Harriet Williams Mayes

She was preceded in death by her parents, John O. Williams and Mary Lane Williams; her brother, John O. Williams Jr; her sister, Mary Lane Brockenbrough; brother-in law, Henry Brockenbrough; her husband of 50 years, Frank W. Mayes Jr “Willie”; infant son, Frank W Mayes Ill; and numerous beloved animals both big and small (Kentucky).

She is survived by her daughters, Susan Lane Mayes (John Stratz),Sarah Carolyn Mayes, and Claire Mayes Durham (Duke Durham).

Harriet attended Thomas Jefferson High School along with her future husband. After graduation she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Richmond. She married Willie on November 2,1952 in Richmond. Soon after they moved to Midlothian.This is where they started a family and her equestrian legacy began. She began teaching at the farm in the early sixties. She expanded her teaching first to CellbeeFarm and then to Gill School. In 1983 she returned home and established Foxmeade Farm, where she and her daughters developed a thriving business that fostered her vision to this day. Her passion for inspiring and educating riders of all ages has had an enormous impact on generations of horsemen. She was beloved by everyone that knew her.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 8, from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Woody Funeral Home – Huguenot Chapel. A funeral service will be held in theWoody Chapel at 2pm on Wednesday, July 9. Interment will be private. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Virginia Equine PLLC or Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge.