1937
Doris
2017
Doris Hanson Sutherland
August 30, 1937 — March 6, 2017
Doris Hanson Sutherland, 79, of Lynchburg died peacefully on March 6, 2017.
Born August 30, 1937, in Lynchburg, she was the daughter of the late John Loyd and Virginia Scott Hanson.
A 1955 graduate of Brookville High School, where she was senior class president, Doris earned her associates degree from Phillips Business College and first worked as an assistant to J. Murrell Daniel of S.G. Hamner, Attorneys. She went on to work at Cooperative Building & Loan Association, where she met her husband, Sidney, when he cashed a check on his first day in Lynchburg.
Doris was an avid supporter of every school her children attended, and never missed one of their games, recitals, or performances. She was also a devoted fan of the University of Virginia Cavaliers, and would happily deck out in orange and blue on game days. Her love of Lynchburg inspired her study of its history and architecture, and prompted her and family members to renovate a historic house on Daniels Hill to keep it from being torn down. She also had a love of landscaping and was an expert on English boxwoods, which she often rooted to share with friends and family. She was a baker whose lemon pound cakes, which became known as “Grammy cakes” once she was a grandmother, were coveted by friends and neighbors and were a staple of family birthday celebrations. Her personality was marked by a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor in the true southern tradition; she rarely missed a chance to turn an amusing moment or family experience into a story that would never be forgotten. She was a good friend to her neighbors, whom she treasured dearly, and was quick to help whenever there was a need. More than anything, she was most proud of her role as grandmother to her beloved grandchildren.
Doris is survived by her son and daughter-in-law John E. and Susan M. Sutherland, of Baltimore, Maryland; daughter and son-in-law Laura O. Sutherland and William T. Van Doren, of Charlottesville; son-in-law Robert F. Dias of Woodbridge; granddaughters Sydney E. Sutherland and Grace T. Sutherland of Baltimore; grandson Edward J. Sutherland of Baltimore; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley H. and Richard D. Roberts of Virginia Beach; nieces Catherine Dodge and Helen Roberts of Virginia Beach and niece Caroline Darby of Birmingham, Alabama, and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney E. Sutherland, daughter Mary Sutherland Dias, and brother George L. Hanson.
The family will receive visitors beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg; a memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Interment at Fort Hill Memorial Park will be followed by a reception for family and friends at Carriage House Inn, 404 Cabell Street, Lynchburg.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jubilee Family Development Center (1512 Florida Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501) or the Free Clinic of Central Virginia (1016 Main Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504).
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
Click here to watch Doris’ Life Tribute Video
Born August 30, 1937, in Lynchburg, she was the daughter of the late John Loyd and Virginia Scott Hanson.
A 1955 graduate of Brookville High School, where she was senior class president, Doris earned her associates degree from Phillips Business College and first worked as an assistant to J. Murrell Daniel of S.G. Hamner, Attorneys. She went on to work at Cooperative Building & Loan Association, where she met her husband, Sidney, when he cashed a check on his first day in Lynchburg.
Doris was an avid supporter of every school her children attended, and never missed one of their games, recitals, or performances. She was also a devoted fan of the University of Virginia Cavaliers, and would happily deck out in orange and blue on game days. Her love of Lynchburg inspired her study of its history and architecture, and prompted her and family members to renovate a historic house on Daniels Hill to keep it from being torn down. She also had a love of landscaping and was an expert on English boxwoods, which she often rooted to share with friends and family. She was a baker whose lemon pound cakes, which became known as “Grammy cakes” once she was a grandmother, were coveted by friends and neighbors and were a staple of family birthday celebrations. Her personality was marked by a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor in the true southern tradition; she rarely missed a chance to turn an amusing moment or family experience into a story that would never be forgotten. She was a good friend to her neighbors, whom she treasured dearly, and was quick to help whenever there was a need. More than anything, she was most proud of her role as grandmother to her beloved grandchildren.
Doris is survived by her son and daughter-in-law John E. and Susan M. Sutherland, of Baltimore, Maryland; daughter and son-in-law Laura O. Sutherland and William T. Van Doren, of Charlottesville; son-in-law Robert F. Dias of Woodbridge; granddaughters Sydney E. Sutherland and Grace T. Sutherland of Baltimore; grandson Edward J. Sutherland of Baltimore; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley H. and Richard D. Roberts of Virginia Beach; nieces Catherine Dodge and Helen Roberts of Virginia Beach and niece Caroline Darby of Birmingham, Alabama, and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney E. Sutherland, daughter Mary Sutherland Dias, and brother George L. Hanson.
The family will receive visitors beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg; a memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Interment at Fort Hill Memorial Park will be followed by a reception for family and friends at Carriage House Inn, 404 Cabell Street, Lynchburg.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jubilee Family Development Center (1512 Florida Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501) or the Free Clinic of Central Virginia (1016 Main Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504).
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
Click here to watch Doris’ Life Tribute Video
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Doris Hanson Sutherland, please visit our flower store.
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