THIS IS MOTHER OF
LADONNA LEE DOLLAR, SPOUSE OF ROBERT EDWARD SMITH, S/O CARL LABORN SMITH AND
NINA BELL CAMPBELL, D/O JAMES FRED CAMPBELL, S/O EVAN THEOPHILUS CAMPBELL AND
N. SALLY A. SAMFORD, D/O SNYDER C. SAMFORD AND JEMIMA JANE HUGHES.
submitted by
Dennis Gurley
DEATH NOTICE AND
NEWS ARTICLES: Local theater benefactor dies. Virginia Samford Donovan, who
became the driving force behind the renovations of the Virginia Samford Theatre
has died at age 90.
Virginia Samford Donovan, the actress-turned-philanthropist who was the driving
force behind renovating what is now known as the Virginia Samford Theatre, died
this morning, according to Cathy Rye Gilmore, president of the theater. Donovan,
who had starred in many Town and Gown Theatre productions on the Clark Memorial
Theatre stage, bought the theater from UAB in 2000 for about $500,000, paving
the way for the renovation. Over the years, Donovan and her family have
contributed more than $1 million to the theater, which reopened in 2002 and now
also houses the Martha Moore Sykes Studio Theatre upstairs from the mainstage.
In an interview in 2002, Donovan recalled her early years at Clark Theatre,
tagging along with her mother, who was part of the Birmingham Little Theatre
when Clark opened its doors in 1927. “It was typical community theater,” Donovan
said. “She was a star one show and cleaning the dressing rooms the next. I often
would read her her cues. She would rehearse with me as her audience. “I’m
probably the only person living who was in this theater in 1927,” she told The
News. “And I was here often.” That early exposure was followed by roles in shows
such as “Any Wednesday,” “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” “The Caucasian Chalk
Circle,” “Gigi” and “A Delicate Balance.” Donovan’s first husband died in 1986,
and she remarried in 1990, but she chose to use the name Virginia Samford
Theatre because her work in the theater was done as Virginia Samford. The
theater is a lasting legacy to that work, and she was pleased to be involved.
“What we bought was a beloved theater,” she said. “The roof leaked, the air
conditioning and heating were broken. The rigging on the stage, put there in
1927, was about to fall down or, worse, catch fire. Now it will be like it was,
only better.” A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the
theater. Editor's note: Updated at 5 p.m. to reflect new time for memorial
service.
OBITUARY:
VIRGINIA SAMFORD DONOVAN
- DONOVAN, VIRGINIA SAMFORD Virginia Samford Donovan,
90, passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. She was born Virginia Carolyn Suydam in Birmingham, Alabama on August 6, 1920. She attended Birmingham Public
Schools and graduated from Randolph-Macon Women's College in 1941. Virginia
married Frank Park Samford, Jr. on May 27, 1942. After forty-four years of
marriage, she lost Frank in 1986. In 1990, she married Russell B. Donovan, who
passed away last year. Virginia was a passionate and lifelong lover of the arts,
taking great pride in introducing her children and grandchildren to the theatre.
She studied speech arts and acting in Birmingham and New York City. Virginia was
very involved with Town and Gown Theatre, both as an actress and behind the
scenes. In 2000, she led the effort to purchase and restore the theatre, which
was renamed the Virginia Samford Theatre in her honor. Seeing the theatre
restored and secured as a vital cultural asset for Birmingham was a great source
of pride and pleasure for Virginia. She was also the co-founder of the
Children's Dance Foundation, an organization dedicated to introducing young
children to the arts. "Ginna," as she was known to her family, was an
adventurous spirit, and she lived a rich, full, and interesting life. She loved
to travel, and in 1961 she received her private pilot's license. Her
philanthropy, her love of the arts, and her desire to keep strong family
connections will be a constant inspiration to her children and grandchildren.
She was grateful for the many opportunities she had and was an active civic
volunteer. Virginia was a member of the Junior League of Birmingham, the Linly
Heflin Unit, the Highland Book Club, the Trowel Garden Club, and the Speech Arts
Club. She served as a volunteer for the United Way of Birmingham and for the
Speech and Hearing Center. Virginia is survived by her four children: Frank Park
Samford III (Sharon) of Atlanta; Laura Samford Armitage (Richard) of Richmond
Hill, Georgia; John Singleton Pitts Samford (Laura Lee) of Birmingham; and Mae
Samford Robertson (Webb) of Birmingham; and by her twenty grandchildren and
sixteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her long time assistant and
friend Mary Shaw. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 15,
2011 at the Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th Street So. (off Highland Avenue)
at 12:30. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Virginia Samford
Theatre. Published in The Birmingham News from January 12 to January 14, 2011.
