March 12, 2006

Mary Elizabeth Hedgepeth

Underwood (Diddie), of 4865 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, sister-in-law and dear friend to all who knew her, peacefully passed away Sunday, March 12, 2006, in her home in Chuckatuck surrounded by her loving family.

She was born September 24, 1918, in Isle of Wight County and was the daughter of the late Zachariah Hedgepeth (1865-1945) and Mary Elizabeth Barlow Hedgepeth (1872-1960).

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 45 years, Marvin Morrison Underwood; two sisters, Lillie Eliza Hedgepeth and Elma Hedgepeth Hancock; two brothers, Thomas Dewitt Hedgepeth and Clifford Arlington Hedgepeth.

She is survived by three children, Barbara Underwood Chapman and her husband, Jack, of Suffolk; Marvin Morrison Underwood Jr. (Skip) and his wife, Karen, of Fort Collins, Colo., Mary Anne Underwood Riddick and her husband, Larry, of Suffolk. Her six grandchildren, who knew her as Mom Diddie, are Robert Randolph Chapman, III, and wife, Jeanna of Lynchburg, Mary Elizabeth Chapman Brandwein and husband, Jared, of Virginia Beach, Marvin Morrison Underwood, III and wife, Amy, of Fort Collins, Katherine Barlow Underwood of Fort Collins, Anne Christian Riddick of Perryville, Md., Joseph Wayne Riddick and wife, Kasey of Suffolk; great grandchildren, Joshua Randolph Brandwein, Elizabeth Rebecca Brandwein, Mary Elizabeth Underwood, Joseph Wayne Riddick, Jr., Shane Connor Underwood, Lilly Grace Riddick, and Kaden Morrison Elmore.

Diddie lived a true Christian life with love, acceptance, and compassion for all people and will always be an inspiration to her family. She was faithful to her church, Oakland Christian Church, for 56 years where she raised her family. Diddie was a devoted wife and mother and always put her family before self.

She was a true American patriot who loved the red, white, and blue flying proudly from her front porch every day.

She was equally proud of her Virginia heritage and instilled this pride and these values in her family. She was a self-confident woman who maintained her independent life style in her home until the end of her life.

She had a keen mind and was an avid reader and worker of crossword puzzles.

Diddie loved basketball and enthusiastically cheered her ACC teams to victory.

Diddie was a longtime volunteer at the Chuckatuck Library and was a member of the Junto Woman’s Club as well as the Junto Book Club.

The family wishes to extend their deep gratitude to all of the wonderful medical professionals who cared for her, her homecare aides, who were so devoted and to Heartland Hospice.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, March 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory and other times at her home at 4865 Godwin Blvd.

The Rev. Mark Burns will conduct a celebration of Diddie’s life on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Oakland Christian Church with burial in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Dept or Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad.

Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.