Susan Keffer

Cobbs Creek,

Susan Shaw Benton Speight Keffer left this life at 6:00 a.m.on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, VA.

She was preceded in death by her husbands: James E. Benton (Lt. JG RET) of Portsmouth, VA; (Commander RET) Clarence M. Speight of Cobbs Creek, VA and Percy R. Keffer Jr. (Served in USCG) of Cobbs Creek, VA. Mrs. Keffer was a loyal Coast Guard wife for each of her husbands.

Mrs. Keffer is survived by her sister Mrs. Jane Shaw Kolkhorst of Falmouth, ME and her half-sister Dr. Kay F. S. Browne of Mill Valley, CA. She is also survived by her three daughters: Susan B.Yearby of Portsmouth, VA; Cynthia B. Howell of Raleigh, NC and Diane B. Snellinger (Steve) of Suffolk, VA.

She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Amy E. Gordy and Vickie L. Megahed of Portsmouth, VA; Susan M. White (Mike) of Chesapeake, VA; Heather H. Essary (Jason) of Seminary, MS; Richard T. Howell Jr. of Denver, CO; Dr. Jennifer S. Goodrich (Brian) of Frederick, MD and Franklin E. Brown (Karin) of Chesapeake, VA and seven great grandchildren: Meghan and CJ White of Chesapeake, VA; Taylor and Ashlynn Goodrich of Frederick, MD; Tara, Anna and Erika Nicholas of Seminary, MS.

Mrs. Keffer was born on July 19, 1920 in Jersey City, NJ and was the daughter of Harold D.V. And Helen MacKay Shaw. She attended Connecticut College for Women graduating with her BA Degree. She received her MA Degree from the College of William and Mary.

Known in Portsmouth as Sue Benton, she taught in the Norfolk County Public School System at Simonsdale Elementary School and Churchland Junior High School. She also taught in the Chesapeake Public School System, from which she retired as head of the Guidance Department at Western Branch High School in 1970.

Mrs. Keffer was a charter member of St. Andrew's Methodist Church and St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, both located in Portsmouth, VA. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church from 1965 until 1970 when with her marriage they moved to Cobbs Creek, VA. She then joined Kingston Parish Episcopal Church where she remained a member until her death.

Mrs. Keffer will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Her wisdom and love of learning has lived on with each generation of her family. She loved travel, music, theater, reading, boating, oysters and most of all, the view she had of the birds, the boats and the river from her home.

Her family would like to thank her loyal, devoted and loving care givers: Cindy, Jonnie, Helena, Heather, Rindy and Macie.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the church or charity of your choice .

A memorial service celebrating the life of Susan Shaw Keffer will be held on Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. at Christ Church, Kingston Parish with a reception to follow at the Kingston Parish House, Mathews, VA.

Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Mathews, VA is in charge of the arrangements.