Charlotte Churchill

She was predeceased by her parents, Russell Edward Thomas and Elizabeth Andrews Thomas, her husband, Robert Carr Churchill, III, a son, Russell Edward Thomas Churchill, and a sister, Carolyn Thomas Perry. She is survived by her sons Robert Carr Churchill IV (Jennifer) of Apex, North Carolina, and Charles Samuel Churchill (Catherine) of Atlanta, Georgia, daughter, Mary Barclay Blankenship (Brian) of Willow Springs, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Barclay Ann Blankenship, Ellis Andrews Blankenship, and Evelyn Royce Churchill, daughter of Russell and his former wife, Courtney Hahn Churchill; and sister, Virginia Thomas Fizer, of Pulaski, Virginia, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Charlotte grew up in Roanoke, graduated from Jefferson High School, and attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College. She won the Miss Virginia Pageant in 1961 and went on to compete in the Miss America Pageant. After serving as Miss Virginia for a year, Charlotte finished her B.A. at Radford College where she majored in French. Charlotte enjoyed teaching and taught music at Burkeville Elementary School in Burkeville, Virginia and French and Latin at Fuqua Academy in Farmville, Virginia. She also played the organ at Gibson Memorial Church in Crewe, Virginia. Early on in her children’s lives, Charlotte impressed upon each of them the importance of an education, encouraging them to learn music and languages, and to experience new cultures and foods. A classically-trained pianist, she loved playing the piano. Charlotte also enjoyed playing bridge and golf, as well as cooking and having friends over for dinner. Through her love of teaching and her many interests, Charlotte taught her children to appreciate the most important things in life: faith, family, friends, and the importance of pursuing their passions. Charlotte was a member of the Junior League, Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, Virginia Society Daughters of the American Colonists, the Shenandoah Club, and Roanoke Country Club.

Charlotte will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Roanoke chapter of the American Heart Association.