Britt, Mary Hart Richardson

Mary Hart Richardson Britt, 77, died in her Blacksburg home on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. Her son and husband were with her. She showed amazing courage in a long battle with cancer.

Throughout Mary’s life people responded to her generous smile and warm voice. Her friends knew this warmth, and even strangers commented on that welcoming face.

She won all the top honors (Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Fulbright Scholar) as an English major at Agnes Scott, where she returned as a teacher when she finished her Master’s at Emory. She also taught at DePauw, and the University of Wisconsin prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech where she taught and mentored groups of graduate students. During her years as Curator of Education at the Reynolds Homestead, she did a masterful job of inventing programs, locating faculty, and writing press releases. Again, she made innumerable friends. In Blacksburg she thrived on her book discussion group, the YMCA, and her lunch buddies.

Mary’s husband, David, survives her. Their son, Tim, resides with his wife, Leigh, and Mary Hart’s two granddaughters, Lindsey and Lauren, in Indiana. She is also survived by her brothers, William (Elizabeth) and Edward (Patricia), her first cousin Charlotte, and her numerous nieces and nephews (Brenda and David; Scott, Anne, Sheila, and Sheryl).

Mary spoke often about the physicians who cared for her. Dr. William Hendricks combined the personal touch of the old fashioned doctor with a medicine bag and the contemporary physician. Dr. Jerome Goldschmidt worked closely with Mary’s nephew, Dr. Carter Van Waes. The two of them kept her going with their personal concern, availability, and all the benefits of the latest medical advances. She also valued the comfort of Hospice.

The family will receive friends on Friday night, September11, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 County Club Drive S.W., Blacksburg. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, September 12, at 4:00 p.m. at McCoy’s in Blacksburg, with the Reverend Jonathan Harris officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Heifer International at www.heifer.org or your favorite charity. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.