Rachel Elizabeth Carter Long, loving and gregarious mother, wife, sister, friend, healer, teacher, student, and indomitable spirit, 60, of Charles City County, crossed over peacefully on April 18, 2025.
Born in Fort Lee VA, Rachel grew up in Charles City. After attending West End Christian and Bollingbrook Schools (1983 grad), and Richard Bland College, Rachel earned a degree in Occupational Therapy from MCV (1989), diploma from Sarasota School of Massage Therapy (1991), Doctor of Oriental Medicine from Florida School of Acupuncture and O.M. in Gainesville (1997), and Certified Traditional Naturopath (2020), among other certifications.
While living in Summerfield FL, friends wanted to set up a blind date between Rachel and Don Long, but Rachel did not want a surprise introduction. A spontaneous first call by Rachel was expected to be short…but 45 minutes later they were still talking. Two days later on their first date, after several hours they closed down both Kotobuki Japanese Restaurant and the café at Books-A-Million in Ocala FL.
Two years later, on November 28, 1998, they were married at Westover Church in Charles City. In 2003 they were overjoyed with the birth of their daughter Emily.
Rachel enjoyed a lifetime of learning, teaching, sharing, and healing…praying for anyone at any time; delighting in the opportunity to home-school Emily; and treating and sharing journeys of lifelong health and wellness with innumerable friends, family, and clients; and actively supporting her local culture and community including the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Nansemond Indian Nation, Westover Episcopal Church, and The Heights Baptist Church.
Throughout her life, God played a huge part in everything she did, allowing God through Jesus Christ to guide and direct her path. There were times that she explored spiritual alternatives, most notably Tibetan Buddhism. In the end, Jesus drew her back, showing her that he is the only way to spend eternity in Heaven. When she would meet someone, she would very often ask about their needs and pray with them on the spot. This happened thousands of times. On her healing journey, she always prayed for her clients, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the treatment plan for each one. She was glad to have a need to accommodate new clients, since her treatments were so effective as previous problems were resolved.
Her joie de vivre was evident in a variety of hobbies and a spontaneous and enthusiastic approach. She enjoyed a variety of arts and crafts including spinning, weaving, and quilting; horticulture; history; science fiction; music; camping, and traveling.
Travels included a “lightly-planned” cavort-about in Europe with cousin Harriet Carter in 1983, a work-study summer in San Francisco, LOTS of camping and excursions throughout the southeast with family and friends, and exploring the town of Bad Aibling while receiving medical treatment in Germany last fall.
Rachel was preceded in death by her father Shirley Carter, mother Nancy, and brother Harrison.
She is survived by her husband Don, daughter Emily, sister Jane, and brothers Jimmy and Chip.
Visitation will be held 6-8 PM on Monday, May 5, at Vincent Funeral Home, 9923 Pocahontas Trail, Providence Forge, VA, 23140. Funeral service will be at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 6, at Westover Episcopal Church, 6401 John Tyler Memorial Hwy, Charles City, VA, 23030…with conversation, memories, and refreshments afterward at the Parish House.
