Charlotte S. Needham

https://youtu.be/qhaDNl4aHRU

Charlotte Marion Smith Needham, of Falls Church, Virginia, was called home to be with the Lord on Monday, November 14th, 2022.  Charlotte was born on July 21, 1926 to Marion Priscilla and William Mason Smith at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C.  Charlotte passed away peacefully in the presence of her two daughters following a brief illness at her waterfront villa in Aquia Harbor, Virginia, which she most recently so enjoyed with her daughter, Pamela.

A Celebration of Life and Eulogy for Charlotte will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 20th, 2022 at Everly Funeral Parlor in Falls Church, Virginia.  Visitation with the family commences at 1:00 pm.  Charlotte will be laid to rest privately in the Smith family plot at Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church, Virginia.

Charlotte was a life-long resident of Falls Church, or “The Village,” as she always referred to it, attending Madison Elementary and Jefferson High Schools there, until a new high school, the original Fairfax High School, was built in Fairfax, Virginia, from which she graduated in 1943.  Amongst her fondest memories while attending Fairfax High School was getting to meet Hans Kindler, founder of the National Symphony Orchestra, and six of his orchestra musicians, who visited and performed a magnificent concert for the students.

After graduating from high school, Charlotte attended Radford College of Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Radford, Virginia for two years and while there she pledged to Sigma Sigma Sigma (Tri Sigma) Sorority, a membership she maintained for 78 years.

In 1947, Charlotte graduated from Mary Washington College of The University of Virginia in Fredericksburg, Virginia and began working in her field-of-study, Pathology, with the electron microscope for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

She married Mahlon R. Jones in 1950 and subsequently they moved to the Annapolis, Maryland region to be nearer his office with the National Security Agency and to begin raising their family.  Subsequent to his passing, Charlotte returned to Falls Church where she met and married Lt. Col. Donald A. Needham (U.S. Air Force, Retired) in 1975.

Charlotte loved and embraced history, music, the arts, theater, and dance.  She was keenly interested in and kept up with current events.  She was, indeed, an engaging and spirited conversationalist.

Charlotte will always be remembered by dear family and cherished friends for her exuberant and vivacious spirit and her willingness to volunteer.  Charlotte especially enjoyed serving her church and community.

Charlotte was on the “Cradle Roll” of the Falls Church Episcopal Church (Church), attending Sunday School under the guidance and tutelage of Gordon Nicholson, for whom the Church’s present-day Nicholson Hall is dedicated and named.  Charlotte served as a devoted member of the Altar Guild, coordinated Meals-On-Wheels, led a weekly gathering of parishioners for Bridge in the Parlor, and enjoyed assisting customers at The Thrifty Church Mouse, the Church’s gift, thrift and consignment shop. 

Charlotte served the National Park Service as a volunteer docent at Arlington House, welcoming visitors in beautiful period-attire and guiding guests from across the nation and around the world through the historic antebellum home in Arlington National Cemetery. 

Volunteering at the front desk-reception with the Army Community Service on regimental military post Fort Myer, Virginia, provided Charlotte the opportunity to assist countless military personnel and their families, a service that gave her great pleasure.  Charlotte felt extremely honored and privileged to to be able to contribute so enthusiastically to our armed forces.

Charlotte was a cheerful and dedicated member of her Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) Decendents of ‘76 Chapter (Washington, D.C.) and Order of the Eastern Star (#29 ~ Odenton, MD) for nearly 70 years.

Charlotte was a vibrant member of The Victorian Society at Falls Church (VSFC) ever since its establishment more than 25 years ago, often appearing together with fellow members in splendid Victorian attire at festive events, elegant tea parties and gala themed-costume Balls throughout the years.  Many enhancements to Falls Church were made possible through VSFC fundraising efforts, at which Charlotte was an avid participant, including the placement of the beautiful Victorian fountain and other vintage-inspired embellishments in Frady Park.

Charlotte is survived by her loving and devoted daughters and son-in-law, Priscilla Jones Gibson and Alan Marshall Gibson and Pamela Lee Jones, and by her beloved sister, Audrey Lorraine Smith Herring, as well as by adoring nieces and nephew, Virginia Herring Payne (Florida), Cynthia Herring Mills and her husband Don (North Carolina) and William Lee Mason Herring (Virginia), and by many cherished cousins and dear friends.

Family and friends wishing to do so may contribute to the charity of their choice in lieu of sending flowers.  These were several of Charlotte’s favorite charities:

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

National Park Service

Promedica Hospice Heartland

Shriner’s Hospital for Children

https://youtu.be/qhaDNl4aHRU
 

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