Virginius Nelson Vaughan, III

Virginius Nelson Vaughan, III, who retired to Ashland after a 53-year career in New York City as a VP of small business finance at Citibank, died suddenly at his home on January 18 at the age of 77. Nelson was born in Richmond, the son of Virginius Nelson Vaughan, Jr. of Ashland and Sarah Craig Vaughan of Franklin, Tennessee. Although he grew up in suburban New Jersey, Nelson was a proud Virginian-in-exile with roots reaching back to colonial Jamestown. Childhood summers at Camp Virginia in Goshen, VA, and formative years working at Barksdale Dinner Theater cemented his infatuation with his namesake state. Nelson received a BS in Sociology from Randolph-Macon and MS in Economics from VCU before venturing north.

Nelson loved good food, travel, and above all meeting people. He was an endless optimist, world traveler, and compulsive volunteer. Nelson’s love of the stage combined with a sense of civic duty called him to a leadership role in the Boy Scouts of America and onward into local politics. He served as mayor of Chatham, New Jersey from 2007 to 2011 before returning to Ashland. There he volunteered with the Democratic Party of Virginia, Kiwanis of Ashland, At Home in Ashland, the Ashland Museum and wherever he could.

Nelson is survived by his sons, Marshall and Spencer; grandchildren Henry, Teaghan, Mackenzie, and Lincoln; a brother, James; a cousin, the Hon. Martha Craig Daughtrey and the many people and organizations he loved and championed.

Visitation will be Saturday the 25th 4-8pm; service and burial will be Sunday the 26th 2pm to 3:30pm at the Nelsen funeral home 412 S. Washington Highway, Ashland VA 23005 proceeding to Woodland Cemetery. Both are open to the public. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a local Ashland charity of your choice.