Obituary of Beverly Rakes Whitefield

Beverly Rakes Whitefield, 85, of Annandale, Virginia, formerly of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents Beverly Davis "B.D." Rakes and Dossie Prillaman Rakes; her eldest son William Whitefield III; and her brother Earl Rakes. Mrs. Whitefield is survived by her children, Katherine Whitefield, Dr. Steven Whitefield, and David Whitefield; four grandchildren; two great grandchildren; her sister Carolyn Rakes Mitchell; and her sister-in-law Mary Lou Murray Rakes. Mrs. Whitefield was born in Roanoke in 1934. She graduated from William Fleming High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts at Emory and Henry College. She was a church pianist and organist in Roanoke, VA. She served on her church vestry at Truro Church, Fairfax, VA, she was a Stephen's Minister as a lay congregation member at Truro Church trained to provide one-to-one counseling to those experiencing a difficult time in life, she was founding vice president of the Truro women's church group Daughters of the King, she was Volunteer of the Year at Community of Hope in Washington, DC which included tutoring many children. She worked for over 26 years as a Learning Disabilities teacher at Holmes Middle School in Fairfax County, VA. The funeral service will be held graveside at Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem, VA at 12 noon on Saturday, June 6, 2020 with Pastor Doug Sasser officiating, interment to immediately follow. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Truro Anglican Church, 10520 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030 or Northview United Methodist Church, 521 Ridgecrest Drive, Roanoke, VA 24019 or Community of Hope in Washington, DC. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home.