RITCHIE, Janice (Hawkins), 83, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at her home, surrounded by family and friends. Born March 2, 1936, to Thomas Walter Hawkins and Faye Roseberry Hawkins in Pulaski, Virginia. In 1953, she met and married her husband of 62 years, John Warren Ritchie, who passed away in 2015. They had two children, Thomas Wayne and Sheryl Elaine. Janice was the matriarch of Fellowship Baptist Church, which later became Varina Baptist Church, and remained a member for over 50 years. Janice sang in the choir and assisted in the Ladies Sunday school class, lead the decorations committee and numerous other activities. In 1977, she went to work at Thalhimer’s Department Store until it closed in 1993, followed by a position at Henrico Mental Health for 14 years, retiring at age 75. She was predeceased by her son, Thomas, in 1993, and her husband, Warren in 2015. She is survived by her daughter, Sheryl Ritchie-Longo; grandson, Sage Thomas Longo of Los Angeles, Calif.; brothers, Thomas Hawkins Jr. of Richmond, Va., Roy Hawkins of Summerville, S.C. and Bill Hawkins of Chesapeake, Va.; along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. with her celebration immediately following at 11:30 a.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va. 23231. Interment will follow in Signal Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Janice’s name to St. Jude’s. Online condolences may be made at nelsenrichmond.com.
