From Life Membership presentation to Maria Keller at Mizpah Presbyterian Women of the Church in May 1975
On a Saturday in July of 1916, the 15th to be exact, a very tiny daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lewis Gantt, Sr. at their Nelson County farm home, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She weighed less than three pounds when she was two weeks old and her first cap was crocheted over an orange. This home was never the same from that day to this. It still stands and is the favorite gathering place of her five brothers and sister, and her mother, Evelyn Mahone Gantt. She was the oldest and spent much of her time mothering her brothers and sisters. Her childhood was spent making mud pies, going for long rides, enjoying the wide-open spaces, and reading whatever she could find. She rode horseback to school her first year, sharing old Nelly with two friends (she rode the hump of the saddle). Later in the fifth grade, a school bus picked up the children, except she often was late and had to walk to the school.
Her early life was plagued with many illnesses and it was at high school age before she enjoyed good health. She was graduated in May 1934 as valedictorian of her class of 17, from Fleetwood High School, Roseland, VA. She was awarded a Scholastic scholarship to Blackstone College, and there she met Leroy Keller, a fellow student, and Blackstone native. They did not know each other well in college and it was only sometime later that they were both living in Richmond and happened to meet each other while working downtown. They were married on August 30, 1941, at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Richmond. In 1950, a red-headed son, Andy, was born to them, and in 1953, Bob was born. These sons were dedicated to the Lord both before and after their birth.
Maria entered the business world nearly forty years ago, in June 1935, as secretary-bookkeeper and for the last thirty years remained with the same outfit, Jack Shuford.
She and Leroy joined Mizpah, where she served as Sunday School teacher and President of Women of the Church a number of times. She had the privilege of serving on many committees and holding most offices in the Women of the Church. She and Leroy began attending Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in 1975 when the two churches combined.
She served on the Richmond Home of Ladies Board, as District Chairman, and Treasurer of Hanover Presbyterial, as Synodical Treasurer, and Business Manager for both the Synodical Women of the Church Training School and Week of Enrichment at the Massanetta Conference Center.
Her other activities are Blackstone Alumnae Association, now serving as President of the Richmond Chapter, and Secretary of the National Chapter; and the Home Demonstration Club (now Extension Homemakers), serving as Treasurer for Henrico County Clubs, and as an officer of the District. She has served as President of Hermitage Homemakers Club many times and on District XV, Northeast Region, and Virginia State Homemakers and Chairman of the State Health Committee.
She and Leroy have been active in PTA over the years, as well as Cub Scouts, where she served as Den Mother and Leroy as Treasurer. They were PTA members for 16 years and grandparent members for eight years.
Her hobbies are people, books, and flowers and she has friends scattered from coast to coast and abroad. She feels people are more important than things. She feels that her accomplishments have been possible due to a strong faith, and a good husband, who has helped her time-wise and otherwise. She has written a family and friends letter to 60 correspondents since 1985. The newsletter would often contain remembrances such as "We remember going to the woods for our cedar Christmas tree up on the Nelson Co. farm and stringing popcorn and making a red loop chain from construction paper for decorations. At father (Mahone) and Ida's, there were always red bells in the windows made from tissue paper. I have never seen them at any other home. All the Mahones will remember." 12/23/96 letter from Maria.
More About Maria Nelson Gantt:
Burial: 17 Aug 2000, Westhampton Memorial Gardens, Richmond, VA
Cause of Death: Acute Leukemia which became active in the spring of 2000.
Comment 1: 1933, 4-H Club All Stars
Comment 2: 1950, Joined Blackstone Alumni
Comment 3: 1951, Joined Hermitage Extension Homemakers
Comment 4: 1989, Named Extension Homemaker of the Year
Education: 1934, Graduated at the top of her class at Fleetwood High School and received a scholarship to Blackstone College.
