Agnes Burgess Erwin

Agnes Burgess Erwin, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, at the age of 101 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Born December 12, 1923, in Halifax, Virginia, Agnes cherished her childhood on the family’s tobacco farm with her mother, Thelma (Tillery), father, Walter, and her younger sister, Charlotte (Ussery). It was there she learned the value of hard work and began her first job processing applications for men seeking farm work in place of military service during the war. After graduating high school, she attended Montreat Junior College in Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she studied business. Early in her career, she worked for the Soil Conservation Department at Virginia Tech where she met her husband of more than sixty years, Walter Clyde Erwin, Jr., an Army engineer. Agnes was a steadfast partner to Clyde, caring for him with unwavering devotion and homemade meals (his favorite being her hot milk cake) until his passing in 2010. Together, they built a life of love, faith, and family.

Agnes dedicated herself to raising their four sons: Walter Clyde Erwin III (Carroll), Edward Harrison Erwin (Anga Miller), Robert Jackson Erwin (Lynn), and Michael Burgess Erwin (Sandi) and welcomed each daughter-in-law as her family grew. Raising four boys only a few years apart was no small feat, and though their childhood antics kept her busy, each achieved the rank of Eagle Scout before heading off to college. As work and life carried them to various parts of Virginia and West Virginia, Agnes maintained a steady sense of home. She was deeply proud of the men they became and the families they built.

Once her children were grown, Agnes embraced a new chapter, returning to Social Services and contributing to the pilot Food Stamp program in Winchester and later in Appomattox. Afterward, she set out on cross-country adventures in a van with Clyde, her sister, and Buddy, her brother-in-law, with her favorite stops including beaches, state parks, good seafood, and the vibrant streets of New Orleans.

Better known as MeeMaw, she was a strong and loving presence in the lives of her grandchildren: Elizabeth Erwin (predeceased, remembered with love), Rachel Forchione (Joseph), Andrew Erwin (Ellie Canter), Becky Ashby (Andrew), and Jessica “Jessie” Bernard (Nathan). Together, they shared countless memories—holiday gatherings, beach trips, cooking lessons, “basement meals,” and Appomattox adventures, to name a few. These joys, traditions, and her recipes (especially the macaroni and cheese) will continue with her great-grandchildren: Crawford Meyer and Carter Forchione; Aspen and Helena Canter-Erwin; and Bowen, Barrett, and Baylor Ashby.

She will also be fondly remembered by her nephew, Doug Ussery of Graham, NC, and her niece, Betsy Saintsing of Raleigh, NC, as well as their families.

Agnes found joy in the simple pleasures of life like after-dinner walks, gardening, reading, a perfectly ripe tomato, refrigerator pickles, and mint in her tea. Dessert was never forgotten, and she was generous with her kindness. May her life remind us to take delight in the small moments, cherish the people around us, and share love freely, just as she did with her family, friends, and community.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at The Summit in Lynchburg, VA, whose compassion and dedication provided Agnes with comfort and dignified care throughout her time there.

A service to celebrate Agnes’s long and impactful life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she was a faithful member, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Agnes’s memory to Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5810 Fort Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24502.