MaryJane Hobbs

Maryjane B. Hobbs passed peacefully at Westminster Canterbury surrounded by her family on September 20, 2025. She lived 100 amazing years.

Born in Lynchburg, VA in 1925, she was a graduate of E. C. Glass High School. Music was her life and she continued with her passion for music in her study of voice, piano and organ. She was a talented musician who wrote some original songs, played for weddings and funerals in the Lynchburg area, was a paid soloist for the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church choir and particularly enjoyed teaching piano to her grandchildren, great-nieces and other young children. She entertained for the USO during WWII and served as organist/music director at Unity in the Seven Hills, St. Barnabas and Trinity Episcopal churches. She was also a secretary at Unity in the Seven Hills for 10 years.

Maryjane enjoyed participating in the planning of the Lynchburg Community Concerts and World Day of Prayer, working box office at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center (FAC), and in her earlier years, performing in plays at the FAC and singing with the Jefferson Choral Society. She served as a docent at Point of Honor.

Maryjane had a deep and abiding faith in God. She was a life-long student of spiritual matters and felt it was her life’s work to share with others what she had learned.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Martha Black; sisters, Edith Early (William) and Martha Strader (Philip); brother, William Black (Lynette); niece, Catherine McGehee; and former husband Frank I. Hobbs, M.D.

She is survived by her children, Rebecca Howerton (Allan), Beverly Wilson (Billy), Frank Hobbs, Jr., Valerie St. John (Jeff ); daughters-in-law, Pat Hobbs and Rosy Avoscan; grandchildren, Julie Riggar (Robert), Matthew Howerton (Katie), M. David Wilson; step-grandchildren, Long Sharpe (Heather), Norman Sharpe (Jennifer), Jeff Sharpe (Leah), Brandi Wright (Chris), Alden St. John (Jess); 5 great-grandchildren; 11 step-great-grandchildren; 4 nieces; 4 nephews;  and very dear friend, Sherry Bell (Kent).

Following a private interment at Trinity Episcopal Church, a celebration of life will be held at Westminster Canterbury on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the Weissert chapel. A visitation will follow the service.

The family wishes to express our profound and heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful staff of 5th Floor Drinkard Healthcare for their loving and tender care of our mother Maryjane. Each one of you was a blessing to her and she could not have received better care! (We are refraining from using multiple exclamation marks but that’s how we feel).

In lieu of flowers, please consider the Westminster Canterbury Employee Christmas Fund, Employee Assistance Fund or the Fellowship Fund, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503, or a charity of your choice.

Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg is assisting the family.