Namesake: Her maternal grandmother
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Religion: Grew up in the Episcopal Church, but joined the Presbyterian Church after she moved to Richmond
Marriage Notes for Leroy Keller and Maria Gantt:
(From Richmond Times Dispatch, Sunday 8/31/41 with minor additional notes)
Maria Gantt of Roseland is Married
The wedding of Miss Maria Nelson Gantt of Roseland, Nelson County and Richmond to Leroy Anderson Keller of Blackstone and this city took place at 4 P.M. yesterday in the chapel of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
The chapel was decorated with a vase white flowers and the ceremony was attended by the immediate families and a few intimate friends.
The bride wore a costume of blue velveteen with wine accessories. Her flowers were Talisman roses. Miss Virginia Gantt of Washington, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. She wore wine velveteen with black accessories and a corsage of yellow roses.
Arthur Keller of Blackstone and Richmond was his brother's best man.
A small reception followed the ceremony at 1610 Grove Ave., Apt. 8, Richmond, VA. After a northern wedding trip, Mr. and Mrs. Keller will make their home at 15 Lancaster Road, Richmond, VA.
On a Saturday in July of 1916, the 15th to be exact, a very tiny daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lewis Gantt, Sr. at their Nelson County farm home, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She weighed less than three pounds when she was two weeks old and her first cap was crocheted over an orange. This home was never the same from that day to this. It still stands and is the favorite gathering place of her five brothers and sister, and her mother, Evelyn Mahone Gantt. She was the oldest and spent much of her time mothering her brothers and sisters. Her childhood was spent making mud pies, going for long rides, enjoying the wide-open spaces, and reading whatever she could find. She rode horseback to school her first year, sharing old Nelly with two friends (she rode the hump of the saddle). Later in the fifth grade, a school bus picked up the children, except she often was late and had to walk to the school.
Her early life was plagued with many illnesses and it was at high school age before she enjoyed good health. She was graduated in May 1934 as valedictorian of her class of 17, from Fleetwood High School, Roseland, VA. She was awarded a Scholastic scholarship to Blackstone College, and there she met Leroy Keller, a fellow student, and Blackstone native. They did not know each other well in college and it was only sometime later that they were both living in Richmond and happened to meet each other while working downtown. They were married on August 30, 1941, at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Richmond. In 1950, a red-headed son, Andy, was born to them, and in 1953, Bob was born. These sons were dedicated to the Lord both before and after their birth.
Maria entered the business world nearly forty years ago, in June 1935, as secretary-bookkeeper and for the last thirty years remained with the same outfit, Jack Shuford.
She and Leroy joined Mizpah, where she served as Sunday School teacher and President of Women of the Church a number of times. She had the privilege of serving on many committees and holding most offices in the Women of the Church. She and Leroy began attending Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in 1975 when the two churches combined.
She served on the Richmond Home of Ladies Board, as District Chairman, and Treasurer of Hanover Presbyterial, as Synodical Treasurer, and Business Manager for both the Synodical Women of the Church Training School and Week of Enrichment at the Massanetta Conference Center.
Her other activities are Blackstone Alumnae Association, now serving as President of the Richmond Chapter, and Secretary of the National Chapter; and the Home Demonstration Club (now Extension Homemakers), serving as Treasurer for Henrico County Clubs, and as an officer of the District. She has served as President of Hermitage Homemakers Club many times and on District XV, Northeast Region, and Virginia State Homemakers and Chairman of the State Health Committee.
She and Leroy have been active in PTA over the years, as well as Cub Scouts, where she served as Den Mother and Leroy as Treasurer. They were PTA members for 16 years and grandparent members for eight years.
Her hobbies are people, books, and flowers and she has friends scattered from coast to coast and abroad. She feels people are more important than things. She feels that her accomplishments have been possible due to a strong faith, and a good husband, who has helped her time-wise and otherwise. She has written a family and friends letter to 60 correspondents since 1985. The newsletter would often contain remembrances such as "We remember going to the woods for our cedar Christmas tree up on the Nelson Co. farm and stringing popcorn and making a red loop chain from construction paper for decorations. At father (Mahone) and Ida's, there were always red bells in the windows made from tissue paper. I have never seen them at any other home. All the Mahones will remember." 12/23/96 letter from Maria.
