ELIZABETH GENTRY NEWMAN TOMS
Elizabeth Gentry Newman Toms, of Richmond, Va., widow of Everett Carson Toms, died Sunday, June 24, 2012.
She was born Dec. 25, 1919, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Dr. John Ross Newman and Mary Josephine Buffington Newman. Mrs. Toms grew up in Fort Scott and graduated from the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
She met Everett Carson Toms of Shelby, N.C., at the end of World War II in Beaumont, Texas. They were married in Fort Scott on July 11, 1946, and settled in Richmond shortly thereafter.
Her husband predeceased her in 1992 and son-in-law, Dr. L. Michael Breeden, in 2008.
She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Tuckahoe Woman's Club and the Commonwealth Chapter NSDAR. Her lifelong hobby was meeting with her friends in "The Sewing Circle."
She is survived by a son, Robert N. Toms and wife Vickie; daughters, Mary Anna Broadbent and husband Peter E. Broadbent Jr. and Nancy T. Breeden, all of Richmond. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Peter E. Broadbent III and wife Jane, Christopher T. Broadbent and wife Elizabeth, Elizabeth T. Broadbent Cruickshanks and husband Allan, Blair Breeden Burnett and husband Edward L. Burnett Jr., Eric M. Breeden and wife Sarah, Turner C. Breeden, Robert N. Toms Jr., and Brandon M. Toms and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at the Central Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 3215 Cutshaw Avenue, Richmond, Va.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at First Presbyterian Church, 4602 Cary Street Road, Richmond, followed by interment in Hollywood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Collegiate School, North Mooreland Road, Richmond, Va. 23229 or The Massey Cancer Center.