Ellen C Lockerman

Ellen C Lockerman was born November 30, 1933, in Danville, Virgina to parents Charles Hoffman and Mary Elizabeth (Franklin) Culpepper.

We are proud of our mother. She handled adversity with grace. Her life wasn’t always easy, but not many people knew that.

When she set her mind to something, consider it done…. Her sister told us a story about how important her college degree was to her. We didn’t know that. No one else in her family had a college degree and she was determined. She lived out in the country, worked a full-time job, while raising three children, but still went to school and finished her degree. We are proud of our mom!

She wasn’t someone to turn her back on ‘social norms’, but when she sent Nancy and Liz to the Flint School aboard 2 sailing ships, she drew an awful lot of criticism and negative gossip; people thought she was just shipping her very young children off to Europe (or wherever) without knowing where they were or what they were doing…. As it turns out, that was true! She didn’t know where we were or what we were doing or what country we were in. As teenagers, we definitely weren’t writing home to tell her about it! Somehow, she had confidence that we were safe and allowed us to stay on the ships for several years. Perhaps it was easier to trust your kids to strangers in the 70s, who knows but it was certainly brave on her part. Turns out, it’s the best thing she ever did for Liz and Nancy. Revenge with grace!!!

There is a common theme with everybody who knew our mother: they say ‘she is the sweetest person I know’. Absolutely everybody says that. In fact the paper delivery woman at Smith Mountain Lake told us that she delayed her retirement in order to continue to deliver Mom‘s paper. Who leaves that kind of impression on casual acquaintances?! She has had lifelong friends. Absolutely everybody who knew her adored her.

Dad could suck the air out of the room with his big personality. Mom found her own way to leave an indelible impression.

You were a fighter mom. You were fierce when it came to what you believed, and how to protect your family.  We were very lucky to have you as our mom and we’re so proud of you.

Ellen was born in Danville Virginia. She is survived by her daughters Nancy Werra, Liz Lockerman, and her wife Sue Howard; grandson Jay Lockerman and his wife Sarah; granddaughter Taylor Lockerman; and her sister Nancy Mae Broch.  She was preceded in death by her husband James (Slim) Lockerman, her parents, Mary and Hoffman Culpepper, her son Richard, her brother Hoffman Culpepper.

Ellen is survived by her daughters Nancy Werra, Liz Lockerman and her wife Sue Howard; grandson Jay Lockerman and his wife Sarah; granddaughter Taylor Lockerman; sister Nancy Mae Broch.  She was preceded in death by her husband James (Slim) Lockerman, parents, Mary and Charles Culpepper, son Richard Lockerman, brother Hoffman Culpepper.