More About Maria Nelson Gantt:
Burial: 17 Aug 2000, Westhampton Memorial Gardens, Richmond, VA
Cause of Death: Acute Leukemia which became active in the spring of 2000.
Comment 1: 1933, 4-H Club All Stars
Comment 2: 1950, Joined Blackstone Alumni
Comment 3: 1951, Joined Hermitage Extension Homemakers
Comment 4: 1989, Named Extension Homemaker of the Year
Education: 1934, Graduated at the top of her class at Fleetwood High School and received a scholarship to Blackstone College.
Namesake: Her maternal grandmother
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Religion: Grew up in the Episcopal Church, but joined the Presbyterian Church after she moved to Richmond
Marriage Notes for Leroy Keller and Maria Gantt:
(From Richmond Times Dispatch, Sunday 8/31/41 with minor additional notes)
Maria Gantt of Roseland is Married
The wedding of Miss Maria Nelson Gantt of Roseland, Nelson County and Richmond to Leroy Anderson Keller of Blackstone and this city took place at 4 P.M. yesterday in the chapel of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
The chapel was decorated with a vase white flowers and the ceremony was attended by the immediate families and a few intimate friends.
The bride wore a costume of blue velveteen with wine accessories. Her flowers were Talisman roses. Miss Virginia Gantt of Washington, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. She wore wine velveteen with black accessories and a corsage of yellow roses.
Arthur Keller of Blackstone and Richmond was his brother's best man.
A small reception followed the ceremony at 1610 Grove Ave., Apt. 8, Richmond, VA. After a northern wedding trip, Mr. and Mrs. Keller will make their home at 15 Lancaster Road, Richmond, VA.
From Life Membership presentation to Maria Keller at Mizpah Presbyterian Women of the Church in May 1975
On a Saturday in July of 1916, the 15th to be exact, a very tiny daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lewis Gantt, Sr. at their Nelson County farm home, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She weighed less than three pounds when she was two weeks old and her first cap was crocheted over an orange. This home was never the same from that day to this. It still stands and is the favorite gathering place of her five brothers and sister, and her mother, Evelyn Mahone Gantt. She was the oldest and spent much of her time mothering her brothers and sisters. Her childhood was spent making mud pies, going for long rides, enjoying the wide-open spaces, and reading whatever she could find. She rode horseback to school her first year, sharing old Nelly with two friends (she rode the hump of the saddle). Later in the fifth grade, a school bus picked up the children, except she often was late and had to walk to the school.
Her early life was plagued with many illnesses and it was at high school age before she enjoyed good health. She was graduated in May 1934 as valedictorian of her class of 17, from Fleetwood High School, Roseland, VA. She was awarded a Scholastic scholarship to Blackstone College, and there she met Leroy Keller, a fellow student, and Blackstone native. They did not know each other well in college and it was only sometime later that they were both living in Richmond and happened to meet each other while working downtown. They were married on August 30, 1941, at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Richmond. In 1950, a red-headed son, Andy, was born to them, and in 1953, Bob was born. These sons were dedicated to the Lord both before and after their birth.
Maria entered the business world nearly forty years ago, in June 1935, as secretary-bookkeeper and for the last thirty years remained with the same outfit, Jack Shuford.
She and Leroy joined Mizpah, where she served as Sunday School teacher and President of Women of the Church a number of times. She had the privilege of serving on many committees and holding most offices in the Women of the Church. She and Leroy began attending Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in 1975 when the two churches combined.
She served on the Richmond Home of Ladies Board, as District Chairman, and Treasurer of Hanover Presbyterial, as Synodical Treasurer, and Business Manager for both the Synodical Women of the Church Training School and Week of Enrichment at the Massanetta Conference Center.
