Nancy Lawson

Nancy P. Lawson, 83, of Manassas, VA, died on Saturday, May 09, 2009 at her home in the Caton Merchant House in Manassas, VA. Born April 23, 1926 in Manassas, VA, she was the daughter of the late Edgar Goodloe and Alverda Reita Jennings Parrish. She attended Bennett Elementary School and graduated from Osbourn High School in 1943, receiving the Lipscomb Award for the outstanding graduate. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in education and math, June 1947, from Longwood University, Farmville, VA. While in college, she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and was selected to the honor societies in social studies, English, education, and scholastics. After college she taught English for one year at Osbourn High School from 1947-48. While remaining home until 1965 to raise her children, she became an active member of the Manassas Jr. Woman's Club from 1953-62 and was made an honorary member in 1962, serving as president from 1956-57. She also was a member of the Manassas Town Basketball Team from 1954-60. In 1965 she was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to be the first General Registrar for Voters of Prince William County and she was reappointed until her retirement in 1991. During her tenure, the number of county voters increased from 12,000 to 75,000 and the number of precincts from 18 to 51. Organizer and charter member of Voter Registrars Association in VA, she served as vice-president in 1972, president from 1973-75, and parliamentarian from 1975-79. In 1980 she was honored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments by being named co-chairman of their Election Officials' Committee. As well as working full-time to support her family and put her children through college, she was involved in many community activities and positions. She was a lifelong dedicated member of Grace United Methodist Church, participating in the Progressive Sunday School Class, serving on the Board of Trustees from 1976-83 and on the Admin Board. She was a charter member of the Prince William Healthcare Auxiliary from 1962-2007 with 45 years of service, holding the position of membership chairman during all those years. In 2007 she was honored with the designation of 1st Board Member Emeritus. Other community positions that she held were as a member of the board of directors of Sudley Swim and Tennis Club, serving as president from 1971-74, board of directors of Evergreen Country Club from 1995-2005, board of directors of Commonwealth Savings and Loan Association from 1980-91, board of directors of Manassas Community Concert Association, as of 1985, and a member of the American Association of University Women. She received much community recognition for her accomplishments throughout her years, including being named the outstanding Osbourn High School alumni in 1985, Who's Who Among Outstanding American Women, and Manassas Journal Messenger's 1981 Woman of the Year. Her avocations were piano, tennis, golf, and bridge. She participated in the Sudley and Evergreen tennis leagues, Evergreen 9 and 18-hole golf leagues, and duplicate bridge with the Woodbridge, Stonewall, Evergreen, and Inter-County Leagues. She enjoyed numerous community concerts, jazz performances, and dance recitals. She was a loving mother, wife, sister, grandmother, and aunt and greatly loved and admired by her family and friends. She was married to the late Richard Challice Haydon, Jr., on June 19, 1948 for 16 years and to the late Garland Loyd Lawson on September 15, 1979 for 22 years. She is predeceased by her twin sister, Bettie P. Carneal, her brothers, Harry J. Parrish and Frank J. Parrish, and her brother-in-law, Charles A. Erisman. Surviving her are her sister, Mildred P. Erisman, sister-in-laws, Mattie C. Parrish, Mary J. Parrish, and Challice H. Parson and brother-in-law, Charles W. Carneal, Jr. Surviving children are daughter, Victoria H. Bonifant and husband, William W. Bonifant, of Martinsburg, WV, sons Richard C. Haydon, III, of Lexington, KY, and Geoffrey J. Haydon, of Atlanta, GA. Surviving grandchildren are William W. Bonifant, Jr. and wife, Virginia L. Bonifant, Challice L. Bonifant and husband, William R. Burns III, Katherine B. Harding and husband, Aaron J. Harding, Garland B. Nagy and husband, Kent R. Nagy, Richard C. Haydon, IV, and Caroline M. Haydon. Surviving great-grandchildren are William W. Bonifant, III, and Aren G. Bonifant. Surviving nephews are Harry J. Parrish II and wife, Cheryl, Charles A. Erisman, Jr. and wife, Marsha, and Edgar L. Parrish and wife, Katie. Surviving nieces are Caroline C. Markey and partner Bob McDowell, Elizabeth C. Roland and husband, Bruce, Ellen C. Petri and husband, Kent, Lucie C. Yudkin and husband, John, Judy P. Ratcliffe and husband, Rick, Christine E. Fuller and husband, Dan, and Julia Parrish. Surviving are 8 great-nephews, 10 great-nieces and spouses, 1 great-great-nephew, and 1 great-great-niece. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at 10:00 AM at Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA 20110 with the Reverend Rudolph E. Tucker, Jr. officiating. Interment will be in National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 11, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA. The family would like to express its deepest appreciation to the many angels watching over her throughout the years, including her all her special friends, neighbors, family members, church members, Caton Merchant House staff, private caretakers, Prince William Healthcare Auxiliary members, and Community Hospice staff. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Rd., Manassas, VA, 20110, Prince William Healthcare Auxiliary, 8700 Sudley Rd., Manassas, VA 20110, or Community Hospice of Virginia, 520 N. Washington St., Suite 400, Falls Church, VA 22046. Condolences may be sent to www.piercefh.com.

Nancy Lawson

April 23, 1926 - May 9, 2009