Phyllis Dodson Stafford Hart

Phyllis Dodson Stafford Hart, age 90, of Forest, VA, passed away at home on Friday, February 16, 2024.  She was the daughter of the late Robert S. and Audrey Hughes Dodson of Pineville, WV.

Born in Pineville, WV, on October 20, 1933, Mrs. Hart was a former resident of Leesburg, VA, where she was an active member of the Leesburg United Methodist Church for 21 years.  She belonged to the Beulah N. Johnston Circle, the Christian Women’s Club, serving as Decorating Chairman, and the Loudoun County Women’s Club, serving on the Public Affairs Committee.  She served as a Hostess at Historic Oatlands & the Washington D.C. Decorator showing houses for several years.  She was also an active member of the Republican Women’s Club, where she worked to elect Senator John Warner of VA, serving as a Hostess for the Atoka County Suppers at his estate in Middleburg, VA., & Representative Frank Wolfe of VA.  She loved people & was a very active volunteer, serving with the Pink Ladies at Loudoun Memorial Hospital, the American Red Cross, Little League Baseball & many other civic activities.  

An artist, Mrs. Hart was also a member of the Loudoun Sketch Club for 23 years, participating in many shows at George Washington University, Thomas Balch Library & various other locations.  She and her husband moved to Forest, VA, on June 1st, 2001.  She was a member of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, the Lynchburg Academy of Fine Arts & and the Lynchburg Area Newcomers Club.  She also attended Forest Presbyterian Church in Forest, VA.

Mrs. Hart worked for two years in Washington, D.C., for the C&P Telephone Co., where she modeled for the Ma Bell newspaper & also their Recruiting magazine, the executive office of Collins Radio Co. on Connecticut Ave., & as Executive Secretary to the Assistant Director of the National Committee for Children and Youth.  She also worked as an Administrative Assistant at Planners Inc. Hamden, CT & as an Office Manager for Guardco Inc. Hamden, CT. 

She met and married Michael J Hart Jr., formerly of Meriden, CT, in July of 1964 in Alexandria, VA.  She attended Strayers University, Patricia Stevens Modeling School in Washington, D.C., and Loudoun Community College.  Her hobbies were art, reading, writing poetry, gardening & music. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael J. Hart., Jr., a brother, James S. Dodson, two sisters, Jean Boblett of Blacksburg, VA, Doris Eiden of Alexandria, VA, nieces, Susan Crowe of Richmond, VA, Jeannie Boblett of Christiansburg, VA along with her first husband, Harold L. Stafford.

She is survived by two sons, James L. Stafford and his wife Betty of Bedford, VA. Michael J. Hart, III, and his wife Aimee of Killeen, TX.   Also surviving are four grandchildren, Melissa Meador and her husband Tracy of Moneta, VA. Sean Hart and his wife Kamryn of Waukegan, IL; Ethan Hart and Mona Hart of Killeen, TX; three nieces Patti Whitt of Dublin, VA; Cynthia (Cindy) Lewis & her husband Pierre, Boulder, CO & Catherine (Cathy) Shire & her husband Gavin of Alexandria, VA.  

Funeral Services will be held at Tharp Funeral Home, 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA, on February 20, 2024, at 6 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Centra Hospice Lynchburg/Bedford, VA., Destiny House of Lynchburg, VA, and the Lynchburg Humane Society.  

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.