Her other activities are Blackstone Alumnae Association, now serving as President of the Richmond Chapter, and Secretary of the National Chapter; and the Home Demonstration Club (now Extension Homemakers), serving as Treasurer for Henrico County Clubs, and as an officer of the District. She has served as President of Hermitage Homemakers Club many times and on District XV, Northeast Region, and Virginia State Homemakers and Chairman of the State Health Committee.
She and Leroy have been active in PTA over the years, as well as Cub Scouts, where she served as Den Mother and Leroy as Treasurer. They were PTA members for 16 years and grandparent members for eight years.
Her hobbies are people, books, and flowers and she has friends scattered from coast to coast and abroad. She feels people are more important than things. She feels that her accomplishments have been possible due to a strong faith, and a good husband, who has helped her time-wise and otherwise. She has written a family and friends letter to 60 correspondents since 1985. The newsletter would often contain remembrances such as "We remember going to the woods for our cedar Christmas tree up on the Nelson Co. farm and stringing popcorn and making a red loop chain from construction paper for decorations. At father (Mahone) and Ida's, there were always red bells in the windows made from tissue paper. I have never seen them at any other home. All the Mahones will remember." 12/23/96 letter from Maria.
More About Maria Nelson Gantt:
Burial: 17 Aug 2000, Westhampton Memorial Gardens, Richmond, VA
Cause of Death: Acute Leukemia which became active in the spring of 2000.
Comment 1: 1933, 4-H Club All Stars
Comment 2: 1950, Joined Blackstone Alumni
Comment 3: 1951, Joined Hermitage Extension Homemakers
Comment 4: 1989, Named Extension Homemaker of the Year
Education: 1934, Graduated at the top of her class at Fleetwood High School and received a scholarship to Blackstone College.
Namesake: Her maternal grandmother
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Religion: Grew up in the Episcopal Church, but joined the Presbyterian Church after she moved to Richmond
Marriage Notes for Leroy Keller and Maria Gantt:
(From Richmond Times Dispatch, Sunday 8/31/41 with minor additional notes)
Maria Gantt of Roseland is Married
The wedding of Miss Maria Nelson Gantt of Roseland, Nelson County and Richmond to Leroy Anderson Keller of Blackstone and this city took place at 4 P.M. yesterday in the chapel of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
The chapel was decorated with a vase white flowers and the ceremony was attended by the immediate families and a few intimate friends.
The bride wore a costume of blue velveteen with wine accessories. Her flowers were Talisman roses. Miss Virginia Gantt of Washington, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. She wore wine velveteen with black accessories and a corsage of yellow roses.
Arthur Keller of Blackstone and Richmond was his brother's best man.
A small reception followed the ceremony at 1610 Grove Ave., Apt. 8, Richmond, VA. After a northern wedding trip, Mr. and Mrs. Keller will make their home at 15 Lancaster Road, Richmond, VA.
On a Saturday in July of 1916, the 15th to be exact, a very tiny daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lewis Gantt, Sr. at their Nelson County farm home, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She weighed less than three pounds when she was two weeks old and her first cap was crocheted over an orange. This home was never the same from that day to this. It still stands and is the favorite gathering place of her five brothers and sister, and her mother, Evelyn Mahone Gantt. She was the oldest and spent much of her time mothering her brothers and sisters. Her childhood was spent making mud pies, going for long rides, enjoying the wide-open spaces, and reading whatever she could find. She rode horseback to school her first year, sharing old Nelly with two friends (she rode the hump of the saddle). Later in the fifth grade, a school bus picked up the children, except she often was late and had to walk to the school.
