Ms. Mary “Randy” Randolph Stuart, 66, a resident of Exmore for more than 35 years passed away Nov. 28, 2020, at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital after a long illness. She was born at Fort Benning, Ga., the oldest daughter of the late Colonel James A. Stuart Jr. and Mary Hamilton Walker Stuart.
After graduating from University of Richmond-Westhampton College in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in English, she worked for Cokesbury Religious Books and Church Supplies as a department supervisor and salesperson. She then worked for Doubleday & Co. where one year she was the #1 salesperson for Virginia.
Randy returned to her maternal roots, joining family and friends on the Eastern Shore whom she treasured throughout her life. Here she found great happiness and fulfillment as well in the numerous activities in which she engaged.
She was a dedicated, much beloved teacher who loved her students and gave them her all. At Broadwater Academy she taught middle school and drama for more than 20 years. At the ESO Arts Center she taught drama for 11 years.
An avid arts enthusiast, she was involved both on- and offstage in many Trawler Dinner Theatre Productions. In addition, Randy enjoyed a lifelong passion for literature.
She served as the Director of Education for the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society, where she was instrumental in bringing Kellee Blake’s masterful “Stronger than Steel” to the stage. She served on the board of directors of the Northampton Free Library, the Arts Council of the Eastern Shore, and the Northampton Historical Preservation Society. Randy was also very active as a member of the Garden Club of Virginia and the ESC-CDXVIIC Colonial Dames.
Randy was a member of Hungars Episcopal Church where she brought her dedication and enthusiasm to her service on the vestry, altar guild, and as lay reader. She taught Sunday School and (to the great delight of the congregation) wrote and directed the children’s Christmas pageants.
She is survived by her mother; four siblings, James Stuart and wife, Suthathip, of Seattle, Wash., Sara Stuart and husband, Karl Stiegelbauer, of Church Neck, Amy Larson and husband, James, of Lakewood, Colo., and Andrew Stuart, of Toledo, Ohio; nieces and nephews, James Matthew Stuart, Karen and husband, Keenan, Mary Isdell and husband, Robert; and grandnephew, Lochlann James Isdell.
On behalf of Randy, her family extends a heartfelt thank you to the staff, nurses, and doctors who gave her extraordinary care during her stay at Heritage Hall and Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital.
Memorial services will be on hold until it is safe to meet.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Northampton Free Library, P.O. Box 729, Nassawadox, VA 23413.
Family and friends may sign the guest book at www.hollandfuneralhome.net
