Esther Irene Frazier-Petty

Esther Irene Frazier-Petty, 78, formerly of Orange, Virginia, passed away Saturday, December 19, 2015 in Hohenwald, TN. Born December, 9, 1938 in Jones Spring, WV, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Daniel A. Frazier and Rachel Gertrude Rinaca Frazier and the step-daughter of the late Hazel Marie Butts Frazier. Esther grew up in Petersberg, WV and Berkeley Springs, WV, graduating from Berkeley Springs High School in 1956. She went on to receive her initial nursing training at the City Hospital of Martinsburg, WV leading to her nursing licensure (Registered Nurse, R.N.) in 1959. After several years of nursing practice, she made significant leadership contributions to the nursing Directorships of Culpeper Regional Hospital in Culpeper, VA and Orange County Nursing Home, in Orange, VA. Esther later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N) from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA in 1982 and she was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She later served for over 20 years as the Director of Nursing at the Carver-Piedmont Technical Education Center in Culpeper, VA and led the L.P.N. program to be one of the strongest in the state of Virginia. As an avid participant in the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) organization, she consistently led her students to earn distinguished recognition for regional, state and national awards in competitive conferences held across the country each year. In 1996, she received the Teacher of the Year Award by the Virginia Department of Education for Health Occupation Education and retired as an educator in 2000. Her life and career was marked by an outstanding background in the nursing profession, a sincerity of purpose, strong instructional skills and a passion for encouraging others to pursue a career in nursing. Esther's energy, rigor and dedication in the pursuit of health and well-being was an inspiration to to all who knew her. Above all, she was a caring person who sought to enrich the lives of others. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, gardening and caring for her loved ones. Additionally, she loved trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and research topics including nutrition, current affairs, bible study and her family's ancestry. She is survived by her husband, Gary W. Frazier-Petty of Hohenwald, TN; one step-son, Nathan W. (Sheena) Petty of Seattle, WA; one brother David (Mary Jane) Frazier of Westminster, MD; and one sister, Ruth (Jim) Gaborko of Upper Marlboro, MD. She was preceded in death by one sister, Venusta Virginia Frazier (Newton) Burkhart of Hedgesville, WV. Her funeral will be on Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 1:30PM at the McDonald Funeral Home and interment will follow at Hilltop Cemetery in Hickman County, TN. Directions are available at the McDonald Funeral Home in Centerville, TN.

Esther Irene Frazier-Petty

December 9, 1938 - December 19, 2015