Mary Campbell Shuford

SHUFORD, Mary Campbell, 93, of Richmond, passed away peacefully in her sleep Saturday, April 15, 2017, at The Hermitage at Cedarfield in Henrico. She was preceded in death by her parents, Archibald Stuart and Mattie Ellis Gant; her brother, the Hon. William Milton Gant; her husband, Paul Mason Shuford; her son, Paul Mason Shuford Jr.; and her nephew, Walter Sloan Gant. She is survived by her sons, David Gant Shuford (Torrey) and Mark Campbell Shuford (Laura); her grandchildren, Alice Ambler Shuford, 1st Lt. David Gant Shuford Jr. (Mackenzie) and Ruth Shuford Poole (Jacob); her sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Gant; her nephew, Stuart Milton Gant; and grandnieces, Emily Gant Gentry (Brandon) and Elizabeth Gant Lowry (Lee). Mary Campbell was born August 13, 1923, in Owensboro Kentucky. She attended Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky as a member of the Class of 1944. There, she met her husband, Paul, while he was attending officer training as a member of the Army Air Corps. She married Paul on June 6, 1946, and they moved to Lexington, Virginia where Paul attended, and later taught, at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Mary and Paul then moved to Richmond, where she would spend the rest of her very full life. A member of Seventh Street Christian Church since moving to Richmond, Mary Campbell served in many leadership roles, including as a member of the choir for more than 25 years. She also was active in many charitable organizations, among them the Richmond Lawyer's Auxiliary, where she received an award from the City of Richmond for her leadership of the Richmond Area Court Docent Program - and the Children's Hospital Foundation Senior Board, on which she remained a member for forty four years. She was also twice a member of the Board of Trustees of the Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. Mary Campbell was devoted to her children and grandchildren. As the mother of three sons at Collegiate School, there was seldom an athletic event she did not attend, and she continued her support when her grandchildren followed their fathers at the same school. Indeed, Mary Campbell often could be found in the stands watching her beloved Cougars playing football even after her grandchildren had graduated. Handy with needles and yarn, Mary Campbell was an avid knitter, and also turned out beautiful works of crewel and needlepoint. A memorial service celebrating the life of Mary Campbell will be held at Seventh Street Christian Church, 4101 Grove Avenue, Richmond, on Saturday, April 22, at 11 a.m., after which the family will welcome friends at a reception in the parlor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Hospital Foundation or the Paul M. Shuford Scholarship Fund at The Collegiate Schools Arrangements under the direction of Woody Funeral Home-Parham, Richmond, VA.