Robert Stuart Everton

Robert Stuart Everton, 91, of Midlothian, Virginia passed away on May 6, 2024. Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Pamela Everton; his children, Robert Everton, Jr. (spouse Allison Everton) of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Susan Everton (spouse Robert Williams) of Midlothian, and Michael Everton (spouse Karen Ferguson) of Vancouver, British Columbia; three grandchildren, Tanisha Everton of Vancouver and Catherine and Caroline Everton of Mount Pleasant; and a sister, Patricia Stogner, of Knoxville, Tennessee. Bob was born April 7, 1933 in Columbia, North Carolina to Camille and Russell Everton. He often told stories of an idyllic childhood growing up with a close-knit group of family and friends in this small town along the banks of the Scuppernong River. It was here that he developed a lifelong sense of optimism and trust in other people, qualities that would serve him the rest of his life. After graduating from Columbia High School, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, interrupting his studies to serve in the United States Merchant Marine, traveling several times to South America and Korea. He returned to Chapel Hill a few years later, earning his B.A. in 1957, the same year Carolina won its first NCAA men’s basketball title. He would remain a lifelong Tar Heel. Following graduation, Bob moved to Norfolk, Virginia and took a job with the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, where he met Pamela Jackson. The two married in 1963 and, after living in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Bob worked for the Charlotte Redevelopment Authority, the couple moved to Richmond. Bob went to work for the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. He would spend the rest of his career at the RRHA, retiring as Executive Director in 1999. At the RRHA, he was integral to the redevelopment of several Richmond neighborhoods, including Carver and Randolph. Bob, who genuinely liked and was interested in others, understood that if you were open with people and truly wanted to work together then together people could accomplish great things. He insisted that communities affected by redevelopment needed to know the pros and cons – to be partners in the planning. He practiced the transparency he preached, regularly attending community consultations that would go into the early hours of the morning, working tirelessly to build trust. Bob enjoyed many hobbies. To call him an avid reader is an understatement. He was usually reading more than one book at a time. After retiring, he could be found almost every day at a local bookstore drinking coffee, hanging out with friends, and browsing the shelves. He learned to ride a motorcycle in his seventies and at age 77 rode his Harley Davidson solo to Alaska. In his late eighties, he began shooting pool in a local pool hall, where he soon became a regular and made many new friends. Although not a member of a church, he enjoyed studying and learning about the Bible. He joined weekly Bible study groups and looked forward to the “homework” he had to prepare for upcoming meetings. He relished the discussions and debates, respecting the views and knowledge of all those around him. More than almost anything, he loved to meet and talk with people. He went out of his way to learn about them and their families and took pride in talking about his own. And if you ever met him, you probably heard a lot about Carolina basketball. A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 19 at 1 pm at Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd., Midlothian. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richmond Animal League, ral.org/donate.