Mary Birckhead Trogdon
Mary Trogdon wanted it known that she was a life-long resident of Albemarle County. She was born at home February 11, 1927 in Proffit, Virginia to Dabney Overton Birckhead and Uppie Norris Birckhead. She died November 22, 2023 in Charlottesville.
She attended school in Proffit’s one-room schoolhouse until age 12 when her family moved to the Belmont area of Charlottesville where she attended Clark School. Mary was always at the Belmont Girls’ annual reunion including the one held this year. After Clark she finished her education at Lane High School graduating in 1946. Mary also loved the Lane High School All-class reunions and was there this year in October where they reserved a special parking place for their oldest living graduate.
After graduating high school she married Ralph Trogdon and they were together for 51 years until his death in 1999. They had four children and Mary was so proud of each of them and their chosen careers. She and Ralph raised a professor, a nurse, a teacher and a writer.
Mary worked at the University of Virginia in several different offices ending up as the secretary of Student Government under its president Larry Sabato now a well-known political analyst. After retiring she volunteered as an election official for the City of Charlottesville for almost twenty years.
Mary and Ralph Trogdon were married in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Charlottesville. Later they joined Trinity Presbyterian Church. After Ralph died and Mary decided to downsize, she moved to The Lodge at Old Trail in Crozet – remaining in Albemarle County. There she attended Hope Presbyterian.
Mary was pre-deceased by her husband Ralph, her daughter Faith Trogdon Benfer, her grandson Andrew Galen Trogdon, and also by all her brothers and sisters – Ned Overton Birckhead, Norris Anderson Birckhead, Warren Thomas Birckhead, John Dabney Birckhead, Ruth Birckhead Richardson, and Susie Birckhead Damron.
Mary is survived by three children – Steven A. Trogdon (Terry) of Freedom, Wyoming, Susan T. Barnett (Charles) of Crozet, Virginia and Miriam Trogdon (Michael Charters) of Sierra Madre, California. She is also survived by: five grandchildren – Kara Trivigno, Matthew Benfer (Kim), Patrick Trogdon (Isu Yoon), Thomas Trogdon (Karen Heath), Gracie Charters (Joey Gutierrez), nine great-grandchildren – Quinton, Chance, Kenlee, Cecile, Pierce, Trey, Zio, Jesse, Poppy, Mack, Gunner and Liam, and four step grandchildren – Jason, Shaina, Michael and Rachel. She is also survived by one paternal cousin – Edwin Thomas Birckhead of Salem, Virginia.
The family will receive friends from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Teague Funeral Service, 2260 Ivy Road Charlottesville VA 22903. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, December 1, 2023 at Teague Funeral Service with a reception to immediately follow. Interment will take place at 2:00pm at Holly Memorial Gardens, 3251 Seminole Trail Charlottesville VA 22911.
In lieu of flowers please consider donation to: Hope Presbyterian Church (hopecrozet.org), Hospice of Piedmont (hopva.org), Western Albemarle Rescue Squad (westernrescue.org)
