RICE, Dec. 16 – Beverly Calvin Bass, 93, died Wednesday, December 10, 2003.

Published 1:26 pm Tuesday, July 27, 2010

He was born July 24, 1910, and died in his home where he was born in Rice, Prince Edward County, VA.

Educated in Prince Edward county schools, he traveled to Maryville, Tennessee in 1928 to attend Maryville College, then earned a Masters Degree in Science from the University of Tennessee. He remained there to teach, coach, and become the assistant principal of Alcoa High School. He married Beatrice Dreher on December 22, 1931. He was ordained as an elder at age 25 at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville.

In 1942 Calvin, Bee, and two daughters returned to manage the family farm in Rice. He was a lifetime member of Jamestown Presbyterian Church serving as elder, adult Sunday school teacher, and trustee. He held various Presbytery committees Including moderator, and was a representative to the Presbyterian Synod and General Assembly. At age 81, he participated in Presbytery's mission trip to Haiti.

Bass taught at Farmvllle High School until joining the faculty at Hampden-Sydney College in 1944 lecturing In physics and chemistry, then remaining in the chemistry department regularly from 1960 until his retirement in 1976. At that time he was recipient of the coveted Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion for community service. In 1998 he was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Hampden-Sydney College. He was appointed to the Longwood College Board of Visitors for two and a half terms. He was inducted into Longwood's prestigious Joan of Ark Society In 1997. Also by governor's appointment he served on the state committee which originated the Virginia system of Community Colleges and served as a board member at Southside Virginia Community College for a number of years. He was chairman of the Prince Edward County School board during the Brown vs Board of Education hearings and decision.

Bass owned and managed a Guernsey dairy farm and worked closely with the Prince Edward Extension Services. He was a member of the Virginia Guernsey Breeder's Association and the Virginia Cattleman Association often receiving dairy herd improvement and production awards. For many years he served on the Board of the Five County Fair and enjoyed raising and showing bantam chickens.

He worked actively as chairman of the local Bicentennial Committee and chairman of the Worsham Court House Preservation Committee. He was a member of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia's Antiquities and devoted to tracing family genealogy. Inspiring many others to follow suit.

In his elder years he returned to a life long Interest in woodworking, making furniture and household Items that expressed his love of walnut. He was an avid deer hunter and member of the Square Hunt Club.

Bass was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Beatrice Dreher Bass; parents, May Morton Bass and Beverly Gates Bass; sisters, Anna May B. Garnett, Nina B. Hitt and Marjorie B. Chambers.

He is survived by daughters, Elinor Hopklns and husband, Jim of Lynchburg; Virginia Eaddy and husband, John of Knoxville, TN; Martha Bishop and husband. Skip of Floyd;

Beverly Hines and husband, John of Rice; 12 grandchildren;

15 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert G. Bass and wife, Judy of Richmond and sister, Dorothy B. Alexandra of High Point, NC.

Interment was in the Bass Family Plot at Pisgah Baptist Church In Rice on December 13. A memorial service followed at Jamestown Presbyterian Church. The Reverends Arthur Stevens, William L. Wilson, Jim Pfeiffer, Linda Rainey participated in the service. Music was provided by John Eaddy, Emily Prince and the Somers Family. A reception was given by the members of the Jamestown Presbyterian Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Jamestown Presbyterian Church, 1021 Gully Tavern Road, Rice, VA 23966 or Hospice of Central Virginia at Farmvllle, 202 Dark Street, Farmvllle, VA 23901.