Grace Estelle Towles Slate, 97, of White Stone, died peacefully on Feb. 22, 2015 at Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury.
Born in 1917, to Effie Dunton and Kirk Towles of White Stone, she was raised with help from her grandparents, survivors of the Civil War. She lived her entire life within 5 miles of the house where she was born but always adapted gracefully to changing times and by the end of her life, enjoyed Skyping and playing iPad games with her great-grandchildren.
As a teenager during the Depression, Estelle worked for free at the welfare office in White Stone in the hopes that she'd eventually be hired for a paid position. She also worked for the agricultural extension office in Lancaster and became known in town for her willingness to help anyone to read, interpret and fill out any type of government form, both at work and in her free time.
She married Stanley Slate in 1938 and later kept the books at the Kilmarnock Western Auto store, which they owned. She also managed Treakle Insurance in White Stone until her retirement at the age of 75.
Estelle was a Sunday school teacher at White Stone Baptist Church for 78 years. She was first asked to teach at the age of 16 and considered it a great honor, finding out only after accepting that she was to teach the junior boys because no one else would do it.
She was a self-taught biblical scholar and, backed by her faith, she became an integration activist in the 1960s and a supporter of marriage equality in recent years. She never learned to sew and didn't like to cook but she wrote poetry, quoted scripture, balanced accounts and deliberated over politics and current affairs.
Her advice and counseling were sought by many in the community and she devoted much of her time to visiting shut-ins and delivering food cooked by other people.
She is predeceased by her husband, Stanley Slate; and is survived by her daughters: Sherilynn Slate Lawrence of Newport News, and Sue Slate Donaldson with husband Roger of White Stone; five grandchildren: Denny Walden with wife Debby; David Walden, Sharon Baker with husband Jerry; Tara Donaldson Courtland with wife Dvora; and Slate Donaldson; five great-grandchildren: John Lee and Bradley Hargrave, Shelley Quatro-Abel, and Katherine and Benjamin Courtland; and three great-great-grandchildren: Lily Hargrave, and Alexis and Devin Quatro.
Arrangements were by Currie Funeral Home and the service and internment were at White Stone Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to White Stone Baptist Food Pantry, P.O. Box 45, White Stone, VA 22578.