches or to the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Colonial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Brent Williams and the Rev. Arthur Grant officiating. Interment is private. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 30, 2010, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100.