THIS IS FIRST THE
WIFE OF FRANK PARK SAMFORD, JR, S/O FRANK PARK SAMFORD, SR., S/O WILLIAM HODGES
SAMFORD, S/O WILLIAM JAMES SAMFORD, S/O WILLIAM FLEWELLEN SAMFORD, S/O THOMAS
JEFFERSON SAMFORD, S/O THOMAS JASPER SAMFORD.
submitted by
Dennis Gurley
THE
TIMES-RECORD, FAYETTE, ALABAMA, DECEMBER 29, 2010 - CONNIE NELSON DUCKWORTH
Funeral
services for Mrs.
Connie Nelson Duckworth, age 89, of Fayette, were held Dec.
22, 2010, at 1 p.m., at Nelson Funeral Home with Bro. James Walden officiating.
Interment followed in the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church Cemetery. Mrs.
Duckworth was born Nov. 18, 1921 in Fayette, the daughter of the late John and
Essie Kizzire Nelson. She died Dec. 19 at Rockdale Healthcare in Conyers, Ga.
She was a retired homemaker and attended Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church
prior to moving to Georgia. Mrs. Duckworth was preceded in death by her husband
of 61 years, Robert Luke Duckworth; her sisters, Lorene Terry and Vaudean
Phillips; her brothers, Jack and James Edward Nelson.
Survivors
include her son, Robert (LaLonnie) Duckworth of Birmingham; her daughter, Linda
(Bennie) Koon of Snellville, Ga.; her brother, Grady (Sue) Nelson of Hammond,
La.; her sister, Martha Essary of Vernon; granddaughter, Amy Koon of Snellville,
Ga.; grandsons, Stephen (Kim) Duckworth of Kennesaw, Ga., Stewart (Michelle)
Duckworth of Trussville, David Kuhn of Atlanta, Ga.; three great granddaughters,
Megan Duckworth, Mandy Duckworth and Audrey Duckworth, and many nieces and
nephews. Pallbearers were nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
your local food bank or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org)
View and sign guestbook at www.nelsonfuneralhome.org
Nelson
Funeral Home of Fayette directed
THIS IS SISTER OF
VAUDEAN NELSON, WHO MARRIED EALON JUNIOR PHILLIPS, S/O WALTER CALVIN PHILLIPS
AND IDA MELISSA SANFORD, D/O WILLIAM ABSALOM SANFORD AND SARAH JANE PENNINGTON.
submitted by
Dennis
Gurley
Leon
“L.L.” Duncan, 92, of Huxley, passed away Friday, January 14,
2011 at Shelby Regional Medical Center. He was born August 9, 1918 in
Shelby County to Charlie Duncan and Cathryn Sanford Duncan.
At the age of 16, L.L. joined the Civil Conservation Camp as a
Forestry Surveyor. He was then a ship captain for the Port of Houston,
before being drafted to the U.S. Marine Corps. L.L. then worked for
Tyler Pipe in Tyler, and after working 30 years for Ivan Smith
Furniture, he retired. He was a member of Lydia Missionary Baptist
Church and was an avid bass fisherman.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday, January 16,
2011 at Watson and Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral services will be
held at 10:00 am, Monday, January 17, 2011 at Watson and Sons Chapel
with Bro. Gordon Vaughn and Bro. Wes Hall officiating. Interment will
follow at Wimberly Cemetery in Huxley.
Pallbearers will be Sammy O’Rear, Jim Lawson, Shane Corbell, Aaron
Jones, Buddy Kay and Robert Cox. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Jack
Corbell, Travis Hughes and Mickey Jones.
He is survived by:
Son, Kerry Duncan of Frisco
Grandson, Kyle Duncan of Frisco
Preceded in death by:
Parents, Charlie Duncan and Cathryn Sanford Duncan
Wives, Maxie Owens Duncan and Jerelyn Adams Duncan
Twelve Brothers and Sisters
Online condolences & tributes can be sent at
www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com
reprinted with permission
01/14/2011
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