Elma B. Thornhill Morrison
Elma
B. Thornhill Morrison age 96, of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on July 15, 2022, at her home. She had been surrounded by family on her 96th birthday and peacefully passed the morning after. She was cared for by her daughter Jean C. Anderson for the last 3 years.
Mrs. Morrison was born July 14, 1926, in Boston, Rappahannock County, Virginia the daughter of the late Cary Grayson Thornhill and Dicy Elma (Weaver) Thornhill. She graduated from Sperryville High School with honors and was salutatorian of her class, and immediately began work at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., later entering the U. S. Cadet Nursing Corps at Winchester Memorial Hospital in Winchester, VA for three years. She was in service there for the duration of WWII plus six months and received a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. After 17 years at Winchester Memorial Hospital, she left for employment by the U. S. Government as a U. S. Public Health Nurse at Mount Weather, where she served for 33 1/2 years, retiring in 1990.
She was a faithful and active member of First Baptist Church having served as a Deacon, Family Member Coordinator, Past President and Secretary of the Philia Sunday School Class, and a member of the Singing Seniors Choir. Mrs. Morrison was a past member of Beta Sigma International Chapter in Winchester, and a volunteer with Red Cross Blood Services.
In addition to her parents, Elma was also preceded in death by her 1st husband Irvin Vaughn Manuel and her 2nd husband Harry Byrd Morrison; a sister, Jean G. Thornhill; and a brother, C. Gordon Thornhill.
Surviving are her daughters, Jean Carol Anderson and Vickie Anne Miller (Steve); grandchildren, Lt. Col. John H. Anderson III (Meghan), Christopher R. Anderson (Sheryl), Brian J. Anderson (Trang), William T. Miller (Jeena) and Daniel J. Miller; six great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; brothers, David W. Thornhill (Heidi), Robert L. Thornhill (Karen); her sister- in-law, Frances Thornhill, many nieces and nephews who are "special" and a very special former son in law John H. Anderson Jr.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Winchester. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 12:00 pm with Rev. Dr. Kristin Adkins-Whitesides officiating. Interment will be private for family.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Philia Sunday School Class or the Singing Seniors Choir at First Baptist Church, 205 Piccadilly Street, Winchester, VA 22601.
Please view obituary and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com
but all the beds were full so I stayed at home. I remember that we all thought everybody was going to die.”
Mrs. Fletcher’s family was one of the lucky ones in the county. They escaped from the epidemic unscathed. “We all wore asafetida, little bags of smelly stu , around our necks. Every time my husband coughed, he’d take a whi of his asafetida. I don’t know what modern medical doctors would say about it,” she added, chuckling. “But it must have done some good because we didn’t get sick.”
The u epidemic had its angels of mercy. Lyle Rector remembers Conrad Ownes, a black man who lived in nearby Orlean. “Everybody was down. They couldn’t take care of themselves. Conrad went from house to house, bringing food, chopping wood, feeding stock, hauling water and tending the sick. He would put a thin slice of onion on his tongue before he’d go in anywhere folks had the u. He never did catch it,” Mr. Rector said, shaking his head in amazement.
The following is an excerpt of “On the Morning Side of the Blue Ridge: A Glimpse of Rappahannock County’s Past” by Daphne Hutchinson and Theresa Reynolds
STAYING HYDRATED
Staying hydrated during the hot summer is very important to everyone.
I know the past week, there have been some hot days and I would like to leave this information with everyone from SportMedBC:
“Stay safe and perform at your best this summer with these hydration tips! Whether you’re doing high intensity training or simply enjoying the outdoors on a hike or a run, it is important to stay hydrated, especially when the mercury rises during the summer months.
Water is the basis for life. It is second only to oxygen in importance for health, making up to 75% of the body. Although water does not provide a source of calories, adequate hydration is at least as important to good athletic performance as the food you eat and is essential for e cient training, playing and racing.
Proper hydration not only quenches one's thirst but allows the body to ush toxins, maintain system equilibrium (balance), support brain function, hormone balance, metabolic processes (including fat metabolism), the transportation of life-giving vitamins and minerals, and supports the integrity of muscle, joint and bone in our bodies.
Although the human body can, in extreme cases, go without food for up to six weeks, it can only survive a week without water. As a general rule, it is recommended that the average person consume at least eight, 8-ounce servings of water each day (2 liters a day). The more time you spend outdoors and the more active you are, the more water you need to replenish lost uids.”
Stay cool and have a wonderful week.