Wilda May Zimmerman

Wilda May Brown Zimmerman, 87, of Concord, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2022, in Richmond, VA. She was the wife of the late Elwyn Adelbert “Zymo” Zimmerman, Jr.
Born in Harper Heights, WV on October 23,1934 she was one of the twin daughters of the late Ruby Pearl Cleo Smith and Samuel G. Brown. She was also the proud daughter-in-law of the late Lona P. and E. A. Zimmerman, Sr.
She was a member of Liberty Baptist, and previously of Central Baptist Church and also of Fairview Christian Church (D.O.C.), Lynchburg.
May is survived by her two daughters, Jo Anne Z. Szczurak and husband, Stephen of Thornton, Illinois and Judy Lynn Z. Gallagher and husband, Joseph of Henrico, Virginia; her son, James Elwyn Zimmerman of Richmond, Virginia (late wife Judy Busick Zimmerman); her grandchildren, Elisabeth Szczurak, David Szczurak, E. Duane Zimmerman (Katherine Thomas), Claire Gallagher Moore (Andrew), Zachary Zimmerman; her great-grandchildren, Simon Alexander Zimmerman, and Carolyn Ann Moore.
May’s surviving siblings include her sisters Charlotte B. Poole (late husband Ralph) of Beckley, WV, and Vivian B. Rubin (late husband James) of Corpus Christi, TX; two brothers, William “Bill” Brown (wife, Connie) of Beckley, WV, and James “Jim” Brown (wife, Margie) of Little Rock, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by sisters and sister-in-law’s Anna Lee B. Bailey (Woodrow), Ruth B. Bryant Lilly (Harry), Mary Alice “Tabby” B. Bonds (Charles), twin Wanda Gay B. Lively (Frank), Betty Z. Poe (Watzel), and Dolly Z. Rose (H.L.). Also preceded by brothers Lawrence (Gloria), Gilmore “Bob-o” (Jean), and Robert “Jack”son (Carol).
She was blessed with a host of wonderful, loving nieces and nephews that she loved and enjoyed.
In 1952, at age 17, May, a newly graduated Woodrow Wilson H.S. student and bride of Zymo, moved to Chicago. There she raised three children and made sure that the Lord was a part of her family’s daily life. Chicago gave her the opportunity to learn to enjoy new foods and cultures, bingo, and the thrill of Cubs baseball and Bulls basketball games whenever she got a chance. She also loved jigsaw & crossword puzzles, reading, travel, Jeopardy, rummy, the Phil Donahue Show and I Love Lucy. In 1974, she moved next door to her twin, Wanda Gay in Appomattox County, VA, Rt. 604 and then added ACC basketball to her favorites list. Her life was chiefly comprised of her many family member’s activities and church related groups. Her love of Country/Gospel music and harmonizing with her siblings made joining church choir groups like the Day Spring Singers fun and inspirational. She also enjoyed her time with the Concord Happy Hearts and the County Line Homemakers Extension Club which gave her fun with local friends and neighbors and hobbies of quilting, crocheting, canning, and traveling on bus trips. She spent many a day working with children at Sunday School and Fairview Church’s Day Camp. She also loved her time with the Good Years group and meeting at Wendy’s for a “Frosty” with her Liberty friends. She wasn’t all play though as she relished being a faithful and hardworking employee whether it was at the greeting card store in IL, or at Pope’s in Appomattox, or even assisting in work at her friend’s tobacco farm nearby.
We can’t thank her many friends, church and otherwise, for years of bringing her good Christian company and conversation, and all those vegetables through the years! What joy you added to her life. We’d also like to thank the staff at Morningside West End in Richmond for the love they showed her.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to the Fairview Christian Church Men’s Fellowship (Youth Camp), the Alzheimer’s Association, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Her Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, July 29, 2022, at Robinson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Liberty Church Cemetery.
A family visitation will take place at 1 p.m. and then family will receive friends at 1:30.

Donations/Memorials to:

1- Mail to: Fairview Christian Church
Men's Fellowship
2701 Campbell Ave.
Lynchburg VA 24501
Checks to: Fairview Christian Men's Fellowship
(Memo: Church Camp/ May Zimmerman)

2- Mail to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Checks to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
(Memo: Memorial/ Wilda May Zimmerman)
Donation online: St.Jude.org
Call: 1-800-276-8340

3- Checks to: Alzheimer's Association of Richmond
Mail to:
Alzheimer's Association Greater Richmond Chapter
4600 Cox Road #130,
Glen Allen, VA 23060
(Memo: In Memory: Wilda May Zimmerman)