Lucy Boyd (Hutter) Ragland (abt. 1875 - 1966)

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Rush Ragland — married 3 Apr 1903 in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lynchburg, VA

Descendants

Died 3 Apr 1966 at about age 90 in Pine Lodge Nursing Home, Beckley, Raleigh Co., WV

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Biography

Granny Ragland The newspaper clipping of their wedding includes the names of the following (most likely bridesmaids / attendants): Miss Mary Chastain, Miss Elizabeth Lewis, Miss Nina Armistead, Miss Mazie Hutter, Miss Norvie Craighill, Miss Ruby Hamner, Miss Fannie Cheatwood, and Miss Evelyn Early, of Lynchburg. Six ushers were named: Messrs, George Lancaster, G.O. Howard, and Forest Scales, of Holcombe Rock, and C.S. Hutter, D.A. Payne, and Dexter Otey, of Lynchburg. Eight groomsmen: Messrs, E.R. Hutter, R.T. Watts, Samuel Adams, R.C. Blackford, Keene Langhorne, and Henry Johnson of Lynchburg, Robert Rose of New York, and Colonel Joseph Button, of Richmond. Also mentioned were Miss Mary Christian, followed by two maids of honor: Miss Edna Hutter, sister of the bride, and Miss Florence Langhorne, of Campbell County. Then the bride came down the aisle on the arm of her father. The best man is listed as Mr. Marion Scales of New York.

After the ceremony, the wedding party went to the home of the bride on Daniel's Hill, where a bridal breakfast was served. The bridesmaids formed a circle around the bride, in the pretty German fashion, waiting to catch the flower from the bridal bouquet. At 4 pm, Mr. & Mrs. Ragland boarded the west-bound Chesapeake and Ohio train for their future home in Kanawha. Out of town guests were listed: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Langhorne of Evington, Mr. and Mrs. Morehead of New York, Mrs. G.O. Sewardand Mrs. Forest Scales of Holcomb Rock, and Mrs. Phoebe Combs of Leaksville, NC.

Transcribed by SDD from the original newspaper article: One of the most interesting marriages that has been chronicled in Lynchburg in recent years was that of Miss Lucy Boyd Hutter, daughter of Major Edward S. Hutter, and Mr. T. Rush Ragland, of Kanawha, WV, which took place yesterday afternoon at half past twelve o'clock at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The auditorium had been arranged for the occasion in a most attractive manner, the chancel being elaborately decorated with palms, ferns, and flowers. The day was bright, beautiful, and propitious, and every circumstance of the happy event seemed to promise a joyous future for the young couple. The popularity of the bride in Lynchburg was attested by an immense assemblage which not only filled every seat, but taxed the capacity of standing room. In the soft and pleasant illumination that fell through the great stained glass windows, the interior of the church looked like a delicate picture, the features of which were exquisite taste and refinement.

Promptly at the hour named, the notes from the great organ, presided over by Mr. Hartley Turner, announced the approach of the bridal party. The full vested choir, of which Miss Hutter has been a devoted member, entered from the vestry room and marched to their seats in the chancel, singing that expressive song, "O Perfect Love". Miss Mary Christian then entered from the vestry room and was followed by the bridesmaids, Miss Elizabeth Lewis, Miss Nina Armistead, Miss Mazie Hutter, Miss Norvie Craighill, Miss Ruby Hanmer, Miss Fannie Cheatwood, and Miss Evelyn Early, of Lynchburg. They advanced along the central isle to the main entrance where they received the other members of the wedding party.

Six ushers, Messrs. George Lancaster, G.O. Howard, and Forest Scales, of Holcombe Rock, and C.S. Hutter, D.A. Payne, and Dexter Otey, of Lynchburg, then led the way to the altar, the choir meanwhile singing the bridal chorus from Lohengrin. The ushers were followed by eight groomsmen, walking in couples, as follows: Messers. E.R. Hutter, R.T. Watts, Samuel Adams, R.C. Blackford, Keene Langhorne and Henry Johnson, of Lynchburg: Robert Rose, of New York, and Colonel Joseph Button, of Richmond. On reaching the chancel, forming an appropriate background for the handsome gowns of the young ladies. The groomsmen were followed by the seven bridesmaids, who were exquisitely gowned in white mouse (unreadable) and lace trimmings over taffeta with large white picture hats and long gloves, and carried bunches of maiden hair fern. Miss Mary Christian, who came next in the march to the altar wore a charming creation of white mousseline with rare lace trimming.

