Eleanor Brillhart Avery

Eleanor Brillhart Avery, 90, of Colonial Heights, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023. She was born on December 27, 1932, in Catawba, Virginia, and was the daughter of the late Marvin Mason Brillhart and Amy Alls Brillhart. She was the widow of Jesse Edward Avery and was also preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Brillhart Sirry.

She was an active member of Highland United Methodist Church for many years. She taught children and adult Sunday school classes, served as the librarian, was a member of the administrative board, education chairman, member of the Morning Star class, the United Methodist Women, and the Ann Douglas Guild Circle, for which she served as secretary and chairman. From early childhood, she had loved and served God. She will be remembered for her love of children, family, friends, and cats, and was an avid reader.

She was a graduate of Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Virginia, Virginia Southern College in Roanoke, Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a member of VCU Black and Gold Royalty Society. She was employed by the Roanoke City School Board for two years and the Richmond City School Board for ten years as an administrative secretary. She served as President of the Richmond Schools Secretarial Association. In 1965, she served as office manager for the Arlington Legislators during the legislative session. She taught at Lakeview Elementary School in Colonial Heights for 24 years. After retirement in 1997, she was co-chairman and a volunteer in Highland United Methodist Church’s reading program at Lakeview Elementary School and Colonial Heights Middle School.

She was a member of the Colonial Heights Retired School Personnel Association serving as their First Vice President; the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teacher’s Sorority, in which she was a member for 47 years and served as their Vice President; Colonial Heights Federated Women’s Club, serving as a Chaplain and Co-Chairman of the Education Committee.

Cherishing her memory are her daughter, Amy Brillhart Avery Killingsworth and husband, Ricky; grandson, Douglas Reinhardt Jackson, III and wife, Kaitlyn Adkins Jackson; and great-granddaughter, Eleanor Adalyn Jackson – all of whom she deeply loved. She is also survived by her nephew, Marvin Allen Sirry (Brenda); two nieces, Cynthia Ann Sirry Thompson (Bobby) and Stephanie Jean Sirry Connelly (Johnny); four great-nieces; four great-nephews, five great-great-nephews; six great-great-nieces; and one great-great-great-niece. She was also the Godmother and sponsor of Kelin Rodriguez in Honduras for many years. Special thanks go to her caregiver, Shirley Hooks, for her many years of love and devotion.