Reva Anne Lanier Dewberry

DEWBERRY

REVA ANNE LANIER DEWBERRY

Reva Anne Lanier Dewberry passed away peacefully at home on June 14, 2022. Mrs. Dewberry was born on October 30, 1929, in Hurt, Virginia, the daughter of Annie Mae Watson and Herbert I. Lanier.

Reva was a remarkable woman. She was salutatorian when she graduated high school, and she was offered a full scholarship to Farmville Teachers College, her mother's alma mater. However, at her father's urging, she instead started work at The Lane Company. On June 3, 1950, she married Sidney Oliver "Sid" Dewberry, one of the sons of another family from the same rural agricultural community in southern Virginia.

She pursued self-education and learned bookkeeping on her own, and she helped her husband and his partners as they built the fledgling business of surveying and civil engineering into a strong, broad-based successful architectural and engineering firm, today known simply as "Dewberry," which Sid co-founded in 1956. For the first 10 years, Reva did virtually all the firm's bookkeeping and administrative work, and even some marketing. She focused on raising their four children, Barry K. Dewberry, Karen S. (Dewberry) Grand Pré, Michael Sidney Dewberry and Thomas Lanier Dewberry. While looking after her husband and running their household, she also implemented social events as the company grew and became more diversified. During the expansion of the firm over the next six decades, Reva remained one of Sid's most valued advisors.

Reva enjoyed cooking and home-making as she devoted herself to raising their children and providing a stable and peaceful refuge at home for her husband. Her greatest joy and achievement was expressed in her constant devotion to her husband and raising their family.

Reva will be sadly missed by her extended family and friends for her vivacious and gracious spirit and her complete devotion to the well being of those she loved. But most of all, she will be missed by her loving husband of 72 years, Sid Dewberry.

Reva is survived by her son Barry K. Dewberry and wife Arlene Evans, daughter Karen S. Grand Pré and husband Bruce, son Thomas L. Dewberry and wife Christine, and daughter-in-law Stephanie A. Dewberry; by her grandchildren Candace and Suzanne Grand Pré, Michael, Katie, John, Kelly, Quinn and Reagan Dewberry; by her great-granddaughters Lily and Violet Dewberry; by her sisters Frances K. "Kitti" (Lanier) Keisler and Patricia G. "Patti" (Lanier) Morton and husband Don; by her sister-in-law Virginia Lanier; and by her many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

Reva was predeceased by her son Michael Sidney Dewberry; by her parents; by her three brothers, Herbert Quention Lanier, Edward T. Lanier, Sr., and Dewey "Doug" Lanier; and by brother-in-law Carl Keisler—all beloved by her.

Private entombment will be performed at a later date. Condolences may be addressed to the Dewberry Family at 8401 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax VA 22031. In lieu of flowers, the Dewberry family requests contributions to the George Mason University Foundation with the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music in the memo line, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MSN 1A3, Fairfax VA 22030.

www.fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.com