Martha Chandler Raymond Bruning

Martha Chandler Raymond Bruning, passed away October 31, 2022, at the age of 90, at her home in Chatham, VA, after a valiant 15-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born in Cambridge, MA, on February 3, 1932, to the late Fairfield Eager Raymond and the late Fanny Bemis Chandler Raymond. She married Theodore E. Bruning, Jr. on June 27, 1953.

Marty attended Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Winsor School (1950) in Boston, Vassar College (1954) in Poughkeepsie, NY, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Library Sciences (1982).

Marty and Ted lived in several communities during their marriage and Marty had a positive impact on each of them. They began their married life in New York City, then moved onto Knoxville, TN, Chatham, VA, Waynesboro, VA, Midland, TX, and then returned to Chatham, VA, where she and Ted resumed their significant roles in the local community. During many years on the Chatham Hall staff, where Ted served on the faculty, she supported student volunteer programs and worked in the school library.

She was an attentive and caring mother to her three children, even serving as Cub Scout Den Leader. She loved gardening and was a terrific seamstress, cook and canner. Marty was quite an athletic, playing soccer with the Chatham Hall girls into her 30’s, playing tennis for many years, and taking water aerobics classes at Hargrave until she was promoted to class instructor. She also could be seen walking the streets of Chatham at breakneck pace, until she could not remember how to get home.

Marty was a member and a Deacon of Chatham Presbyterian Church. She was also a long-time member of the Chatham Rotary Club. She was a past chairwoman of the Pittsylvania County Beautification Committee, was active for many years in Garden Clubs in various towns, even opening her beautiful home on Reid Street in Chatham for Garden Week 2005. Upon retirement, she completed the Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Program.

She started her library career at Chatham Hall, later joining the staff at the Chatham Library, and after receiving her master’s degree in library science, became the director of the Pittsylvania County Library System, overseeing the construction of new libraries in Gretna and Brosville. She is survived by her husband, Ted Jr., her children, Ted III (Mary), Nathaniel (Linda), Alice (David), grandchildren, Anna Lewis (Mark), Marlee Bruning (fiancé Gus), Ben Ely, greatgrandchild, Phoebe Lewis, and her sister Fay.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 6th, at 2:30 pm, at Chatham Presbyterian Church.

Norris Funeral Services, Chatham Chapel is assisting the Bruning family.