Annie Laura Downing

Annie Laura was born in 1921 to Mary Sharpe and John Richards Gentry of Charles City County and was a member of the Highland Springs High School Class of 1938. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved sister, Elizabeth Gentry Southard, and brother, John Richards Gentry, Jr. The widow of Robert O. Roop and Charles E. Downing, Annie resided in Richmond, Highland Springs, and Anderson, Indiana before returning to Mechanicsville, Virginia in retirement.

Wherever she lived Annie Laura involved herself in community and church organizations, keeping busy with homemakers, garden and book clubs, serving as president of two different garden clubs. A longtime member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville, she was an active participant in UMC women’s and seniors’ organization activities, particularly interested in world missions. She treasured her church friends and loved traveling with them. When someone mentioned an excursion, she was always ready to say, “Let’s go!”. She cherished her trips to Lake Junaluska for spiritual renewal with her UMC friends.

Annie Laura was a source of inspiration to all who knew her. Widowed in her forties with three children still at home, she returned to the workforce to support the family. Through the years “Grandma” and “Pa” modeled a life of faith and family. She loved nothing more than getting together with family, usually with her signature potato salad, crab cakes or wine jelly. Her family especially enjoyed occasions when she would share her memories of life in earlier times.

She is survived by sons Robert G. Roop and wife Becky, Frank Richards Roop and wife Pam, Ronald W. Roop and wife Paula, her daughter Martha Ann Roop Ryder and beloved grandchildren Darron Roop (Katya), Amanda Alley (Matthew), Kelli Munoz (Lou), Brian Roop (Favienne), Rachel Kozink (Danny), Ryan Roop, Jacob Ryder (Viktoria Khaitina) and Graham Ryder. She was blessed with nine precious great grandchildren: Paige and Tanner Alley, Anthony and Natali Munoz, Jackson and Bryleigh Roop, Peyton and Cooper Kozink and Ilya Khaitin Ryder.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30pm on Wednesday, May 14 at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 8209 Shady Grove Road, Mechanicsville VA 23111. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial donations in Annie Laura’s name may be made to the UMFS Development Office, 3900 W. Broad Street, Richmond VA 23230 or online at https://www.umfs.org/donate/