OBITUARIES Tabitha Dawn Abrams Tabitha Dawn Abrams, 41, of Pasadena, Md., died on Feb. 21. Tabitha devoted her life to her many passions, including children, animals, journalism and faith. The ability to communicate with others was her greatest talent. She was a news anchor on Washington Metro radio for WTOP and WFLS in Virginia, as well as a newspaper reporter and editor at The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, the Caroline Progress and the Annapolis Capital. After her diagnosis with cancer, she became a tireless advocate. She won a Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications in 2002 for her reporting on the issue.
Carol Capó Carol Capó, 66, of Hampton, died Thursday, Jan. 29. She was executive director of the Newport News Public Art Foundation and former Opinion Editor at the Daily Press. She spent 10 years on the Editorial Board at the Daily Press.
Roy Donald “Don” Jones Roy Donald “Don” Jones, 80 died at his home on Jan. 14. Donald worked for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Media General for 45 years. He began his career as the creative art director at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and later, as a corporate communications executive at Media General.
Roger Howland Clapp Roger Howland Clapp 86, a resident of Bay Forest in Naples, Fla. since 1993, died Feb. 2. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving aboard the USS Hamul (AD-20) and the USS Henderson (DD-785) operating in the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. A member of the Class of 1950, he graduated from Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. Following graduation, he served as a Vice President at Benton & Bowles, Inc. and Rumrill-Hoyt, Inc. advertising agencies in New York City. He concluded his career as Vice President and Advertising Director of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Horton Penrose Beirne Horton Penrose Beirne, 67, of Covington, passed away Jan. 10, after a long battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, surrounded by his loving family. At the age of nine, Horton started his lifelong career in the newspaper industry. His first position was delivering the daily news in Covington on a foot route for six years. While in high school, he worked in the newsroom of the newspaper. After college, he returned to the area as production manager in 1972. He was named editor of the Covington Virginian in 1974. He was named publisher of the Virginian Review in 1992 following the death of his father Richard F. Beirne III. He was the fourth generation of the Beirne family to serve in Virginia newspapers and the third generation at the Covington newspaper.
Jon Reed Donnelly Jon Reed Donnelly, 72, of Chesterfield, passed away Jan. 5. He was a 1966 graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University. He worked at the Richmond News Leader for 25 years serving as copy editor, reporter, assistant business editor, photo editor, state editor and associate city editor. From 1966 to 1986, he wrote a weekly aviation column called “Flight Lines.”
Baylies Brewster Baylies Brewster, 79, of Norfolk, passed away Feb. 1. She attended Hollins College in Roanoke, where she later worked as Dean of Students, serving as a role model and mentor to countless young women for 15 years. After earning her MBA from Simmons College, she worked for Style Weekly in Richmond and The Virginian Pilot in Norfolk. Baylies retired in 2005.
Roy Thomas Stephenson Roy Thomas Stephenson, 84, of Staunton, passed away Nov. 24, 2014. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and a veteran of the United States Air Force. He retired as managing editor of the Staunton News Leader. He served as vice mayor of Staunton and served a term on the City Council.
Celebrating 150 Years. First published in 1865, The Virginian-Pilot has amassed a proud legacy of exemplary reporting and service to the local community. Over the years its names and owners changed from time to time. But whatever the name, the connection between the paper and its audience has long been clear.
Proud of its legacy as the public record and the public voice of Hampton Roads for 150 years. The Virginian-Pilot, proud of our history, focused on the future.
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Virginia’s Press • Spring 2015
Having never missed a day of reporting in 150 years The Virginian-Pilot continues to inform, inspire and improve the communities it serves.
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