Mary Ragland Ragland Walton

Mary Ragland Walton, 66, of Madison Heights, Virginia, passed away after a long illness at Lynchburg General Hospital on February 13, 2012, her devoted husband by her side. She was born November 5, 1945 in Lynchburg, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George Oscar and Muriel Morcom Ragland; her brothers, Wayne, Charles, and George "Junior" Ragland; and a sister, Betty Ragland Hall.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Wayne Walton, to whom she was married for 49 wonderful years; a brother, the Rev. John D. Ragland and wife Loretta; her three children Bennie Wayne Walton and fiancée Angela Mays, Mark Douglas Walton and wife Suzanne, April Walton Irby and husband Jamie; two sisters-in-law, Donna Pearce and husband Sandy, Bonnie Mayberry and husband Jerry; and her beloved pet, a Daschund, named Peanut; five grandchildren, Mitch Walton, Mandi Walton, Kelsey Walton, Kyle Reirden, and Jeremy Cline, many nieces and nephews; and her faithful friend of many years, Nancy Navarre.

She was employed as a Deputy with the Amherst County Sheriff's Department for 23 years, where

she took great pride as a DARE officer for the Amherst County Public Schools. She was a member of the Madison Heights Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Whitten Monelison Chapel.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2012, at Madison Heights Baptist Church, by the Rev. Todd Blake. Interment will follow in Fort Hill Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundations or the Madison Heights Baptist Church.

Special thanks to the medical staff of both Lynchburg General and Virginia Baptist Hospitals for wonderful care during her stay over the past several months.