Elizabeth Moses Mathes

Elizabeth Moses Mathes, age 78, of Ashland, Virginia passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024. She was born in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania on December 22, 1945 to J. Elliott Moses and Jane Shuster Moses. Her father served as a U.S. Marine reconnaissance pilot in WWII. Seven months of his service occurred in the western Pacific Theatre, on the island of Pelau. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

In June 1946, the Moses family made their home in Ashland, Virginia. Ms. Mathes described Ashland as "the quintessential small Southern town, with incredible closeness among its residents and remarkable community spirit." She described her experience in growing up in Ashland as "one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life."

Ms. Mathes graduated from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia (now the University of Mary Washington) in 1967 with a degree in Dramatic Arts.In the spring of her graduation year, she was awarded the Mary Washington Drama Department faculties' Outstanding Senior Drama Major Award. She also won the Drama Department's "Best Actress of 1967."

Shortly after her college graduation, she starred as the female lead in Hanover County's Barksdale Theatre production of "Champaign Complex," a romantic comedy. In the mid-1990's, she served as a member of the board of directors of the Hanover Tavern Foundation, which managed the historic tavern property in which the Barksdale Theatre has been located for more than forty years.

Ms. Mathes had a career in public relations in Washington, D.C. for over twenty years, serving as director or vice president of public relations and communications for three national trade associations, and as an account supervisor in the Washington, D.C. office of the nation's fourth largest public relations firm. In 1977, her program "City Scenes '76" won the Public Relations Society of America's highest award, the Silver Anvil. She also worked as a freelance writer in Richmond, Virginia.

Ms. Mathes was a member of the Ashland Presbyterian Church. She was a lifelong

supporter of animal rights and the preservation of historic properties through organizations devoted to these causes. A passionate traveler, she traveled widely in the U.S., as well as Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

Ms. Mathes was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Ross Mathes and her parents. She is survived by her brother, John Shuster Moses (Marilyn) and her nieces, Elizabeth Linhart Moses and Jennifer Moses Dietrich (Mike). Ms. Mathes was cared for in her final illness by her daughter-in-law, Diane Mathes, and she treasured their close relationship.