RICHMOND, April 27 – Freda Siler McCombs, 77, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at Sunrise Assisted Living, Richmond, after an extended fight with Alzheimer's disease.

She was originally from the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. She was born in Asheville and reared in the town of Franklin. Small in stature, but feisty by nature, Freda had a mind for science and learning. She graduated from St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines in Asheville, then Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC. Not one to settle, Freda continued her schooling to receive her Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina. She left her home state for a teaching position as a science professor at Longwood College in Farmville. She retired from Longwood in 1992 as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It was at Longwood that she met her future husband, James McCombs, a professor of voice and piano. Together they improved and furnished their beautiful home on Buffalo Street where they hosted elaborate Mardi Gras parties. There they also raised their three children: Amanda, Allen, and Thomas.

In addition to spending time with her family and friends, Freda enjoyed plants and flowers and had beautiful gardens at her home. She could sit on her screen porch for hours doing crossword puzzles or reading and watching the world go by. She was interested in history and genealogy – enjoying the research almost as much as the results. She loved visiting the beach and the mountains of her childhood. And Freda loved to laugh!

She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Thomas; son-in-law, Jon Thomas; son, Allen McCombs; daughter-in-law, Brandi McCombs; son, Thomas McCombs; daughter-in-law, Laura McCombs; grandchildren, Alexandra Thomas, James Thomas, Elizabeth McCombs, Maxwell McCombs, and Arthur McCombs; sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Robert Scott, and a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Theresa Siler, all of North Carolina. Freda was pre-ceded in death by her husband, James K. McCombs.

Services were held Tuesday (today) at Johns Memorial Episcopal Church, Farmville.

The family asks that donations be sent to the Robert Russa Moton Museum, 900 Griffin Blvd., Farmville, VA 23901.

Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home, Farmville, served the family.