BURGESS—Frances Downing Hurst, 103, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.
She was born on February 17, 1918, in Burgess, where she lived her entire life. She was very athletic and loved all sports but particularly baseball. She graduated from Mary Washington College and immediately returned to Northumberland County where she began a career as a teacher that spanned over 40 years.
She was a lifelong member of Fairfields United Methodist Church in Burgess for 94 years, eclipsing the record previously held by her sister Betty Covington, who preceded her in death and also taught in the Northumberland County School System for over 40 years. Frances and Betty were both extremely devoted to the church and the students of Northumberland County, and established a scholarship fund that is managed by the church called the Covington-Hurst Scholarship Fund.
She was a member of the Northumberland County Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll W. Hurst Jr. She is survived by her son, Carroll D. Hurst and his wife, Robin; granddaughters, Meredith Hurst Marschke and Lauren Hurst Glazier and their husbands, Ken and Thomas; and great-grandchildren, Henry Carter Marschke and Lillian Downing Glazier.
A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 30, at Fairfields United Methodist Church, with interment following at Roseland Cemetery in Reedville. The family received friends at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. The service was streamed at www.facebook.com/fairfieldsumc/.
Memorial donations may be made to either the Covington-Hurst Scholarship Fund, c/o Fairfields United Methodist Church, 14741 Northumberland Highway, Burgess, VA 22432 or to Fairfields United Methodist Church.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
