Henriette Schaeffer Compton McGee
Henriette Schaeffer Compton McGee, 93, of Martinsville, Va. passed away Friday, April 11, 2025. She was born in NeurKirchen, Germany October 24, 1931, to Wilhelm Schaeffer and Katharina Ackers Schaeaffer.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Melvin “Pete” Compton who passed away in 1975; her second husband, John McGee, who passed away in 2015; sisters, Crystal Fliecsher and Leezla Schaeffer.
Henriette grew up during the height of WWII and was raised by her aunt Anna. She won an Olympic medal for running in Germany in 1940, but the medal was destroyed when the war broke out by the Nazi Regime. She met and married Melvin “Pete” Compton in 1952. She immigrated to the United States in 1954 and received her citizenship in 1956.
She retired after working over 30 years at Tultex, where she was an extremely hard worker and well known for being very precise and devoted to her work.
Henriette was well known throughout Henry County for being an excellent seamstress who could sew anything. She was a very thrifty person who never wasted anything. She loved working in her flowers and cooking excellent German dishes. She also loved Octoberfest immensely.
She was a very good, hard praying mother who was of the Catholic faith most of her life. After marrying John McGee she attended a Baptist Church with him. She lived briefly in Mayodan and Pine Hall, N.C. but returned to Henry County after retiring.
She is survived by sons, Willy Compton (Martha) and Melvin “Groundhog” Compton (Shirley); daughter, Katy Dodson (Roy); grandchildren, Jason, Heidi, Jennifer and Christy; and 6 great grandchildren; stepchildren, Randy McGee (Missy), Mark McGee (Wanda) and Cindy McGee. She is also survived by a niece, 4 nephews and a cousin who live in Germany.
A private graveside service will be held at Roselawn Burial Park and will be officiated by Pastor Robby Benfield.
McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville, Va. is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com
