Beverly (Sue) Petty van Westendorp

Beverly (Sue) Petty van Westendorp, 48, departed this life in Richmond, Virginia, and went to be with our Lord on January 17, 2015. Although her passing was far too soon, her beautiful and magnanimous spirit lives on with those who love her. The daughter of Dr. Carroll T. and Mrs. Vivian G. Petty, she was born on September 6, 1966, in Richmond, where she spent most of her youth. A 1984 graduate of Douglas S. Freeman High School, she enjoyed and excelled in numerous pursuits, including running, piano, painting, drawing, and writing. Continuing her artistically-oriented talents, she attended and graduated from Lynchburg College with a B.A. in English in 1989, eliciting high praise from professors, peers, and professional writers alike for her compositions in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She completed some graduate work and worked briefly as a paralegal at the Allen and Allen law firm, as well as a medical administrator at her father’s medical practice, both in Richmond. Found during a chance new talent search, she was hired in the early 1990s as a sales and marketing consultant for American Mobile Satellite Corporation and worked her way to the top of her field over several years, followed by similar employment at Bosch in Charleston, South Carolina, and Main Quad broadcasting in Richmond. While in Charleston in 2000, she met the love of her life, Christiaan, on a lazy beach day in Isle of Palm, SC, and they were married on June 27, 2003, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Accompanying him through his government career, she resided in Savannah, Georgia, and Chesapeake, Virginia. Following a passion to help others and be closer to God, she was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia, where she proudly assisted church soup kitchens and outreach; and she worked as a full-time volunteer at Norfolk’s Ghent Area Ministry for several years, service for which she received an inaugural Servant Leadership Award from the local St. Patrick Catholic School. A nature and animal lover, she counted beach visits, her garden, and her three cats amongst her favorite things; along with music, art, and fine food. Throughout her life and to her end days she saw the beauty in everyday moments, radiated passion and light to all who were lucky enough to have known her, and was a fierce defender for all whom she loved; a self-proclaimed “favorite” aunt. Predeceased by her father, Carroll, she is survived by her husband, Christiaan; her mother, Vivian; sisters Loretta Chittum and Denise Holt; brothers-in-law Warren Chittum and Michael Holt; niece Brittany McDowell; and nephews Carl Chittum, Mikey Holt, and Brandon Holt; amongst numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. A service celebrating her life will be held in the chapel at Derbyshire Baptist Church, 8800 Derbyshire Rd, Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday, January 24, 2015. Viewing will be at 11:00am, with funeral services to immediately follow at 12:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Norfolk, VA), Chatham County Humane Society (Savannah, GA), Norfolk Chapter of the SPCA (Norfolk, VA), national Alzheimer’s Association, or a charity of your choice.