Lucy Bendall

Lucy Charles Jones Bendall, 94, of Benbrook Farm in the Purley Community of Caswell County, North Carolina, passed away peacefully after two comfortable years in assisted living at Commonwealth Stratford House of Danville. She was admired by her fellow residents there for her positive outlook on life and her exercise walks of the halls and grounds of what was her former workplace, Stratford College. “She was a bright light here,” said fellow resident Susan Dibrell, “one of a kind.” Born in Martinsville, Virginia in 1924, to parents, Lucy Charles Jones and James Marion Jones, her family endured the hardships of The Great Depression in Chatham, Virginia. The generosity of the Pannill Knitting Mill family provided her financial assistance to attend Chatham Hall and Sweet Briar College. After graduation with a degree in education and the French language, she attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City to study International Relations. A career in diplomacy was sacrificed to start a family with husband, Robert Paschal “Bugs” Bendall Jr. who predeceased her in 1996 after lifelong service as pharmacist at Bendall’s Drug Store, Craghead Street, Danville. After raising three sons, “Cholly” as she was known by her many friends, taught French at Stratford College, Sacred Heart of Danville, Piedmont Academy of Providence NC, Sutherlin Academy of Danville and adult basic education at Piedmont Community College in Yanceyville. She was hired by Stratford College to manage the college bookstore, and after the local women’s college closed its doors, she continued employment at Danville Travel Service, Piedmont Triad Visitor Center and as initial Director of Meals on Wheels of The Caswell Parish of Yanceyville. She volunteered her services at numerous local non-profit organizations while being active in her beloved church, the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany of Danville. Also affectionately known as “Chacha,” she was predeceased by her brother and sister, Jim Jones of Chatham and Susan Zeller of Wilmington, Delaware. She is survived by her firstborn son, Robert Paschal Bendall III and wife Susan Landon of Santa Monica, California, her children Clayton, Thomas, and Charlotte Landon and her grandchildren Andrew, Bradley, Olivia, and Anand Landon, Robert’s son Sam Bendall and wife Andrienne Bendall of Los Angeles, California; her middle son Gordon Pannill Bendall of Benbrook Farm and lifelong partner Pamela Jean Jones Manning of Blairs and Gordon’s son, Loudon Bendall and daughter Hattie Bendall of Seattle, Washington; third son Charles Hunter Bendall and wife, Cathy Bendall of Richmond and their son Hunter Bendall Jr , wife Ariel Bendall of Millersville, Maryland, and Hunter’s daughter Sara Bendall Gray and her husband Banks Gray of Virginia Beach. Great-grandchildren include Hunter Bendall III, Harbour Bendall and Lilly Gray. Nieces and nephews include Lex Bendall and his wife Piadad Bendall of Martinsville and their son and daughter, William Bendall and Jacklyn Bendall; Rick Bendall and his wife Maureen Bendall of Lynchburg, Virginia, Katy Zeller Ford and husband Tom Ford and Stuart Zeller and wife Nancy Zeller of Wilmington, Delaware. A memorial service will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville on Jefferson Street on Saturday, September 22 at 11am.