Hattye Newman Stanley, known as “Lou”, passed away on July 1, 2017. She was a Farmville Native and was born to the late George and Hattye Cummins Newman on May 21, 1929. Lou was a 1947 graduate of Farmville High School. She attended Richmond Professional Institute, now VCU and studied commercial art. While at RPI, she met her husband, Travis Stanley. Early in her career, Lou was a window dresser at Miller and Rhodes department store in Richmond. After getting married and having children, Lou and her husband bought the second house built in “The Greens” of Farmville in 1959 where they lived the rest of their lives. As an artist, she painted numerous portraits of local residents. When their children entered school, Lou returned to work as an art teacher at Prince Edward Academy. Several years later, Lou and her husband opened the clothing store, “Travis” in downtown Farmville and she helped run the store for over 30 years where she was known to have a keen eye for colors and style. Lou liked their annual buying trips to New York City which allowed them to see Broadway shows. Both Lou and her husband acted in local theater productions and were ballroom dancers. For many years, Lou was also active in the Farmville Women’s Club, often coordinating the annual art contest.

Always competitive, Lou was known for her athletic ability. Throughout the first half of her life, she spent summers at Crystal Lake and was an avid swimmer, diver, skier and lifeguard. Other sports she played were softball, basketball, golf and tennis. She always enjoyed watching sports, especially tennis on television.

As a lifelong member of the Farmville United Methodist Church, Lou was a dedicated member of the choir for over 60 years. She also sang in the Commonwealth Chorale for many years.

Lou is survived by her son, Jeff Stanley of Burkeville; daughter, Brenda Stanley of Richmond, son, Rob Stanley (Claudia) of Farmville; grandsons, Mark and Clayton Stanley of Farmville; two sisters, Barbara O’Shields of Lexington, and Alice Murphey of Nellysford.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Travis, her brother George Newman Jr. and her sister Kathryn Bageant Trudell.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Farmville United Methodist Church Music Fund, 212 High St, Farmville, Virginia, 23901, phone number 434-392-4686, farmvilleumc.org.

Family will receive friends from 5–7 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017 at Shorter Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 8 at 2 p.m. at the Farmville United Methodist Church with interment to follow at Westview Cemetery. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Shorter Funeral Home is serving the family.