Barbara Petersen, affectionately known as “Great” by her family and “Barbara or BSP10” by friends, passed away peacefully in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the age of 95 after a full and blessed life.
She was born July 29, 1929 in Front Royal, Virginia, to Anna and Joseph Clifton Smith. She graduated from Warren County High School in 1947.
As a young woman coming of age in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1930’s, she did not have the opportunity to attend university. This lifelong regret inspired her aspirations for educating her family, which resulted in ten Norfolk Academy graduates, as well as graduates of numerous outstanding colleges and universities. She was enormously proud of these achievements. Her own natural leadership flourished during her several decades as an executive of Coley & Petersen, Inc., a successful general and mechanical contracting company in Norfolk, Virginia.
Barbara was a member for many years of Colonial Avenue Methodist Church, and later McKendree United Methodist Church, both in Norfolk, and was active on behalf of many civic and charitable causes. Among these, she served as Treasurer of the Elizbeth River Women’s Club, and she cherished her work with the Margaret Roper Moss Circle of the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. Barbara was a proud Norfolk Academy parent and grandparent, and was also a longtime member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club where she enjoyed a good game of mahjong.
After 34 years of marriage, she was predeceased in July, 1998 by her husband, Christian Charles Petersen, and she did not remarry. She was also preceded in death by former-husband, Charles Dee Griffith, whom she met in high school and with whom she moved to Norfolk in 1950 for service in the Navy. She was predeceased as well by the late Mark Bridger Warlick, her son-in-law, of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Her children and their spouses, who survive her, are Rhonda Griffith Durham and her husband, Lynn, Jr., of Midland, TX; Charles Dee Griffith, Jr. and his wife, Margie, of Alexandria, VA; Reilly Petersen Warlick; and Kristen Petersen Randolph and her husband, Ran, all of Virginia Beach, VA. She was also blessed with eleven grandchildren and six (so far) of their wonderful spouses, who she generously encouraged and supported, and of whom she was most proud: Trevor Durham of Salt Lake City, UT, Caitlin Durham Cohen (Matthew) of Los Angeles, CA, Jonathan Durham (Alexis) of Miami, FL, Chuck Griffith III (Lauren) of Jacksonville, FL, Chris Ripley (Andrea) of Jacksonville, FL, Bridger Landen (Charlie) and Ranny Randolph (Kendall Finger, fiancée) of Dallas, TX, Windsor Warlick of Washington, D.C., Christian Randolph of New York City, and Peyton Randolph and Matthew Ripley (Kathryne) of Virginian Beach, VA. She was further graced with ten great-grandchildren: Cole and Dover Durham, Mordecai, Fredda Fae, and Marion Cohen, Ginny and Maggie Griffith, Barbara (Barr) Landen, and Matthew and Sarah Kathryne Ripley.
Great’s nickname was acquired when her first great grandchild, Cole Durham, was born, although her greatness had long been recognized by her family. Resilient in the face of adversity and a joyful celebrator of life’s blessings, Barbara was the heart of her family, often taking credit for starting the “organization.” Even in her final years, she remained the central figure in the daily iPhone message threads, sharing cherished memories, updates, jokes, and even daily horoscopes. Her legacy as the “Superglue” of the family bonds will endure, and her memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved her dearly. She also cherished her neighbors and the dedicated staff at her Virginia House residence on Atlantic Avenue.
During her last days and years, she was given dear friendship and compassionate care by Chip Fortier, John Chrisman, James Riley and friends at Chez Madeleine Salon, Betsy Looney, Bin Bin Mo, Holly England, Heather Drake, Beverly Sexton, Hattie Baker, Josephine Osberg, Annie Marie Morala, Victoria Nimer, Lacore Addison and Shenelle Care Team, and the nurses of Colonial Health and Rehab Center to whom the family is deeply grateful.
A private memorial service to celebrate “Greats” life will be held for the family, honoring her last wishes. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons, Trevor Durham, Jonathan Durham, Chuck Griffith III, Charles Landen, Ranny Randolph, Christian Randolph, and Peyton Randolph. Arrangements are under direction of Altmeyer Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, should friends desire, memorial contributions in Barbara’s honor may be made to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, 601 Children’s Lane, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, Norfolk Academy, 1585 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, Virginia 23502, or the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, VBVRS.org.
