Clara Belle LeGrand Weatherman died at home on May 4 in Bethesda, Md., at the age of 92.

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Clara Belle LeGrand Weatherman died at home on May 4 in Bethesda, Md., at the age of 92.

 

Born July 5, 1929, to John Phillips LeGrand and Elizabeth Johnson LeGrand, she grew up in Mocksville, N.C. In addition to her parents, Clara Belle was preceded in death by her first husband, Romulus T. Weatherman; her second husband, Robert T. Barnard; her brother, John Phillips LeGrand Jr.; and two poodles, Poco and Lucy.

 

Clara Belle received her bachelor’s degree in 1951 from Salem College, in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she was editor of the Salemite. Upon graduation she began her professional journalism career at the Winston-Salem Journal and Twin City Sentinel. From 1971 until her retirement in 2001, she was copy editor at The News-Gazette. She was a resident of Kendal At Lexington for 10 years, until she moved to Washington, D.C., in 2019.

 

Clara Belle had many interests and talents. She was an excellent cook, with a passion for hosting dinner parties for her friends, often using ingredients grown in her garden. She was also an expert bridge player, and loved playing with friends and occasionally traveled to compete in duplicate tournaments.

 

She was an avid reader of British literature, contemporary fiction, murder mysteries and cookbooks. She read the New York Times cover-to-cover daily, with a focus on global and national politics, film and book reviews, and the latest recipes.

 

She was a passionate member of the Democratic Party, and twice served as a delegate to the Virginia Democratic Convention. She was also a life-long advocate for women’s rights.

 

She was a long and faithful member of Grace Episcopal Church where she served on the vestry. She also generously volunteered her time at numerous local charities including the Rockbridge Area Relief Association.

 

She loved world travel; she took trips with her second husband to England, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, Mexico and Canada. Her happy place was Pawley’s Island, S.C.

 

Surviving are two daughters, Bess Weatherman of Gulf Stream, Fla., and Kate Weatherman of Bethesda, Md.; a son, John Weatherman of Atlanta, Ga.; and three grandchildren, Graciela Watrous of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Audrey Tyler and Julian Watrous of New York, N.Y.; and her dog, Winston.

 

A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, followed by a reception.

 

Donations in Clara Belle’s memory may be given to the Rockbridge Area Relief Association, 350

Spotswood Drive, Lexington, VA
, or Grace Episcopal Church,
123 West Washington Street, Lexington, VA­.

 

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(540) 463-3113

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