Well-known Montgomery County resident’s estate to be auctioned off

Virginia Deal Lawrence. Courtesy of Kathy Smith

Have you ever given much thought to what will happen to all your “stuff” when you are no longer here?

For many, children or other family members will sort through belongings, and the treasures will become enigmas for the next generation.

But on Wednesday, the public will have a chance to find such treasures at the Virginia Deal Lawrence estate auction.
Lawrence was an institution in Montgomery County, where she lived for 103 years. She died this summer.
Lawrence’s career as a teacher began in 1931, and she retired in 1974.

For many years she lived with her sister, Mary Eileen Houston, and the two childless women had a warm and welcoming home.

The sisters were world travelers and liked to bring home souvenirs. Lawrence was also very interested in local history and her Riner community. This love of history manifested itself in a serious hobby of scrapbooking before it was a popular pastime. Her family was her church family at Auburn United Methodist Church, her Delta Kappa Gamma sorority sisters and her fellow retired school teachers.

She took great pride in her appearance. She loved hats and hoped they would return to being popular. She also had a nice collection of scarves and jewelry.

Both Lawrence and Houston loved to bake. Their specialty was dinner rolls, and each year for the Lord’s Acre sale, they turned out dozens of rolls, special cakes and cookies.

Consequently, the kitchen was well-equipped. Lawrence always said the kitchen was the heart of the home, and their kitchen reflected that.

Lawrence knew that all her lifetime possessions would have to be disposed of at some time, but she could not bring herself to go through them.

When Houston died, Lawrence left her things intact. There were just too many things that were so much a part of her life.

“I just want someone to be able to use them and hopefully enjoy them,” she told her friend Kathy Smith.

So Lawrence asked that there be an auction and the majority of the  proceeds go to her church.

The estate auction will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at 905 Oak Drive in Christiansburg.

For a list of items up for sale, visit www.linkousauctioneers.com.

–Submitted by Fran Tieleman

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