Geraldine Elizabeth Gerri (Petty) Burress, 75, wife of Nathaniel E. Burress of Pinehurst Road, passed away Thursday, November 7, 2013 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA.
Mrs. Burress was born October 29, 1938 in Philadelphia, PA, a daughter of the late John Thomas and Pearl Petty.
Mrs. Burress was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and was previously employed as a waitress with Strawbridge \u0026 Clothier in Philadelphia and Willow Grove for a number of years. Mrs. Burress was a talented and excellent seamstress and quilt maker. She taught quilting at the Staunton Library and Montgomery Hall Park. She entered her quilts in the Augusta County Fair and had won numerous first place ribbons and prizes. Gerri was a founding member of the Philadelphia Quilters of the Round Table and several other Quilting Guilds and groups.
In addition to her husband of nineteen years, Mrs. Burress is survived by two sons, Gregory Crumby and Martin Taylor both of Philadelphia, PA; two step-sons, Nathaniel Burress, II of Philadelphia, PA and William Burress and wife Tammy of Knoxville, TN; two daughters, Teresa Crumby of Philadelphia and Antoinette Hamlett of Douglassville, PA; a step-daughter, Cynthia Easterling of Staunton; a brother, Ralph Thomas of Monticello, NY; three grandchildren, Nikia Crumby, Antoinette Patterson and husband Kevin and Raven Taylor; three step-grandchildren, Stafford Easterling, Darryl Easterling and Priscilla Easterling; and four great-grandchildren, also survive. Mrs. Burress is also survived by special friends, Josephine Countley of Philadelphia and Deborah Richardson of Staunton.
A Memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Staunton VA.
It is suggested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of her arrangements.