James Blizzard "Jim" Mead

MEAD, James Blizzard "Jim", died Sunday, August 15, 2021 in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was born December 10, 1926 in Low Moor, Virginia, to Virginia Blizzard Mead and Lynne Burgoyne Mead.

Growing up in Low Moor held magical memories for Jim Mead, and he spent many hours sharing these stories with his family. After attending Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, he enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then enlisted in the Army and served in the South Pacific Theater during World War II. While there, he also served in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force. On return to UNC after the war, he began his romance with Margaret Beckwith Murray of Covington. They were married in 1950 in Alleghany County, Virginia. The newlyweds moved to Reidsville, North Carolina where Jim had taken work helping run a local radio station. They next moved to Richmond, Virginia, where they raised their four children. Jim worked 22 years for the Richmond Times Dispatch / News Leader in the advertising department. After Richmond, Jim and Peggy were able to realize a long-held desire to move back to Low Moor. Jim took a position as Director of Development at the Boys Home of Virginia in Covington. He was proud of having substantially increased the endowment of that institution.

While in Low Moor, he became active in local history projects and was called on as an actor in regional musical stage productions. Jim was an active member and lay reader at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Clifton Forge, Virginia. He was an enthusiastic member of the Ivy House Gang and looked forward to their many reunions.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Margaret Murray Mead; daughter, Margaret Garland Mead; and sister, Mary Anne Mead Schmidt. Jim is survived by his brother, George Otis Mead III; his children, Joseph Henry Murray Mead, Mary Otis Mead and Anna Mead Mairs; and grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne Vaughan-Mead, Virginia Grace Garland Mead, Samuel Alexander Mead and Margaret Vaughan Mairs.

The family especially wants to recognize the love and care of Frances Saum and her family.

The family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Society or the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center.

A memorial service is to be held Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge with Mr. L. M. "Buddy" Carter and Reverend Roger Baroody officiating. A reception to follow at 4 p.m. at the Masonic Theatre's Underground Lounge.

To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.