Her early life was plagued with many illnesses and it was at high school age before she enjoyed good health. She was graduated in May 1934 as valedictorian of her class of 17, from Fleetwood High School, Roseland, VA. She was awarded a Scholastic scholarship to Blackstone College, and there she met Leroy Keller, a fellow student, and Blackstone native. They did not know each other well in college and it was only sometime later that they were both living in Richmond and happened to meet each other while working downtown. They were married on August 30, 1941, at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Richmond. In 1950, a red-headed son, Andy, was born to them, and in 1953, Bob was born. These sons were dedicated to the Lord both before and after their birth.
Maria entered the business world nearly forty years ago, in June 1935, as secretary-bookkeeper and for the last thirty years remained with the same outfit, Jack Shuford.
She and Leroy joined Mizpah, where she served as Sunday School teacher and President of Women of the Church a number of times. She had the privilege of serving on many committees and holding most offices in the Women of the Church. She and Leroy began attending Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in 1975 when the two churches combined.
She served on the Richmond Home of Ladies Board, as District Chairman, and Treasurer of Hanover Presbyterial, as Synodical Treasurer, and Business Manager for both the Synodical Women of the Church Training School and Week of Enrichment at the Massanetta Conference Center.
Her other activities are Blackstone Alumnae Association, now serving as President of the Richmond Chapter, and Secretary of the National Chapter; and the Home Demonstration Club (now Extension Homemakers), serving as Treasurer for Henrico County Clubs, and as an officer of the District. She has served as President of Hermitage Homemakers Club many times and on District XV, Northeast Region, and Virginia State Homemakers and Chairman of the State Health Committee.
She and Leroy have been active in PTA over the years, as well as Cub Scouts, where she served as Den Mother and Leroy as Treasurer. They were PTA members for 16 years and grandparent members for eight years.
Her hobbies are people, books, and flowers and she has friends scattered from coast to coast and abroad. She feels people are more important than things. She feels that her accomplishments have been possible due to a strong faith, and a good husband, who has helped her time-wise and otherwise. She has written a family and friends letter to 60 correspondents since 1985. The newsletter would often contain remembrances such as "We remember going to the woods for our cedar Christmas tree up on the Nelson Co. farm and stringing popcorn and making a red loop chain from construction paper for decorations. At father (Mahone) and Ida's, there were always red bells in the windows made from tissue paper. I have never seen them at any other home. All the Mahones will remember." 12/23/96 letter from Maria.
More About Maria Nelson Gantt:
Burial: 17 Aug 2000, Westhampton Memorial Gardens, Richmond, VA
Cause of Death: Acute Leukemia which became active in the spring of 2000.
Comment 1: 1933, 4-H Club All Stars
Comment 2: 1950, Joined Blackstone Alumni
Comment 3: 1951, Joined Hermitage Extension Homemakers
Comment 4: 1989, Named Extension Homemaker of the Year
Education: 1934, Graduated at the top of her class at Fleetwood High School and received a scholarship to Blackstone College.
Namesake: Her maternal grandmother
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Religion: Grew up in the Episcopal Church, but joined the Presbyterian Church after she moved to Richmond
Marriage Notes for Leroy Keller and Maria Gantt:
(From Richmond Times Dispatch, Sunday 8/31/41 with minor additional notes)
Maria Gantt of Roseland is Married
The wedding of Miss Maria Nelson Gantt of Roseland, Nelson County and Richmond to Leroy Anderson Keller of Blackstone and this city took place at 4 P.M. yesterday in the chapel of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
The chapel was decorated with a vase white flowers and the ceremony was attended by the immediate families and a few intimate friends.
The bride wore a costume of blue velveteen with wine accessories. Her flowers were Talisman roses. Miss Virginia Gantt of Washington, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. She wore wine velveteen with black accessories and a corsage of yellow roses.
Arthur Keller of Blackstone and Richmond was his brother's best man.
A small reception followed the ceremony at 1610 Grove Ave., Apt. 8, Richmond, VA. After a northern wedding trip, Mr. and Mrs. Keller will make their home at 15 Lancaster Road, Richmond, VA.
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