With love and grateful hearts, we bid farewell to Lelia Douglas. Lelia passed peacefully into the welcoming arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and into Glory while in her York County home on December 14, 2023 at the age of 103.  This was her final wish.  Our hearts are sad, but there is also joy knowing of the reunions taking place in Heaven now.  We look forward to our reunion with her one day in the Lord's time and plan, so rejoice and be glad!

Born in 1920 in Blackstone, VA Lelia was the second in a line of ten children and was raised on a farm in Nottoway County, VA.  Upon graduation from Blackstone High School, Lelia attended the Pan American Business School in Richmond, VA and worked as a secretary in Richmond, Chicago and Florida.  She ultimately settled in Newport News, VA where she was employed by Newport News Shipbuilding, and it was there where she met her future husband, Richard D. Douglas.  They married in Chicago, IL in 1944 as Dick prepared for deployment with the US Navy, serving in the South Pacific during WWII.  They returned to the Peninsula and later built a home in York County in 1962.  She very much enjoyed being a homemaker, gardening, and she volunteered her time as well at the Grafton Bethel Elementary School. Eventually, Lelia turned from volunteer to career status with the York County Public School System where she served as the Administrative Secretary for Yorktown Intermediate School for nearly 20 years.

Lelia and Dick were charter members of Hidenwood Presbyterian Church in Newport News, members at Yorkminster Presbyterian Church in Grafton, and later returning to membership at Hidenwood.  They were also very active in the Peninsula square and round dancing community for many years.

Lelia was preceded in passing by her husband and her eldest son, Richard Jr., who passed at the age of 8.  She is survived by son, Bill, and daughter-in-law, Carol, of West Springfield, VA.  Lelia has three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  She has one surviving brother, The Honorable Randolph T. West (Jane) of Williamsburg, VA, several cousins, and numerous loving nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the Chapel of Hidenwood Presbyterian Church, 210 Hiden Boulevard, Newport News, VA on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11 AM.  A reception will follow at the church.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Empowering Action (a Christian Ministry- Equipping the global church for greater biblical fidelity and ministry effectiveness).  This is a Christian ministry where Bill and Carol served in the Dominican Republic.    Please click the hyper link below:
https://empoweringaction.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ad1abcdd24f0f9c39b8860a79&id=0e873ad989&e=f3282adaf7

Arrangements are under the care of W J Smith & Son Funeral Home., Newport News, VA.