Mrs. Edna (Hazel) Crabbe of Montross celebrated her 94th birthday with a joyful gathering at the Riverboat on the Potomac in Colonial Beach. Surrounded by family, friends, and community leaders, the event reflected the deep impact she has made throughout Westmoreland County and the Northern Neck.

Classmates from her A.T. Johnson High School Class of 1948 attended, along with other A.T. Johnson High School graduates including Mrs. Myrtle H. Smith from the Class of

1947. Mr. Milton Hazard, longtime family friend and son of the school’s first principal, offered a touching tribute to Mrs. Crabbe’s legacy.

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Smith, a Westmoreland native and recently appointed Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia, stopped in to honor her. Also in attendance was Dr. Lois Harrison Jones Fears, originally from Sandy Point in Westmoreland and former superintendent of Boston and Dallas public schools, was the first female appointed Superintendent in Virginia and the first female Superintendent of Richmond city public schools, where a school now bears her name.

Pastors and ministers from across the region joined the celebration, including members of Zion Baptist Church, where Mrs. Crabbe is fondly remembered for her many signature hats. Representatives from the Westmoreland County School System, the Virginia Baptist General Convention, the Northern Neck Baptist Association, the Order of the Eastern Star, the NAACP, and the American Cancer Society (where she introduced the ACS Relay to the Northern Neck), and other civic organizations, also attended in recognition of her decades of service.

Mrs. Crabbe taught in Westmoreland County for 39 years, earning “Teacher of the Year” at Cople School, and continued serving students for five additional years as a long term substitute.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to all who helped make the celebration such a memorable occasion. A special expression of gratitude goes to Mrs. Crabbe’s sons, Michael and Markham Smith, who lovingly hosted the event.

May God’s richest blessings continue to flow in the lives of each of you.