Eleanor Christine Braxton , 86, of Fredericksburg, VA, departed this life on July 20, 2024. Eleanor was born in Shepherdstown, West Virginia in 1937 to parents, Thomas and Fannie Washington. She is the second of ten children. She became a member of St. John Baptist Church at the age of five after being baptized in the Potomac River. She graduated from Shepherd College and received her M.S. from the University of Virginia in Early Childhood Development.

She believed being a servant means we demonstrate love to humankind as Christ loves us and to be actively involved in both the church and community. These principles drove her to receive her M.S. from the University of Virginia in Early Childhood Development and to be an Elementary Educator for over 50 years.

Eleanor served as a Deacon, President of the Senior Choir, Adult Sunday School teacher, Assistant Superintendent of the Walker Auxiliary Club, Chaplain of the Church Aid Club and a faithful worker in the Home Missions Ministry. She provided leadership for Christmas and Easter cantatas and was both a regular participant in Bible Study and Vacation Bible School leader. Her community activities included membership in the National Council of Negro Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the NAACP.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Rosa Lee Shanton, Anna Hall, Mary Brown, Joan Williams and Virginia Brown.

She is survived by four daughters, Rochelle Myers and her husband, Richard, Pamela Vines and her husband, Tony, Dr. Phyllis Braxton Arnason, and Dr. Sherri Castanzo and her husband, Ron. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Ashley, Alexis, Donovan, Tyler, Ethan and Sarah; siblings, Betty Washington, Patricia Harrison, Wanda Brown, and Thomas Washington, Jr.; and a host of nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 5:00 PM and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ceremony will be held from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. An additional viewing will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 9:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM. The interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 12:00 PM.