Hazel Virginia Ragland Miles, 97, of Buckingham, died peacefully January 25, 2018 at Heritage Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dillwyn.

She was preceded in death by her father, William McKinley “Sam” Ragland, her mother, Judy Staton Ragland, her husband of 61 years, Laurens Lee “Dick” Miles and her second husband, Wilber “Doc” Wood and her siblings, Marvin Lee Ragland, Irene Greenspan, Mabel Miles, Thomas Ragland, Frank Ragland and Sam Ragland Jr.

She leaves behind her four children, Laurens Lee “Renny” Miles Jr. (wife Penney) of Daytona Beach, Florida, Sue Ann Miles of Buckingham Court House, Thomas Jordan Miles II (wife Lindlee) of Albemarle County, and Francis Thornton Miles of Glenmore.

After working for Western Electric Phone Company in Washington, D.C. while her husband served in World War II, Hazel and her husband returned to Buckingham County where, in 1948, they built L. L. Miles General Merchandise and ran the business for 48 years. Their store was the center of a thriving community for many years.

Retiring in 1987, Hazel spent most of her retirement with her grandchildren (Miles Taylor Quillen, Julie Ann Quillen, Thomas Jordan Miles III, Jacob Lee Miles, Seth Suddreth Miles, and her step-granddaughter, Allison Farrish), gardening, fishing, visiting with friends and neighbors, taking rides down the road, and travelling to Florida. 

Hazel and Dick donated land to establish the Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department. She served on the Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary for many years and was a longtime member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, where she served as a Junior Warden.

Hazel, who was the founder of the Buckingham Senior Citizens program, which met at Emmanuel Episcopal Church initially and Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, was known for her infectious sense of humor, her incredible fried chicken, homemade biscuits and her amazing cakes, pies, and cobblers, her Southern hospitality to Buckingham natives and newcomers alike, and for her kindness and generosity to people in the area who were less fortunate than she.

She was truly a country woman who had a one- of-a-kind personality. She touched the lives of many people and was an icon in the community of Glenmore, well loved and well respected. She will be missed by all.

A celebration of her life will take place at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at Glenmore on Saturday, February 24, at 2 p.m. A fellowship will follow in Withers Hall at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to either the Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department, C/O Scott Dorrier, Treasurer, 1029 White Rock Road, Scottsville, VA 24590, or to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, C/O Rita Everly, Treasurer, 7825 Howardsville Road, Buckingham, VA 23921.

Burial will be private.