In Memoriam
Isle of Wight County Schools considers all current and past employees as part of our family. We celebrate them when they are with us, and when they retire. We also know many members of the community would like to join in celebrating them when they are no longer with us. To that end, IWCS has created a page where anyone can share information on the passing of a former employee. The information will be posted below. To submit information, use the online In Memoriam form. Thank you.
- Gloria Montgomery: Gloria Allmond Montgomery, 73, passed away on September 6, 2024, at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Gloria attended Westside High School in Smithfield, Virginia. She was an outstanding basketball player for the girls’ basketball team, winning All-District Honors. She graduated in 1969. She began her lifelong mission to educate students at Cypress and Whaleyville Elementary Schools. After teaching at these schools, she began to teach at L. P. Jackson Middle School, in Surry, Virginia in the mid 1980’s. After taking a brief sabbatical from teaching, Gloria resumed her career at Westside Middle School. She then taught at Smithfield Middle School, where she would serve for nearly thirty years. She retired in 2016.
- Carolyn Darden: Carolyn English Darden, 83, passed away March 21, 2024 in her home with her family by her side. Born on March 17, 1941 in Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late William Henry English and Goldie Stephenson English. Carolyn was a graduate of Windsor High School and a retired school bus driver for Carrsville Elementary School. She was employed by IWCS from 1977 until 2003 when she retired.
- Verna Jones: Verna McClenny Jones passed away February 8, 2024. She was the daughter of the late Jean and Fate McClenny of Carrsville, VA. She is also predeceased by her brother, Mac McClenny, and son-in-law, Tracy Carr. Verna taught at Carrsville Elementary School and Windsor Elementary School. In 2000, she moved to Central Office to oversee Testing and Assessment for the division. She retired from IWCS in 2009.
- Joyce Delk: On January 19, 2024, Joyce Lavern Delk passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loved ones. Joyce was born on January 31, 1952, in Surry, Virginia, to the late Bernard “Dick” and Pattie Mae (Sally) King. She was one of nine children. Joyce served as a school bus driver for over 30 years for Isle of Wight County Schools. She transported as many as three generations of families to and from school safely. She was well-respected in the community and cherished by all her students and colleagues.
- Susan Mingee: Susan Catherine Mingee passed away at Sentara Careplex Hospital on November 11, 2023. In 1979, she began teaching for the Isle of Wight County School System at Hardy Elementary School as a Title One Reading Intervention teacher. During her tenure at Hardy Elementary, Miss Mingee received many awards and certificates of accomplishments and served as President of the Isle of Wight Reading Council for many years. Although there were many rewarding achievements, she was most proud to be voted "Teacher of the Year" at Hardy Elementary in 2009. She retired on June 14, 2011.
- Elisabeth Fuller: Elisabeth “Liz” Hildebrand Fuller, 75, went into the arms of the Lord on November 30, 2023. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, daughters Anne Fuller Fike and Eresbet Ashley Spain, sons-in-law Matthew Fike and James Spain, 3 grandchildren, Christopher, Lana and Tora, cousins Bob and Anne Gilliland, mother-in-law Effie Fuller, sister and brother-in law Sherry and Matt Johnson, and nieces and nephews. Liz was a longtime member of Colosse Baptist Church, as well as a member of the Woman’s Club of Windsor. She was also a dedicated champion of education, working both in the Baltimore, MD and Isle of Wight Co, VA school systems during her lifetime.