Miss Christian was followed by the two maids of honor, Miss Edna Hutter, sister of the bride, and Miss Florence Langhorne, of Campbell County, who were handsomely and becomingly gowned in white mousseline over white taffeta and wore large white chiffon hats with pink roses and carried la France roses. The bride followed the maids of honor, and proceeded up the aisle on the arm of her father. She wore an elegant and lovely bridal costume of heavy white satin with white chiffon over dress and point lace, with a long veil caught with a cluster of dainty orange blossoms, and carried a bunch of graceful Easter lilies. On reaching the foot of the chancel steps, the bride was joined by the groom, who had approached from the vestry room accompanied by his best man, Mr. Marion Scales, of New York.

During the interesting ceremony, an appropriate selection was softly rendered on the organ, and at its conclusion, to the notes of Mendelssohn's wedding march, the bridal party passed down the central aisle preceded by the bride and groom. From the church, the party repaired to the home of the bride's parents on Daniel's Hill, where an elaborate briadal breakfast was served. The gracious hospitality never presented a fairer appearance. The young couple received the guests in the large hall, and later the company adjourned to the spacious drawing rooms, where the breakfast tables were spread. The bridal party was seated at a large circular table, exquisitely decorated with Easter lilies and garlands of smilax. The name cards were especially dainty - each one being a hand painted orchid. Many candles in silver candelabra shed their light on the beautiful scene, and after a delicious menu had been served, the bride's cake was cut amid much mirth and eagerness. Later the bridesmaids formed a circle around the bride, in the pretty german fashion, waiting to catch the flower from the bridal bouquet, which the bride tossed blindfolded. The recipient will be the next bride.

At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Ragland boarded the westbound Chesapeake and Ohio train for their future home in Kanawha.

Mr. Ragland is manager of the Wilson Aluminum Company, of Kanawha, a position of great trust and responsibility. He is a successful young business man and is held in highest esteem in the community in which he resides. His bride is one of Lynchburg's most popular young ladies. By her charming disposition and gracious manners she has won the love and regard of all who know her.

Among the guests from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Langhorne of Evington; Mr. and Mrs. Morehead of New York; Mrs. C.O. Weward and Mrs. Forest Scales, of Holcombe Rock; and Mrs. Phoebe Combs, of Leaksville, NC.

Her obituary reads: "Mother of Local Attorney Dies Following Long Illness" "Mrs. Lucy Hutter Ragland, 89, of 501 Woodlawn Ave., died at 6:14 a.m. Sunday in the Pine Lodge Nursing Home after a 10 year illness.

Mother of local attorney, Ned Ragland, she was a member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church and was made an honorary life member of the Beckley Woman's Club.

The daughter of the late Col. Edward Sixtus and Nannie Langhorne Hutter, she was born July 21, 1876, in Lynchburg, VA. She moved with her husband, Tom Rush Ragland who died Jan. 18, 1952, to Skelton in 1914 and in 1916 moved to Beckley where the Ragland family has lived since then.

Surviving other than Ned Ragland are two other sons, George Motley Morehead of Charleston and Tom Rush, Jr. of Greenwich, Conn.; one daughter, Mrs. K. Douglas (Lucy) Bowers of Beckley; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the St. Stephens Episcopal Church with Rev. Joseph Rickards and Dr. James W. Witherspoon in charge. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Carlisle Bolen, Charles S. Lewis Jr., E. E. Bibb, Lewis Wilkes, O.C. Drake, and William F. Watts. The body is at the Keyser-Bryant Funeral Home."

Sources

• family: my mother's maternal grandmother

Obituary: Raleigh Co., WV / Beckley Register

Living at home with parents for 1900 census Lynchburg city ward 1, Campbell Co., VA

"Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRDG-9HZ : 11 February 2018), E.S. Hutter in entry for Thomas Rush Ragland and Lucy Boyd Hutter, 03 Apr 1902; citing Lynchburg, Virginia, reference pg.92-1; FHL microfilm 32,268.

Death certificate says she was born on July 21, 1876, and was widowed. Her death certificate lists her mother's name as Nannie Langhorne and her father as Col. Edward Sixtus Hutter. Cause of death was terminal pneumonitis with secondary cause as renal insufficiency. Informant was Ned H. Ragland "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM4Z-9QK : 11 February 2018), Nannie Langhorne in entry for Lucy Boyd Ragland, 03 Apr 1966; citing Raleigh, West Virginia, County Records, 6004, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,992,148.