Audrey Mitchem

Audrey R. Mitchem, 87 of Mathews, passed away on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, in her home. Audrey was born in Hallieford, Virginia to the late Upsher C. and Mary Elizabeth Rainier.

She attended Mathews High School and went to work in Richmond as a secretary. She married the late Harry E. Mitchem, and they made their home on Gwynn’s Island. They had one daughter, Linda Triolet. Later, she married the late Alvin S. Knight and made their home in Mathews.

Audrey was known to many by her nickname, Piggy. She always said she had a good life and enjoyed it thoroughly. Her family made her the happiest. She loved to travel, camp, swim, boat, walk, bike and simply always have fun. She never met a stranger and had a contagious smile.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Upsher Rainier, Jr. and Melvin Rainier also her sisters, Golden Dutton, Ruth Robins, Beulah Sadler and Lydia Rowe.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Triolet and her husband Charlie; sisters, Joyce Downs, Janice South, Marilyn Morgan; sister-in-law, Florence Rainier, Kathryn Freeman; brother-in-law, Stephen Mitchem and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A special thank you to Matilda Love, Brenda Moore, Audrey Faulkner, Tracy Respress, Laura Garrett, Gerrilyn Ballow, Amanda Love, Ellen Rowe and Debbie Douglas who all treated her like family. Also, a special thanks to the Riverside Hospice team for their support.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 8, 2023, at Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church, directly followed by a funeral service at the church beginning at 1:00 p.m. and being officiated by Pastor Ed Jordan. Burial will follow in Gwynn’s Island Cemetery. Family and friends are invited back to the church for a reception immediately following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mathews Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, VA 23109, the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, 94 Cricket Hill Road, Hudgins, VA 23076 or Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 26, Gwynn, VA 23066.

Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews is assisting the family.