Judith Killian Gadsden, 94, of Greene County, VA and formerly of Lake Norman and Charlotte, NC died August 15, 2014. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Robert Murdock, of Chapel Hill, and a daughter, Amy Gadsden of Rochelle, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Cecil Maurice Gadsden, and a son, Philip Dawson Gadsden. She was born in Atlanta, GA, the daughter of the late Edward Franklin Killian and Julia Wright Killian. In infancy, upon her mother's death, she came to Charlotte to live with her maternal aunt and uncle, Mabel Wright Dawson and Philip Francis Dawson. Judith attended the Charlotte City schools and graduated from Queens College (now Queens University) in Charlotte, where she was a member of Chi Omega, was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was editor of the yearbook, the Coronet. She received her Medical Technology training at Duke University Medical School in Durham and was a registered technologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. She was employed at Duke Hospital and Charlotte Memorial Hospital before her marriage to Cecil in 1944. They celebrated their 50th anniversary with a luncheon cruise aboard the Catawba Queen on Lake Norman and their 60th anniversary with a dinner party at the Silver Thatch Inn in Charlottesville, VA. She was a member and past president of Wise and Otherwise Book Club; a member and past president of the Cranford Book Club; a member of the Auxiliary of the Mint Museum; a Brownie Scout leader; a docent at Latta House; a hostess at the Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary and Endowment Inn (MMAE's Inn, now known as Hospitality House of Charlotte); a member of the Mecklenburg Historical Association and a guide on several Association trips to historic homes in Mecklenburg County; and a member of the DAR. At Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, she was past president of the Women of the church, chairman of the Missionary Round Table, and a member of the Altar Committee. At Peninsula church at Lake Norman, she belonged to the Willing Workers Sunday School class, taught Sunday School (adults and children), and worked in the Vacation Bible School. She helped in a mission that developed into the Davidson Baptist Fellowship Church. She Also participated in mission trips to Jakarta, Indonesia, and to Jamaica. In Charlottesville she was a member of first Presbyterian Church for 12 years and a member of the Women's Bible Class. She loved this church, her family, reading, traveling, and getting together with friends. She made many friends through the water exercise program sponsored by the Charlottesville Senior Center. She was also an avid bird watcher, and she and Cecil traveled to many places in the US and to many foreign countries to view birds in their natural habitats. Altogether, she traveled to 28 foreign countries and 32 islands. The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or at www.samaritanspurse.org. Arrangements by Hill and Wood Funeral Service.
Judith Killian Gadsden, 94, of Greene County, VA and formerly of Lake Norman and Charlotte, NC died August 15, 2014. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Robert Murdock, of Chapel Hill, and a daughter, Amy Gadsden of Rochelle, VA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Cecil Maurice Gadsden, and a son, Philip Dawson Gadsden. She was born in Atlanta, GA, the daughter of the late Edward Franklin Killian and Julia Wright Killian. In infancy, upon her mother's death, she came to Charlotte to live with her maternal aunt and uncle, Mabel Wright Dawson and Philip Francis Dawson. Judith attended the Charlotte City schools and graduated from Queens College (now Queens University) in Charlotte, where she was a member of Chi Omega, was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was editor of the yearbook, the Coronet. She received her Medical Technology training at Duke University Medical School in Durham and was a registered technologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. She was employed at Duke Hospital and Charlotte Memorial Hospital before her marriage to Cecil in 1944. They celebrated their 50th anniversary with a luncheon cruise aboard the Catawba Queen on Lake Norman and their 60th anniversary with a dinner party at the Silver Thatch Inn in Charlottesville, VA. She was a member and past president of Wise and Otherwise Book Club; a member and past president of the Cranford Book Club; a member of the Auxiliary of the Mint Museum; a Brownie Scout leader; a docent at Latta House; a hostess at the Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary and Endowment Inn (MMAE's Inn, now known as Hospitality House of Charlotte); a member of the Mecklenburg Historical Association and a guide on several Association trips to historic homes in Mecklenburg County; and a member of the DAR. At Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, she was past president of the Women of the church, chairman of the Missionary Round Table, and a member of the Altar Committee. At Peninsula church at Lake Norman, she belonged to the Willing Workers Sunday School class, taught Sunday School (adults and children), and worked in the Vacation Bible School. She helped in a mission that developed into the Davidson Baptist Fellowship Church. She Also participated in mission trips to Jakarta, Indonesia, and to Jamaica. In Charlottesville she was a member of first Presbyterian Church for 12 years and a member of the Women's Bible Class. She loved this church, her family, reading, traveling, and getting together with friends. She made many friends through the water exercise program sponsored by the Charlottesville Senior Center. She was also an avid bird watcher, and she and Cecil traveled to many places in the US and to many foreign countries to view birds in their natural habitats. Altogether, she traveled to 28 foreign countries and 32 islands. The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or at www.samaritanspurse.org. Arrangements by Hill and Wood Funeral Service.
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