Arlene Saunders Proffitt

Arlene Saunders Proffitt, 90, of Charlottesville, Va., went home to be with the Lord on December 19, 2023, at Rosewood Village Greenbrier, where she had resided for the past two years. She was preceded in death by her dearly loved husband of almost 64 years, Ralph Edward Proffitt.

Born May 12,1933, in Rockfish, Nelson County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Gabriel Talmadge Saunders and Mary Frances Giles Saunders. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Saunders Lee, and Louise Saunders Smith, eight brothers-in-law, and five sisters-in-law.

Arlene is survived by her daughter, Sandra Heard, and her husband John; son Jeffrey Proffitt, and his wife Cindy; granddaughters Kristin Proffitt Foster (Ryan), Brittany Proffitt Schoen (Earl) and Shannon Heard Rosser (Sam); and great-grandchildren Addison and Truitt Foster and Caroline and River Schoen.

Arlene is also survived by her much loved and devoted sister, Janice Saunders Hatton, and by twelve nieces and nephews and their children.

Arlene worked for almost three decades for and retired from Virginia Continuing Legal Education. She was a faithful member of Cherry Avenue Christian Church, where she revitalized the church library and then served many years as the librarian. She herself was an avid reader, which continued daily until her passing. She was also a member of the Doe Club, Elks Lodge 389.

Funeral services will be held at noon on January 6, 2024, at Cherry Avenue Christian Church, 1720 Cherry Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Monticello Memory Gardens, 670 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

The family would like to thank Arlene's long time at-home companion and friend, Chandra Jonkman, and the staff at Rosewood Village for their care and consideration of Arlene, and for the love they showed her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cherry Avenue Christian Church or Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911.

Condolences may be sent to the family on the tribute wall.