HARRISONBURG, June 2 – Ella Lorraine Smith Chapman, 82, resident of White Birch Estates, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Chapman was born on June 23, 1926 in Nathalie, and was the daughter of the late William Berry and Ruby Hite Smith.

Mrs. Chapman graduated from Volens High School in 1943 as the Valedictorian of her class. Following her graduation she attended Longwood College. She was an elementary school teacher for Cumberland County prior to moving to Harrisonburg in 1959.

She was a member of Harrisonburg Baptist Church, and along with her husband, was a founder and charter member of the Virginia Avenue Baptist Mission, now known as West Side Baptist Church. During over 42 years of unconditional and loving service at West Side, she played piano, taught Bible school and Sunday school, chaired numerous committees, and was active with the Friendship Circle, and Young at Heart. Mrs. Chapman had also served as president of the Women's Missionary Union for the state of Virginia. She was a member of the Harrisonburg Garden Club, Suburban Friends, and was a volunteer with the RMH Ladies Auxiliary for many years. Lorraine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many.

On November 2, 1946, she married LeRoy Bagby Chapman who preceded her in death on May 23, 2004. She was also preceded in death by a brother, William Bradford Smith.

Mrs. Chapman is survived by a son, LeRoy “Lee” Bagby Chapman Jr. and wife, Sherri of Harrisonburg; daughter, Mary Louise Glick and husband, Randy of Dayton; two sisters, Wilma Smith West, and husband Tom of Nathalie, and Betty Smith Conner and husband, Roy, of Mint Spring; four grand-children, Amy Lorraine Chapman Breeden and husband, Jeffrey, William Mason Chapman and wife, Amy, Bethany “Jill” Glick Brashears and husband, Thomas, and Anna Glick Wilhelm and husband, Eric; two great-grandchildren, Casey Amos Breeden and Alanah Jonelle Brashears; a sister-in-law, Vivian Glass Smith of Nathalie; and a brother-in-law, Fred Bondurant Chapman of Wolftown.

A funeral service was held on Sunday, May 31, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, with the Revs. Charles Anderson, George Fletcher, and Dr. Jack Mercer officiating. The burial was held on Monday, June 1, at Westview Cemetery in Farmville at 12 pm. Friends may visit the home of Lee and Sherri Chapman at anytime.

Memorial contributions may be made to Harrisonburg Baptist Church, c/o the Music Program, 501 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801 or to the Bridgewater Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 285, Bridgewater, VA 22812.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.kygers.com