Author: Potomac Local News

Gregory Steven Hall, age 24, of Dale City, VA, passed away suddenly on March 23, 2014. Beloved son of Lesa Donahue Hall and Gregory Stephen Hall. Loving father of Ethan Tomas Hall and Ethan’s mother Stephanie Williams survives; and Austin Hall and Austin’s mother Jessica survives. Dear brother of Meaghan Tobin (Jesse). Cherished grandson of Zanie Lee Donahue-Wolle (William D.) and Jerry Donahue (Patricia). Adored Nephew of Jerry Donahue, Jr. (Karelyn). Also loved by his cousins Jackson Donahue and Ashley Morris.

Gregory was only with us for a short time on this earth. His life was full of both sadness and joy, and he is now in God’s Care, where his eternal life will be in a better place. His heart was big, but not big enough to handle today’s world. He leaves behind many loved ones and family. He will always remain in our hearts and prayers until we all meet again in the next life.

Colonel James M. Lowe

Retired Colonel James Michael “Mike” Lowe, 59, of Stafford, Virginia, died on March 21, 2014 at Mary Washington Hospital. Surrounded by his loving family and friends, he lost his 17-month battle with lung cancer. Beloved son, husband, father and Marine’s Marine, Mike was born on June 9, 1954 in Augusta, Georgia to Kathryn and the late Horace Mike Lowe. His adolescent and teen years were spent in Irwinton, Georgia in the loving home of his mother and his late step-father, Colon Lamar Wilson.

Charlotte Iliff Lafean, formerly of Fredon, NJ, and late of Vernon, NJ, March 8 in Nokesville, VA. Mrs. Lafean was the daughter of the late Fred C. Iliff and Geraldine S. Iliff of Newton, New Jersey, and an alumna of Newton High School ’47, of Cedar Crest College ’50, and St Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing ’53. Her sixty-year nursing career, largely in Emergency Room treatment, spanned the innovations of Intensive Care (ICU), Cardiac Care (CCU), and Shock/Trauma; school, camp, correctional, and home care nursing, and nursing training. A board member of the Emergency Department Nurses’ Association (EDNA) while employed at Newton Memorial Hospital, she later served at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Warwick, NY, and in northern Virginia at Potomac, Fairfax, and Mount Vernon Hospitals, and led the medical unit at the Alexandria, Virginia jail.

A lifelong devotee of music, Mrs. Lafean sang in the choirs of Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton, Virginia, and St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Vernon, New Jersey, and the Alexandria Chorale. She studied violin and piano, and encouraged music in schools and among her family. She served on the Organ Committee of St. Thomas’ as well as its Vestry and rector search committees, and as its acolyte master; and had been a lay reader and lay Eucharistic minister at both houses of worship. St. Thomas’ ministries to hikers on the nearby Appalachian Trail and to local homeless also benefited from her efforts, especially her skill in nutrition and cooking. She was a consistent supporter of Brentsville District High School wrestling and football.

Andrew Thomas Burke passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 in Culpeper, Virginia.

Andy was a resident of Culpeper and was employed by the City of Manassas in the maintenance department.

J. Michael Durkin Jr. (Mike) died peacefully on March 19, 2014 at his home in Winchester, Virginia.

Mike had a love of animals and was a fan of NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was an avid reader and had a wicked sense of humor. Mike spent more than 20 years in the information technology field, most recently as Chief Technical Officer at Vision Technology Group of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Sara (Sally) Lea Henderson Heskett, age 67, of Manassas, Virginia passed into the care of her Lord, on March 13, 2014, at Prince William Hospital, with her loving husband, William, watching over her.

Sally was born at home in Oxford (Welchville), Maine on December 17, 1946 to Anna Holt Henderson Woodworth and John Henderson. She attended grade school in Sumner, Maine and graduated from Buckfield High School in Buckfield, Maine, with the class of 1964. Sally completed her nursing training at Rumford Hospital in Rumford, Maine in 1965 and began a career in nursing which continued for over 45 years. She ultimately retired from Prince William Hospital in 2004 after 30 years, but continued to work at various nursing homes as well as providing home health care.

Charlotte Iliff Lafean, formerly of Fredon, NJ, and late of Vernon, NJ, March 8 in Nokesville, VA. Mrs. Lafean was the daughter of the late Fred C. Iliff and Geraldine S. Iliff of Newton, New Jersey, and an alumna of Newton High School ’47, of Cedar Crest College ’50, and St Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing ’53. Her sixty-year nursing career, largely in Emergency Room treatment, spanned the innovations of Intensive Care (ICU), Cardiac Care (CCU), and Shock/Trauma; school, camp, correctional, and home care nursing, and nursing training. A board member of the Emergency Department Nurses’ Association (EDNA) while employed at Newton Memorial Hospital, she later served at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Warwick, NY, and in northern Virginia at Potomac, Fairfax, and Mount Vernon Hospitals, and led the medical unit at the Alexandria, Virginia jail.

A lifelong devotee of music, Mrs. Lafean sang in the choirs of Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton, Virginia, and St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Vernon, New Jersey, and the Alexandria Chorale. She studied violin and piano, and encouraged music in schools and among her family. She served on the Organ Committee of St. Thomas’ as well as its Vestry and rector search committees, and as its acolyte master; and had been a lay reader and lay Eucharistic minister at both houses of worship. St. Thomas’ ministries to hikers on the nearby Appalachian Trail and to local homeless also benefited from her efforts, especially her skill in nutrition and cooking. She was a consistent supporter of Brentsville District High School wrestling and football.