Carol Burgess Cutchins was a beloved wife, loving mother, adoring grandmother, and brilliant educator. She is loved, missed, and will always be cherished. Our “Grandmama”, as she liked to be called by her grandchildren, loved and supported her family above all else.
Carol’s story starts on March 18, 1942, she was the oldest child to Kelly and Lois Burgess. Carol was born in Troy, North Carolina, but when Carol was young, her family relocated to Hampton, Virginia and they became lifelong residents on the Peninsula. Hampton is where she would meet the love of her life, Vernon Lee Cutchins, Jr. Lee and Carol were married in Hampton, VA on June 19, 1965 and spent much time with their family and traveling the world.
Carol especially loved traveling on cruise boats and shopping. Nothing pleased her more than to combine her favorite hobbies while visiting other countries. She loved picking out gifts for friends and family.
A lifelong reader who loved to teach others, Carol attended Old Dominion University and earned 3 degrees: a Bachelor's Degree in 1966, a Masters Degree in 1983, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in 1995. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Hampton, VA. She was later a Title I Math teacher and eventually administered the Title I program for the City of Hampton. Her devotion to teaching expanded beyond the classroom and she was able to support the education of the entire city. She remained close with the other teachers from Christopher C Kraft Elementary and often met for lunch and friendship. She was able to share her education expertise when she volunteered many summers as a Vacation Bible School teacher and even coordinated the entire program for multiple churches one year.
Carol’s grandchildren were her heart and joy. There is no denying that her grand-babies were the people that she loved the most. Time spent at Grandmama’s house was always special, and you could count on your favorite cake waiting for you on the table.
Carol was preceded in death by her father, Avery Kelly Burgess, mother, Lois Juanita Burgess, and brother, Kenneth Daniel Burgess. She is survived by her husband, Vernon Lee Cutchins, Jr; her daughter and son-in-law Kathryn Cutchins Groeninger and Patrick Michael Groeninger; her son David Kelly Cutchins and his significant other Jennifer Marie Wolf; her granddaughter Avery Noel Groeninger; her grandson Sean Patrick Groeninger; her sister Jacqueline Yvonne Munyer; and her sister-in-law Sandra Pittman.
Carol passed away on May 15, 2022, surrounded by her loving family, following a short illness at Riverside Regional Medical Center.
Donations can be made in her honor to the American Heart Association.
A visitation is scheduled from 6:00PM-8:00PM on May 19, 2022 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home. A graveside funeral is planned for Friday, May 20, 2022 at 11am at Parklawn-Wood Memorial Park followed by a reception at the Parklawn Wood Funeral Home Chapel.
