Erma Davis Hagood

Erma Jackson Davis Hagood, 91, of Danville, passed away on March 22, 2018 after a seven year decline in health. Born September 11, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Bennie Field Davis and Elizabeth Moss Davis. On June 26, 1948 she married James T. (J.T.) Hagood who predeceased her in December 1991. Erma was born and raised in the Vandola Community of Pittsylvania County, VA. She and her siblings were raised on a tobacco farm where they learned to pull, hand leaves, string, and hang the tobacco in the curing barns. Erma remembers the farm as a very happy place in which to grow up and had recorded many of her memories in a handwritten diary. At school Erma made good grades but she was most noted as being an outstanding athlete. She lettered in softball in high school and developed a lifelong love of sports. She graduated from Brosville High School and then went on to complete the one year secretarial course at Averett College. Upon completion of this course, she and one of her friends ventured off to Blacksburg, VA and took jobs in the Home Extension Deparment at what is now known as VA TECH. Although the job was fun, homesickness eventually won over and she came home and went to work at Dan River Mills. In June 1948 she married J. T. Hagood. Early in her marriage, she continued to work at Dan River. She had moved from the manufacturing side to using her secretarial skills in the Employment Office. Once she and J. T. had a child, she was a stay at home mom until her daughter started school at which time she resumed her work at the Employment Office. Simultaneously with working, she resumed her athletic pursuits as well and joined in on sports such as basketball where she played intramurals at the Schoolfield Recreation Center, bowling, and of course, her favorite, softball. She received her first softball trophy in 1956 for Sportmanship. She excelled at the game in the position of pitcher and became one of the most well-known women pitchers in the Danville Area. She played in the Church league, the Dan River League, and City League teams. Initially playing fast pitch, she was a formidable opponent for batters at the plate. She was considered so good that when Danville invited a nationwide traveling exhibition called “the Queen and her Court” to play in Danville, Erma was chosen as the local pitcher to play on the opposing all-star team. As the years progressed, play switched over to slow pitch and Erma made the switch as well. She continued to play softball through the softball season of the year she turned 75. Beyond her talents as an athlete, she had many talents that served her well as a homemaker, among them the ability to sew beautifully. As her child grew up, Erma made most of the clothing for herself and her daughter including their Easter dresses, prom gown, and other special occasion dresses. Additionally, she took up calligraphy, ceramics, and oil painting. Her favorite oil subjects were pictures reminiscent of her farm life and she painted many pictures of rural life including barns and beautiful pastoral scenes. Coupled with working and her “extra” activities, Erma always made time for her faithful service to her church, Stokesland Baptist. For over fifty years she helped in the preparation of or completely prepared the bulletin for the Sunday service. Even if she was on a short trip she always made sure that the bulletin was covered in some way. She also served as Sunday School secretary for the Junior Department for many years and was a faithful member of the choir. She was also a member of the Ethel Ledbetter Women’s Missionary Circle. She retired from Dan River Mills in 1992 after over forty years of service and lived independently from that time until she suffered a stroke in 2010 and began her residence at Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by four sisters Esther Davis Yeaman, Elizabeth “Pearlie” Davis, Margie Lynwood Davis, and Frances Davis Powell, and two brothers, Benjamin Weldon Davis, and Ramey Sanford Davis. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Stan Keel, a sister, Neva Davis Scearce all of Danville, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel. Burial will follow the service in Danville Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Westover Chapel. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff of North and West Wings at Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center for their kindness and care during Erma’s stay there. Also a very special and loving thank you to her principal caregiver and friend, Libby Brandon, who loved her, attended to her every need, and kept her spirits up for so many years, to Crystal Wood and Laura Burrows who were her kind and loving weekend caregivers, and to Jennifer DeShazor who was available to provide care whenever called upon. Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel is serving the Hagood family.

Erma Davis Hagood

September 11, 1926 - March 22, 2018